146 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
rocky and bold. Groves of bread-fruit and cocoa-nut trees 
appear in every direction, and amid the luxuriance of 
vegetation, every where presented, the low and rustic 
habitations of the* natives gave a pleasing variety to the 
delightful scene. 
Most of the islanders who had boarded us in the 
morning continued in the ship, others arrived as we 
approached the bay, and long before we anchored, our 
decks were crowded with natives. Our prepossessions 
in their favour continued to increase, and we viewed 
them with no ordinary interest, as those among whom 
we were to spend the remainder of our days. Many of 
them wore some article of European dress, and all were 
attired in native cloth, though several had only a maro, 
or broad girdle, round the waist. There was a degree of 
openness in their countenances, and vivacity in their 
manners, which was not unpleasing. 
We had not been long at anchor, before Pomare sent 
us a large albicore, and a variety of provisions, and 
shortly after came on board. I was struck with his 
tall and almost gigantic appearance; he was upwards 
of six feet high, and seemed about forty years of 
age. His forehead was rather prominent and high, 
his eyebrows narrow, well defended, and nearly straight; 
his hair, which was combed back from his forehead, 
and the sides of his face, was of a glossy black colour, 
slightly curled behind; his eyes were small, some¬ 
times appearing remarkably keen, at others rather heavy; 
his nose was straight, and the nostrils by no means 
large, his lips were thick, and his chin projecting. He 
was arrayed in a handsome tiputa of native manufacture. 
His body was stout, but not disproportioned to his 
height; and his limbs, though well formed, were not firn> 
