OF LA PEROUSE. I47 



which, in their language, they call moii. Having 

 fpread them on mats, they expofe them to the 

 fun to dry, before they exprefs from them the 

 oil, with which the women greafe the upper 

 parts of their body, no doubt in order to nou- 

 rifli the foftnefs of their Ikin, and to prevent 

 too copious a perfpiration. They keep it in 

 the fruit of the melodinus fcandens, having 

 previoudy taken out the feeds. When we pur- 

 chafed any of thefe little phials (one of which 

 may be (c^w in Plate XXXI. Fig. i4.)> ^^^ ^"t.'- 

 quently threw away the oil which they contain- 

 ed, for fear chat it fliould be fpilt in our 

 pockets ; but the women feeing with regret 

 that we v.alled this liquor, on which they fen a 

 great value, generally advanced in order to re- 

 ceive it on their heads; then, with their hands, 

 they fpread irover their fnoulders and arms. 



The natives had already fold us a great num- 

 ber of clubs of various fliapes, and made in a 

 workman- like manner, as m.ay be {t'^m in Plate 

 XXXIII. ^^'e faw fevcral who v/ere employ- 

 ed in carving others with fhark's teeth fixed 

 into the extremity of a piece of wood. (See 

 Plate XXX I J. Fig. 23.^ We were afionidacd to 

 fee them quickly notch, with this fort of chifel, 

 cafiiarhid wood, notwithflanding its extreUiC 

 hardnefi. Others already ufedwith much dex- 

 terity foine of the iron inftrumcnts which v,e 

 L 2 had 



