Hebrides, 
New. 
—— 
694 
tain Cook, in describing the Mallicolese as <‘ the most 
ugly and ill-proportioned people I ever saw, and in 
every respect different from any we had met with in 
this sea,” and specifying “their long heads, flat faces, 
and monkey countenances,” continues, “ but what most 
adds to their deformity, is a belt or cord which they 
wear round the waist, and tie so tight over the belly, 
that the shape of their bodies is not unlike that of an ~ 
overgrown pismire.” They are less acquainted with 
the art of tattooing than many other islanders, and they 
obtain a similar effect by incisions of the flesh, produ- 
cing elevated scars, which resemble external objects, 
A number of personal ornaments are employed by them; 
more generally by the men than the’women. | The face 
and body are frequently painted black, brown, or red ; 
and bracelets, ear-rings, or a bone through the nose, 
are worn among both sexes. The women and children 
are in general shy ; the former are held in subserviency 
by the men, and condemned to the more laborious. ope- 
rations. 
The disposition of the Hebridians seems to be cour- 
teous and liberal; they are not equally prone to re- 
venge injuries, as many other savages, and are more 
willing to be satisfied. The English circumnaviga- 
tors were treated with great hospitality, and it seems 
doubtful in any misunderstandings which was the ag- 
essor, M, de Bougainville considered an attack on 
im at the isle of Lepers, followed by a flight of ar- 
rows, as the consequence of premeditation. They 
are evidently often at war, from the number and 
variety of their arms; and during the visits of stran- 
gers, they are always on the watch, keeping their 
bows constantly bent. These are very strong and elas- 
tic, made of the best club wood, and highly polished. 
The arrows are made of reeds nearly four feet long, and 
pointed with a piece of hard brittle black wood, twelve 
or fifteen inches in length, Some have three points 
for shooting birds, others are discharged at fish, and 
pointed with a bit of bone two or three inches long. 
They have also clubs, spears, and darts ; the first of 
different sizes and shapes, from two feet and a half in 
length to six feet, and are slung from the right shoulder 
by arope, Their arrows are shot with great force and 
precision to the distance of 8 or 10 yards, but are little 
to be dreaded at 25 or 30. Their darts also are thrown 
with much power and accuracy to a short distance. 
Some arrows exhibit a greenish gummy substance on 
the points, which the natives affirm is poison ; but in 
experiments made with it by the English on animals it 
was not fatal. 
The arts are in a very low state ; navigation is little 
understood, and fishing seldom resorted to. No fish- 
ing tackle whatever was observed by the English in the 
largest islands; and their canoes consisted of several 
pieces of wood clumsily sewed together. Only 14 be- 
longed to the whole island of Mallicolo. However, that 
of Immer is chiefly inhabited by fishermen, and the 
- various canoes are from 20 to. 30 feet long, but all of 
indifferent workmanship. The dwellings on shore are 
miserable huts of rude construction, or, properly speak, 
ing, large sheds about 35 feet long open at both ends, 
and of which the roof, ridged at top, reaches to the 
very ground. Captain Cook compares them to a house 
‘without walls. They seem to contain no furniture exe 
cept mats, 
the floor. The quality of the climate is such that the 
inhabitants ean almost dispense with artificial shelter, 
and all their pursuits concentrate in warfare and in 
procuring subsistence, 
a. : 
Im leaves, and dry grass, which cover. 
HEBRIDES. 
A large portion of the New Hebrides is well culti- 
vated. Whole islands are covered by woods and divi- 
sions, indicating much industry anda correct notion 
of ropes 3 and extensive grounds are laid outin re« 
gular plantations of the sugar-cane, bananas, and plan- 
tains, all kept in good order, and sometimes protected 
by stone fences two feet high, ons opto 
It is not ascertained that the natives have any relis 
gion, or any form of government. They offer the branch 
of a tree as a sign of pacification, and pour water on 
their heads, as indicating a desire for conciliation, or in 
token of contrition. They dance round fires to the 
sound of drums ; and these are heard. in the woods on 
occasions of alarm. Their music is of a lively turn ; 
they have pleasing airs embracing a consid 
pass, and it is said they sing in parts,—a fact worthy of 
being ascertained, as the music of sa is so limited. 
An instrument consisting of eight , like the sy- 
rinx or Pan’s pipe, and extending throughout an octave, 
has been seen here. surstapy. 2 
It is singular that in some. of the islands, as Tanna, 
iron is of no value, while in others it bears the highest 
price. Looking-glasses prove the source of great amuse- 
ment to the natives, and their complacent self-contem- 
plations have induced their visitors to affirm that they 
are extremely conceited. _ gf i an 
All those who have reached the New Hebrides be- 
stow the warmest commendations on their soil,,climate; 
and productions. The later navigators have thought 
that a settlement might be’ ly made on Sands 
wich Island ; and Quiros, two centuries to 
interest the avaricious court of Spain, by po out 
the benefit which would result from one on the Tierra 
Austral del Espiritu Santo, « In a word,” he says, 
* the union of so many advantages would produce such 
power and riches, that these territories would not only 
support themselves, but afford an overplus for the.as- 
sistanee of America, aggrandize your majesty’s domi- 
nions in general, and very speedily elevate Spain to the 
highest d rE Fe oy « All this I will undertake 
tenants if I sh rage re and rted in 
my enterprise.” The north side of the island is pene~ 
trated by a capacious bay, which he considers capable 
of being a harbour for 1000 vessels ; and after acquaint- 
ing his sovereign, that, amidst its numerous) ‘ties, 
«the dawn is ushered in by a most delighthal sonosrt 
of millions of oop: paver the forests ronan the shores 
are shaded, and that every evening and morning the 
air is perfumed with the odours of all species of flowers 
intermixed with those of aromatic he ‘con- 
cludes with these words: “ Finally, sire, I can with 
confidence assert, that this harbour, which is situated in 
15° 20’ South Latitude; presents the natural-ad~ 
vantages for the establishment of a large city and a nu- 
merous colony. ¥ 
None of these anticipations, however, have been rea- 
lised, and the New Hebrides, yet unoccupied by Euro~ 
peans, are only resorted to, as we learn, at rare inter« 
vals, for cargoes of wood from their forests. 
Navigators have been so much mistaken regarding 
the population of the South Sea Islands, as to warn us 
ainst listening to conjectures. The inhabitants of 
Mallicollo were computed at 50,000 in 1773, and those 
of Tanna at 20,000; but we cannot forget, that while 
about the same time the population of Otaheite was 
supposed above 200,000, calculations of tolerable accu- 
racy reduce it at this day to 5000; towards which, 
however, several causes, perhaps unknown to'the New 
Hebridians, may have contributed. See Torquemada 
com=— 
