THE MALAY RACE. 



87 



On the occasion of Tanoa's visit to the Vincennes, I remarked that 

 the royal canoe exceeded in dimensions the accompanying sea-going 

 Tonga canoe : and that the latter contained among the crew, three or 

 four Feejeeans. It was observed also, with some surprise, that 

 although the Tonga men appear smooth-chinned at home, many had 

 here managed to foster considerable beards; in imitation of the fashion 

 of the new country. During the interview, Tubou-totai, the Tonga 

 chief, acted as ' secretary,' or mouth-piece to Tanoa. His advice on 

 various occasions, and general influence with Tanoa, were much dis- 

 trusted by the European residents. They, however, asserted " tliat 

 he was the rightful king- of Tonga, though now excluded through the 

 management of King George ;" and indeed, the existing state of affairs 

 in the Tonga Group, was evidently favourable to a designing aspi- 

 rant. Tubou-totai, although there were no external indications, was 

 known to be partly of Feejee descent; and when it is considered, that 

 'royal blood' is counted by the female line throughout the Pacific 

 islands, the fact will be found to have further interest. 



In conclusion, I would refer to the work of Mariner; which, al- 

 though seeming like a romance, rather than a narrative of the realities 

 of life, was universally regarded by the missionaries as strictly and 

 remarkably accurate. Our own experience was in every respect con- 

 firmatory ; even to his account of the Feejee Islands, which, it should 

 be observed, was entirely derived from Polynesian testimony. In 

 personal character, the Polynesian appears to advantage over the 

 Feejeean; and the men of Tonga, may probably be regarded as the 

 most splendid set of ' barbarians' at present in existence. 



THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, 



After leaving the Feejee Islands, the Vincennes sailed through the 

 Phcenix coral group; and in September, 1840, arrived at the Ha- 

 waiian or Sandwich Islands. This group is situated far to the north- 

 ward of the other Polynesian islands, and is remote from other lands, 

 holding a singularly central position in the North Pacific. My stay 

 was a prolonged one, of seven months, (including the duration of the 

 second visit); but my remarks will Ije restricted, especially as so 

 much has already been published about these ishuids, b}' various in- 

 telligent observers. 



After the fertility of the other Polynesian islands, I was unpre- 



