 that produces little or no inconvenience, since
there are but few of the inhabited portions of the vale which are not shaded
over with a spreading canopy of boughs, so that one may journey from house to
house, scarcely deviating from the direct course, and yet never once see his
shadow cast upon the ground.
    The papa, when used, is suffered to remain upon the skin for several hours;
being of a light green colour, it consequently imparts for the time a similar
hue to the complexion. Nothing, therefore, can be imagined more singular than
the appearance of these nearly naked damsels immediately after the application
of the cosmetic. To look at one of them you would almost suppose she was some
vegetable in an unripe state; and that, instead of living in the shade forever,
she ought to be placed out in the sun to ripen.
    All the islanders are more or less in the habit of anointing themselves; the
women preferring the aker or papa, and the men using the oil of the cocoa-nut.
Mehevi was remarkably fond of mollifying his entire cuticle with this ointment.
Sometimes he might be seen with his whole body fairly reeking with the perfumed
oil of the nut, looking as if he had just emerged from a soap-boiler's vat, or
had undergone the process of dipping in a tallow-chandlery. To this cause,
perhaps, united to their frequent bathing and extreme cleanliness, is
ascribable, in a great measure, the marvellous purity and smoothness of skin
exhibited by the natives in general.
    The prevailing tint among the women of the valley was a light olive, and of
this style of complexion Fayaway afforded the most beautiful example. Others
were still darker, while not a few were of a genuine golden colour, and some of
a swarthy hue.
    As agreeing with much previously mentioned in this narrative, I may here
observe, that Mendanna, their discoverer, in his account of the Marquesas,
described the natives as wondrously beautiful to behold, and as nearly
resembling the people of Southern Europe. The first of these islands seen by
Mendanna was La Madelena, which is not far distant from Nukuheva; and its
inhabitants in every respect resemble those dwelling on that and the other
islands of the group. Figueroa, the chronicler of Mendanna's voyage, says, that
on the morning the land was descried, when the Spaniards drew near the shore,
there sallied forth, in rude procession, about seventy canoes, and at the same
time many of the inhabitants (females, I presume) made toward the ships by
swimming. He adds, that »
