it may, they have a good fhape, and regular features, and
are adlive, brilk, and lively. The women, in particular, are
the merrieft creatures I ever met with, and will keep chattering
by one’s fide, without the leaft invitation, or confider-
ing whether they are underftood, provided one does but feem
pleafed with them. In general they appeared to be model!;
although there was no want of thofe of a different (lamp ; and
as we had yet fome venereal complaints on board, I took all
pollible care to prevent the diforder being communicated to
them. Upon moll occafions they fhewed a ftrong propenfity
to pilfering; in which they were full as expert as the Ota-
heiteans.
Their hair in general is black, but more efpecially that of
the women. Different colours were found among the men,
fometimes on the fame head, cauled by fomething they put
upon it, which ftains it white, red, and blue. Both fexes
wear it fhort; I faw but two exceptions to this cuftom, and
the moft of them combed it upwards. Many of the boys
had it cut very clofe, except a fingle lock on the top of the
head, and a fmall quantity on each fide. The men cut or
fhave their beards quite clofe, which operation is performed
with two Ihells. They have fine eyes, and in general good
teeth, even to an advanced age. The cuftom. of tat towing
or puncturing the Ikin prevails. The men are tattozved from
the middle of the thigh to above the hips. The- women
have it only on their arms and fingersand there but very
fiightly..
The drefs of both fexes confifls of a piece of cloth, or mat-
ring, wrapped round the waift, and hanging down below the-
knees. From the waift, upwards, they are generally naked,-,;
and it feemed to. be a cuftom to anoint thefe parts every
morning;
morning. My friend Attago never failed to do it ; but whether
out of refpedt to his friend, or from cuftom, I will not
pretend to fay; though I rather think from the latter, as he
was not lingular in the practice.
Their ornaments are amulets, necklaces, and bracelets of
bones, Ihells, and beads of mother of pearl, tortoife-lhell,
&c. which are worn by both fexes. The women alfo wear
on their fingers neat rings made of tortoife-lhell, and pieces
in their ears about the fize of a fmall quill; but ear ornaments
are not commonly worn, though all have their ears
pierced. They have alfo a curious apron made of the out-
fide fibres of the cocoa-nut fhell, and compofed of a number
of fmall pieces fewed together in fuch manner as to form
liars, half-moons, little fquares, &c. It is ftudded with
beads of Ihells, and covered with red feathers, fo as to have
a pleafing effeCt. They make the fame kind of cloth, and
of the fame materials, as at Otaheite; though they have not
fuch a variety, nor do they make any fo -fine ; but, as they
have a method of glazing it, it is more durable, and will refill
rain for fome time, which Otaheite cloth will not. Their
colours are black, brown, purple, yellow, and red ; all
made from vegetables. They make various forts of matting
; fome of a very fine texture, which is generally ufed
for clothing; and the thick and ftronger fort ferves to deep
on, and to make fails for their canoes, See. Among other,
ufeful utenfils, they have various forts of balkets ; fome
made of the fame materials as their mats; and others of
-the twilled fibres of cOcoa-nuts. Thefe are not only durable
but beautiful; being generally compofed of different colours,
and ftudded with beads made of Ihells or bones. They
have many little nick-nacks amongft them; which lhews
F f 2 • that