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monly from a foot to two or more in tliickiiefs. The qua- 

 lity of this foil is beft indicated by the luxuriant jrrowth of 

 its produftions : tlie hills being one continued forell of trees, 

 owing the flrength of their vegetation partly to the foil, and 

 partly alfo to the agreeable temperature of the climate. In 

 February, correfponding to our Auguil, the thermometer 

 was not higher tlian 66" ; and in June, correfponding to 

 our December, the mercury never fell lower than 48". The 

 weather is, in general, good ; but fometimes windy, with 

 heavy rain, which, however, never laits above a day ; nor 

 is it ever exceffive. Among the trees, which covered the 

 hills, and which are of two forts, one fupplied the place of 

 fpruce in maknigbecr, for which purpofe a llrong decoftion 

 of its leaves was fermented with treacle or iugar. Tke otlier 

 fort of tree refembled a maple, and its wood ferved for fuel. 

 On the fmall flat fpots behind there is a great variety of trees. 

 Among other plants that were ufefu!, may be reckoned the 

 wild celery, which grows plentifully almoft in every cove, 

 and one that was called fcurvy-grafs, though very different 

 from the plant to which we give that name. Both forts were 

 boiled every morning, with wheat ground in a mill, and with 

 portable foup for the people's breakfaft, and amongfl their 

 peafe-foup for dinner. Sometimes they were ufed as fallad, 

 or dreffed as greens. There is another plant, which pro- 

 duces a fine filky flax, of which the natives make their gar- 

 ments. A fpecies of long pepper is alfo found in great 

 plenty. The birds are almoft entirely peculiar to the place. 

 The principal fifh caught with the feine were mullets and ele- 

 phant-fifh, with a few foles and flounders ; but thofe which 

 the natives moflly fupplied were a fort of fea-bream, of a 

 filver colour, with a black fpot on the neck, large conger- 

 eels, and a fifh in fhape like the bream, but fo large as to 

 weigh five, fix, or feven pounds, and called " Mogge" by 

 the natives. Of all the forts of fifh, which are here 

 numerous, the mogge, fmall falmon, and colour fifh, as 

 the feamen called it, though different from ours, are fu- 

 perior to the reft. The rocks furnifh a great variety of 

 fhell-fifh. Infefts are very rare. In this extenfive land there 

 are not even traces of any quadruped, excepting only a few 

 rats, and a fort of fox-dog, which is a domeftic animal with 

 the natives. Neither is there any mineral worth notice, but 

 a green jafper or ferpent-ftone, of which the New Zealanders 

 make their tools and ornaments. 



The natives do not exceed the common ftature of Euro- 

 peans, and, in general, are not fo well made. Their colour 

 is of different cafts, from a deep black to a yellowifh or 

 olive tinge ; and their features are alfo various, (ome refem- 

 bling Europeans. But in general their faces are round, with 

 their lips full, and alfo their nofes towards the point ; though 

 the firft are not uncommonly thick, nor the lafl flat. Their 

 teeth are generally broad, wiiite, and well fet ; and their eyes 

 large, with a very free motion, which feems the efieft of 

 habit ; their hair is black, ftraiglit, and ftrong ; commonly 

 cut fhort on the hind part, with the reft tied on the crown of 

 the head ; but fome have it curling, and of a brown colour. 

 In the young, the countenance is generally free or open ; 

 but in many of the men it has a ferious caft, and fometimes 

 afullennefsorreferve, efpecially if they are ftrangers. The 

 women are in general fmaller than the men ; but have few 

 peculiar graces. The drefs of both fexes is alike ; and con- 

 fifts of an oblong garment, about five feet long and four 

 broad, and made of the filky flax before mentioned. This 

 feems to be their moft material and complex manufacture, 

 and is executed by knotting ; and their work is often orna- 

 mented with pieces of dog-fl<m, or checquered at the cor- 

 ners. They bring two corners of this garment over their 

 fhoulders, and fallen it on the brgaft, with the other part 

 Vol. XXIX. 



