fortification, which excited our admiration,
we proceeded through the village at the
bottom of the hill. Nearly the whole of the
inhabitants were out working in the fields.
We entered several of their habitations, and
found all their property exposed and unguarded.
Even their muskets and powder,
which they prize above every thing, were
open to our inspection ; so little idea of robbery
have they amongst themselves. But as there
are many hogs and dogs roaming at large
through their villages, they are very careful
to fence their dwellings round with wicker
work, to preserve them from the depredations
of these animals ; and as the houses are extremely
low, they have very much the appearance
of bird cages or rabbit hutches. Their
storehouses are generally placed upon poles,
a few feet from the ground, and tabooed or
consecrated. Great taste and ingenuity are
displayed in carving and ornamenting these
depositories. I made drawings from several
of them, wThich were entirely covered with
carving ; and some good attempts at groups
of figures, as large as life, plainly showed the
c 3