them for fhrouds, &c. I thought they failed very well;
but they are not at .all calculated for rowing or paddling.
Their method of proceeding, when they cannot fail,
is by fculling; and for this purpofe there are holes in the
boarded deck, or platform. Through thefe they put the
fculls, which are of fuch a length, that, when the blade is
in the water, the loom or handle is four or five feet above
the deck. The man who works it Hands behind, and with
both his hands fculls the velfel forward. This method of
proceeding is very flow; and for this reafon, the canoes are
but ill calculated for fifliing, efpecially for' ftriking of turtle,
which, I think, can hardly ever be done in them. Their
fifhing implements, fuch as I have feen, are turtle nets,
made, I believe, of the filaments of the plantain tree twifted;
and fmall hand nets, with very minute mefhes made of fine
twine and fifh gigs. Their general method of fifhing, I guefs,
is to lie on the reefs in fhoal water, and to ftrike the fifti that
may come in their way. They may, however, have other
methods, which we had no opportunity to fee, as no boat
went out while we were here; all their time and attention
being taken up with us. Their canoes are about thirty feet
long, and the deck or platform about twenty-four in length
and ten in breadth. We had not, at this time, feen any timber
in the country fo large as that of which their canoes
were made. It was obferved, that the holes, made in the feve-
ral parts, in order toTow them together, were burnt through;
but with what inftrument we never learnt. Moft probably it
was of ftone; which may be the reafon why they were fo
fond of large fpikes, feeing at once they would anfwer this
purpofe. I was convinced they were not wholly defigned for
edge tools ; becaufe every one fhewed a defire for the iron
belaying pins which were fixed in the quarter-deck rail, and
3 feemed
feemed to value them far more than a fpike-nail, although it 1774-
might be twice as big. Thefe pins which are round, perhaps iS F_—er.
have the very fhape of the tool they wanted to make of the
nails. I did not find that a hatchet was quite fo valuable as
a large fpike. Small nails were of little or no value; and
beads, looking-glafles, &c. they did not admire.
The women of this country, and likewife thofe of Tanna,
are, fo far as I could judge, far more chafte than thofe of the
more eaftern iflands. I never heard that one of our people
obtained the leaft favour from any one of them. I have been
told, that the ladies here would frequently divert themfelves,
by going a little afide with our gentlemen, as if they meant
to be kind to them, and then would run away laughing at
them. Whether this was chaftity or coquetry, I fliall not
pretend to determine; nor is it material, fince the confe-
quences were the fame.
CH A P .