142 cook's voyage to dec. 



months after the accident, from their being ignorant 

 of a method to reduce it ; though this be considered 

 as one of the simplest operations of our surgery. 

 They know that fractures or luxations of the spine 

 are mortal, but not fractures of the skull ; and they 

 likewise know, from experience, in what parts of 

 the body wounds prove fatal. They have sometimes 

 pointed out those inflicted by spears, which, if made 

 in the direction they mentioned, would certainly have 

 been pronounced deadly by us ; and yet these people 

 have recovered. 



Their physical knowledge seems more confined ; 

 and that, probably, because their diseases are fewer 

 than their accidents. The priests, however, adminis- 

 ter the juices of herbs in some cases; and women 

 who are troubled with after-pains, or other disorders 

 after child-bearing, use a remedy which one would 

 think needless in a hot country. They first heat 

 stones, as when they bake their food ; then they lay 

 a thick cloth over them, upon which is put a quantity 

 of a small plant of the mustard kind ; and these are 

 covered with another cloth. Upon this they seat them- 

 selves, and sweat plentifully, to obtain a cure. The 

 men have practised the same method for the venereal 

 lues, but find it ineffectual. They have no emetic 

 medicines. 



Notwithstanding the extreme fertility of the island, 

 a famine frequently happens, in which, it is said, many 

 perish. Whether this be owing to the failure of some 

 seasons, to over population, which must sometimes 

 almost necessarily happen, or to wars, I have not been 

 able to determine ; though the truth of the fact may 

 be fairly inferred, from the great economy that they 

 observe with respect to their food, even when there is 

 plenty. In times of scarcity, after their bread-fruit 

 and yams are consumed, they have recourse to 

 various roots which grow without cultivation upon 

 the mountains. The patarra, which is found in vast 

 quantities, is what' they use first. It is not unlike a 



