>773- of the fame piece which compofes it. Thefe Angle canoes O&obef. f r ,
____1 have all out-riggers, and are fomedmes navigated with fails,
hut more generally with paddles, the blades of which are
fhort, and broadeft in the middle. The two vefiels which
■ compofe the double canoe are each about fixty or feventy
feet long, and four or five broad in the middle; and each
end terminates nearly in a point ;,fo that the body or hull
differs a little in conftruction from the fingle canoe ; but is
put together exadtly in the fame manner; thefe having a
riling in the middle round the open part, in the form of a
long trough, which is made of boards, clofely fitted together,
and well fecured to the body of the vefiel. Two fuch
veffels are fattened to, and parallel to each other, about fix
or feven feet afunder, by ftrong crofs beams, fecured by
bandages to the upper part of the rifings above mentioned.
Over thefe beams and others, which are fupported by
•ftanchions fixed on the bodies of the canoes,, is laid a boarded
platform. All the parts which compofe the double canoe,
are made as ftrong and light as the nature of the work will
admit, and may be immerged in water to the very platform,
without being in danger of filling. Nor is it poflible, under
any circumftance whatever, for them to fink, fo long as they
hold together. Thus they are not only made veffels of burden,
but fit for diftant navigation. They are rigged with
one matt, which fteps upon the platform, and can eafily be
raifed or taken down ; and are failed with a latteen-fail, or
triangular one, extended by a long yard, which is a little
bent or crooked. The fail is made of mats ; the rope they
make ufe of is laid exactly like ours, and fome of it is four
or five inch. On the platform is built a little, filed or hut,
which fcreens the crew from the fun and weather, and ferves
for other purpofes. They alfo carry a moveable fire-hearth,
which
which is a fquare, but fliallow trough of wood, filled with 1773.
ftones. The way into the hold of the canoe is from off the , oa°ber- 1
platform, down a fort of uncovered hatchway, in which
they Hand to bail out the water. I think thefe veffels are navigated
either end foremoft, and that, in changing tacks, they
have only occafion to fliift or jib round the fail; but of this
I was not certain, as I had not then feen any under fail, or
with the matt and fail an end, but what were a confiderable
diftance from us.
Their working tools are made of ftone, bone, fliells, &c.
as at the other ifiands. When we view the work which is
performed with thefe tools, we are ftruck with admiration
at the ingenuity and patience of the workman. Their
knowledge of the utility of iron was no more than fufiicient
to teach them to prefer nails to beads, and fuch trifles; fome,
but very few, would exchange a pig for a large nail, or a
hatchet. Old jackets, fliirts, cloth, and even rags, were in
more efteem than the belt edge-tool we could give them;
confequently they got but few axes from us but what were
given as prefents. But if we include the nails which were
given by the officers and crews of both flfips for curiofities,
&c. with thofe given for refrefhments, they cannot have got
lefs than five hundred weight, great and fmall. The only
piece of iron we faw among them was a fmall broad awl,
which had been made of a nail.
Both men and women are of a common fize with Europeans
; and their colour is that of a lightifh copper, and-
more uniformly fo than amongft the inhabitants of Otaheite
and the Society files. Some of our gentlemen were of opinion
thefe were a much handfomer race ; others maintained
a contrary opinion, of which number I was one. Be this as
V ol, I. F f it