THE PAPUAN RACE. 



147 



upon landing, they proved to be all Feejeeans. There seems, indeed, 

 to be much variation among individuals; and on comparing the 

 darkest Polynesians v^dth the lightest Feejeeans, there will probably 

 be found no essential difference in the shade of colour. I sometimes 

 thought I perceived a purplish tinge in the Feejeean complexion, 

 particularly when contrasted in the sunlight with green foliage ; and 

 the epithet of ' purple men,' might be given to this race, if that of ' red 

 men' be retained for the Malayan. 



The circumstance that first tended to show the diversity from 

 the Negro, was the personal appearance of the children of resident 

 Whites; for they were evidently not ' mulattoes.' The hair of the 

 Feejeean girls also contributed to remove the Negro aspect. The 

 ashy colour, indeed, was extraneous ; but the hanging locks, although 

 always somewhat crisped, proved that the erect mode of wearing 

 the hair and its woolly appearance in grown persons, were partly the 

 work of art. Inquiry being thus awakened, careful observation soon 

 led to the conviction, that the Feejeeans belong to a peculiar physical 

 race. 



As evidence of the prevailing stoutness of limb, the instance may be 

 mentioned, in which the measure of a Feejeean's leg was found to en- 

 circle three united of three of our men. Another physical peculiarity 

 was remarked, in the frequent examples of unusual shortness of neck. 

 The tallest Feejeean met with, measured six feet six inches; and 

 he was tolerably well proportioned, though more slender than his 

 companions. It was stated on good authority, that there were Fee- 

 jeeans who exceeded in size any of the Tonga men ; but so far as my 

 own observation extended, the average stature was less. 



One of our first inquiries on landing, regarded the safety of tra- 

 velling ; and we were informed, that "we should be entirely secure 

 within the territory of the chief of Levuka." It appeared, however, 

 that his dominion included part only of the coast of this small island ; 

 while the Interior was held by independent mountain chiefs. 



On my first excursion to the woods, at no great distance above the 

 village, I came upon the lair of a ' mountaineer;' an impression left 

 on the herbage, by reclining to watch a small crop of upland taro. 

 The man had fled, and with the other mountaineers of tlie vicinity, 

 kept out of sight; having been forewarned, " by putting the ear to the 

 ground," of the approach of footsteps. Next to the indiscretion of 

 travelling alone in these islands, the visiter soon learns, not to precede 

 his guide. 



