1773-
OeTOBERv
as were curioufly wrought of mats in refemblance of fretwork.
From thefe geftures I have great reafon t© fuppofe-
that their dances are of a dramatic kind, and public, like
thofe which I have fpoken of in the Society Ifles, (fee
pag. 398.) Schouten and Le M'aire likewife ftrongly confirm
this fuppofition by their account of the dances at Horne-
Ifland *. It appeared, upon the whole, that the cuftoms
and language of thefe iflanders have a great affinity with
thofe of the Taheitians, and that it would not therefore
be very Angular to find a coincidence even in their amufe-
ments. The greatefl differences between thefe two tribes,,
who muff have originated from the fame flock, feem to be
owing to the different nature of their iflands. The Society.
Ifles are well furnifhed with wood, and the tops of their
mountains are ftill covered with inexhauftible forefts. At-
the Eriendly Ifles this article is much fcarcer, the furface
(at leaft of thofe which we have feen) being almoft entirely
laid out in plantations. The natural confequence is, that
the houfes are lofty and o f immenfe extent in the firfl
group of iflands; but much fmaller and lefs convenient in>
the laft. In one the canoes are numerous, I may almoft
fay innumerable, and many of a- vaft fize ; and, in the
other, very few in number, and much fmaller. The
mountains of the Society Ifles continually attradl the vapours
from the atmofphere, and many rivulets defcend
* See Mr*. Dalrymple’s. CoIledHon- o£: Voyages,, vol, I I . p> 47-
from
from the broken rocks into the plain, where thev wind *wj-
their ferpentine courfe and glide fmoothly to the fea. The
inhabitants of thofe iflands take advantage of this gift
pf bountiful nature, and not only drink of the falutary
■ element, but likewife bathe fo frequently in it that no impurity
can long adhere to their fkin. It is very different
with a people who are abfolutely denied this bleffing, and
who muff either content themfelves with putrid ftagnant
rain-water in a few dirty pools, or go entirely without it.
They are obliged to have recourfe to expedients in order to
preferve a certain degree of cleanlinefs, which may preclude
’various diftempers. They therefore cut off their hair, and
{have or clip their beards, which doubtlefs makes them
look more unlike the Taheitians than they would otherwife
do. Still thefe precautions are not fufficient, efpecially as
they have no fluid for drinking in any quantity. The body
is therefore very fubjeft to leprous complaints, which are
perhaps irritated by the ufe of the pepper-root water or
awa. Hence alfo that burning or bliftering on the cheekbones
which we obferved to be fo general among this tribe,
that hardly an individual was free from it, and which can
only be ufed as a remedy againft fome diforders. The foil
of the Society Ifles in the plains and vallies is rich, and the
rivulets which interfeft it, fupply abundance of moifture.
All forts of vegetables therefore thrive with great luxuriance
upon it, and require little attendance or cultivation. This
P p p 2 profufion