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The Maori Canoe

Canoes of the Loyalty Isles

Canoes of the Loyalty Isles

Captain Erskine, of H.M.S. "Havannah," remarks as follows on a canoe seen at Uea Island, Loyalty Group: "These came in one or two large double canoes resembling those of Fiji, but of much page 346clumsier construction and coarser workmanship. A platform or deck was built over the two bodies, and a rail or balustrade ran along one side, to prevent either men or implements from slipping overboard. They were rowed in a clumsy manner, without rowlocks, by large paddles, another of which was used as a scull, to steer the vessel, the exertions of the people being great and the speed small."

The Loyalty Isles are situated far within Melanesia, but on Uea Island dwells a community of Polynesians, whose forbears are said to have come from Wallis Island, west of Samoa.

In a paper on Rotuma, an island lying between the Samoan Group and Tikopia, the Rev. W. Allen remarks: "Canoe-building used to take up a great deal of the men's time. They made large double canoes. These, with their rude stone axes, took many years to build, often eight or ten. No nails were used; everything was fastened together with sinnet. With these they were enabled to reach Tonga and other places. Some, doubtless, were lost at sea with all on board. According to tradition, many years ago the island was overcrowded, and it was considered necessary to build canoes and sail away in quest of other lands on which to settle the people. At the present time there are no double canoes on the island, but some small single ones used for fishing about the reefs." The natives of Rotumah (Rotuma) appear to be a Polynesian folk.