CHAPTER IV. 

 A REMARKABLE EXAMPLE OF DECLINE. 



" The largest company you could enroll, 

 A single vessel could embark the whole ! 

 So few there are : the noble manly minds, 

 Faithful and firm, the men that honour binds ; 

 Impregnable to danger and to pain 

 And low seduction in the shape of gain." 



Theognis. 



THERE is perhaps nothing in the history of man- 

 kind which affords a more striking example of 

 the rapid degeneration of a noble race, than the 

 fall of the Fijian native. 



Forty years ago the Fijian might truly have 

 been considered one of the finest specimens of 

 natural manhood in the South Pacific Islands. 



To-day, he is in danger of suffering the fate of 

 the Tasmanian, by going right out of existence. 



A brief account of his fall, conveying also 

 some idea of his appearance and character in 

 the days of his freedom, may be of advantage to 

 us in the solution of our own all-important pro- 

 blem. 



Imagine a powerfully built man, about six 

 feet in height, with intelligent expression of 

 countenance, swarthy complexion, frizzy hair, 

 which, when properly dressed, resembles a huge 

 ball some three to five feet in circumference, 

 having a few crimson leaves inserted by way of 

 decoration ; a necklace of whale's teeth, with 



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