PAUMOTU GROUP. 



339 



They were a fine-looking race, though forming rather a motley group. 

 The manner of carrying their children particularly attracted our 

 notice; it had a pleasing effect. We found it afterwards practised 

 throughout Polynesia. Many questions were put to me, and now and 

 then I could hear a voice saying, " Me ship, captain ; me go Tahiti." 

 Ml were more or less clothed in the cast-off garments of whites, and not 

 very particular whether they possessed one, two, or parts of garments, 

 as long as it appeared different from their own tapa, and of foreign 

 fashion. This appeared more ridiculous, for on our first landing few 

 were to be seen except in their native dresses, but shortly afterwards 

 one might have believed the contents of all the old clothes shops of one 



^SSP 



MODE OF CARRYING CHILDREN. 



of our cities had been distributed among them : storm pea-jackets, 

 light summer pantaloons, vests, capes of overcoats, bell-crowned hats, 

 checked and red flannel shirts, most of which were torn or worn 

 threadbare in many places; whilst the women had bedecked them- 

 selves with cocoa-nut oil and turmeric, giving them a bright orange 

 cast. Their heads were adorned with flowers, and they evidently 

 considered themselves in their holiday attire. They had an abundance 

 of pigs and poultry. The rich soil on the upper and interior part of 

 the island produced taro (Arum esculentum), sweet-potatoes (Convol- 

 vulus batatas), melons, yams, and some tobacco, while the bread-fruit 

 and cocoa-nuts were hanging in clusters over their dwellings. They 

 had also an abundance of crabs and fish ; on our landing we found 



