THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 319 



tliemfelves in the fun; or lay wallowing in the fand upon '77.3- 



the beach, like a number of hogs, for the fame purpofe, ' » ' 



without any covering. But this difregard of decency was 

 confined to the men. The women were always properly 

 clothed, and behaved with the utmoft propriety ; juftly de- 

 ferving all commendation, for a baflifulnefs and modefty 

 becoming their fex ; but more meritorious in them, as the 

 men feem to have no fenfe of fliame. Ic is impolTible, how- 

 ever, that we lliould have been able to obferve the exact 

 mode of their domeftic life and employments, from a fingle 

 vifit (as the firft was quite tranfitory) of a few hours. For it 

 may be eafily fuppofcd, that, on fuch an occafion, moft of 

 the labour of all the inhabitants of the village would ccafe 

 upon our arrival, and an interruption be given even to the 

 ufual manner of appearing in their houfes, during their 

 more remifs or fociable hours, when left to themfelves. 

 We were much better enabled to form fome judgment of their 

 difpofition, and, in fome meafure, even of their method of 

 living, from the frequent vifits fo many of them paid us at 

 our fhips, in their canoes ; in which, it fhould feem, they 

 fpend a great deal of time, at leafl in the fummcr feafon; 

 For we obferved that they not only eat and llcep frequently 

 in them, but ftrip off their clothes, and lay themfelves along 

 to bafl<: in the fun, in the fame manner as we had feen 

 pra6tifed at their village. Their canoes of the larger fort, 

 are, indeed, fufliciently-fpacious for that purpofe, and per- 

 feiftly dry ; fo that, under flielter of a fkin, they are, except 

 in rainy weather, much more comfortable habitations than 

 their houfes. 



Though their food, flrid:Iy fpeaking, may be faid to con- 

 lift of every thing animal or vegetable that they can procure, 

 the quantity of the latter bears an exceedingly fmall propor- 

 tion 



