1774. ROUND THE WORLD. 117 



desire for the iron belaying pins which were fixed in 

 the quarter deck rail, and seemed to value them far 

 more than a spike-nail, although it might be twice 

 as big. These pins, which are round, perhaps have 

 the very shape of the tool they wanted to make of 

 the nails. I did not find that a hatchet was quite so 

 valuable as a large spike. Small nails were of little 

 or no value ; and beads, looking-glasses, &c. they 

 did not admire. 



The women of this country, and likewise those of 

 Tanna, are, so far as I could judge, far more chaste 

 than those of the more eastern islands. I never 

 heard that one of our people obtained the least favour 

 from any one of them. I have been told, that the 

 ladies here would frequently divert themselves, by 

 going a little aside with our gentlemen, as if they 

 meant to be kind to them, and then would run away 

 laughing at them. Whether this was chastity or 

 coquetry, I shall not pretend to determine ; nor is it 

 material, since the consequences were the same. 



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