422 A MISSION TO VITI. 



the sea, and present in their bold and irregular outlines the 

 peculiar characters of the volcanic formation to which they be- 

 long. With the exception of some tracts on the two larger 

 islands, but little level land is anywhere to be seen. Almost 

 every island is surrounded by a coral reef, either fringing the 

 shore, or separated from it by a channel more or less narrow. 



The inhabitants belong to the darker of the two great Poly- 

 nesian races, but living on the confines of the lighter-coloured 

 race, have received from it some admixture. One language, with 

 some varieties of dialect, prevails throughout the group. The 

 population is estimated at 200,000, of whom 60,000 are num- 

 bered as Christian converts. [67,489 according to exact returns, 

 B. S.] The men are generally above the middle height, robust, 

 and well-built. Their principal occupation is the cultivation of 

 their yam and taro plots, which affords periodical but easy em- 

 ployment, sailing in their canoes, fishing, and frequently fighting. 

 The chief articles of food are yams, taros, fish, and coco-nuts, 

 breadfruit, bananas, and other fruits, the spontaneous productions 

 of the soil. Their clothing is extremely scanty, consisting of a 

 narrow strip of cloth, or rather paper, prepared from the bark of 

 the paper-mulberry. Their houses are constructed of reeds and 

 grass on a framework of poles. The floor is the natural soil 

 covered with fern leaves and mats; in the middle is a sunken 

 hearth, the smoke from which escapes through the walls and 

 roof. Apertures for light other than the doorways are very rare. 

 The houses are never isolated, but are crowded together in towns 

 or " koros," which are frequently surrounded by a ditch and an 

 earthen mound. The natives have raised no permanent struc- 

 tures. Although the coral reefs present an inexhaustible supply 

 of lime, and they have discovered the art of burning it, they 

 make no use of it except as paint, and to plaster their hair with. 

 There are no beasts of burden or draught, and consequently no 

 roads. The usual mode of moving about and of carriage is by 

 canoes. The only mechanics among them are the carpenters or 

 canoe-builders, who form an hereditary caste. The women, in 

 a few favourable localities, manufacture a rude kind of pottery. 

 There are in the group probably not less than forty independent 

 tribes, twelve of which, from their superior influence, may be con- 



