90 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



ral confidence of residents, in respect to their seamanship and correct 

 judgment in nautical matters. One distant commercial enterprise had 

 been undertaken; which however in its result, proved unfortunate. 



In the midst of these advancements, the population is universally 

 conceded to be diminishing : and the scarcity of children, is a subject 

 of common remark ; especially as a few sequestered situations offer 

 an exception. The immoral tendency of European contact has doubt- 

 less contributed to the diminution ; but perhaps, sufficient stress has 

 not been laid on the drain of provisions, occasioned by the great influx 

 of foreign shipping ; for the group, it will be observed, yields only a 

 fixed quantity. The disuse of some former modes of taking fish, has 

 likewise deducted from the means of subsistence. According to John 

 Ely, an Englishman, who had resided here for " nearly twenty years : 

 in former times, the natives were decidedly less oppressed by the chiefs 

 and their retainers than at present. All could then procure meat or 

 fish, but now many are forced to go without. There is more ground 

 at present under cultivation, but the quantity of taro is less :" and the 

 latter article, it should be observed, forms peculiarly the support of the 

 native population. It had been ascertained, however, that of the large 

 number of married women belonginor to one of the churches at Hono- 

 lulu, "one only out of three had had children." 



All that I have thus far stated of the Hawaiians, relates more or 

 less directly, to the results of foreign influence. I shall now speak of 

 the aboriginal customs. 



From my first landing I was surprised at the scanty clothing of 

 many of the men and boys; their dress consisting often of a mere 

 sash, as with the Feejeeans ; except only, that the colour was not 

 fixed by fashion. The large-fruited variety of gourd or calabash, 

 was only seen here ; and tlie shells were in general use, as a substi- 

 tute for baskets, buckets, and chests. All burdens were carried by 

 means of the balance-beam ; and this Hindoo and Ancient Egyptian 

 method is common to all parts of Polynesia except New Zealand, but 

 is not practised at the Feejee Islands. 



The green and pleasant aspect of many of the valleys, was found to 

 be owing to aboriginal irrigation ; not, however, for the production of 

 upland crops, but to form artificial marshes and pools, for the culti- 

 vation of taro. These pools subserve a double purpose, being like- 

 wise used for keeping mullet ; the young fry of which are captured 

 along the coast, and by a course of management, are brought to live 



