PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 99 



height ; and their limbs, from being accustomed 

 to work and climb the hills, had acquired unusual 

 muscularity ; but their features and manners were 

 perfectly feminine. Their complexion, though 

 fairer than that of the men, was of a dark gipsy 

 hue, but its deep colour was less conspicuous, by 

 being contrasted with dark glossy hair, which 

 hung down over their shoulders in long wav- 

 ing tresses, nicely oiled : in front it was tastefully 

 turned back from the forehead and temples, and 

 was retained in that position by a chaplet of small 

 red or white aromatic blossoms, newly gathered 

 from the flower- tree (morinda citrifolia), or from the 

 tobacco plant ; their countenances were lively and 

 good-natured, their eyes dark and animated, and 

 eacli possessed an enviable row of teeth. Such was 

 the agreeable impression of their first appearance, 

 which was heightened by the wish expressed simul- 

 taneously by the whole group, that we were come 

 to stay several days with them. As the sun was 

 going down, we signified our desire to get to the 

 village and to pitch the observatory before dark, and 

 this was no sooner made known, than every instru- 

 ment and article found a carrier. 



We took the only pathway which leads from the 

 landing-place to the village, and soon experienced 

 the difficulties of the ascent, which the distant ap- 

 pearance of the ground led us to anticipate. To the 

 natives, however, there appeared to be no obstacles : 

 women as well as men bore their burthens over the 

 most difficult parts without inconvenience ; while 

 we, obliged at times to have recourse to tufts of 

 shrubs or grass for assistance, experienced serious 

 delay, being also incommoded by the heat of the 



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