18 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
At the time of their birth, the complexion of Ta¬ 
hitian infants is but little if any darker than that 
of European children, and the skin only assumes 
the bronze or brown hue as they grow up under 
repeated or constant exposure to the sun. Those 
parts of the body that are most covered, even with 
their loose draperies of native cloth, are, through 
every period of life, much lighter coloured than those 
that are exposed; and, notwithstanding the dark tint 
with which the climate appears to dye their skin, the 
ruddy bloom of health and vigour, or the sudden blush, 
is often seen mantling the youthful countenance under 
the light brown tinge, which, like a thin veil, but 
partially conceals its glowing hue. The females who 
are much employed in beating cloth, making mats, 
or other occupations followed under shelter, are usually 
fairer than the rest; while the fishermen, who are most 
exposed to the sun, are invariably the darkest portion 
of the population. 
Darkness of colour was generally considered an indi¬ 
cation of strength; and fairness of complexion, the con¬ 
trary. Hence, the men were not solicitous either to cover 
their persons, or avoid the sun^s rays, from any appre¬ 
hension of the eficct it would produce on the skin. 
When they searched the field of battle for the bones 
of the slain, to use them in the manufacture of chisels, 
gimlets, or fish-hooks, they always selected those whose 
skins were dark, as they supposed their bones were 
strongest. When I have seen the natives looking at 
a very dark man, I have sometimes heard them say, 
Taata ra e, te ereere! ivi maitai tona The man, 
how dark ! good bones are his. A fair complexion was 
not an object of admiration or desire. They never 
