224 cook's second VOYAGE OCT. 



the nails which were given by the officers and crews 

 of both ships for curiosities, &c. with those given for 

 refreshments, they cannot have got less than five 

 hundred weight, great and small. The only piece of 

 iron we saw among them was a small broad awl, 

 which had been made of a nail. 



Both men and women are of a common size with 

 Europeans ; and their colour is that of a lightish 

 copper, and more uniformly so than amongst the 

 inhabitants of Otaheite and the Society Isles. Some 

 of our gentlemen were of opinion these were a much 

 handsomer race; others maintained a contrary opinion, 

 of which number I was one. Be this as it may, they 

 have a good shape, and regular features, and are 

 active, brisk, and lively. The women, in particular, 

 are the merriest creatures I ever met with, and will 

 keep chattering by one's side, without the least invi- 

 tation, or considering whether they are understood, 

 provided one does but seem pleased with them. In 

 general they appeared to be modest ; although there 

 was no want of those of a different stamp ; and as we 

 had yet some venereal complaints on board, I took all 

 possible care to prevent the disorder being commu- 

 nicated to them. Upon most occasions they shewed 

 a strong propensity to pilfering ; in which they were 

 full as expert as the Otaheiteans. 



Their hair in general is black, but more especially 

 that of the women. Different colours were found 

 among the men, sometimes on the same head, caused 

 by something they put upon it, which stains it white, 

 red, and blue. Both sexes wear it short; I saw but 

 two exceptions to this custom, and the most of them 

 combed it upwards. Many of the boys had it cut 

 very close, except a single lock on the top of the 

 head, and a small quantity on each side. The men 

 cut or shave their beards quite close, which operation 

 is performed with two shells. They have fine eyes, 

 and in general good teeth, even to an advanced age. 

 The custom of taitoxving or puncturing the skin pre- 



