ELLICE'S AND KINGS MILL GROUP. 43 



advanced, the scurf having disappeared and left the skin marked 

 with circular and wavy lines, which the natives called "tafa."* 

 About a fifth part of the natives seen were affected in this manner; 

 and the skin of these was much lighter than in any Polynesian race 

 they had met with. Among the natives were two albinos; the colour 

 of their skin was of a reddish white, the hair of a flaxen white, 

 with light-blue eyes, so weak as to oblige them to use a shade, and 

 to keep their eyes constantly half closed. Their persons seemed also 

 to be quite tender, and they avoided exposure to the sun by an 

 additional mat over the shoulders. They were covered in many 

 places with large brown freckles : their whole appearance was any 

 thing but pleasing. The account they gave of themselves was, that 

 their parents were the same as the rest of the islanders, and that 

 their other children were dark. 



The tattooing was in great variety on the body; but in all, the arms 

 were tattooed alike, for there it varied only in quantity. On the body 

 it was frequently extended across the back and to the abdomen ; and 

 in many, the bodies and thighs were tattooed down as far as the knee. 

 Many of the natives designated the figures as intended to represent 

 pigeons (lupe). 



These islanders wore three kinds of mats, made of the pandanus- 

 leaf : one was similar to that described at Ellice's Group and worn 

 as a maro ; another was worn as a girdle of thick fringe, from eight 

 inches to a foot broad, tied about the loins so as to cover in part the 

 maro : to this they gave the name of " takai ;" the last was used as a 

 wrapper about the body and legs. The fringes of these mats were 

 all dyed of various colours, and the wrapper was tinged on one side 

 in large patterns of divers colours, some in squares, others in dia- 

 mond forms, which at a little distance had a pretty effect. These 

 mats were worn for different purposes; and the latter seemed to 

 belong to the higher or privileged orders, as the only person who 

 was seen to wear one was the chief. A great many of these mats 

 were brought off for sale, and bought. 



On their approach to the ship, every one was seen to have a cocoa- 

 nut leaflet tied around the neck, — a practice which attracted parti- 

 cular notice by their endeavour to keep it constantly in view, from 



* A name the Samoans apply to the marks they burn on the skin for mourning. 

 This was imputed to the effects of a disease somewhat allied to the ringworm, by the 

 medical officers, while others thought it might have resulted from exposure to the sun, 

 and moisture of the climate. 



