38o A V O Y A G E T O 



"77. troubled wic]i what they, probably, thought idle quef- 

 tions. Our fituation at Tongataboo, where we remained 

 the longed, was, likewife, unfavourable. It was in a part 

 of the country, where there were few inhabitants, except 

 liflicrs. It was always holiday with our vifiters, as well as 

 with thofe we vifited ; fo that we had but few opportunities 

 of obferving, what was really the domeftic way of living 

 of the natives. Under thefe difadvantages, it is not fur- 

 prizing, that we fiiould not be able to bring away with us 

 fatisfacflory accounts of many things ; but fome of us en- 

 deavoured to remedy thofe difadvantages, by diligent obfer- 

 vation ; and I am indebted to Mr. Andcrfon, for a confiderable 

 Ihare of what follows, in this and in the following chapter. 

 In other matters, I have only exprefTed, nearly in his words, 

 remarks that coincided with minej but what relates to 

 the religion and language of thefe people, is entirely his 

 own. 



The natives of the Friendly Iflands feldom exceed the 

 common flature (though we have meafured fome, wha 

 were above fix feet) ; but are very ftrong, and well made ;. 

 efpecially as to their limbs. They are generally broad 

 about the flioulders j and though the mufcular difpofition 

 of the men, which feems a confequence of much aftion,. 

 rather conveys the appearance of ftrength than of beauty, 

 there are feveral to be feen, who are really handfome. 

 Their features are very various ; infomuch, that it is- 

 fcarcely poffible to fix on any general likenefs, by which to 

 chara6lerize them, unlefs it be a fuUnefs at the point of the 

 nofe, which is very common. But, on the other hand, we 

 met with hundreds of truly European faces, and many ge- 

 nuine Roman nofes, amongft them. Their eyes and teeth 

 are goodj but the lafl neither fo remarkably white, nor fo 



well 



