FEEJEE GROUP. 373 



a " snack." During the afternoon, they remain sleeping and lounging 

 about, and the higher classes undergo the pleasing labour of the 

 toilet, which occupies a large portion of their time. When this is 

 over, they resort to the mbure, pay visits, or lounge about, looking at 

 what is to be seen (sara sara). In the evening, they take their prin- 

 cipal meal (vakasi ya levu), over which they spend much time. 



In their toilet, the hair claims the first attention among all classes. 

 The barbers of the chiefs are always important personages in their 

 suite, and the size to which they contrive to dress out their masters' 

 hair is almost incredible. In one case, the bush of hair was mea- 

 sured, at Ovolau, and found to be sixty-two inches in circumference. 

 The more hair they have, and the wider its mass is distended, the 

 more they pride themselves upon it, and the more they are admired 

 by their countrymen. The women exhibit droll fancies in the crop- 

 ping of their children's hair, always leaving one long lock, which is 

 well frizzled, and stands out from some part of the head, giving an 

 uncouth appearance to the boy or girl. The hair of the men is cut in 

 various shapes. Some clip it close behind, and allow it to project in 

 front. Others crop it short, in a band about three inches wide, 

 passing across the head from ear to ear. In general, the prevailing 

 fashion is to have it cut round. They have a process by which they 

 destroy the colour of their hair, and nine out of ten individuals will 

 be found with some part of their hair brown or red, as it may have 

 suited their fancy. They are obliged to have recourse to some solu- 

 tion to destroy the quantity of vermin that infests these prodigious 

 mops, so thick that no comb can possibly penetrate; and one of the 

 most disgusting customs of these natives is the search after the insect, 

 and sharing in the banquet that results from the hunt. One-third of the 

 vermin is awarded to the searcher, and this occupation is constantly 

 going on in their villages, when they are at rest. No greater insult, 

 I was told, could be offered a native than to appropriate more of these 

 spoils than the allotted share. It is also considered a great insult to 

 search a child's head, as that is considered entirely the father and 

 mother's perquisite. 



Cocks' feathers are frequently worn in the hair, and chiefs wear a 

 band of hibiscus bark around their heads, in which the gay feathers 

 of the paroquet are stuck with the gum of the bread-fruit tree. 



Young girls and virgins allow their hair to grow in long locks, of 

 which some have many, and others but few, according to their fancy, 

 and are frequently decked with flowers. Their curls are naturally 



vol. in. 94 



