SUPPLEMENTAL HISTORY OF MAN. 193 



The lines of the tattooing vary in the different 

 tribes ; and when an individual attains his twentieth 

 year, he is considered unmanly if he has not en- 

 dured part of this painful process, which is renewed 

 at intervals, as the lines become fainter, to the 

 latest period of their lives. 



They have made some progress in the arts of 

 life, but are not equal to the natives of the Friendly 

 or Society islands, in those respects. Their notions 

 of religion are rude and imperfect ; they believe 

 in a supreme being called the Atua, but also wor- 

 ship (though with no fixed forms) the sun, moon, 

 stars, §c. ; they believe in a happy immortality for 

 their chiefs, but deny a future state to their cookees 

 or slaves. They often treat their women with bru- 

 tality, and the practice of cannibalism is common 

 with them ; they possess, notwithstanding, consi- 

 derable intelligence, and some good moral qualities ; 

 but yet we can hardly deem them more than one 

 step beyond the most savage state. 



The natives of the Friendly islands have a general 

 resemblance to the New Zealariders, but are more 

 civilized ; they are of the ordinary European stature, 

 though some are above six feet ; their colour is a 

 deep brown, verging in the better classes to a light 

 olive; their features are various, and many have 

 the true European cast of countenance ; their hair 

 is straight, thick, and strong. That they have made 

 some progress in civilization is evident from the 

 fact of their having terms to express numbers 

 to 100,000. 



Vol. I. O 



