1839.] the "devil's men." 201 



among the inhabitants of the " devil's towns," where greater 

 latitude is claimed and allowed. 



There are, of course, exceptions to these general remarks 

 in regard to the traits and characteristics of the people of the 

 Navigator Group. A striking difference is observable be- 

 tween the towns belonging to the " devil's men," and those 

 of the other party ; and a similar difference may be remarked 

 in the conduct of their respective inhabitants. But their 

 natural dispositions are the same, whether they be christian 

 or heathen, only the better qualities which all possess, are 

 more conspicuous in the former than in the latter. The hea- 

 then are more wild, blood-thirsty, and vindictive than the 

 christians ; but, though living side by side, there are com- 

 paratively few broils and contentions between the two par- 

 ties. The " devil's men" are equally hospitable with their 

 neighbors, when the fit is on them, but they are sometimes 

 sullen and surly, though it is said that strangers may travel 

 through their towns and districts, entirely unarmed, without 

 beinsr molested. Fondness for ava was once a national fail- 

 ing, and the heathen continue to drink it to excess ; they are 

 also great gormands, and frequently have large feasts, at 

 which they devour numbers of hogs, and quantities of other 

 eatables, till their literally swinish appetites become com- 

 pletely satiated. The heathen women are bashful and re- 

 served to some extent, — more so, indeed, than might be 

 expected, — yet they lack the remarkable naivete of the 

 christian damsel. 



For some reason or other, also, the people of Savaii differ 

 slightly in physiognomy, and in their manners and appear- 

 ance, from the inhabitants of the other islands ; their features 

 are more regular, and the women more gracefully formed. 

 Their spears and war-clubs, too, are not exactly of the same 

 fashion, and they are more neatly made. 



A fondness for traffic is common to them all ; they arc 

 ever ready to exchange their fruit, fowls, and hogs, for tools, 

 cloth, powder, tobacco, and trinkets, though the christians 

 care but little for the last two. They are quite shrewd at a 



Q# 



