THIRD VOYAGE 407 



of the Indian tribes that inhabit the Ladrones and Caroline 

 Islands ; and the same affinity may again be traced amongst 

 the Battas and the Malays. When these events happened 

 is not so easy to ascertain ; it was probably not very lately, 

 as they are extremely populous, and have no tradition of 

 their own origin but what is perfectly fabulous. 



" The natives of these islands are in general above the 

 middle size, and well made. Their complexion is rather 

 darker than that of the Otaheiteans, and they are not 

 altogether so handsome a people. However, many of both 

 sexes had fine open countenances, and the women in 

 particular had good eyes and teeth, and a sweetness and 

 sensibility of look, which rendered them very engaging. 

 Their hair is of a brownish black, and neither uniformly 

 straight, like that of the Indians of America, nor uniformly 

 curling, as amongst the African negroes, but varying in this 

 respect like the hair of Europeans. 



" The same superiority that is observable in the persons 

 of the earees, through all the other islands, is found also 

 here. Those whom we saw were, without exception, 

 perfectly well formed ; whereas the lower sort, besides 

 their general inferiority, are subject to all the variety of 

 make and figure that is seen in the populace of other 

 countries. 



" They seem to have few native diseases among them, 

 but many of the earees suffer dreadfully from the im- 

 moderate use of the ava. There is something very singular 

 in the history of this pernicious drug. When Captain Cook 

 first visited the Society Islands, it was very little known 

 among them. On his second voyage, he found the use of it 

 very prevalent at Ulietea, but it had still gained very little 

 ground at Otaheite. When we were last there, the dreadful 

 havoc it had made was beyond belief, insomuch that the 

 Captain scarcely knew many of his old acquaintances. At 

 the Friendly Islands it is also constantly drunk by the chiefs. 

 but so much diluted with water that it does not appear to 

 produce any bad effects. At Atooi also it is used with great 

 moderation, and the chiefs are, in consequence, a much 

 finer set of men there than in any of the neighbouring 

 islands. Our good friends, Kaireekeea and old Kaoo, were 

 persuaded by us to refrain from it ; and they recovered 

 amazingly during the short time we afterward remained in 

 the island. 



" Notwithstanding the irreparable loss we suffered from 

 the sudden resentment and violence of these people, yet, 

 in justice to their general conduct, it must be acknowledged 

 that they are of the most mild and affectionate disposition, 

 equally remote from the extreme levity and fickleness of the 



