398 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
encampments in every direction. The school during 
the week, and chapel on the Sabbath, though capable of 
containing 600 persons, were found too small for 
those who sought admittance. The printing-office 
was daily crowded by the strangers, who thronged the 
doors, &c. in such numbers, as to climb upon each others 
backs, or on the sides of the windows, so as frequently 
to darken the place. The house had been enclosed 
with a fence five or six feet high | but this, instead of 
presenting an obstacle to the gratification of their 
curiosity, was converted into a means of facilitating 
it: numbers were constantly seen sitting on the top 
of the railing | whereby they were able to look over the 
heads of their companions who were round the windows. 
Among the various parties in Afareaitu, at this time, 
were a number of the natives of the Paumotu, or 
Pearl Islands, which lie to the north-east of Tahiti, and 
constitute what is called the Dangerous Archipelago. 
These numerous islands, like those of Tetuaroa to the 
north, are of coralline formation, and the most elevated 
parts of many of them are seldom more than two or three 
feet above high-^water mark. The principal, and almost 
only edible vegetable they produce, is the fruit of the 
cocoa-nut. On these, with the numerous kinds of fishes 
resorting to their shores or found among the coral reefs, 
the inhabitants entirely subsist. They appear a hardy 
and industrious race, capable of enduring great priva^ 
tions. The Tahitians believe them to be cannibals ; but 
as to the evidence or extent of this charge, we cannot 
speak confidently. They are in general firm and mus¬ 
cular, but of a more spare habit of body than the Tahi¬ 
tians. Their limhs are well formed, their stature gene^ 
rally tall. The expression of their countenance, and the 
