16 BOWDITCH ISLAND, 



terror. In contrast with the old queen, the younger females appeared 

 very good-looking and well shaped. 



The natives all showed a constant anxiety for the departure of our 

 people, frequently repeating expressions which were interpreted that 

 they were tired of their company ; but all this time they carried on an 

 active trade, and exhibited their thieving disposition very strongly. 

 The officers lost many small articles, which were pilfered very dexter- 

 ously ; and if any things were dropped or suffered to be out of sight a 

 moment, they were instantly concealed or made away with. Mr. Rich, 

 when near the boat, gave his botanical collecting-case to a native to 

 hold, who, the moment his back was turned, ran off with it ; and it 

 required a hard chase to overtake him. 



In one part, of the village, two drums were seen: one of these was 

 a trough resembling those at the Feejee and Tonga Islands ; the other 

 was a cylindrical frame, set upright in the ground, with a piece of 

 shark's skin drawn tightly over it, like those of Hawaii: the latter was 

 beaten like our drums, with two sticks, and was intended as an accom- 

 paniment to dancing ; for when it was beaten, the natives began that 

 exercise. The motions of the dance were similar to those observed in 

 other parts of Polynesia, only more varied. 



The younger portion of the community, of both sexes, were naked ; 

 while those more advanced in life wore the maro, which in the men 

 was from six to eighteen inches wide. Some of these were very fine 

 in texture, and bordered with fringe. The maro worn by the elder 

 and it was presumed married women, consisted of a great number of 

 leaves tied to a cord, and then slit into fine threads. These were kept 

 well oiled and perfectly pliable, and formed a huge apron, resembling 

 a bundle of straw tied around the loins : it was almost impossible 

 to conceive a more unwieldy or ridiculous dress ; its weight was 

 about fifty pounds, which may give some idea of its size ; if it were 

 rolled up, it would never have been recognised as a part of female 

 attire. 



Their ornaments consisted of necklaces of shells and bone, ear-rings 

 of the same, and false curls in front. It was observed, that their hair 

 appeared to be thinner than that of the other islanders, though their 

 heads did not approach to baldness. 



In manufactures they seemed quite apt. They had two kinds of 

 mats, the one about four feet square for sleeping, the other for clothing: 

 they evinced some ingenuity in these, as well as in their fish-hooks, 

 which were made of bone, shark's teeth, and shell; many of these were 

 small and remarkably neat. They also had saws and files, formed 

 of shark's skin stretched on sticks, which in their hands were quite 



