TUTUILA. ■ 39 



nut trees, whose leaves wave and dance, reflecting the rays 

 of the bright siui, underneath which are the scattered 

 villages of the natives. Upon tlie narrow fringing coral 

 reef the dark green waves break dazzhngly, while at the 

 head of the bay the white cottage and mission church give 

 an air of quiet civilization to the scene, enlivened by num- 

 bers of canoes, with thek picturesque occupants, moving 

 about in all directions.' 



A great number of women were busy on the shore 

 catching shell-fish. By means of my glass I perceived, 

 though not able to distinguish accurately her features, a 

 young girl who was entirely naked ; as soon as she thought 

 she was observed, she burst into a laugh and covered her- 

 self with a banana leaf. Dwellings were to be seen on the 

 points of the bay wherever there was sufficient space for 

 building, and all of them were shaded with cocoanut trees, 

 the fruit of which supplied the drink of the inhabitants. 

 Presently a multitude of outrigger canoes swarmed off to 

 the ' Curayoa,' so small for the most part as to contain not 

 more than one or two persons ; nevertheless, that there 

 were very large ones in use by the natives we had our- 

 selves an opportunity of observing. They contained both 

 men and women, as well as umipe bananas for sale. 

 Neither sex appeared to be so well-looking, or so clean, as 

 the natives of Niue Island. Their skin was covered with 

 spots and scars, arising either from the itch, or some other 

 disease. I observed everywhere on their backs, shoulders, 

 legs, large blackish pimples, such as frequently present 



