■»774“
A p r il . purchafed feveral hogs. The natives were lefs referved ia
both places than in our harbour, and a confiderable number
of women appeared among them, with whom the
boat’s crew foon became acquainted, fince feveral of them
had as much complaifance as certain ladies at the Society
and Friendly Iflands, New Zeeland, and Eafter Ifland. They
were inferior to the men in ftature, but well proportioned,
and fome in feature approached the pleafing contour of
the Taheitian women of quality. Their general colour was
the fame as among the common people of the Society
Jllands, and only very few were a little fairer than the reft.
No punftures were obferved on them, though the other
fex are fo much accuftomed to disfigure themfelves with
this unfightly ornament. One of the handfomeft confented
to be drawn by Mr. Hodges, and an exatft engraving, made
from his drawing, is inferted in captain Cook’s account of
this voyage. All the women wore pieces of cloth of the
mulberry bark, of different forts; but the variety -of thefe
cloths was very trifling, compared with what it is at Ta-
heitee; and it feemed the quantity was likewife inconfider-
able, for, infiead of being wrapped up in that number of
pieces, fo common among the -luxurious -chiefs of that
ifland, they only wore a fingle alow or cloak, which covered
them front the flioulders to the knees. Round their
necks they fometimes had a few loofe firings, which were
not very ornamental ; but our people took notice of no
other
other finery among them. After a fhortftay,our party pre- Al
pared to return to their boats One o f the failors, having
been inattentive to his duty, received feveral blows from the
captain. This trifling circumftance would not deferve a place
in this narrative, but for the obfervation, which the natives
made upon it. As foon as they faw it, they fhewed it one te>
another, and exclaimed tape a-hal te tina, “ he beats his brother.”
We were well convinced ftom other inflances that
they knew the difference between the commander and his
people ; but it appeared at the fame time, that they looked
upon us all as brethren. The moft natural inference in
my mind is, that they only applied an idea to us in this
cafe, which really exifts with regard to themfelves. They
probably look on themfelves as- one family, of which the
eldeft-born is the chief or king. As their community
is not yet arrived at that degree of civilization which
the Taheitians enjoy, a difference of rank does not-
take place among them and their political conftitution has
not acquired a fettled monarchical form. The nature of-
their country, which requires a greater labour and culture
than Taheitee, is one great caufe of this difference ; for fince
the means of fubfiftence are not fo eafily attained, the population
and the general luxury, cannot be fo confiderable,,
and the people remain upon a level. Agreeable to this ob-
fervation, we have found that no particular honour or re-
fpeft was paid to their kingHoNoo, whovifited us on the
fecond