434 cook's voyage to july, 



fleshy firmness that appears in the latter. Though 

 the features of some are so delicate, as not only to 

 be a true index of their sex, but to lay claim to a 

 considerable share of beauty and expression, the rule 

 is by no means, so general as in many other countries. 

 But, at the same time, this is frequently the most 

 exceptionable part ; for the bodies and limbs of 

 most of the females are well proportioned ; and some 

 absolutely perfect models of a beautiful figure. 

 But the most remarkable distinction in the women, 

 is the uncommon smallness and delicacy of their 

 ringers, which may be put in competition with the 

 finest in Europe. 



The general colour is a cast deeper than the 

 copper brown ; but several of the men and women 

 have a true olive complexion ; and some of the last 

 are even a great deal fairer ; which is probably the 

 effect of being less exposed to the sun ; as a ten- 

 dency to corpulence, in a few of the principal people, 

 seems to be the consequence of a more indolent life. 

 It is also amongst the last, that a soft clear skin is 

 most frequently observed. Amongst the bulk of the 

 people, the skin is more commonly of a dull hue, 

 with some degree of roughness, especially the parts 

 that are not covered ; which, perhaps, may be 

 occasioned by some cutaneous disease. We saw a 

 man and boy at Hapaee, and a child at Annamooka, 

 perfectly white. Such have been found amongst all 

 black nations ; but, I apprehend that their colour is 

 rather a disease than a natural phenomenon. 



There are, nevertheless, upon the whole, few na- 

 tural defects or deformities to be found amongst 

 them ; though we saw two or three with their feet 

 bent inward ; and some afflicted with a sort of blind- 

 ness, occasioned by a disease of the cornea. Neither 

 are they exempt from some other diseases. The most 

 common of which is the tetter, or ring-worm, that 

 seems to affect almost one half of them, and leaves 

 whitish serpentine marks every where behind it. 



