24 



TAHITI. 



soon as committed, and for a small reward they will become informers 

 against their nearest relatives and friends. 



I have spoken of the incongruous character of the dress of the 

 females. Among the men this is not as strongly marked as it is said 

 formerly to have been, and they are no longer content with cast-off 

 clothing. Those who can obtain it are dressed in sailor's garb. 

 Others wear around their bodies, a wrapper called pareu, which 

 extends to the calf of the leg. This is now usually made of blue 

 cotton cloth, and with it some wear a cotton shirt of gaudy colours. 

 Others luxuriate in a pair of duck trousers, and carry the pareu upon 

 their shoulders. 



The appearance of the dress of the women while at church, has 

 already been spoken of. On ordinary occasions, they wear the pareu 

 alone, but when dressed, put over it a loose dress, resembling a 

 night-gown, buttoned at the wrists and confined in no other place. 

 Relics of their ancient dress may still occasionally be seen in wreaths 

 of flowers around the head, and in the hair. The hau is a sort of 

 rim made of pandanus, and when it has flowers beneath it gives a 



TAHITIAN Gllll., WITH THE HAU. 



pleasing and rural look to the women, to whom it also affords a 

 convenient and easily procured protection from the sun. The 

 wreaths are usually composed of the Cape Jasmine and Rosa Sinen- 

 sis, the latter of which is often stuck through the lobes of their ears, 

 and in their glossy black hair. 



The natives of both sexes seem passionately fond of flowers, but 

 the use of these in dress has been discouraged by their teachers, who 

 have taught them that such vanities are unbecoming to Christians. 



