T H E P A C I F I C O C E A N. ip^ 



quantity of sreafe about them, and tlieir clothes never be- ^777- 



!■■'<-' ' _ Februsry, 



ing waflied. We have feen them eat the vermin, with 

 which their heads are fuliiciently ftocked. 



They alfo ufed to devour, with the greatefl eagernefsy 

 large quantities of (linking train oil, and blubber of feals, 

 which we were melting at the tent, and had kept near two 

 months ; and, on board the fliips, they were not fatisfied 

 with einptying the lamps, but acflually fwallowed the cotton', 

 and fragrant Vi^ick, with equal voracity. It is v/orthy of no- 

 tice, that though the inhabitants of Van Diemen's land ap- 

 pear to have but a fcanty fubfiftence, they would not even 

 tafte our bread, though they law us eat it ; whereas thefe 

 people devoured it greedily, when both mouldy and rotten. 

 But this muft not be imputed to any defe6l in their fenfa- 

 tions ; fori have obferved them throw away things which 

 we eat, with evident difgufl, after only fmeliing to them. 



They fliew as much ingenuity, both in invention and 

 execution, as any uncivilized nations under fimilar cir- 

 eumftances. For, without the ufe of any metal tools, 

 they make every thing by which they procure their fubfift- 

 ence, clothing, and warlike weapons, with a degree of 

 neatnefs, ftrength, and convenience for accomplKhing their 

 feveral purpofes. Their chief mechanical tool is iormed 

 exacftly after the manner of our adzes; and is made, as are 

 alfo the chifTcl and goudge, of -the green ferpent-flone or 

 jafper, already mentioned; though fometimes they are com-- 

 pofed of a black-, fmooth, and very folid flone. But their' 

 niafter-piece fcems to be carving, which is found upon the 

 moil trifling things ; and, in particular, the heads of their 

 canoes are fometimes ornamented with it in fuch a manner, 

 as not only fhews much defign, bat is alfo an example of 



their 



