We regretted much, that our reftrained fituation gave us
fo little opportunity of making obfervations on the country.
For, during the -whole day, we were feldom a hundred
yards from the place where we were introduced to the
Chiefs on landing; and, confequently, were confined to the
furrounding objefts. The firft thing that prefented itfelf,
worthy of our notice, was the number of people; which mud
have been, at leaft, two thoufand. For thofe who welcomed
us on the fhore, bore no proportion to the multitude we
found amongft the trees, on proceeding a little way up.
We could alfo obferve, that, except a few, thofe we had
hitherto feen on board, were of the lower clafs. . For a great'
number of thofe we now met with, had a fuperior dignity in
their air, and were of a much whiter caft. In general, they
had the hair tied on the crown of the head, long, black,
arid of a mod luxuriant growth. Many o f the young men
were perfect models in ihape, of a complexion as delicate
as that of the women, and, to appearance, o f a difpofition
as amiable. Others, who were more advanced in years,
were corpulent ; and all had a remarkable fmoothnefs of
the fkin. Their general drefs was a piece of cloth, or mat,
wrapped about the waift, and covering the parts which mo-
defty conceals. But fome had pieces of mats, moil curi-
oirily varied with black and white, made into a fort of
jacket without fleeves ; and others wore conical caps of cocoa
nut core, neatly interwoven with fmall beads, made o f a
Ihelly fubftance. Their ears were pierced ; and in them
they hung bits of the membraneous part of fome plant, or
ftuck there an odoriferous flower, which feemed to be a
ipecies of gardenia. Some, who were of a fuperior clafs, and
alfo the Chiefs, had two little balls, with a common bafe,
mademade
from the bone of fome animal, which was hung
round the neck, with a great many folds of fmall cord.
And after the ceremony o f introduction to the Chiefs was
over, they then appeared without their red feathers ; which
are certainly confidered here as a particular mark of dif-
tinCtion ;, for none but themfelves, and the young women
who danced, aflumed them.
Some of the men were punCtured all over the fides and
back, in an uncommon manner; and fome of the women
had the fame ornament on their legs. But this method was
confined to thofe who.feemed to be of a fuperior rank; and
the men, in that cafe, were alfo generally diftinguifhed by
their fize and corpulence, unlefs very young. The women
of an advanced age had their hair cropped Ihort; and many
were cut, in oblique lines, all over the fore-part of the body;
and fome of the wounds, which formed rliomboidal figures,
had been fo lately inflicted, that the coagulated blood fl.il!
remained in them.
The wife of one of the Chiefs appeared" with her child,
laid in a piece of red cloth, which had been prefented to her
huflband ; and feemed to carry it with great tendernefs; fuck-
ling it much after the manner of our women. Another
Chief introduced his daughter, who was young and beautiful.;,
but appeared with all the timidity natural to the fex ;
though ihe gazed on us with a kind of anxious concern,
that feemed to flruggle with her fear, and to exprefs her
aflonilhment at fo unufual a fight. Others advanced with
more firmnefs, and, indeed, were lefs referved than we expected
; but behaved with a becoming modefty. We did
not obferve any perfonal deformities amongft either fex ;
except in a few who had fears of broad fuperficiai ulcers,
C c a remaining
' 777'-
April.
L