THE LINE ISLANDS. 315 



east of them, such as Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa. Their traditions 

 chiefly relate to the origin of the islands and the people. They 

 assert that some of the latter came from the West, and that 

 these were met by some from the East. Most of the descendants 

 of those arriving from the East were however destroyed by the 

 others, who were more numerous. 



They tattoo their backs, but never their faces, and both 

 sexes can fight very courageously. The men are very jealous 

 of their many wives. As used to be the case in Samoa (and is 

 so now to a certain extent), the man who marries the eldest 

 girl of a family 'has a right over all the other daughters, and if 

 he, perhaps wisely, declines to ' marry the whole family ' (I 

 have heard of this being practically done outside the Kings- 

 mills), the lovers of his sisters-in-law don't ask the consent of 

 the parents, but the husband of the eldest young lady. 



These people have been described as ferocious, but their 

 ferocity is the natural result of gross ill-treatment. Like many 

 other Polynesians, they have no idea of the sanctity of truth, 

 and when it suits them can lie with sublime indifference. 



They are decidedly the best labourers in the Pacific, as they 

 understand the length of service on which they enter (four 

 years), bring their women and children with them, work well, 

 and if kindly treated are happy and contented. Their wants 

 are small, and though they may have no word for gratitude, 

 they are easily pleased and do not quickly forget a white man's 

 kindness. 



On the Samoan plantations their wages are $2 a month and 

 their rations. In the Hawaiian kingdom they are paid from 

 $5 to $6 a month ; while in Tahiti the men receive $6, and the 

 women 4 a month. On the plantations of Samoa (chiefly 

 those of the Messrs. Godeffroy) they are paid in ' trade,' i.e. 

 goods, while in Tahiti and Hawaii cash is the rule. 



