THE MALAY RACE. 



83 



saw neither humpbacks, dropsical leg, nor any instance of ulceration 

 of the nose ; neither, indeed, was ophthalmia frequent, though I 

 sometimes remarked defects in the eye. 



The Vincennes left New Zealand on the 6th of April. And on the 

 14th, we obtained a distant view of Sundaij Island, which is high and 

 rocky, but of limited extent; and which, according to report, is inha- 

 bited only by a small party of Europeans. 



TONGATABOO. 



On the 22d, having re-entered the Tropics, we were among the 

 scattered Tonga Group. Eoa was first seen, a continuous lump of 

 land " about six hundred feet in elevation ; and according to report, 

 the highest island of the group, except perhaps the active volcano of 

 Tofooa." The light green appearance of its surface, was stated to be 

 owing to " clearings and yam-patches ;" and with the glass, we could 

 distinguish scattered Casuarina trees (iron- wood or club-wood), but 

 no huts, and only a single native on the beach. 



Politically, Eoa forms an appendage of the neighbouring larger 

 island of Tongataboo ; which is of very dissimilar aspect, and consists 

 of a low level surface of coral. The ' Sacred Tonga,' for that is the 

 meaning of the name, has long exercised, and may probably continue 

 to exercise important influence in Polynesian affairs. 



The soil now poured forth its fruits in abundance, and the foliage 

 had resumed the freshness of eternal youth ; but this transition was 

 not more striking than the moral change, from the morose and selfish 

 New Zealander to the free and open-hearted Polynesian of the tropics. 

 We looked with pleasure on the numerous children, the lively and 

 good-humoured countenances, the fulness of cheek, the well-turned 

 limbs, and the superior development of frame. In addition to the 

 usual costume, the men were observed to have their faces gaudily 

 painted with various colours; and some wore a band of yellow flowers 

 over the forehead, or fillets of dried leaves around the limbs and 

 shoulders. The gay appearance, was the ' pomp and circumstance' 

 of war. 



The peculiar curved club, usually carried on the shoulder, was 



