74 CUSTOMS OF THE FEEJEE GROUP. 
and muscular; while the lower orders manifest the meagerness arising 
from laborious service and scanty nourishment. Their complexion 
lies, in general, between that of the black and copper-coloured races, 
although instances of both extremes are to be met with, thus indicating 
a descent from two different stocks. One of these, the copper-coloured, 
is no doubt the same as that whence the Tongese are derived.* 
None of them equal the natives of Tonga in beauty of person. 
The faces of the greater number are long, with a large mouth, good 
and well-set teeth, and a well-formed nose. Instances, however, are 
by no means rare, of narrow and high foreheads, flat noses, and thick 
lips, with a broad short chin; still, they have nothing about them of 
the negro type. Even the frizzled appearance of the hair, which is 
almost universal, and which at first sight seems a distinct natural 
characteristic, I was, after a long acquaintance with their habits, in- 
clined to ascribe to artificial causes. Besides the long bushy beards 
and mustaches, which are always worn by the chiefs, they have a 
great quantity of hair on their bodies. This, with the peculiar propor- 
tion between their thighs and the calves of their legs, brings them nearer 
to the whites than any of the Polynesian races visited by us. 
The eyes of the Feejeeans are usually fine, being black and pene- 
trating. Some, however, have them red and bloodshot, which may 
probably be ascribed to ava drinking. 
The expression of their countenances is usually restless and watch- 
ful; they are observing and quick in their movements. 
The hair of the boys is cropped close, while that of the young girls 
is allowed to grow. In the latter it is to be seen naturally arranged in 
tight cork-screw locks, many inches in length, which fall in all direc- 
tions from the crown of the head. The natural colour of the hair of 
the girls can hardly be ascertained, for they are in the habit of acting 
upon it by lime and pigments, which make it white, red, brown, or 
black, according to the taste of the individual. Mr. Drayton procured 
a very correct camera lucida drawing of a girl about sixteen years of 
age, which will give the reader a better idea of the females of that age 
than any description: she is represented in the cut. 
When the boys grow up, their hair is no longer cropped, and great 
pains is taken to spread it out into a mop-like form. The chiefs, in 
particular, pay great attention to the dressing of their heads, and for 
this purpose all of them have barbers, whose sole occupation is the 
care of their masters’ heads. The duty of these functionaries is held 
* The question of the origin of the Feejeeans will be found ably illustrated in the report 
of our philologist, Mr. Hale. 
etalon 
