82 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES, 
- It is a singular fact in the physiology of the in¬ 
habitants of this part of the world,, that the chiefs, 
and persons of hereditary rank and influence in the 
islands, are, almost without exception, as much su¬ 
perior to the peasantry or common people, in state¬ 
liness, dignified deportment, and physical strength, 
as they are in rank and circumstances; although 
they are not elected to their station on account of 
their personal endowments, but derive their rank 
and elevation from their ancestry. This is the case 
with most of the groups of the Pacific, but pecu¬ 
liarly so in Tahiti and the adjacent isles. The 
father of the late king was six feet four inches high; 
Pomare was six feet two. The present king of 
Raiatea is equally talk Mahine, the king of Hua- 
hirie, but for the effects of age, would appear little 
inferior. Their limbs are generally well formed, and 
the whole figure is proportioned to their height; 
which renders the difference between the rulers and 
their subjects so striking, that Bougainville and some 
others have supposed they were a distinct race, the 
descendants of a superior people, who at a remote 
period had conquered the aborigines, and perpe¬ 
tuated their supremacy. It does not, however, ap¬ 
pear necessary, in accounting for the fact, to resort 
to such a supposition ; different treatment in infan¬ 
cy, superior and more regular diet, bathing, distinct 
habits of life, and the relation that often prevails 
between the physical character of parents and their 
children, are sufficient. Some individuals among 
the lower classes exhibit a stature equal to that of 
the chiefs; but this is of rare occurrence, and that 
circumstance alone does not facilitate the admission 
of its possessor to the higher ranks in society, though 
in the matrimonial alliances of their chiefs, they un¬ 
doubtedly had respect to the physical superiority of 
