274 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



with hundreds of truly European faces, and many genuine 

 Roman noses amongst them. Their eyes and teeth are 

 good, but the last neither so remarkably white, nor so 

 well set, as are often found amongst Indian nations. 



" The women are not so much distinguished from the 

 men by their features as by their general form, which is, 

 for the most part, destitute of that strong fleshy firmness 

 that appears in the latter. Though the features of some 

 are so delicate as not only to be a true index of their sex, 

 but to lay claim to, a considerable share of beauty and 

 expression, for the bodies and limbs of most of the females 

 are well proportioned, and some absolutely perfect models 

 of a beautiful figure. But the most remarkable distinction 

 in the women is the uncommon smallness and delicacy )f 

 their fingers, which may be put in competition with the 

 finest in Europe. 



" The general colour is a cast deeper than the copper 

 brown, but several of the men and women have a true 

 olive complexion, and some of the last are even a great 

 deal fairer. We saw a man and a boy at Hapaee, and a 

 child at Annamooka, perfectly white. Such have been 

 found amongst all black nations, but I apprehend that their 

 colour is rather a disease than a natural phenomenon. 



" Their countenances very remarkably express the abun- 

 dant mildness, or good-nature, which they possess, and 

 are entirely free from that savage keenness which marks 

 nations in a barbarous state. They are frank, cheerful, 

 and good-humoured, though sometimes, in the presence jf 

 their chiefs, they put on a degree of gravity, and such a 

 serious air, as becomes stiff and awkward, and has an 

 appearance of reserve. 



" Their peaceable disposition is sufficiently evinced from 

 the friendly reception all strangers have met with who have 

 visited them. Instead of offering to attack them openly or 

 clandestinely, as has been the case with most of the in- 

 habitants of these seas, they have never appeared in the 

 smallest degree hostile, but, on the contrary, like the most 

 civilized people, have courted an intercourse with their 

 visitors by bartering, which is the only medium that 

 unites all nations in a sort of friendship. Upon the whole, 

 they seem possessed of many of the most excellent qualities 

 that adorn the human mind such as industry, ingenuity, 

 perseverance, affability, and perhaps other virtues which 

 our short stay with them might prevent our observing. 



" The only defect sullying their character that we know 

 of, is a propensity to thieving, to which we found those of 

 all ages, and both sexes, addicted ; and to an uncommon 

 degree. Great allowances should be made for the foibles 



