Olivia+T

the islands in the Pacific Ocean are inhabited by two races of men. tattooing was common in most of the goups of the pacific. it was generally commenced at the age of eight or ten years. it was consiterd a persinal ornament, and it was practiced by all classes and both sexes. lik eother barbarouse tribes they were exrimely fond of ornaments, and formerly spent much time decorating themsleves for their feasts and dances.a small portion of their time was devoted to sports and games. wrestling, boxing, club fighting, canoe rowing and fowling were favorite pastimes; but there princepal am usemnt was the dance, at which songs previously comosed were sung. The most common musical instruments the flutes and sevral types of drums. Their music was loud and boistrouse, and deficient in every quality. surrounded as they are on all sides of the water, is they had many aquatic sports. on of the principal amusements of the children consisted in erecting a stage near the margin of the sea, and leaping into the water. They would offten chase one another and dive to an incredible depth. they were also very fond of constuciting small canoes, ships, or boats, and floating them into the sea. Among the Tahitians marriages were aften celebrated when the females were 12 or 13 years old, and the males were 2 or 3 years older. The parties were generaly engaged at an early age.