130 



A VOYAGE TO 



1779- lend their afMance in thofe domeflic oflices, with a willing- 

 nefs that does credit to their reelings. 



It mud, however, be obferved, that they fall very fhort of 

 the other iflanders, in that bcfl tcft of civilization, the refpect 

 paid to the women. Here they are not only deprived of the 

 privilege of eating with the men, but the beft forts of food 

 arc tabooed, or forbidden them. They are not allowed to eat 

 pork, turtle, fcveral kinds of fifli, and fome fpecies of the 

 plantains ; and we were told that a poor girl got a terrible 

 beating, for having eaten, on board our fhip, one of thefe 

 interdicted articles. In their domeflic life, they appear to 

 live almofl entirely by themfelves, and though we did not 

 obferve any inflances of pcrfonal ill-treatment, yet it was 

 evident they had little regard or attention paid them. 



The great hofpitality and kindnefs, with which we were re- 

 ceived by them, have been already frequently remarked ; 

 and indeed they make the principal part of our tranfaclions 

 with them. Whenever we came on more, there was a con- 

 itant druggie who ihould be mofl forward in making us lit- 

 tle prefents, bringing rcfrefhments, or fliewing fome other 

 mark of their refpect. The old people never failed of re- 

 ceiving us with tears of joy ; feemed highly gratified with 

 being allowed to touch us, and wereconflantly making com- 

 parifons between themfelves and us, with the ilrongefl 

 marks of humility. The young women were not lefs kind 

 and engaging, and, till they found, notwithflanding our ut- 

 mofl endeavours to prevent it, that they had reafon to re- 

 pent of our acquaintance, attached themfelves to us without 

 the lcafl referve. 



In juflicc, however, to the fex, it muft be obferved, that 

 thelc ladies were probably all of the lower clafs of the 



people ; 



