*773-
OCVOBBJ
of the common Taheitians*, that is, of a clear mahogany
or chefnut brown; his beard was cut Ihort or (haven, and
his hair was black, in {hort frizzled curls, burnt as it were
at the tips. He had three circular fpots on each arm,
about the fize of a crown piece, confiding of feveral concentric
circles of elevated points, which anfwered to the
punctures of the Taheitians, but were not blacked .; hefides
thefe, he had other black pundtures on his body. A fmall
cylinder was fixed through two holes in the lap of his ear,
and his left hand wanted the little finger. He continued
his filence for a confiderable while, but fome others, who
ventured on board foon after him, were of a. more communicative
turn, and after havirfg performed the ceremony
of touching nofes, fpoke a language which was unintelligible
to us at that time. In the mean while we arrived
at the N. W. point of the ifland, where we firuck foupdings
on a good bottom, in an open road, and let go our anchors
about nine in the morning. We were prefently furrounded
by a number of canoes, each containing three or four
' * As I (tall frequently mention the inhabitants of Taheitee, and of the Society
I(lands, in comparifon with other i(landers, it will be proper to obferve,
that fince the natives both of Taheitee and o f the Society Hands, are perfeSly
alike in mod refpefls, K h a li indifferently call a cuftom Taheitian, or ufual at
the Society Hands, which is common to them both. Therefore, uniefs I exprefly
put thefe terms in contradiftindlion to each other, I wi(h to have them
underftood in general as fynonymous, people,
people, who offered great quantities of their cloth for fale.
The canoes were fmall, about fifteen feet long, very (harp
built, and decked or covered at each extremity. Mod of
them had out-riggers made of poles, like the fmall canoes
at Taheitee, but the workmanfhip of thefe boats was infinitely
preferable, as they were joined together with an
exadtnefs which furprifed us, and the whole furface had
received an excellent polilh. Their paddles had (hort broad
blades, fomething like thofe of Taheitee, but more neatly
wrought, and of better wood. They made a great deal of
noife about us, every one (hewing what he had to fell,
and calling to fome one of. us, who happened to look
towards them. Their language was not unpleafing, and
whatever they faid, was in a finging kind of tone. Many
were bold enough to come on board, without expreffipg the
lead hefitation, and one of thefe feemed to be a chief, or a
man of fome quality, and was accordingly treated with a
number of prefents, which he feverally laid on his head,
when he received them, faying fagafetd every time. Our
Englifii cloth and linen he admired mod, and iron wares
in the next degree. His behaviour was very free and
unconcerned ; for he went down into the cabin, and where-
ever we thought fit to conduft him. He likewife told us,
upon our enquiry, that the ifland near which we lay at
anchor, (the fame which Tafman called Middleburg) was
called Ea-Oowhe among his country-men ; and that the
Vol. I. I i i other
1773.
Octob er .