DRESS AND HABITS. 145 
" The wise will let their anger cool, 
At least before 'tis night ; 
But in the bosom of a fool 
It burns till morning-light." 
The office of magistrate is not coveted : it 
being in some respects an invidious one. It 
sometimes happens, that the respected indi- 
vidual for whom this honour is designed 
would, rather than accept it, kill a hog for 
the public good. The duties of the magis- 
tracy are always fulfilled without fear, favour, 
or affection. 
With respect to the general appearance 
of the islanders, in their features and com- 
plexion, as well as their dress and manners, 
they are said to resemble the people of one 
of our English villages of the better order. 
A few of them are, however, rather darker 
than the generality of Europeans, partaking 
more of their half-Otaheitan descent. 
A few words about dress. The women 
generally wear a full petticoat, and over that 
a loose gown, with a handkerchief thrown over 
the shoulders. A wreath of flowers is often 
worn round the head. There are many large 
trees on the island, which produce small 
