OF BOTH SEXES. 175 



with hedges. The food of the lower classes 

 consisted chiefly of fish, yams, sweet potatoes, 

 tarro-root, bananas, sugar-canes, and bread 

 fruit. Those of higher rank also indulged in 

 pork, arid the flesh of dogs, prepared in the 

 same manner as on the Society Islands. The 

 tame poultry of Europe was also found here, 

 but it was scarce, and not very much prized. 

 These people were particularly clean, and their 

 cookery was preferred by Englishmen to that 

 of their own country. 



The Yeris were chiefly employed in the 

 building of vessels and the manufacture of 

 mats; the females prepared a stuff of the paper 

 kind, which was so pressed and coloured as to 

 resemble our calico ; and fishing or agriculture 

 was the chief business of the servants. These 

 occupations, however, left leisure for various 

 pastimes, particularly dancing, which the young 

 people of both sexes delighted in. Drums of 

 several sorts were their only musical instru 

 ments, but their songs were very pleasing. 

 They often played at a game much resembling 

 our draughts ; it is played with black and 

 white stones on a piece of board, and from the 



