177^. ROUND THE WORLD. Ill 



large shells, which they wear above the elbow. They 

 have punctures, or marks on the skin, on several 

 parts of the body ; but none, I think, are black, as 

 at the eastern islands. J know not if they have any 

 other design than ornament; and the people ofTan- 

 na are marked much in the same manner. 



Were I to judge of the origin of this nation, I 

 should take them to be a race between the people of 

 Tanna and of the Friendly Isles ; or between those 

 of Tanna and the New Zealanders, or all three ; their 

 language, in some respects, being a mixture of them 

 all. In their disposition they are like the natives of 

 the Friendly Isles, but in affability and honesty they 

 excel them. 



Notwithstanding their pacific inclination, they must 

 sometimes have wars, as they are well provided with 

 offensive weapons ; such as clubs, spears, darts, and 

 slings for throwing stones. The clubs are about two 

 feet and a half long, and variously formed ; some like a 

 scythe, others like a pick-axe ; some have a head like 

 an hawk, and others have round heads ; but all are 

 neatly made. Many of their darts and spears are 

 no less neat, and ornamented with carvings. The 

 slings are as simple as possible ; but they take some 

 pains to form the stones that they use into a proper 

 shape ; which is something like an egg, supposing 

 both ends to be like the small one. They use a 

 becket, in the same manner as at Tanna, in throwing 

 the dart, which, I believe, is much used in striking 

 fish, &c. In this they seem very dexterous ; nor, 

 indeed, do I know that they have any other method 

 of catching large fish ; for 1 neither saw hooks nor 

 lines among them. 



It is needless to mention their working tools, as 

 they are made of the same materials, and nearly in 

 the same manner, as at the other islands. Their axes, 

 indeed, are a little different ; some, at least ; which 

 may be owing to fancy as much as custom. 



Their houses, or at least most of them, are cir- 



