ELLICE’S AND KINGS MILL GROUP. 
41 
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 expo¬ 
sure to the sun by an additional mat over the shoulders. They were 
covered in many places with large brown freckles: their whole ap¬ 
pearance 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 “ takaithe 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 diamond 
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 ijeck, — a practice which attracted particular 
notice by their endeavour to keep it constantly in view, from which it 
was inferred, it might be with them a sign of amity and peace. In 
all, the lobe of the ear was bored, and distended to the size of an inch 
in diameter; around this they insert small rings of tortoise-shell, so 
neatly made that it is difficult to discern the place where they are 
joined. Many of them had shells and mother-of-pearl ornaments sus¬ 
pended round their necks. 
officers, while others thought it might have resulted from exposure to the sun, and moisture 
of the climate. 
D2 
VOL. V. 
6 
