1774. ROUND THE WORLD. 71 



are not only in greater plenty, but of superior qua- 

 lity, and much larger. We got one of the latter 

 which weighed fifty-six pounds, every ounce of which 

 was good. Hogs did not seem to be scarce ; but we 

 saw not many fowls. These are the only domestic 

 animals they have. Land birds are not more nume- 

 rous than at Otaheite, and the other islands ; but we 

 met with some small birds, with a very beautiful 

 plumage, which we had never seen before. There is 

 as great a variety of trees and plants here as at any 

 island we touched at, where our botanists had time 

 to examine. I believe these people live chiefly on 

 the produce of the land, and that the sea contributes 

 but little to their subsistence. Whether this arises 

 from the coast not abounding with fish, or from their 

 being bad fishermen, I know not ; both causes per- 

 haps concur. 1 never saw any sort of fishing-tackle 

 amongst them, nor any one out fishing, except on the 

 shoals, or along the shores of the harbour, where 

 they would watch to strike with a dart such fish as 

 came within their reach ; and in this they were ex- 

 pert. They seemed much to admire our catching fish 

 with the seine ; and, I believe, were riot well pleased 

 with it at last. I doubt not they have other methods 

 of catching fish besides striking them. 



We understood that the little isle of Immer was 

 chiefly inhabited by fishermen, and that the canoes 

 we frequently saw pass, to and from that isle and 

 the east point of the harbour, were fishing canoes. 

 These canoes were of unequal sizes, some thirty feet 

 long, two broad, and three deep, and they are com- 

 posed of several pieces of wood clumsily sewed toge- 

 ther with bandages. The joints are covered on the 

 outside by a thin batten champhered off at the edges, 

 over which the bandages pass. They are navigated 

 either by paddles or sails. The sail is latteen, ex- 

 tended to a yard and boom, and hoisted to a short 

 mast. Some of the large canoes have two sails, and 

 all of them outriggers. 



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