In the Cook Islands.

Manawatu Herald, 27 June 1899, Page 2

In the Cook Islands.

Mr Scholer, of Greytown, is writing an account of a six month's stay in the Cook group of islands which is appearing in the Wairarapa Standard. He says : — I was fortunate in having a letter of introduction to one of the interpreters of the islands. For the most part the natives have but an imperfect knowledge ' of the English language. This gentleman was kind enough to accommodate me at his house during my stay, and I am indebted to him for many acts of kindness.

His house is called by the natives a maimi, and serves much the same purpose as the whare to the Maoris. It was in this instance a large maimi, and was constructed of bamboo and roofed with cocoanut thatch. The bamboo left intervals through which the interior was lighted, and mats made by the natives are disposed a height along the walls to protect from the draught when sleeping. At night the maimi is lighted with a candle nut. It is a cone like a walnut, and a num. of nuts are threaded on a stick, which is inserted in the ground, the top nut lit and burns, and then descends to the lower nut. It gives a very good light, quite sufficient to read by. These nuts are found growing on a medium sized tree.

The shore line of the island is covered with beautiful small white pebbles, and these are gathered and cover the floor of the maimi. On these pebbles is spread pouri grass, and on the grass beautiful made bark mats are disposed. This gives a most elastic and pleasant sensation in walking. There is to be found on the islands a silk cotton, very much in its crude state like kapoc, and this is converted by the natives into a kind of silken fluff and put into cotton^ pillow cases, and these cushions disposed about the maimi are the furniture. At bedtime they become the mattress, and a piece ot colored print of design that will simply amaze you with its splendour is the only coverlet.- 'vThe native mind runs very much to color, and the louder it is the better they like it. lam this way disposed of for the evening, and feel very comfortable. Still, the novelty of the situation prevents' sleep, and I get up quietly to escape distrubing.the other occupants of the maimi disposed about the corners of the room, but not so quietly as to escape disturbing other tenants lodging in the roof— they are wasps, very much like a large fly, with a most vicious sting. I am told they have a mortal antipathy _to white people, and these and nandflies are about the greatest affliction one is likely to suffer during a visit. They leave the, natives alone, and it is said they will only frequent houses occupied by white Deople. There is no danger from their bite, but the sting is very irritating.