I5>d AVOYAGETO 



1778. The Older not to permit the crews of the boats to go on 



January. 



fliore was illued, that Tmight do every thing in my power to 

 prevent the importation of a fatal difeafe into this ifland, 

 which I knew fomc of our men now laboured under, and 

 which, unfortunately, had been already communicated by us 

 to other iflands in thefe feas. With the fame view, I ordered 

 all female vifiters to be excluded from the Ihips. Many of 

 them had come ofl" in the canoes. Their fize, colour, and fea- 

 tures did not differ much from thofe of the men; and though 

 their countenances were remarkably open and agreeable, 

 there were few traces of delicacy to be feen, either in their 

 faces, or other proportions. The only difference in their 

 drefs, was their having a piece of cloth about the body, 

 reaching from near the middle, to half-way down the thighs, 

 inflead of the maro worn by the other fex. They would as 

 readily have favoured us with their company on board as 

 the men ; but I wiflied to prevent all connecflion, which 

 might, too probably, convey an irreparable injury to them- 

 felves, and, through their means, to the whole nation. 

 Another neceffary precaution was taken, by ftri(5lly enjoin- 

 ing, that no perfon, known to be capable of propagating 

 the infection, fhould be fent upon duty out of the fliips. 



Whether thefe regulations, diftated by humanity, had the 

 defired effedl, or no, time only can difcover. I had been 

 equally attentive to the fame objedl, when I firfl vifited the 

 Friendly Iflands ; yet I afterward found, with real con- 

 cern, that I had not fucceeded. And I am much afraid, that 

 this will always be the cafe, in fuch voyages as ours, wherb- 

 ever it is neceffary to have a number of people on fhore. 

 The opportunities and inducements to an intercourfe be- 

 tween the fexes are then too numerous to be guarded 

 4 againft j 



