„ I774- is made at leaft fix or eight inches thick, but not-one inch September. - “
<— -v-—j longer than neceflary for the ufe defigned. The outer
filaments are dyed black; and, as an additional ornament,
the moft of them have a few pearl oyfter-fhells fixed on the
right fide. The general ornaments of both fexes, are earrings
of tortoife-fhell, necklaces or amulets, made both of
fhells and Hones, and bracelets, made of large fhells, which
they wear above the elbow. They have pundtures, or marks
on the fkin, on feverai parts of the body; but none, I think,
are black, as at the eaftern iflands. I know not if they have
any other defign than ornament; and the people of Tanna
are marked much in the fame manner.
Were I to judge of the origin of this nation, I fhould take,
them to be a race between the people of Tanna and of the
Friendly Ifles; .or between thofe of Tanna and the New
Zealanders; or’ all three; theirdanguage, in fome refpedts,
being a mixture' of them all.’- In their difpofition they are
like the natives of the Friendly Ifles; but in affability and
honefty they excel them.
Notwithftanding their pacific inclination, they muft fome-
times’ have wars, as they are well provided with offenfive
weapons ;: fuch as clubs, fpears, darts, and flings for throwing
ftones. The clubs are about two feet and an half long,
and varioufly formed; fome like a fcythe, others like a
pick-axe ; fome have an head like an hawk, and others have
round heads ; but all are neatly made. Many of their darts
and fpears are no lefs neat, and ornamented with carvings.
The flings are as fimple as pofEble ; but they take fome
pains to form the ftones that they ufe, into a proper
fhape; which is Something like an egg, fuppofing both
ends
ends to be like the fmall one. They ufe a becket, in thé 1774-
fame manner as at Tanna, in throwing the dart, which, I be- fep‘_c_m_ber'.
lieve, is much ufed'in ftriking fifh, &c. In this they feem
very dexterous; nor, indeed, do I know, that they have any
other method of catching large fifh ; for I neither faw hooks
nor lines among them.
It is needlefs to mention their working tools, as they are
made o f the fame materials, and nearly in the fame manner,
as at the other iflands. Their axes, indeed, are a little different
; fome, at leaft; which may be owing to fancy as much
as cuftom.
Their houfes, or at leaft tfioftof them, are circular; fome-
thing like a bee-hive, and full as clofe' and warm. The entrance
is by a fmall door, or long fquare hole, juft big enough
to admit a man bent double. ,The fide-walls are about
four feet and an half high; but the roof is lofty, and peaked
to a point at the top; above which is a poft, or flick of wood,
•which is generally ornamented either with carving or fhells,
or both. The framing is of fmall fpars, reeds, &c. and both
fides and roof are thick and clofe covered with thatch, made
of coarfe long grafs. In the infide of the houfe are fet up
pofts, to which crofs fpars are fattened, and platforms made,
for the conveniency of laying any thing on. Some houfes
have two floors, one above the other. The floor is laid with
dry grafs, and, here and there, mats are fpread, for the principal
people to fleep or fit on. In moft of them we found two
fire-places, and commonly a fire burning; and, as there was
no vent for the fmoke but by the door, the whole houfe was
both fmoky and hot, infomuch that we, who were not ufed
to fuch an atmofphere, could hardly endure it a moment.
Vol. II. R This