State Library of NSW
[Page 457]
Manners & Customs of the South Sea Islands
wood which makes them stand better than any bowlines could possible do. On the top of this sail they carry an ornament which in taste resembles much our Pennants it is made of feathers & reaches down to the very water so that when blown out by the wind it makes no inconsiderable shew They are indeed fond of ornaments in all parts of their boats they commonly in the good ones have a figure at the stern in the Paheis which rise rounding both at the head & stern they have a figure at both & the smaller ivahas have commonly a small carvd pillar standing upon their stern.
Considering these people as intirely destitute of Iron they build these Canoes very well. Of the Ivahas, the foundation is always the trunks of one or more trees, hollowd out; the ends of these are Slopd off, & sewd together with the fibres of the Husk of the cocoanut; the sides of them are then raisd with plank, sewd together in the same manner. The Paheis as they are much better embarkations so they are built in a more ingenious manner like the others they are laid upon a long keel which however is not above 4 or 5 inches deep upon this they raise with two ranges of Plank each of which is about
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