Canoes of New Ireland

During Carteret's voyage in 1767 an outrigger canoe about 90 ft. long was seen at New Ireland, and it is said to have been formed of a single tree. The latter statement is perhaps not correct; the joining page 366of a haumi might well escape any but the closest scrutiny, so neatly was it performed.

In describing the natives of New Ireland, Captain Morrell, who visited that place in 1830, says: "Their canoes are from eighty to ninety feet in length, and carrying from seventy to eighty men each. These are their war-canoes; they have smaller ones for fishing and other ordinary purposes. All of them are fitted with outriggers…. Their war-canoes are very swift, but they seldom use sails."

A canoe of New Ireland shown in The Voyage of the "Astrolabe" has an outrigger practically the same length as the canoe, with which it is connected by no fewer than nine booms. The ends of this canoe are much elevated.