SECOND VOYAGE 175 



him drop it. At this time, some began to shoot arrows on 

 the other side. A musket discharged in ,the air had no 

 effect ; but a four-pound shot fired over their heads, sent 

 them off in the utmost confusion. 



These people set no value on nails, or any sort of iron 

 tools ; nor indeed on any thing they had. They would, 

 now and then, exchange an arrow for a piece of cloth ; but 

 very seldom would part with a bow. 



Being unwilling to lose the benefit of the moonlight 

 nights, which now happened, they weighed on the 23rd, 

 and proceeded out of the harbour. 



When the natives saw them under sail, they came off 

 in their canoes, making exchanges with more confidence 

 than before, and giving such extraordinary proofs of their 

 honesty as surprised them. As the ship, at first, had fresh 

 way through the water, several of them dropped astern 

 after they had received goods, and before they had time to 

 deliver theirs in return. Instead of taking advantage of 

 this, they used their utmost efforts to get up with them, 

 and to deliver what they had already been paid for. Pieces 

 of cloth and marble paper were in most esteem with them ; 

 but edge-tools, nails, and beads, they seemed to disregard. 



Had they made a longer stay, they might soon have been 

 upon good terms with this ape-like nation. For, in general, 

 they were the most ugly, ill-proportioned people they ever 

 saw, and in every respect different from any they had met 

 with in this sea. They are a very dark-coloured and rather 

 diminutive race, with long heads, flat faces, and monkey 

 countenances. Their hair, mostly black or brown, is short 

 and curly ; but not quite so soft and woolly as that of a 

 negro. Their beards are very strong, crisp, and bushy, 

 and generally black and short. The men go quite naked, 

 except a piece of cloth or leaf used as a wrapper. 



They saw but few women, and they were not less ugly 

 than the men ; their heads, faces, and shoulders are painted 

 red ; they wear a kind of petticoat ; and some of them had 

 something over their shoulders like a bag, in which they 

 carry their children. None of them came off to the ship, 

 and they generally kept at a distance when the ship's people 

 were on shore. Their ornaments are ear-rings made of 

 tortoise-shell, and bracelets. Round the right wrist they 

 wear hogs' tusks, bent circular, and rings made of shells ; 

 and round their left, a round piece of wood, which they 

 judged was to ward off the bow-string. The bridge of the 

 nose is pierced, in which they wear a piece of white stone, 

 about an inch and a half long, formed like a bow. As signs 

 of friendship they present a green branch, and sprinkle 

 water with the hand over the head. 



