• ETHNOLOGY OF THE PRESENT DAY. 295 



rounding ocean, and upon the high mountains is even temperate. Hence, 

 tropic plants, as well as those of temperate climates, thrive in the most 

 luxuriant abundance on these paradisiacal islands. For this reason, the 

 inhabitants obtained with easy labor their trifling necessaries of life, and 

 lived in prosperity and happiness until the Europeans obtruded upon them 

 by force a new belief, and robbed them of the enjoyment of life. Since 

 1815, Pomare II., Queen of Otahiti, with the assistance of the missionaries, 

 has drawn up a code of laws, which has gradually increased through addi- 

 tions. Since 1825, there has existed a kind of assembly of representatives, 

 to which the different districts of the island send delegates chosen by the 

 people. By this means, the missionaries, it is true, have secured liberty 

 and property to the mass of the population, but nevertheless have intro- 

 duced many regulations that militate too greatly against the national cha- 

 racter to lead to a good result. 



The baubles formerly tendered by sailors to the natives for the productions 

 of their country no longer satisfy them ; articles of clothing and money are 

 now demanded, and even the latter is not taken in full when not quite 

 bright and handsome. They are ver}'' avaricious, and yet reproach with 

 avarice every person who will not give them enough. Men of rank are 

 arrayed in a motley mixture of European and domestic dress. The latter 

 resembles, upon the whole, that seen in the Friendly Islands. With trifling 

 exceptions, the dwelling-houses are still as they were at the time of Cook ; 

 bearing some resemblance to what we call sheds, and having a thatched 

 roof supported by posts and bamboo poles standing close alongside of each 

 other. The floor is always strewn with hay, which soon becomes disgust- 

 ing from dirt and moisture, and is only renewed when the evaporation 

 becomes too intolerable. A chest of drawers or a bedstead is sometimes 

 found in a corner of the apartment ; but little use is generally made of 

 household furniture, and these people prefer sleeping upon mats spread 

 out upon straw. In general, they pursue only such employments as are 

 absolutely necessary to the support of life, or with which they can satisfy 

 their vanity. In their huts they lie stretched lazily out, playing upon the 

 jew's-harp, braiding straw hats, or making ear-rings or finger-rings of 

 small glass beads. 



Dancing was formerly one of the amusements most enjoyed by them, and 

 the attire of the female dancers was peculiar and fantastic. A wide petti- 

 coat surrounded the lower part of the body, and a piece of stuff bound 

 below the breast, around the waist, formed upon the back two large plaited 

 wings. At present the law forbids dancing. Belcher, one of the latest 

 visitors to these islands, had, however, the opportunity of seeing a dance of 

 this description in the house of the regent. He says with regard to it: 



" She (the regent) commanded that a dance be performed for our 

 amusement. This gratification we had scarcely dared to expect, as such 

 representations are prohibited by law under a heavy penalty, as well to 

 performers as spectators, and for the same reason it was necessary that 

 everything should be arranged quietly, and the sounds of the vivo or bam- 

 boo flute muffled, so that they might not peradventure reach the ears of an 



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