LANGUAGE OF THE TAHAITIANS. 133 
day and night are each divided into six parts of 
two hours each, which they measure exactly in 
the day by the position of the sun, and at night 
by the stars. Medical men have considered 
them to possess much skill in surgery, from the 
kindly healing of wounds which, by their ei 
have evidently been severe. 
The Tahaitians are particularly distinguished 
by their superior civilization from all other 
savages, among whom indeed they scarcely de- 
serve to be ranked. Their language sounds 
agreeably, and is not difficult to learn. The 
vowels occur much more frequently than the 
consonants, our c, g, k, s, and p, being entirely 
wanting. Cook and his companions made con- 
siderable progress in it; and one of them says — 
‘*¢ It is rich in figurative modes of expression ; 
and I am convinced that a nearer acquaintance 
with it would place it on a level with the most dis- 
tinguished for boldness and power of imagery.” 
By means of this knowledge of their language, 
however imperfect, many details concerning the 
religion of the Tahaitians were gained. The 
elder Forster enters rather at large into the 
subject. 
