THE MALAY RACE. 



73 



The Vincennes touched at Aimeo ; situated about twelve miles from 

 Taheiti, and forming a natural dependence of that island. It is ex- 

 cessively rugged, and some of its mountain ridges are even perforated. 

 On ascending one of them, I again met with fehi groves. 



The Vincennes afterwards passed among the other high islands of 

 the group, and we saw Huaheine, Tahaa, and Borabora; but we had 

 no intercourse with the inhabitants, neither were we at any time very 

 near the land. 



SAMOA. 



Passing Bellinghausen and Rose, two coral islands already noticed, 

 we, on the 8th of October, reached Manua ; the summit of which was 

 at the time concealed by clouds. Together with the neighbouring 

 double islet, it is somewhat detached from the remainder of the group ; 

 and although the distance is only about sixty miles, there appears to 

 be very little intercourse. The inhabitants have always been some- 

 what noted for their warlike character; but we found them in every 

 respect, nationally identical with the other Samoans. 



The name of ' Navigator Islands' was suggested to the French 

 discoverer, by the graceful shape and superior workmanship of the 

 canoes. These are formed of irregular pieces, sewed together by 

 means of a raised interior margin; a construction which, at these 

 islands, is by no means a matter of necessity. The outrigger is 

 placed nearer than usual to the body of the canoe, so that they overset 

 rather easily ; an inconvenience which however is not much regarded 

 by the natives. 



We landed on Manua, and met with a friendly reception ; but the 

 majority of persons seen were observed to be women. The usual Sa- 

 moan costume consists of a cincture of the leaves of the Ti plant (Dra- 

 coena), divided into slips, so as to form fringe : the yellow-leaved va- 

 riety, makes a somewhat gaudy appearance ; and indeed this style 

 of dress seems well adapted to set off a fine figure in either sex. Hos- 

 tilities had but recently ceased between the two districts of this small 

 island. 



A New Zealander applied to us for a writing-pencil, and called 

 himself a ' missionary.' We did not meet with another instance of 

 this profession among his countrymen, nor among the Hawaiians, 

 although they are equally scattered over the Pacific. It is chiefly to 

 Taheitians, that the world is indebted for the great change recently 

 effected throughout Polynesia. 



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