Sensuality is the prevailing characteristic of the South Sea islanders. The licentiousness of their habits and manners, unchecked by nearness of relationship, and unrestrained by any sense of decency, is too gross to be described. A child not unfrequently finds its mother and aunt, or mother and grandmother, in the same individual. The Sandwich islands and the Society islands have maintained a shameful pre-eminence in this respect; and the evil has been much increased by the frequent visits of European and American vessels. Some of the islands furnish an agreeable exception to these remarks. The women of the Tonga islands are said to be very modest and reserved. They take great care of their children; and their girls are early taught many little ornamental accomplishments, such as plaiting flowers in various fanciful devices, as presents for their fathers, brothers, and superior chiefs. Voyagers have likewise described the women of Radack and New Caledonia as decent in their deportment and bashful about mixing with strangers. The natives of the Pelew islands are characterized by an uncommon degree of virtue and decorum, and their manners, though simple and untutored, are remarkably delicate and obliging. Gluttony is a prevailing fault in most of the islands of the Pacific. The wealthy class, who can freely indulge their appetites, attain to a size quite as unwieldy as the Moorish women. It is mentioned of one of the queens of the Sandwich islands, that she was in the habit of eating so inordinately, that she remained sluggish for the remainder of the day, and it became necessary for attendants to rub her continually. Mr. Stewart speaks of seeing one of the king’s wives greedily devouring a large living fish, while the blood spirted over her face, and the poor animal wreathed its fins about her head in expiring agony. Cannibalism prevails in nearly all the islands. The flesh of women and children is preferred to that of men; and captives taken in war are often devoted to this dreadful purpose. In some of the islands this practice is abolished.