86 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



Samoa ; and I met with one instance of the loss of the nose. One of 

 the chiefs, Faatu, offered the first Polynesian example of corpulency. 



With regard to manufactures, the gathering of people from diffe- 

 rent quarters, had brought together a great many articles of foreign 

 make. We obtained a variety of Feejee war-clubs; and indeed, the 

 favourite curved Tonga club, appears to have been copied from a 

 Feejee model. We noticed two new canoes, built of separate pieces ; 

 but the presence of some Samoans, afforded a read 3^ explanation of the 

 circumstance; and tiie other small canoes were excavated from a 

 single trunk. The mode of propulsion, by vertical sculling, had also 

 been introduced from the Feejee Islands. 



Excluding articles of foreign or mixed origin, it may not be an easy 

 task to point out the proper Tonga style of workmanship. The 

 superior finish, over other Polynesian manufactures, is evidently 

 attributable to Feejee schooling. I would remark, however, that 

 wicker-work was employed more extensively than among the Fee- 

 jeeans; and that the large fans of a single palm-leaf, used by the 

 Tonga women, were not met with elsewhere : neither indeed, were 

 the canoe-houses; whicii on a smaller scale resembled the ship-houses 

 at our Navy Yards. 



The sea-going canoe, which is double, seems to be of genuine 

 Tonga model: though the circumstance, that these canoes are occa- 

 sionally met with at the Feejee Islands, has led to some confusion. 

 It appears, indeed, from the observation of traders, that they are 

 all built "at the Feejee Islands; but by Tonga people alone, who 

 make visits of several years' duration, for this special purpose." 



This then seems the foundation of the intercourse which has long 

 existed between the two groups; and as the Feejeeans are furthest 

 advanced in the arts, the Tonga people undergo a species of educa- 

 tion, and have even improved their knowledge of maritime affairs. 

 The result in other respects, has been humorously compared to the 

 advantages accruing to our own young men from a visit to Europe. 



From Tongataboo, the vessels of tlie Squadron proceeded to the 

 Feejee Islands : but I did not myself go to any of the outer islets, 

 where the Tonga people build their canoes. At the various points 

 visited on the two principal islands, I met with but one Polyne- 

 sian, (excepting those introduced by Europeans at Rewa and Mu- 

 thuata) ; this was a woman, seen at Mbua Bay, and the very fact of 

 her presence implied a tragedy. 



