XIX POLYNESIANS AND THEIR MIGRATIONS 405 



personal equation or mannerism as to disguise some of 

 the most important peculiarities of a race, and when their 

 sketches, often hasty or taken from individuals who were 

 not typical of their race, were still further modified by the 

 copyist or engraver, no accurate comparison of types was 

 possible. But with the advent of the photographer and 

 of the process-plate this difficulty has disappeared, and we 

 are able for the first time to make accurate comparisons. 

 The chief difficulty that remains is due to the ignorance 

 of the photographer, who is too often a passing traveller 

 or tourist, and quite unable to distinguish between pure 

 and mixed blood , or between individuals who are typical of 

 the best qualities of their race and those who are 

 altogether exceptional. This difficulty however tends to 

 disappear with the multiplication of anthropological 

 portraits, and especially when they are taken by intelligent 

 residents who are well acquainted w^ith the special 

 characteristics of the people amongst whom they live. 

 But even at the present time it is very difficult to get 

 really good portraits of the best types of these interesting 

 people. 



Almost all travellers speak highly of the appearance 

 and character of the brown Polynesians. Darwin, who 

 only saw them at Tahiti, says : — " I was pleased with 

 nothing so much as the inhabitants. There is a mildness 

 in the expression of their countenances which at once 

 banishes the idea of a savage ; and an intelligence which 

 shows that they are advancing in civilization." And 

 after taking part in a meeting between the principal 

 chiefs and Captain Fitzroy about compensation for injury 

 done to an English ship in one of the most distant islands 

 of the group, he says : " I cannot sufficiently express our 

 surprise at the extreme good sense, the reasoning powers, 

 moderation, candour, and prompt resolution, which were 

 displayed on all sides." Hellwald, after referring to the 

 deterioration since the days of Cook, due to the 

 introduction of liquor and other vices of civilization, 

 says : — " The natives of Tahiti are still a fine, well- 

 proportioned people, tall and robust, with dark brown 

 complexion, broad nose, slightly protruding lips, beautiful 



