Journal of Edwin H. Bryan, Jr. while with the Whitney Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History on the schooner France, February to October 1924
Page 517
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Transcription
No. 442, sevua; No. 443 waiwai; No. 444 vavaoa; No. 445 tangalito. Stopped in at chief's house at Munerah. Purchased from him a domodomo or top piece of canoe mast, for 2 shillings. It is carved from vasi wood (Afzelia bijuga), and the shell which surmounts it is a white cowrie - buli, fastened to the wood with coconut husk sinnet - magimagi. Was also able to obtain his Malumu (war club). He said it was old and it looked it. Made of cau (Casuarina) wood. Gave him 2 shillings for it. Purchased another stone adze for 6 pence. It is of light brown stone- called vatu beia or bia (pronounced embeia). The shrub with the white floral leaves and yellow flowers collected on Matuku is here and called vobo (vombo). On board schooner. Bought a vokai or large green "chameleon" lizard for 2 shillings. Mr. Beck brought in a specimen of Mulumulu tree, (the milo of Polynesia) Thespesia populea. Pressed it, although collected a specimen on Moala. Wednesday, August 6, 1924. Central and Western portion of Fulanga. Ashore at 7 A.M. Along trail past Monethaki, and Munerah, and over pass and trail to Novindom. Collected a few landshells and quite a number of insects along the trail and in the open patches. Aedes pseudoscutellaris (?) (I think) is present, but not numerous. A number of beetles and weevils from dead leaves, especially some black ones from the dry leaves of milo. The soft brown cricket makes a nest by folding leaves, holding the edges in semicircle with white web. Shrub leaves "rolled" by a yellow and green caterpillar. Red pepper and wagawa (Piper) present along the trail; also the "Pittosperum" collected on Ongea ndriti (No. 383).