294 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
indeed the family hearth, or the domestic fireside* 
which in their warm climate would be no addition 
to their comfort, but the family board, spread with 
the liberal gifts of divine bounty. The father, at 
times, may also be seen nursing his little child at 
the door of his cottage, and the mother sitting at 
needle-work by his side, or engaged in other 
domestic employments. These are the delights it 
has imparted to the present race—-while the rising 
generation are trained under the influence of the 
principles of Christianity, and these examples of 
social and domestic virtue. 
Marriages frequently take place at an early age 
among the people; they do not, however, appear 
to be less happy than those celebrated when the 
parties are further advanced in life. In former 
times the men were often cruel in their treatment 
of the women, and considered them as their slaves; 
but the husbands now treat their wives with respect, 
and often cherish for them the most sincere affec¬ 
tion. The female character is elevated in society; 
the husbands perform the labours of the plantation 
or the fishery, recognizing it as their duty to pro¬ 
vide the means of subsistence for the family; while 
the preparation of their food, (especially where the 
European mode of living has been adopted by 
them,) together with attention to the children, and 
the making of clothing, native or foreign, for them¬ 
selves and the other members of the family, is now 
considered the proper department of the females. 
They occasionally accompany their husbands and 
elder children to work in the plantation or garden, 
at particular seasons of the year ; but it is a matter 
of choice, and not from fear of cruel treatment, as 
formerly. They go to assist their husbands in 
planting and gathering in the crops, instead of 
