MELANESIA. 49 



nated as frizzled. When allowed to grow without interference, it 

 appears in numerous spiral locks, eight or ten inches in length, 

 spreading out on all sides of the head. Sometimes these curls are 

 seen much longer, falling down to the middle of the back. It is, 

 however, very seldom allowed to grow naturally. The young boys 

 have it cut very close, and sometimes shaved to the skin, like the 

 Tahitians. In girls, before marriage, it is allowed to grow long, and 

 is coloured white by washing it with a solution of lime, except a 

 portion around the crown, which is plastered with a black pigment. 

 After marriage, it is either cut to the length of one or two inches, or 

 frizzled out like that of the men ; in both cases it is frequently soaked 

 in colouring liquids, either red or black. The men in general have 

 their hair dressed so as to form an immense semi-globular mass, 

 covering the top, back, and sides of the head. The arrangement of 

 this chevelure is performed for the chiefs by professional barbers, and 

 is a work of great labour. Six hours are sometimes occupied in dress- 

 ing a head, and the process is repeated at intervals of two or three 

 weeks. It is probably to guard against disarranging this work, that 

 the piece of bamboo which is placed under the neck in sleeping is 

 employed, instead of the ordinary pillow. For the same purpose, the 

 natives usually wear, during the day, a sola or kerchief of very thin 

 gauze-like paper-cloth, which is thrown over the hair and tied closely 

 around the head, so as to have very much the appearance of a turban. 

 The colour of the Feejeeans is a chocolate-brown, or a hue midway 

 between the jet-black of the negro, and the brownish yellow of the 

 Polynesian. There are, however, two shades very distinctly marked, 

 like the blonde and brunette complexions in the white race, besides 

 all the intermediate gradations. In one of these shades the brown 

 predominates, and in the other the copper. They do not belong to 

 distinct castes or classes, but are found indiscriminately among all 

 ranks and in all tribes. The natives are aware of the distinction, and 

 call the lighter-coloured people Viti ndamundamu, " red Feejeeans," 

 but they do not seem to regard it as any thing which requires or 

 admits of explanation. These red-skinned natives must not be con- 

 founded with the Tonga-Viti, or individuals of mixed Tongan and 

 Feejeean blood, of whom there are many on some parts of the group. 



CHARACTER. 



It is not a little remarkable that though the Feejeeans are an in- 

 genious, shrewd, quick-witted people, surpassing the Polynesians in 



13 



