G4 



that's it ; 



The practice of tattooing pre- 

 vails with most of the South Sea 



Islanders, 4. The skin is stained 

 by indenting or pricking the flesh 



with a small instrument made of 



bone, cut into short teeth, which 

 punctures are filled with a dark 

 blue or blackish mixture. In 

 some cases only the cheeks, arms, 

 and breasts, are thus ornamented. 

 But the chiefs, 4, are generally 

 stained and tattooed in a very 

 curious manner, from head to 

 foot. 



Tattooing, among savages, answers as a sub- 

 stitute for dress. It is generally performed by- 

 people who make it a regular business. The 

 age at which it takes place is from fourteen to 

 eighteen. The colouring matter is obtained 

 from the kernel of the candle-nut. Tatooing 

 is expensive, as the operator receive sa hiuh 

 price fur his labour, consisting of the finest 

 mats, siapo, and other things, as agreed upon 

 before the operation is begun. Hence, only 

 the chiefs, and the superior people, are highly 

 tattooed. 



Most of the islanders of Poly- 

 nesia are of a lively disposi- 

 tion ; among their various amuse- 

 ments, dancing is much cherished, 

 and the women dress themselves 

 with considerable taste for this 

 amusement. 

 In a dance 

 performed 

 before Cap- 

 tain Cook by 

 a young wo- : 

 man of Ota- 

 heite, 5, shej 

 wore large j 

 frills, 6, a- _ 

 round her I 

 waist, a long j 

 flowing robe, I 



7, a cap or- 

 namented 

 with flowers, 



8, and her breasts were 

 covered with rosettes, 9. 



The war canoes of Otaheite, 10, 

 are of very formidable construc- 

 tion, being built of massive beam s 

 of wood, 12, sharpened at th*:ir 



290. 



neat! v 



