Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

1835. PAOFAl's LETTER INHABITANTS. 54T in giving to me a box and some other things besides. I and my wife will feel grateful to you when we look at these things. This is another thing with which I feel pleased ; your having shown me the many good things on board your ship ; and your men ; they have great excellence, and a good character. " That you may be saved is the wish of your servant, " Mare." A letter from Paofai, the brother of Hitote, directed to ' Fitirai,' is similar. " Dear Friend, • " Tahiti, Nov. 26, 1835. " Peace be unto you and your family, in the name of God. These are my words to you. I feel very much gratified by your great kindness in giving me a trunk, and several other things. For this cause I thank you with grateful feelings. My wife and family will also feel grateful to you. Dear friends may the peace of the Messiah, who is the King of Peace, be with you. Amen. "Paofai."* Among the natives of Otaheite let us not overlook the sons and daughters of the earlier missionaries. Those whom we had the pleasure of seeing did credit to the country of their parents ; to Otaheite ; and to those excellent persons who must have taken such pains with their education. I presume not to speak from what I have seen only, but from the corresponding accounts of others, added to what I witnessed myself. I will now make a few general remarks, previous to quitting the island. It did not appear to me that the men of Otaheite are separated visibly into two classes, as some accounts had led us to expect. All of the higher class, whom we saw, or about whom we could learn anything, certainly were large, but rather un- wieldy : yet among the lower class there were numerous stout tall men, as tall as the chiefs, and more actively made. A few were of a middle size, and a very few, low in stature : but all well-proportioned and muscular; though their muscles are not hard and knotty, like those of a hard-working white man ; they * The original letter?, in the hand-writing of Mare and Paofai, are in my possession. 2n 2