GROTESQUE COMBINATIONS IN DRESS. 395 
on his back. The men are generally above the 
middle stature, and proportionably stout, so that 
few of the coats, &c. belonging to the captains or 
officers of 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. Not¬ 
withstanding the warmth of the climate, they are 
fond of wearing the coat buttoned; and although 
when thus fastened it appeared less repulsive to 
our opinions of propriety, than when, standing 
open, it exposed the naked breast of the wearer, 
it was often quite distressing to see the imprisoned 
and pinioned arms occasionally struggling for 
liberty, and the perspiration 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 complete suit, and consequently appear 
less singular. In the arrangement, however, of the 
different articles of a complete dress, they were at 
first equally unhappy, and not unfrequently present¬ 
ed an appearance which it was impossible to behold 
with gravity. A tall man was sometimes 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 
