132 S A 310 AN GROUP. 



affords some alleviation, and their practice is far preferable to that 

 of the natives, who always abandon to their fate those who are 

 very ill. 



Among the few curative means that the natives do employ is a sort 

 of shampooing. This is performed by rubbing the body and limbs 

 with the hands, at first gently, and gradually more and more roughly. 

 These manipulations are applied as a restorative after fatigue, and to 

 alleviate pain. For the former purpose they are effectual, and often 

 abate, if they do not remove, the latter. 



Among all the Polynesian islanders, the men of Samoa rank, in 

 point of personal appearance, second only to the Tongese ; and many 

 specimens of manly beauty are to be seen among them. As much 

 cannot be said of the women, who are rather ill-formed and stout. 

 When very young, however, some of them are pretty, and their 

 colour is light, being little darker than that of a brunette or South 

 American Spaniard. The girls are lively, have a good expression of 

 countenance, and, what is rare in Polynesia, have some degree of 

 bashfulness. 



The average height of the men is five feet ten inches, and some of 

 the chiefs whose limbs are well rounded, would be called fine-looking 

 men in any part of the world. Their features are not in general 

 prominent, but are well marked and distinct, and are all referable to 

 a common type. The nose is short and wide at the base ; the mouth 

 large and well filled with white and strong teeth, with full and well- 

 turned lips ; the eyes black, and often large and bright ; the forehead 

 narrow and high ; and the cheek-bones prominent. It was observed 

 that some of them had the eye turned up at the outer corner like the 

 Chinese. Of beard, they have but little, but their hair is strong, 

 straight, and very black ; instances, however, were observed, where it 

 had been turned to a carroty red, by washing it with lime-water for 

 the purpose of destroying vermin (Pediculus humanus). 



Little difference was perceived in the shape of the heads of the 

 two sexes, for observing which there is a good opportunity among 

 those who have embraced Christianity, who shave off their hair. 

 The general form of the skull is broad and short, and is highest near 

 the crown. 



When the islands were first visited, the natives were represented 

 as ferocious and treacherous. This arose in a great degree from the 

 bloody conflict they had with the boats of La Perouse's squadron; 

 and the opinion was kept up by the just resentment they in some cases 



