82 



porter's journal. 



eluded also) of water, as I could perceive no rivulets* 

 We landed in the western cove, near the village, and at 

 the mouth of a beautiful rivulet which was meandering 

 through the valley, and is of sufficient depth for their 

 largest canoes to enter. On landing, many of the natives 

 came to the beach, who seemed disposed to treat us in the 

 most friendly manner ; but apprehensive of being troubled 

 hy their numbers, I drew a line in the sand, at some dis- 

 tance about the boats, and informed them they were tab- 

 booed. As an additional security to us, I caused all the 

 arms to be loaded and ready for service on the first alarm, 

 and sentinels placed over them. Shortly after this the 

 ehief came down to invite me to the public square, the 

 usual place in all their villages for the reception of 

 strangers. The women and girls assembled from all quar- 

 ters of the town, dressed out in all their finery to meet us. 

 They were here free from all the restraints imposed by 

 the tabboos, abundantly anointed with the oil of the cocoa- 

 nut, and their skins well bedaubed with red and yellow 

 paint, as was their clothing. Some were also smeared 

 with greenish paint, the object of which 1 found, on inquiry, 

 •was to preserve the fairness and beauty of the skin. Of 

 this they seemed to take particular pains, every one of 

 them being furnished with a kind of umbrella, formed of a 

 bunch of palm leaves, to shield them from the effects of the 

 sun. Their care and attention in this particular had ren- 

 dered them far superior in point of beauty to the females 

 ©f our valley, and the difference was so striking as to make 

 them appear a distinct people. Some of the girls, proba- 

 My in compliment to us, or to render themselves more 

 attractive in our eyes, washed themselves in the stream, 

 threw aside their bedaubed clothing, and soon appeared 

 neatly clad in cloth of the purest white. I can say, with- 

 out exaggeration, that 1 never have seen women more per- 

 fectly beautiful in form, features, and complexion, or that 

 had playful innocence more strongly marked on their coun- 

 tenances or in their manners. All seemed perfectly easy 

 and even graceful, and all strove by their winning atten- 

 tions, who should render themselves most pleasing to us. 

 The girls formed a circle round us, and those of a more 

 advanced age were seated outside of them. The men 

 showed us everv kind attention, and strove to convince ii? 



