TUTUILA. 55 



tlieir coronets of nautilus shells and scarlet Hibiscus, and their 

 necklaces of red and yellow flowers, I believe they would 

 admit that their appearance is highly imposing.' ^ 



The marked peculiarity was the enormous head of hair 

 worn by each dancer. The hair is suffered to grow long 

 and bushy, from the top round on either sides, and the long 

 black hair being tied round with a string close to this mop 

 is suffered to fall down behind, producing a singular effect. 

 Had these dances been performed on shore, there would 

 have been, we were assured by the Missionary who re- 

 mained below while it was going on, some very indecent 

 additions to it ; on which account he had felt it his duty to 

 discountenance and suppress this and other native dances. 

 It is probable, however, that dancing of any kind, no matter 

 how inoffensive, would have been regarded as profane 

 according to the usual missionary estimate. Towards the 

 close of the dance I went and sat near the chief, who had 

 been sitting talking to Mr. Powell in a line with the door, 

 so that he could see and hear what was going on. Being 

 next the chief, he kept nudging me, putting his fingers to 

 his mouth, and then looking sometimes at me and sometimes 

 at Mr. Powell, conveying to me the impression that lie 

 would like to have a smoke if the Missionary were not 

 present. Suggesting this to Sir William, the latter asked 

 the chief if he did smoke, to which he signified that he did, 

 whereupon Sir William let him know that at all events he 

 had his permission to smoke. 



' ' Cruise of the " Fawn," ' p. 50. 



