POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
12/ 
vessels touching at the islands were large enough. If^ 
however, they could by any means thrust their large 
muscular arms through the sleeves, it was thought to 
fit very well. Notwithstanding the warmth of the 
climate, they are fond of wearing the coat buttoned; 
and although when thus fastened it appeared less repul¬ 
sive to our opinions of propriety, than when, standing 
openj it exposed the naked breast of the wearer, it was 
often quite distressing to see the imprisoned and pinion¬ 
ed ■ arms occasionally struggling for liberty, and the per¬ 
spiration oozing from the pores of the skin, indicating 
the laborious confinement of the body it enclosed. 
These were scenes witnessed immediately after the 
general adoption of European clothing. Most of those 
who wear it now, are able to procure at least one com¬ 
plete suit, and consequently appear less singular. In 
the arrangement, however, of the different articles of 
a complete dress, they were equally unhappy, and not 
unfrequently presented an appearance which it was im* 
possible to behold with gravity. A tall man was some¬ 
times seen with a hat and shoes, without stockings, a 
long surtout black-cloth coat, with the collar turned 
up and buttoned close to his chin, and over his black 
coat a white frilled shirt, the collar unbuttoned, and the 
bosom thrown open, the sleeves drawn up towards the 
elbows, and the outline of the other parts appearing in 
strong contrast with the black coat underneath, which 
reached to his ankles. Such an appearance was more 
than once presented, and the reason assigned for it 
was, that the shirt was so much smaller than the coat, 
that had it, instead of the coat, been put underneath, 
it would not have been seen. Although exhibited in 
the person of a chief, the incongruity of such an arrange- 
