Friendly 
Islands. 
PRIENDLY/ ISLANDS! 
en, in war, in fishing, or any active occupa~ 
this covering composes the ‘whole of their dress. 
and women occasionally defend their faces 
sun with little bonnets, made of different mate- 
The ornaments, also, as well as the dress of both 
is the same, and consist chiefly of necklaces made 
‘the fruit of the pandanus, and various odoriferous 
or of small shells, sharks’ teeth, the wing and 
of birds pendant on the breast ; rings of tor- 
toise-shell on the fingers, and several of these joined to- 
gether, forming bracelets, on the wrists; a polished mo- 
-of-pearl shell, or a ring, on the upper part of the 
arm ; and cylindrical bits of ivory, or of reed stuffed 
with a yellow pigment, as ear-rings. They dye their 
hair of different colours, brown, purple, or orange, and 
wear itin a great variety of ways, sometimes growing to 
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the other, sometimes entirely cut away except a single 
lock on one side, or on the top of the head.. The beard 
is cut short, and sometimes shaved close with sharp shells. 
Both sexes pluck the hair from their arm-pits, and 
anoint their especially the head and shoulders, with 
cocoa-nut oil, women ruv a fine yellow powder 
like turmeric over the whole of their bodies, and have a 
few blue lines tattooed on the inside of their hands.. The 
men are stained or punctured with these lines and figures 
from the middle of the belly half way down the thighs ; 
and are also partially circumcised, or rather supercised, 
by cutting off the upper part of the foreskin, They are 
all peo deck cleanly in their persons, and bathe fre- 
quently in the ponds, which they prefer to the sea, as 
they reckon the salt water injurious to the delicacy of 
their skin. 
Polygamy prevails among the Friendly islanders with- 
out any apparent limits ; and-the power of divorce seems 
to be equally unrestrained. Every man may take as 
many wives as he can maintain ; and also dismiss them 
when he pleases. The part of the commonalty 
content themselves with one ; but the chiefs have gene 
rally from four to eight. The young women have no 
liberty of choice in their matrimonial connections, but are 
disposed of by the fathe: or his representative. They 
pride themselves much upon their virginity ; and, as.a 
token of that state, wear their hair uncut till they are 
married. The daughters of the chiefs are, from. their 
birth, placed under the care of women, who may be cal- 
led duennas ; and, even after marriage, similar. atten- 
dants are provided by the husband. The forms of 
courtship and marriage ere sufficiently simple. The 
intending husband makes known his wishes. to the pa- 
rents of the other party, sending at the same time a. pre- 
sent of provisions. If the present is accepted, whichis 
not always done at the first offer, his proposal is consi- 
dered as favourably received ; the affair is then commu- 
nicated to the daughter, who, having no power, never 
attempts to refuse. Upon a day being fixed, the bride 
is brought in her best apparel, at the head of a large 
company of females, one of whom, taking her by the 
hand, places her by the side of the bridegroom; who is 
waiting with his friends before his house to receive her ; 
and the ceremony concludes. with a feast and, a dance. 
"59. 
Sometimes’ marriages are contracted, like the Jewish Friendly 
espousal, many years before the consummation of the 
nuptials. Where there are several wives, the children 
take the rank of their respective mothers ; and, in all Domestic 
cases, probably owing to the frequency. of divorce, and life. 
of illicit intercourse, family dignity descends through 
the female. Their mode of domestic life, especially 
among the chiefs, is much after the patriarchal. form ; 
and the younger and inferior branches surround the head. 
of the family in one household, and in the greatest har« 
mony. There is much- social intercourse among. the 
members, of the family, especially in the evenings, when 
they’ retire to their matti which is commonly done 
about seven o'clock ; but instead of then going to sleep, 
they are accustomed to converse till ten or eleven with 
much cheerful pleasantry and shrewdness of remark ; 
and so fond are they of chatting in this familiar manner, 
that, should one chance to awake during the night, and 
find another in the same predicament, they will renew. 
the conversation for.an hour, and perhaps. rouse, some 
of the rest to join in it. Yet, with all this freedom of 
intercourse, there is a strict observance of proper re« 
specty-and even of ceremonious politeness ; and the beha« 
viour and language of the higher classes are thus refined 
and improved above the lower, in the same proportion 
as in civilized countries. * This may be exemplified by 
the orderly manner in which the household of a chief is 
arranged and served at. breakfast, which consists in 
drinking kava, and eating baked yams, &c. and is ta« 
ken at day-break, as soon as the family rise from bed. 
The company forms. a large circle, sitting cross-legged 
before the chief, on each side of whom stand the princi« 
pal servants to direct the preparation of the kava, by ~ 
the younger persons, while the rest of the company are 
silently forming their temporary cups of plantain leaf. 
Persons appointed to the office, then rising from the cirg 
cle, approach the bowl with those plantain’ vessels; and 
when the distributor of the liquor has filled one of them, — 
he asks, «* whose kava is this?” The principal domes< 
tic replies, * take it to such a one;” and the person, 
whose name is pronounced, claps his hands, as a signal 
to the waiter where to convey it.. These waiters conduct 
themselves in the most becoming and regular manner, 
arranging their apparel with the greatest neatness, walk- 
ing with all possible grace, and presenting the cups with 
ceremonious politeness. Other servants, during the pre- 
paration of the kava, are busily employed in baking the 
yams, which are brought in as soon as the liquor is dis- 
tributed, and placed before. the company, who eat, their 
portion, and talk together as they please ; and,-in all 
the different steps of the process, the word of command 
is given and observed with an exactness and attention 
resembling a regiment at parade, At this entertain« 
ment they often continue from day-break to noon, and 
then lie down and sleep two or three hours. It is a fae 
vourite luxury of the principal. people, to have their bo-« 
dies and limbs, while they are asleep, thumped or beaten 
with.the fists of women, who relieve each other during 
the operation. After rising, they proceed, like too many 
of the higher, ranks in most countries, to contrive amuse 
ment)for the day. 
5 ‘ 
* Their manner of bestowing a present, as Mentioned by the English Missionary, who resided among them at Tongataboo, shews 
a high degree of refinement, and may be 
idered as a parallel to.the complimentary style ofthe Orientals. ** If he sent me a pig, 
_them, for Mulk Aamair’s sake, to accept of.it,” Compare 1 Sam. ixv. 27 
those who brought it would say, they had brought a pig, but it was very small, and intended for the, servants, if I, would permit 
