ELLICE’S AND KINGSMILL GROUP. 
55 
had seen, as in the case of those who came on board, were covered 
with scars, and the scurfy disease, or leprosy. Although the young 
women were quite pretty, the old were as remarkable for being 
hideous: of these, a few were seen to be afflicted with ophthalmia and 
elephantiasis. The maro of the men, although large, was not intended 
to serve the purposes of decency, but principally for the protection of 
the abdomen. Their hair was trimmed short in front, but was allowed 
to grow long behind, where it tapered to a point; in both sexes it was 
black and fine, with a slight tendency to curl. 
After returning to the mariapa, Tama was asked to give them an 
exhibition of a dance. This he endeavoured to do, but without re¬ 
ceiving much attention. At length, the young chief, whom they had 
found particularly troublesome, came forward, with an insolent and 
swaggering air, wrapped a mat round his body, from the waist to the 
knees, and began a dance similar to that of the Polynesian islanders, 
before described, consisting of movements of the hands and body, but 
with very little motion of the feet. When the dance was finished, the 
afternoon was far advanced; the party then returned to the boats, 
which they had now been able to draw near the beach, in consequence 
of the rise of the tide. On their way to the ship, the tiny canoes of 
the natives, with their small white triangular sails, were seen in all 
directions, coming to the shore. On board, it was believed that up¬ 
wards of a thousand had visited the ship in the course of the day. 
On the afternoon of the 7th, a large party visited the town of Utiroa, 
equally well armed as the day before, and with the same instructions 
and cautions that no one should give cause of offence, and if any thing 
was offered for sale, to pay liberally for it. These precautions were 
enjoined, in consequence of the belief that the natives were a treache¬ 
rous and dangerous set of fellows, and were inclined to believe 
themselves invulnerable in their armour. An opportunity had been 
taken, before a large number, to show them that the cuirass, &c., was 
not proof against our weapons at any distance; for which purpose one 
of the coats of mail was hoisted up at the yard-arm, and fired at: the 
holes were then exhibited, but did not seem to produce much effect 
upon them. They manifested a decided disposition for warlike pur¬ 
suits, and ferocity was the most predominant trait in their character. 
On the party’s landing, Captain Hudson moved towards the council - 
house, where they found a large concourse of people, most of them 
elderly men, who they were informed were the chiefs of the nation: 
they were directed to one corner, where sat the chief, whom they 
called Nea. He was a very decrepit old man, nearly bald, with 
shrivelled skin, and had a stare of vacant wonder; the nails of his 
