182 FEJEE GROUP. 



articles, such as clubs, spears, mats, and shells, are mostly 

 picked up by the white residents on speculation and sent to 

 Sydney, New South Wales, from whence they are forwarded 

 to England, and sold as native curiosities. The merchant- 

 traders, therefore, are confined chiefly to the article of bech- 

 de-mar, which is still found in considerable quantities, and is 

 in great demand in the China market. 



The general character of the Fejee Islanders may be 

 gathered from the preceding remarks. The dark side of the 

 picture presents them as unprincipled, cruel, rapacious, defi- 

 cient in courage as well as in human feelings, and indifferent to 

 the commission of crime. This melancholy catalogue of vices 

 arises from the disadvantages in point of religion, of govern- 

 ment, and the general structure of society, under which they 

 live. There is no doubt that under a better form of govern- 

 ment they would become quite a different people. 



The resident missionaries represent them as being, in point 

 of natural abilities, superior to any of the other Polynesians. 



