BOWDITCH ISLAND. 29 



beating with an iron knife, making much noise, his face assuming a 

 contemplative expression, until he had done with his mummeries. 

 Strange as it may seem, he has many proselytes, and nearly all the 

 inhabitants of the district of Sagana are followers of his doctrine. 

 Their appearance contrasts very strongly with that of the Christian 

 villages, while the heathens are, to appearance, almost a different race 

 of people : the one with long hair, gathered in a knot on the top of 

 the head, and only clothed in the maro ; the other with short hair, 

 and dressed in a clean shirt and pareu. To strangers, both are 

 generally kind and hospitable, and continue the Samoan custom of 

 offering food to travellers as they pass through the village. 



Since our visit in 1839, Mr. Day had taken up his residence 

 within two miles of Malietoa's town, where Mr. Hale and Dr. 

 "Whittle spent an hour or two with him, and proceeded thence to 

 visit Malietoa. Near the new church, the house of Mole was pointed 

 out, in which he had adopted many of the conveniences introduced 

 by foreigners : the floor of his house was of boards, raised above the 

 ground, and his doors were made to turn on hinges. The interior 

 was divided by partitions into four rooms. A table and some rude 

 seats composed the furniture. How far this example will be followed 

 by the natives, time alone can determine. I believe that all those 

 who have examined and reflected upon the condition of the natives 

 of the South Sea islands, will be satisfied that it will be a very 

 desirable improvement, both for their comfort and health, if they can 

 be induced to abandon their modes of sleeping on the damp ground ; 

 and some endeavours have already been made to effect a change in 

 this respect, as one of the best means to prevent the diseases of the 

 climate, which are thought to arise principally from this cause. 



These gentlemen also visited Malietoa, who was still occupying 

 the same small house, directly opposite the fale-tele, in which I saw 

 him during my visit. On entering, they were greeted by his two 

 wives, the matronly Lauilupa, and Siona, the younger, both of whom 

 still maintained their fleshy appearance. They recognised Mr. Hale, 

 and gave him a warm greeting. The old king, who had been sleep- 

 ing on his divan or raised floor, now came forward. He appeared 

 greatly changed, and was scarcely to be recognised as the same 

 person. Instead of his dignified and upright carriage, which struck 

 us all so much at our former visit, his form had become meagre and 

 shrunken, and he was apparently bowed down with years, and 

 trembling with infirmities. 



