THE MALAY RACE. 



77 



of a " collection of remarkably crooked sticks, having been formerly 

 kept near one of the Spirit-houses." 



The property at our place of residence was regarded as i-afe, so far 

 as the people of the island were concerned ; but some apprehensions 

 were expressed by the natives, concerning a stranger, a Hawaiian, from 

 whom however we did not suffer loss. On the day of our departure, 

 we received a visit from several of the belles of the village, arrayed 

 in their best attire, and dripping with scent; d oil ; but our attendants 

 soon drove them away, considering with some truth that the presents 

 they might receive, would be so much abstracted from their own just 

 dues. I had formed some acquaintances among this people, a com- 

 munity that dwell together and love one another, and on parting, I 

 felt regrets not experienced at any other place we visited. 



The ten days spent at the island of Tutuila, were not marked by 

 any particular incident; except the arrival of three canoes from Upolii, 

 with streamers flying, and the men singing or rather shouting in 

 chorus. They had been expected, from the wind having recently 

 changed to the westward ; an occurrence it was said, that rarely takes 

 place without bringing visiters. This practice of visiting had been 

 discouraged by the missionaries : formerly it was much more frequent, 

 so that some individuals would quarter themselves altogether on the 

 hospitality of the different districts. 



In one respect, the Western differ remarkably from the Eastern 

 Polynesians ; they are by no means a licentious people. Possibly 

 something may be due to the indirect influence of the neighbouring 

 Feejeeans ; but there was every appearance at Samoa, of this social 

 condition being spontaneous and directly conformable to nature. 

 "What will be the result of European intercourse, after the secret 

 shall be made known, that it is possible to hoard up property, or to 

 change its form at will, remains to be developed. 



Ophthalmia, resulting usually in the loss of but a single eye, was 

 extremely common, in both young and aged persons ; and I have 

 never visited any other place where there were so many humpbacks. 

 The oedematous leg was again common ; but I saw only a single 

 instance, and heard of but one more, of ulceration of the nose. 



The implements and manufactures of the Samoa Islands, may 

 readily be distinguished by the style of workmanship. Rugs, which 

 are made of vegetable fibre, and sometimes stained yellow, seem 

 peculiar to this group. The javelins are very rudely made, though 

 the barbs give them a formidable appearance. Once only I saw the 



20 



