varie- that o f any. nation, that ever came unimproved out o f the hands of
TIES OF
MEN- nature. 1 if
Secondly. T h e variety o f men, next in beauty to thofe o f the
Society-Ifles, are the inhabitants of the M a r q u e s a s . T h e y are
in general more tawny than the former being fituated in the latitude
o f 9° 57' South, nearer the line than the Society-Iiles; and they
are alfo more accuftomed to go without any covering; their privities
excepted : both which rdafons are fufiicient to account for the
darker hue o f their fkin, However, there are fome few more fair
among them; and their women, who generally go covered, are al-
moil as fair as thofe in the Society-Ifles. Their men are generally
ftout-limbed, but none are fo "flelhy as thofe in the lafl-mentianed
ifles, owing, as I fnppofe, to their greater adtivity ; for, as. a very
confiderable part o f them live on the Hopes and the very fummits o f
high hills, where their habitations have much the appearance o f the
.ayries o f eagles, on the craggy fummits o f inacceflible rocks, they
muft o f courfe have a flender habit o f body, from the frequent
climbing o f thefe high mountains, and from the keen air, which
they breathe in regions almolt conftantly involved in clouds. Th e y
have black beards and fine hair on their heads. Their females and
younger people have beautiful, regular features, and oval faces ;
but the grown men lofe their fprightlinefs, by the general cuftom
o f pundturing clofely, all their body and faces, in the mofl ftrange,
but
? 33
but regular manner, in fcrolls, circles, lines; and ch.equer.Wife'; which v a r i e -
' . ' T IE S o f
o f courfe deftroys all the features, and the regularity of lineaments. men.
Th e bodies remain, however, fine and proportioned, all the limbs
ftrong and mufcular, with an .agreeable, outline. Th e young people
are generally moll beautiful, and would afford-many a fine model
for a Ganymede: T h e women have a foft, melting -outline, the
fineft fyrametry, and the molt delicate extremities. Their fize
runs in general to the middle ftatttre o f men] and few or none, arewhat
we-could call little. Th e y appeared to us courteous; civil,
and hofpifable; had a great deal ofcuriofity, and the fame levity,
which is the general charadler o f tropical’ nations. ’ But, as our flay
among them was fhort, we cannot enter into any more particular
detail o f their charadter.
W e made but half an hour’s f ta y at T e o u k e a , one o f the low
ifles between the MarqUefas and O-Taheitee ; and in this time we
obferved the natives to be o f a very tawny colour, common to both
fexes. They were a flout people, with well-proportioned limbsi
and black hair; had on the breaft, belly, and fometimes on the
hands, fome figure? made by pundturing the body; and were o f a
middling fize. Th e y received us with kindnefs ; gave us coconuts
and dogs for nails; and, though very numerous and well-
armed, did not attempt to infult us. I cannot, however, fay what
H h they