As the girls reach maturity, which they do in these latitudes at the
age of about twelve years, they are instructed by their mothers how to
perform the necessary work, and become very skilful at throwing the
lance, harpoon, or any manner of dart, being bred to it from their
infancy. These girls, from this training, possess wonderful eyesight,
and will descry a sail at sea farther than any sailor could see it.
The dress adopted by the dwellers on the Female Island, though scanty
to civilized eyes, is nevertheless suited to their manner of life. It
consists of tapa cloth cut in a deep fringe depending from waist to
knee. Their hair, which is long, hangs down their backs. Those who,
like Sylvia, have red hair, are mostly freckled and rosy, which, so far
from detracting from their beauty, rather adds to their charms. The
dark-haired ones are burnt brown by the sun.
I was now taken by Sylvia to be presented to the wise-ones, at whose
instigation I had been brought to the island. These I found to be men,
if indeed they could be called such, but they were so wizened in
appearance as more to resemble monkeys. Their manner of life is so
austere as to make it a matter for marvel that body and soul could
cling together.
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