1777- THE PACIFIC OCEAN. i<33 



Whether their marriages be made lasting by any 

 kind of solemn contract, we could not determine 

 with precision; but it is certain, that the bulk of 

 the people satisfied themselves with one wife. The 

 chiefs, however, have commonly several women * ; 

 though some of us were of opinion that there was 

 only one that was looked upon as the mistress of 



the family. 



As female chastity at first sight seemed to be 

 held in no great estimation, we expected to have 

 found frequent breaches of their conjugal fidelity; 

 but we did them great injustice. I do not know 

 that a single instance happened during our whole, 

 stay.t Neither are those of the better sort, that 

 are unmarried, more free of their favours. It is 

 true there was no want of those of a different 

 character; and, perhaps, such are more frequently 

 met with here, in proportion to the number of peo- 

 ple, than in many other countries. But it appeared 

 to me that the most, if not all of them, were of 

 the lowest class; and such of them as permitted 

 familiarities to our people, were prostitutes by pro- 

 fession. 



Nothing can be a greater proof of the humanity 

 of these people, than the concern they show for 

 the dead.t To use a common expression, their 

 mourning is not in words but deeds. For, besides 

 the tooge mentioned before, and burnt circles and 

 scars, they beat the teeth with stones, strike a 

 shark's tooth into the head until the blood flows 

 in streams, and thrust spears into thejtaner part of 



* Cantova says of his Caroline islanders, " La pluralite des 

 femmes est non seulement permise a tous ces insulaires, elle est 

 encore une marque d'honneur et de distinction. Le Tamole de 

 1'isle d'Huogoleu en a neuf." Lettres Edifiantes et Cnrieuses > 

 torn. xv. p. 310. 



f At the Caroline Islands, " lis ont horreur de l'adultere, 

 comme d'un grand pecheV' Ibid. torn. xv. p. 310. 



% How the inhabitants of the Caroline Islands express their 

 grief on such occasions, may be seen, Ibid, torn. xv. p. 308. 



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