. The cannibal islands : or, Fiji and its people . S. The wicker-work baskets of Fiji arestrong, handsome, and useful beyond any Ihave seen at home or abroad, says the Lowry; and when we consider the per-fection to which the English have broughtthe art of basket-making, this commendationof the Fijian work is certainly as high praiseas he could well bestow. The making of nets gives constant em-ployment to many of these islanders. Theprocess is the same as that employed for thesame purpose in England. The nets usedby the men are sometimes made of hibiscus,but generally of sinnet, which i
. The cannibal islands : or, Fiji and its people . S. The wicker-work baskets of Fiji arestrong, handsome, and useful beyond any Ihave seen at home or abroad, says the Lowry; and when we consider the per-fection to which the English have broughtthe art of basket-making, this commendationof the Fijian work is certainly as high praiseas he could well bestow. The making of nets gives constant em-ployment to many of these islanders. Theprocess is the same as that employed for thesame purpose in England. The nets usedby the men are sometimes made of hibiscus,but generally of sinnet, which is the fibreof the cocoa-nut husk, well dried, combed,and braided. The natives roll it into balls,which are often very large. Mr. Williamsmentions one that he measured, which wasnine feet high and thirteen feet in circum-ference. The Fijians use sinnet for theirbest ropes, which are of various size andexceedingly strong. The Fijian is also distinguished from allthe South Sea islanders eastward in his pot-teries, where are produced various utensils. OCCUPATIONS. 153 of red and brown ware. The drinking-ves-sels are often prettily designed, some beingglobular, some urn-shaped, others like threeor four oranges joined together, the handlespringing from each and meeting at thetop; others, again, are made in the formsof canoes. Earthen arrow-root pans, dye-bowls, and fish-pots are in great greatest call, however, is for cooking-pots. Several of these are found in everyhouse; and, as they are not very durable,the demand is brisk. The mode of manufac-ture is simple, and the articles are of goodshape, well baked, and often glazed. The dishes for the priests, oil-dishes, andyaqona-bowls, as well as the cannibal forks,are generally made of hard wood, oftencuriously formed, and ornamented withcarving. The weapons of Fijian war are many ofthem simple in their construction, whileothers evince much artistic skill in carvingand inlaid work. The simple throwing clubsare furnished by th
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, booksubjectmissions, bookyear186
