T U T U I L A. 85 



Polygamy, which formerly was practised to a great extent, still 

 exists among those who have not been converted. 



Circumcision is practised among them. 



They carry their children in the same singular manner on the hip, 

 as was shown in wood-cut of the low archipelago. They are early 

 betrothed, without regard to age, the girl being saa, or tabooed, until 

 of marriageable age. During the intervening time, all kinds of native 

 property are accumulated, such as mats, &c, for the bridal day. 

 Two days previous to it, the inhabitants of the district are gathered 

 together for feasting and dancing. On the third day, the bride is 

 produced before the assembled multitude, and the ceremony attendant 

 on marriage that was customary among the Jews performed. After 

 the marriage had been consummated, the dowry was exhibited, and 

 each article being held up, it was proclaimed by whom it was 

 presented ; the multitude, having consumed all the eatables, and ex- 

 hausted their strength in rioting and debauchery, dispersed. 



Infanticide has never been practised on this island. 



I have seldom seen a more devout or attentive collection of people 

 than I observed at times in the church meeting, which was held in 

 the council-house at Pago-pago; the new church was undergoing 

 alterations; for on its being completed, it was found it would not 

 accommodate the congregation, when they determined to enlarge it. 



Upon the conclusion of a long service, they were observed to divide 

 themselves into three parties; one remaining in the church, and 

 the other two repairing to different buildings. The object of this 

 was, that they might listen to instructions from their native teachers 

 explanatory of the sermon, and also receive exhortations to put away 

 all that is unbecoming to the Christian character. The afternoon is 

 employed in further explanations and examinations by the missiona- 

 ries. The native missionaries have also meetings on Fridays. 



Their mode of singing hymns is peculiar, the whole mass joining 

 in some parts, with all the lungs they could muster. This exercise 

 appeared to afford them great delight. The congregation were 

 mostly dressed in tapas, or clothed in one sort of garment or other ; 

 but the person who attracted our attention most, was the consort of 

 Pomale. From being the wife of the most influential personage, she 

 had received more presents from us than any other ; and she 

 endeavoured, on this occasion, to display on her person the greater 

 part, if not all, that she had thus acquired. These consisted of a red 

 calico gown, four or five petticoats of different colours, woollen socks, 



vol. ii. 22 



