POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
35 
half a million; it may exceed this number. The inha¬ 
bitants are certainly far more numerous than those of 
the Society Islands^ and appear exempt from many of 
the diseases which afflict their northern neighbours. 
They are a hardy industrious race^ generally strong 
and active, not only capable of great physical exer¬ 
tion, but of high moral culture, and are by no means 
deficient in intellect. Their tatauing and carving fre¬ 
quently display great taste; and when we consider the 
tools with which the latter is performed, it increases our 
admiration of their skill and perseverance. They are, 
nevertheless, addicted to the greatest vices that stain the 
human character, treachery, cannibalism, infanticide, and 
murder. Less superstitious than many of the natives of 
the Pacific, but perhaps as much addicted to war as any 
of them, if not more so ; war appears to be their delight, 
and the events of their lives are little else than a series of 
acts of oppression, robbery, and bloodshed. A conquer¬ 
ing army, returning from an expedition of murder and 
devastation, bring home the men, women, and children 
of the vanquished, as trophies of their victory. These 
unhappy beings are reduced to perpetual slavery, or 
sacrificed to satiate the vengeance of their enemies. On 
these occasions, little children, whose feeble hands could 
scarcely hold the knife or dagger, have been initiated in 
the dreadful work of death, and have seemed to feel de¬ 
light in stabbing captive children, thus imbruing their 
infant hands in the blood of those who, under other cir¬ 
cumstances, they would have hailed as playmates, and 
have joined in innocent and mirthful pastimes. Their wars 
are not only sanguinary, but horribly demoralizing and 
brutal, from the circumstance of the captives, or the 
slain, furnishing the victors with their triumphal banquet. 
