THE PAPUxVN RACE. 



149 



in Feejeeaii taste, consisted in an abatement of the excessive fondness 

 for flowers, which is manifested by the Polynesians. 



Many differences from the Polynesians, involving even traits of cha- 

 racter, may be traced to another physical cause ; to the harshness of 

 the skin. The Feejeean does not permit himself to be handled ; but 

 there is a mode by which the quality of the skin may be conveniently 

 examined. Indeed, I was often amused at the readiness with which 

 the people would present themselves to have their faces touched with 

 vermilion : the fears of the children would vanish, and grave-looking 

 dames and their haughty lords, would submit to and approve the 

 process. 



The Feejeeans, again, unlike the Polynesians, rarely anoint them- 

 selves with cocoa-nut oil; but I saw this practised in one or two 

 instances. A woman of rank, who was awaiting the return of her 

 husband, had her face marked with irregular lines of clay. I heard 

 nothing of the practice of shampooing ; though it is true, I did not 

 make particular inquiries on the subject. In caressing their children, 

 the Feejeeans agree with the Polynesians, in touching noses, and not 

 the lips. 



The balance-beam is absent ; and leaving aside the example of the 

 Polynesians, the circumstance will be found to tally with the practice 

 of the Hindoos and ancient Egyptians ; for the Feejeean men are not 

 the regular carriers of burdens. The armlets (made of the outer rim 

 of the large Trochus), although worn by the men, offer also a seeming 

 connexion with the Hindoos and Arabs. I found the lobe of the ear 

 perforated, in both men and women, the opening being sometimes 

 enlarged to about an inch in diameter. The necklace of small shells, 

 was said to be "reserved for women of rank." 



The Feejeeans practise a remarkable method of climbing cocoa 

 palms. By applying the soles of the feet to the stem, with a hand on 

 either side, they literally walk up on all fours : a feat which I have 

 never seen accomplished by persons of a different physical race. 



In addition to the Polynesian implements of war, the Feejeeans use 

 a short missile club ; which may be regarded as the national instru- 

 ment of assassination. The men habitually wear one, stuck in the 

 belt behind. The bow is used in warfare by the Feejeeans; and they 

 have great skill in throwing the javelin ; but their battles are princi- 

 pally decided by their favourite weapon, the large heavy club. 



Among the musical instruments, one not previously seen, (but 

 well known in the East Indies,) the syrinx or Pipe of Pan, made its 



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