OF LA PEROUSF.. 71 



could not learn whence this cuftom originated, 

 but it is not general, as mofl: of them have pre- 

 fervcd even all their tcetli. 



It appeared that, like the others, they are ig- 

 norant of the ufe of the bow. 



They were alinoft all tatoocd with punc- 

 tures, placed fometimes in two lines, one above 

 the other, nearly in the forni of a horfc fiioe. 

 Thcfe punctures v/ere frcqucnily in three flraight 

 and parallel lines on each fide of tlie bread. 

 We alfo obfcrvcd foip.c towards the lower part 

 of the fl-ioulder-bladcs. 



Several had the navel fwollen, and very pro- 

 minent , but v.c fatisfied ourfelves that this de- 

 formity did not proceed fromai hernia ; perhaps 

 it refulted from the too great diftance at which 

 they feparated the umbilical cord. 



They gave us to underftand, that they lived 

 on fifli, the fame as the other in'iabitants of 

 Cape Diemcn. I muft remark, that we did not 

 fee one of them that had the fmalleft trace of 

 any cutaneous diforder, which does not accord 

 -\\ ith the opinion of thofe v.ho Iiavc advanced, 

 that people living on filh are ilil^icd to a fpe- 

 cics of Icprofy. Hiflory c\ cii relarc.s, tliar fuch 

 of the Crrccks as would ad()pi in Kg\-[H the 

 dietetic rcjj;iirien of Orp'icus, were afleccjvl ^\it!l 

 ihe elephaiuiafis. 



Vv'e arrived on beard foon aUer I'un-fjt. The 

 1 i Mind 



