1777- THE pacific OCEAN. 433 



likewise unfavourable. It was in a part of the 

 country where there were few inhabitants except 

 fishers. It was always holiday with our visitors, as 

 well as with those we visited; so that we had but 

 few opportunities of observing what was really the 

 domestic way of living of the natives. Under these 

 disadvantages it is not surprising that we should not 

 be able to bring away with us satisfactory accounts 

 of many things ; but some of us endeavoured to 

 remedy those disadvantages by diligent observation ; 

 and I am indebted to Mr. Anderson for a consider- 

 able share of what follows in this and in the following 

 chapter. In other matters I have only expressed, 

 nearly in his words, remarks that coincided with 

 mine ; but what relates to the religion and language 

 of these people, is entirely his own. 



The natives of the Friendly Islands seldom exceed 

 the common stature (though we have measured 

 some who were above six feet) ; but are very strong 

 and well made, especially as to their limbs. They 

 are generally broad about the shoulders ; and though 

 the muscular disposition of the men, which seems a 

 consequence of much action, rather conveys the ap- 

 pearance of strength than of beauty, there are several 

 to be seen who are really handsome. Their features 

 are very various ; insomuch, that it is scarcely pos- 

 sible to fix on any general likeness by which to 

 characterize them, unless it be a fulness at the point 

 of the nose, which is very common. But, on the 

 other hand, we met with hundreds of truly European 

 faces, and many genuine Roman noses amongst them. 

 Their eyes and teeth are good ; but the last neither 

 so remarkably white, nor so well set, as is often found 

 amongst Indian nations ; though, to balance that, 

 few of them have any uncommon thickness about the 

 lips, a defect as frequent as the other perfection. 



The women are not so much distinguished from 

 the men by their features as by their general form, 

 which is, for the most part destitute of that strong 



vol. v. F F 



