RIMATAIIA. 
389 
neighbouring islands, while the valleys and level 
grounds yield the fruits and roots which are met 
with in Tahiti and the northern clusters. Rimatara, 
however, is principally distinguished as the favourite 
resort of a beautiful species of paroquet, which is 
so numerous as to occasion great annoyance to the 
inhabitants, by destroying their fruit. These birds 
are small, but their plumage, which is of red, 
green, and purple, is rich and brilliant. The fea¬ 
thers of these little birds have ever been held 
in high estimation among the inhabitants of the 
other islands, whither they have been conveyed as 
the most valuable articles of native commerce. 
The population of this island is small, not much 
exceeding 300. The natives are well formed; 
their hair is straight or curled, and their complexion 
fairer than that of the inhabitants of the Society 
Islands. They are a quiet, gentle race, occupied 
generally in the simplest employments of agricul¬ 
ture and fishing. They display less native energy 
than their neighbours ; and though their sources of 
enjoyment are scanty, their crimes and their suffer¬ 
ings are proportionably less. Diseases are few, 
and an unusual number of very aged persons are 
found among them. Yet, in a community so small 
and isolated, and whose habits were in many respects 
mild, and comparatively humane, woman was sub¬ 
jected to an invidious and humiliating sense of her 
inferiority. She was necessitated, by the will of 
man, to labour in the culture of the earth, though 
deprived of an equal participation of its abundant 
and choicest productions. The toil required to 
furnish the means of subsistence, was performed 
exclusively by the wife, while the husband spent 
his hours in indolence and amusement. This state 
of things, not more favourable to morals than to 
