56 FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS 



pandanus juice, and which they called Magan, 

 I had my presents now brought ; a large hatchet 

 and two knives delighted the old man very much, 

 as he had never seen such a large piece of iron, 

 and after I had split a piece of wood with it, the 

 often heard O' — h ! re-echoed in the whole circle. 

 As they are principally employed in ship-building, 

 and make their boats without any other tools but 

 coral stones and shells, it may be easily imagined 

 how invaluable they must have considered the 

 hatchet. If I had afforded the men pleasure by 

 giving them knives, I made the women still more 

 happy with beads and looking-glasses ; they did 

 not cease admiring the charming things. They at 

 length were easy respecting their treasures, and 

 they all directed their attention to me ; but only 

 the old man ventured to touch me. He told his 

 people a great deal, who listened to him with open 

 mouths ; I was likewise obliged to uncover my 

 arm here, which they touched, to convince them- 

 selves that it was skin, and not any kind of stuff. 

 I observed, for the first time, a certain modesty in 

 the women, to which the other women of the South 

 Sea Islands are total strangers. The men in vain 

 persuaded their wives to touch my arm ; they re- 

 fused it with much decorum. I have likewise ob- 

 served in the sequel, the native modesty of these 

 women. After they had sufficiently examined 

 every thing, I resolved to treat them with another 

 sight, and held my watch to the old man's ear. 



