1840.] SPORTING IN THE SURF. 369 



hair, or of the bright red fruit of the pandanus, sometimes 

 tinged with orange color, and strung by the women on a 

 cord, are worn about their necks. Wreaths of flowers 

 were formerly much worn by the females around their 

 heads, but these have been interdicted by the missiona- 

 ries, and are, therefore, pretty generally discarded. Very 

 little attention is paid by either sex to the hair : the males, 

 among the higher classes, wear it cropped short, and the 

 females gather it up in dark masses on the top of the head. 

 Tattooing is almost abandoned, though now and then a na- 

 tive damsel will be seen, with her dusky legs and ankles pret- 

 tily ornamented, " as a sort of substitute for open-work ho- 

 siery." The katiakas commonly go barefooted, though 

 when travelling over the rough paths in the interior, they put 

 on sandals made of ti leaves. 



Ancient manners and customs are nearly done away, and 

 the natives are gradually accustoming themselves to the 

 habits of the whites. Some few of their amusements — the 

 relics of former times — are still preserved. They are an am- 

 phibious race, and being totally fearless of danger, will spend 

 hours at a time, disporting themselves, in the most furious 

 surf. In bathing, each person is usually provided with a 

 surf-board. This is from six to nine feet long, and from 

 twelve to eighteen inches wide. It is from one to two inches 

 thick in the centre, but quite thin at the edges. Throwing 

 himself flatwise upon this, the battier plunges forward from 

 the shore on the top of the recoiling surf. When he meets a 

 roller he dives under it, and emerging on the other side, darts 

 ahead once more with great rapidity, till he gains the outer 

 line of breakers, from a quarter to half a mile distant from 

 the shore. Now watching the opportunity, he mounts one 

 of the loftiest waves, balancing himself on his board on his 

 hands and knees, or extended thereupon at full length. With 

 the speed of a maddened courser he darts towards the shore, 

 his shout of triumph ringing loud and clear, and distinctly 

 heard above the roar of the surge, if he is so fortunate as to 

 distance his companions. Accidents sometimes occur, but 



