164 POLYNESIAN CUSTOMS. 



As, however, I never heard any more of it, I sup- 

 pose it did not turn out so bad as was expected. 



Dr. Zollinger told me that the names of places 

 in Java were often changed by the natives in conse- 

 quence of any great sickness or other calamity hap- 

 pening there. This seems to be analogous to a 

 custom among the Polynesians of changing the 

 names of men or things on any great event happen- 

 ing to them.— (See Vancouver's Voyages, book 1st, 

 chap. 7th.) Another very striking custom in Java, 

 which I have not mentioned, is, that the bride and 

 bridegroom in the marriage procession are always 

 smeared over the upper part of the body and the 

 face and arms with a thick yellow paste. Now, in 

 the Hamoa or Navigators Islands the same practice 

 is kept up, and the bride especially is smeared with 

 sandal -wood oil and turmeric, making the skin deep 

 orange.* 



In the island of Rotuma, also (as described in a 

 paper contributed to the " United Service Journal," 

 August, 1831, by Mr. Bennett), both the bride and 

 bridegroom are said to be smeared over with yellow 

 paint. I have noticed other striking analogies be- 

 tween the Javanese and the Polynesians in the pre- 

 ceding pages, whenever we met with a custom or ob- 

 servance in the one resembling what I had read of 

 in the other. I have no doubt that a more intimate 

 acquaintance with the several people would discover 

 other resemblances still lingering, in spite of their 

 * See Mariner's Tonga Islands, vol. i. p. 162. 



