Chapter Twenty-five - Page 2

actually
dazzling to the eye. Their marvellous whiteness of the teeth is
to be ascribed to the pure vegetable diet of these people, and
the uninterrupted healthfulness of their natural mode of life.

The men, in almost every instance, are of lofty stature, scarcely
ever less than six feet in height, while the other sex are
uncommonly diminutive. The early period of life at which the
human form arrives at maturity in this generous tropical climate,
likewise deserves to be mentioned. A little creature, not more
than thirteen years of age, and who 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. I had observed that even the little intercourse
Europeans had carried on with the Nukuheva natives had not failed
to leave its traces amongst them. One of the most dreadful
curses under which humanity labours had commenced its havocks,
and betrayed, as it ever does among the South Sea islanders, the
most aggravated symptoms. From this, as from all other foreign
inflictions, the yet uncontaminated tenants of the Typee Valley
were wholly exempt; and long may they continue so. Better will
it be for them for ever to remain the happy and innocent heathens
and barbarians that they now are, than, like the wretched
inhabitants of the Sandwich Islands, to enjoy the mere name of
Christians without experiencing any of the vital operations of
true religion, whilst, at the same time, they are made the
victims of the worst vices and evils of civilized life.

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, it 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