34 cook's first V07AGE march, 



CHAP. IX. 



A DESCRIPTION OF THE INHABITANTS, THEIR HABITATIONS, 

 APPAREL, ORNAMENTS, FOOD, COOKERY, AND MANNER OF 

 LIFE. 



1 he stature of the men in general is equal to the 

 largest of those in Europe : they are stout, well limb- 

 ed, and fleshy ; but not fat, like the lazy and luxurious 

 inhabitants of the islands in the South Seas : they are 

 also exceedingly vigorous and active ; and have an 

 adroitness and manual dexterity in an uncommon 

 degree, which are discovered in whatever they do. I 

 have seen the strokes of fifteen paddles on a side in 

 one of their canoes made with incredible quickness, 

 and yet with such minute exactness of time, that all 

 the rowers seemed to be actuated by one common 

 soul. Their colour in general is brown ; but in few 

 deeper than that of a Spaniard, who has been exposed 

 to the sun ; in many not so deep. The women have 

 not a feminine delicacy in their appearance, but their 

 voice is remarkably soft ; and by that, the dress of 

 both sexes being the same, they are principally dis- 

 tinguished : they have, however, like the women of 

 other countries, more airy cheerfulness, and a greater 

 flow of animal spirits, than the other sex. Their 

 hair, both of the head and beard, is black ; and their 

 teeth extremely regular, and as white as ivory : the 

 features of both sexes are good : they seem to enjoy 

 high health ; and we saw many who appeared to be of 

 a great age. The dispositions both of the men and 

 women seemed to be mild and gentle : they treat each 

 other with the tenderest affection, but are implacable 

 towards their enemies, to whom, as I have before 

 observed, they never give quarter. It may, perhaps, 

 at first, seem strange, that where there is so little to 

 be got by victory, there should so often be war ; and 