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which corers the body ; and about the belly a is again tied 

 with a girdle made of mat. Sometimes they cover it with 

 large feathers of birds, (which feem to be wrought into the 

 piece of cloth when it is made,) or with dog-fldn ; and that 

 alone fometimes worn as a covering. Over this garment 

 many of them wear mats, which reach from their fhoulders 

 to their heels. But the moft common outer covering 

 is a quantity of fedge-plant, badly dreffed, wliich they 

 faften on a ftring to a confiderable length, and throwing it 

 about the flioulders, let it fall down on all fides, as far as 

 the middle of the thighs. By way of ornament, they fix in 

 their heads feathers, or combs of bone or wood, adorned 

 with pearl-fliell, or the thin inner fl<in of fome leaf; and in 

 the ears both of men and vcomen, which arc pierced, or ra- 

 ther flit, are hung fmall pieces of jafper, bits of cloth, 01 

 beads, when they can get them. A few alfo have the feptum 

 of tlie nofe bored in the lower part. They wear long beards, 

 but are fond of having them fliaved. Some are punAured 

 or ftained in the face, with curious fpiral and other figures, of 

 a black or deep blue colour ; but it is doubtful whether this 

 be ornamental, or intended as a mark of peculiar diftinftion : 

 and the women who are marked fo, have the punfture only 

 on their lips, or a fmall fpot on their chins. Both fexes 

 often befmear their faces and heads with a red paint, which 

 feems to be a martial ochre, mixed with greafe ; and the 

 women fometimes wear necklaces of fliark's teeth, or bunches 

 of long beads, which feem to be made of the leg-bones of 

 fmall birds, or a particular fliell. They live in fmall coves, 

 in companies of forty or fifty, or more ; and fometimes in 

 fingle families, buildmg their huts contiguous to each other ; 

 which are in general miferable lodging places. The beft was 

 about thirty feet long, fixteen broad, and fix high ; built 

 exaftly in the manner of an Enghfli barn. They feemed to 

 have no other furniture than a {ew fmall bafkcts or bags, in 

 which they put their fifliing-hooks and other trifles. They 

 five chiefly by fifliing, making ufe either of nets of different 

 kinds, or of wooden fifh-hooks, pointed with bone ; but fo 

 oddly made, that a ftranger would be at a lofs to know how 

 they can anfwer fuch a purpofe. Their boats are well built 

 of planks, raifed upon each other, and faftencd with ftrong 

 withes, wliich alfo bind a long narrow piece on the outfde 

 of the feams, to prevent their leaking. Some are fifty feet 

 long, and fo broad as to be able to fail without an outrigger ; 

 but the fmaller fort commonly have one ; and they often, 

 faften two together by rafters, forming a double canoe. They 

 carry from five to thirty men, or moi-e ; and often have a 

 large head, ingenioufly carved, and painted with a figure at 

 the point, which feems intended to reprefent a man with his 

 features diftorted by rage. Their paddles are about four or 

 five feet long, narrow, and pointed ; with which, when they 

 keep time, the boat is puflied along pretty fuiftly. Their 

 fail, which is feldom ufed, is made of a mat of a triangular 

 fhape, having the broadeft part above. Their method of 

 feeding correfponds with the naftincfs of their perfons, which 

 often fmell difagreeably, from the quantity of greafe about 

 them, and their clothes never being waflied. We have feen 

 them eat the vermin with which their heads are plentifully 

 ftocked. They alfo ufed to devour with the greateft eager- 

 nefs large quantities of ftinking train oil, and blubber of 

 feals, which we were melting at the tent, and had kept near 

 two months ; and on board the fhips they were not fatisfied 

 with emptying the lamps, but adually fwallowed the cotton 

 and fragrant wick with equal voracity. Thele people mani- 

 fell as much ingenuity, both in invention and execution, as 

 any uncivihzed nations under fimilar circumftances. For, 

 without the ufe of any metal tools, they make every thing b) 

 which they procure their fubfiftence, elothing, and warlike 

 I i weapon's, 



