o in
other particulars might be regarded as a mere child, is often seen nursing
her own baby; whilst lads who, under less ripening skies, would be still
at school, are here responsible fathers of families.

On first entering the Typee valley, I had been struck with the marked
contrast presented by its inhabitants with those of the bay I had
previously left. In the latter place, I had not been favourably impressed
with the personal appearance of the male portion of the population;
although with the females, excepting in some truly melancholy instances, I
had been wonderfully pleased.

Apart, however, from these considerations, I am inclined to believe that
there exists a radical difference between the two tribes, if indeed they
are not distinct races of men. To those who have merely touched at
Nukuheva Bay, without visiting other portions of the island, would hardly
appear credible the diversities presented between the various small clans
inhabiting so diminutive a spot. But the hereditary hostility which has
existed between them for ages fully accounts for this.

Not so easy, however, is it to assign an adequate cause for the endless
variety of complexions to be seen in the Typee valley. During the
festival, I had noticed several young females whose skins were almost as
white as any Saxon damsel's, a slight dash of the mantling brown being all
that marked the difference. This comparative fairness of complexion,
though in a great degree perfectly natural, is partly the result of an
artificial process, and of an entire exclusion from the sun. The juice of
the "papa" root, found in great abundance at the head of the valley, is
held in great esteem as a cosmetic, with which many of the females daily
anoint their whole person. The habitual use of it whitens and beautifies
the skin. Those of the young girls who resort to this method of
heightening their charms, never expose themselves to the rays of the sun;
an observance, however, 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, th