280 TEE GBUISE OF THE 'CURAQOA: 



even the large ones, are weak ; the planks, generally six in 

 a canoe, are thin for the size of it, but then they are lighter 

 and sail faster than those made of one piece of wood. 



The natives seemed very timid, and looked upon the big 

 ship with wonder and awe. They had curiously cirved 

 spears, tipped with human bone. They appeared a much 

 finer race than at Marau Sound. Their hair was yellow, 

 short, and curly. They wore the peculiar covering we have 

 before mentioned. No women came off, but with the glass 

 we could see they wore the lavalava. The men wliom we 

 saw did not seem to chew betel-nut so freely as in other 

 places, and they are bettei'-looking also. They had large 

 niund white shell ornaments, some of them six inches 

 across, quite flat, and about an eightli of an inch Uiick, over 

 which was a very thin circle of open carved tortoise-shell, 

 resembling Chinese work. This tortoise-shell circle was 

 nearly as big as tlic other, and was loosely attached to it by 

 a string passing through the centre of both, and secured by 

 a knot ; it was worn bj^ the men at the side of the head. 

 Very few had rings in their ears, as at Marau Sound and 

 other places ; some of them wore circular pieces of wood 

 in them three inches across ; when these pieces are taken 

 out the end of the ear hangs down, and there is a long 

 gaping slit which looks very ugly. This was a great place 

 for cheap and good curiosities. They use shields liere, 

 light but strong; Sir Willinm got one, afterwaids in my 

 possession,' beautifully made, (covered on one side with work 



' Since pre.sented to the Christy Museum. It is figured in the 

 woodcut. 



