OF LA PEROUSE. 249 



fell me for two joiner's chifcls. This mafl^ was 

 cut out of a piece of cocoa-nut tree, (See PI die 

 XXXP'II. F/g. I.) but much better carved than 

 the diffei-cnt [igr.rcs which wc had i^cQn in other 

 phices, on i:he planks at the entrance of their 

 dwellings. lie repeatedly covered his face 

 with it, and looked through the holes which 

 he had perforated in the upper part. It had no 

 aperture at the eyes, but only at the mouth. 

 Doubtlefs thefe people are in the habits of 

 making ufe of maiks of this fort, that they may 

 not be recognifed by their enemies, Vvhen they 

 undertake any hoftiiities again Pc them. 



We then proceeded towards two fires kindled 

 near fome huts, where wc found a man and a 

 woman employed in drcfling figs of a new fpc- 

 cies, which they had put on the fire in a large 

 earthen pot, without Vv'ater, in order to deprive 

 them of their corrofive quality. They called 

 tliefe figs cnyoii. 



I obfervcd by another fire two children who 

 were regaling themfjlves v\ ith fpidcrs of a new 

 fpecies, M'hich I had very frequently remaiked 

 in the woods, where they fpin threads fo llrong 

 that we Vv ere ofren exceedingly incommoded 

 by them in our oxurfions. The chihtrcn liril 

 killed them bv iluuting tliem up in a large 

 Ciirthcn vefiel whicii they were heating over a 

 good fire; then ihcy broiled r;;cm oii the eni- 



bers 



