%28 cook's SECOND VOYAGE OCT. 



A still more singular custom prevails in these isles: 

 we observed that the greater part of the people, both 

 men and women, had lost one or both their little 

 fingers. * We endeavoured, but in vain, to find out 

 the reason of this mutilation ; for no one would take 

 any pains to inform us. It was neither peculiar to 

 rank, age, or sex; nor is it done at any certain 

 age, as I saw those of all ages on whom the ampu- 

 tation had been just made ; and, except some young 

 children, we found few who had both hands perfect. 

 As it was more common among the aged than the 

 young, some of us were of opinion that it was occa- 

 sioned by the death of their parents, or some other 

 near relation. But Mr. Wales one day met with a 

 man, whose hands were both perfect, of such an ad- 

 vanced age, that it was hardly possible his parents 

 could be living. They also burn or make incisions 

 in their cheeks, near the cheek-bone. The reason 

 of this was equally unknown to us. In some, the 

 wounds were quite fresh ; in others, they could only 

 be known by the scars, or colour of the skin. I saw 

 neither sick nor lame amongst them : all appeared 

 healthy, strong, and vigorous ; a proof of the goodness 

 of the climate in which they live. 



I have frequently mentioned a king, which implies 

 the government being in a single person, without 

 knowing for certain whether it is so or not. Such an 

 one was, however, pointed out to us ; and we had no 

 reason to doubt it. From this, and other circum- 

 stances, I am of opinion that the government is much 

 like that of Otaheite; that is, in a king or great chief, 

 who is here called Areeke, with other chiefs under 

 him, who are lords of certain districts, and perhaps 

 sole proprieters, to whom the people seem to pay 

 great obedience. I also observed a third rank, who 

 had not a little authority over the common people : 



* This custom is not peculiar to the inhabitants of the Friendly 

 Isles. See Recherches Philosophiques sur les Americains, torn. ii. 

 p. 253, &c. 



