114 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
made by the aged and decrepit^ is to crawl or totter 
to the water, and enjoy its refreshing influence. Their 
loose light mode of dressing, and the abundance of 
cool, clear, and secluded streams meandering through 
almost every valley in the islands, probably favour 
the frequency of the practice, and its grateful effects 
render it one of their greatest luxuries. 
Contrary to the practice of those who are accustomed 
to resort to the sea-side for the purpose of bathing in 
salt-water, the natives of these islands, without excep¬ 
tion, prefer on every account to bathe in the mountain 
streams. It is a principal remedy in many of their 
diseases; yet doubtless often aggravates what they 
design to alleviate. It is, however, a means of great 
benefit: for this, as well as every other purpose, they 
prefer the fresh water 5 and even those whose avoca¬ 
tions lead them to frequent the sea for fishing, although 
they may have plunged beneath the wave fifty times 
in the day, yet invariably repair to the nearest stream 
to bathe, before they return to their houses. They say 
the sea-water produces an irritation which is peculiarly 
unpleasant. Children not more than three or four years, 
of age are often seen playing in groups along the 
margin of the sea, without the least apprehension of 
danger, and they as frequently resort for amusement 
to the rivers. It is probable that the people in general 
bathe less now than they were accustomed to do for¬ 
merly, yet there are none, perhaps, who omit bathing 
once, and many who visit the river twice, in the 
course of the day. The universality and frequency of 
this custom is highly conducive to health, and pro¬ 
duces a degree of personal cleanliness seldom met with 
among an uncivilized race. 
