NEW CALEDONIA. 325 



sorry requital for such services that the captain of tlie ' Esk,' 

 deceived by tlie misrepresentation of some knavish trader, 

 imposed a most heavy fine on the ishmd as a compensation 

 for some alleged injury to this person, to be paid within a 

 certain time. It was to collect this fine that the ' Fawn ' 

 visited the island, but on investigation it was found that the 

 claim for compensation was groundless ; all, however, that 

 Captain Cator could do, without infringing his orders, was to 

 extend the time of payment of one-half; and Mr. Hood ex- 

 presses the hope that 'in the interim those before whom the 

 matter may come will preserve the reputation Ave have in 

 these regions for justice and honesty by remitting this por- 

 tion of the cruel and unjust exaction.' He regards the case 

 as one of the most flagrant illustrations they had yet met 

 with ' of the unfair treatment which the natives too often 

 experience at the hands of the Papalangis.' 



According to Mr. Hood, the Ueans resemble the Samoans, 

 but are of rather a darker hue, and with noses less flat- 

 tened ; they liave their frizzled hair hanging down their 

 shoulders, and embeUish their faces with yellow ochre and 

 red paint, the ochre being preferred. Tliose he saw sitting 

 in church with their frizzled heads of hair all squared at 

 bottom, reminded liim of the Nineveh marbles. He adds, 

 ' in some of the islands to the westward the women have a 

 way of dressing their hair in a midtitude of little ringlets 

 twisted with fine cocoa-nut twine, and the men have their 

 beards arranged in the same manner, also cut square, giving 



