PAUMOTU GROUP. 
353 
Vv 
MODE OF CARRYING CHILDREN. 
the old clothes shops of one of our cities had been distributed among 
them : storm pea-jackets, light summer pantaloons, vests, capes of 
overcoats, bell-crowned hats, checked and red flannel shirts, most of 
which were torn or worn threadbare in many places, whilst the 
women had bedecked themselves with cocoa-nut oil and turmeric 
giving them a bright orange cast. Their heads were adorned with 
flowers, and they evidently considered themselves in their holiday 
attire. They had an abundance of pigs and poultry The rich 
soil on the upper and interior part of the island produced taro (Arum 
esculentum), sweet potatoes (Convolvulus Batatas), melons, yams, 
and some tobacco, while the bread-fruit and cocoa-nuts were hanging 
m clusters oyer their dwellings. They had also an abundance of 
crabs and fish; on our landing we found them devouring the latter 
with great gusto, raw, but the former they roasted. Here we ao-ain 
saw printed copies of several portions of the Scriptures, and found 
that many of them could read and write well. No spears, clubs 
or warlike instruments were to be seen, and when I asked for 
them as matters of curiosity, they said they had no arms except two 
muskets, which were pointed out to me, hanging up under the eaves 
of the house. The native missionary, a man about fifty years of 
age, told me that in times past they had "all war," but now all was 
VOL. I. 89 
