TAHITI. 23 



luxuriate in a pair of duck trousers, and carry the pareu upon their 

 shoulders. 



The appearance of the dress of the women while at church, has 

 already been spoken of. On ordinary occasions, they wear the pareu 

 alone, but when dressed, put over it a loose dress, resembling a 

 night-gown, buttoned at the wrists, and confined in no other place. 

 Relics of their ancient dress may still occasionally be seen in wreaths 

 of flowers around the head, and in the hair. The hau is a sort of 

 rim made of pandanus, and when it has flowers beneath, it gives 



TAHITIAN GIRL, WITH THE HAU. 



a pleasing and rural look to the women, to whom it also affords a 

 convenient and easily-procured protection from the sun. The wreaths 

 are usually composed of the Cape Jasmine and Rosa Sinensis, the 

 latter of which is often stuck through the lobes of their ears, and in 

 their glossy black hair. 



The natives of both sexes seem passionately fond of flowers, but 

 the use of these in dress has been discouraged by their teachers, who 

 have taught them that such vanities are unbecoming to Christians. 

 I am at a loss to understand why so innocent a pleasure should not 

 have been encouraged rather than discountenanced. In conformity 

 with this opinion, the absence of flowers around the missionaries' 

 dwellings is universal, and cannot fail to be remarked in a climate 

 where the plants most admired in their own country, as exotics, are of 

 almost spontaneous growth. 



Cooking and eating occupy but a small portion of their time. The 

 latter indeed is performed with more of the air of a business which 

 requires despatch, than any thing else they do. Their food consists 

 principally of bread-fruit, taro, banana, vi-apple (Spondias), oranges, 



