Tahitian Decoration. 53 



the bark of tlie root in water in which the cloth is allowed to remain till completely 

 saturated, when it is dried in the sun. The mati or scarlet dye, is moistened with 

 water and laid on the dry cloth. Their patterns are fixed with the scarlet dye on a 

 yellow ground, and were formerly altogether devoid of uniformity or regularit}-, yet 

 still exhibiting considerable taste. They now fix a border round the ahufara and 

 arrange the figures in different parts. Nature supplies the pattern. They select 

 some of the most delicate and beautiful ferns, or the hibiscus flowers : when the dye 

 is prepared, the leaf or flower is laid carefull}- on the dye; as soon as the surface is 

 covered with the colouring matter, the stained leaf or flower, with its leaflets or petals 

 correctl}' adjusted, is fixed on the cloth, and pressed graduall}'- and regularl}'^ down. 

 When it is removed, the impression is often beautiful and clear. 



"The scarf or shawl and the tiputa, are the only dresses prepared in this waj-, 

 and it is difficult to conceive of the dazzling and imposing appearance of such a dress, 

 loosely folded round the person of a handsome chieftain of the South Sea Islands, who 

 perfectly' understands how to exhibit it to the best advantage. This kind of cloth is 

 made better b}- the Tahitians than any other inhabitants of the Pacific. It is not, 

 however, equal to the wairiirii of the Sandwich Islanders. Much of this cloth, beauti- 

 full}' painted, is now emplo3'ed in their houses for bed and window curtains, &c. 

 Several kinds of strong cloth are finished with a kind of gum or varnish, for the 

 purpose of rendering them impervious. 



"But in the fabrication of glazed cloth, the natives of the Austral Islands, 

 especially those of Rurutu, excel all with whom I am acquainted. Some of their 

 pieces of cloth are thirt}^ or forty ^^ards square, exceedingly thick, and glazed on both 

 sides, resembling the upper side of the English oil-cloth table-covers. It must have 

 required immense labour to prepare it, 3'et it was abundant when the}' were first 

 discovered. It is usually red on one side and black on the other, the latter being highly 

 varnished with a vegetable gum. 



"In the manufacture of cloth the females of all ranks were employed; and the 

 queen and wives of the chiefs of the highest rank, strove to excel in some depart- 

 ment — in the elegance of the patterns or the brillianc}^ of the colour. The}' are fond 

 of societ}', and worked in large parties, in open and temporary houses erected for the 

 purpose. Visiting one of these houses at Eimeo, I saw sixteen or twent}^ females all 

 employed. The queen sat in the midst, surrounded b}' several chief women, each with 

 a mallet in her hand, beating the bark that was spread before her. The queen worked 

 as diligentl}' and cheerfully as any present. 



"The spar or square piece of wood on which the bark is beaten, being hollow on 

 the under side, every stroke produces a loud sound, and the noise occasioned bj^ 

 sixteen or twenty mallets going at one time, was to me almost deafening; while the 



