I79I' ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND SAMAR. I3I 



continue to exercife until they are fatisfied they have at- 

 tained their end. They let blood by means of incifions 

 made in the fkin ; and as to phyfic, they are wonder- 

 fully verfant in the virtues of many flowers, balms, 

 and plants, the ufe and application of which they owe 

 to nature, and their own experience alone. 



The hair of both fexes is remarkably fine, particular- 

 ly that of the women, which they are accuftomed to 

 comb with great care, and to annoint frequently with 

 oil of the cocoa nut, in order to ftrengthen, and render 

 it of a deep black. Their nofe is fliort and deprefl'ed, 

 but the noftrils are by no means dilated like thofe of 

 the negroes ; nor, indeed, have I often obferved an ug- 

 ly or ill favoured woman in thofe iflands. The features 

 are fmall, not always regular ; but they have beautiful 

 eyes, and faces uncommonly interefting and expreffive. 

 They ufe pitchers of the bamboo, and fome of them 

 have a light fort of leaf hat, fimilar to what is worn by 

 Indians of the firft diitinclion. One of the m.oft beau- 

 tiful objefts, in my opinion, that can meet the eye of 

 a painter, is a fine young Indian on her way to fetcli 

 water from the well. The large leaf hat, the delicate 

 arangement of the thin tranfparent petticoat, and a lighi: 

 bamboo pitcher in each hand, bellow a furpriling 

 grace and dignity on her perfon. In the remote parts 

 of tlie country, and efpecially at a diftance from the 

 miflionaries, perfons of both fexes appear almoft naked. 



The natives of Samar have fifh in plenty and va- 

 riety from their rivers, as well as the fea-coaft, the lat- 

 ter of which fupplies them with yery elegant pearls ; 

 and their manner of fifiiing, from its finguiarity, n^erits 

 notice : — There is a certain pea, of an intoxicating 

 quality, named coco, found in the iiland, which being 

 reduced to a powder, is fcattered by the Indian, at 

 low-water, all over the fand. Upon the return of the 

 tide, the filh which have eaten the bait, appear iloaripg 

 in a Hate of infcnfibility on the fv;rir.cc of tlie v.-;te!:, 



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