186 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



On the 20th of August they put to sea. These people 

 had not the least knowledge of iron, and cloth could be 

 of no use to people who go naked. 



In this island hogs did not seem to be scarce ; but they 

 saw not many fowls. These are the only domestic animals 

 they have. Land birds are not more numerous than at 

 Otaheite, and the other islands ; but they met with some 

 small birds with a very beautiful plumage, which they had 

 never seen before. There was as great a variety of trees 

 and plants here as at any island they had touched at, where 

 their botanists had time to examine. No sort of fishing 

 tackle was seen amongst them, nor any one out fishing, 

 except on the shoals, or along the shores of the harbour, 

 where they would watch to strike with a dart such fish as 

 came within their reach ; and in this way they were expert. 

 They seemed much to admire the European manner of 

 catching fish with the seine. 



Tiiese people were of the middle size, rather slender than 

 otherwise ; most of them had good features, and agreeable 

 countenances. They never would put a hand to any work 

 they were carrying on, which the people of the other islands 

 used to delight in. They make the females do the most 

 laborious work, as if they were pack-horses. A woman has 

 been seen in this island carrying a large bundle on her 

 back, or a child on her back, and a bundle under her arm, 

 and a fellow strutting before her with nothing but a club 

 or spear, or some such thing. 



The women were not beauties ; but were thought hand- 

 some enough for the men, and too handsome for the use 

 that is made of them. Both sexes were of a very dark 

 colour, but not black ; nor had they the least characteristic 

 of the negro about them. They used pigments of black, red, 

 and brown, which they lay on with a liberal hand, not only 

 on the face, but on the neck, shoulders, and breast. The 

 men wore nothing but a belt, and a wrapping leaf. The 

 women had a kind of petticoat made of the filaments of the 

 plantain tree, flags, or some such thing, which reaches below 

 the knee. Both sexes wore ornaments, such as bracelets, 

 ear-rings, necklaces, and amulets. 



With darts they kill both birds and fish, and are excellent 

 marksmen. They always throw with all their might, let the 

 distance be what it will. Mr. Wales, speaking of their 

 dexterity, says, " I must confess I have been often led to 

 think the feats which Homer represents his heroes as per- 

 forming with their spears a little too much of the marvellous 

 to be admitted into an heroic poem ; I mean when confined 

 within the strait stays of Aristotle. Nay, even so great an 

 advocate for him as Mr. Pope acknowledges them to be 



