Nov.] NEW-IRELAND— NEW-BRITAIN. 455 



other ordinary purposes, like those of the Massacre Islands. All of 

 them are filled with out-riggers, like those of Bergh's Group, being 

 made of the like materials. Their war-canoes are very swift ; but 

 they seldom use sails. The dress of these natives (I mean such as 

 are married, for all others go entirely naked) consists simply of a 

 small tapper, about eighteen inches wide, woven from the fibres of the 

 cocoanut-tree bark, which they wear around the hips. Their fishing 

 gear is made of the same materials as their dress, and very inge- 

 niously manufactured. The bow and arrow are seldom used by this 

 people ; their principal weapons being the spear, the war-club, and the 

 sling. With the first and last they are highly expert, and exercise 

 them with a great deal of dexterity. 



We had frequent communications with the natives of New-Ireland ; 

 we also landed on some uninhabited parts of their coast, and pene- 

 trated into the forests for a considerable distance. In these rambles 

 we saw a great variety of birds, some of exquisite song, and others 

 of beautiful plumage — seldom both combined ; but they were all per- 

 fectly tame. A very extensive and highly valuable collection of speci- 

 mens might be made on this island by a practical ornithologist, with- 

 out much labour or difficulty. Of quadrupeds we saw none but hogs 

 and dogs, the most of which were running wild. We met with several 

 different kinds of serpents, but none that are common to our country. 

 Insects cannot be very numerous, as we saw but few. 



Wood, water, and fruit of the best quality may be obtained with 

 ease at any of the harbours on the west side of the island ; and in 

 some of the ports you may purchase hogs and poultry at your own 

 price. The waters are teeming with fish of the greatest variety and 

 the most delicate flavour ; all of which are easily caught. Nature, in 

 fact, seems to have lavished her favours on these islands in the greatest 

 profusion, every thing growing spontaneously ; the hogs and the birds 

 being the principal agriculturists — the former breaking the surface of 

 the soil, and the latter dropping in such undigested seeds as may have 

 been taken into their bodies with their food. The natives neither 

 plough nor dig. Their bread grows upon trees in abundance, and 

 their drink is the delicious milk of the cocoanut. They live like those 

 of the golden age, which poets dream of, when 



" The yet free earth did, of her own accord, 

 Untorn with ploughs, all sorts of fruits afford." 



" When rivers ran with streams of milk, and honey dropped from trees, 

 While earth unto the husbandman gave voluntary fees." 



November 6th. — On Saturday, the 6th, we steered for the north 

 cape of New-Britain, with a fine breeze from south-east, and fair 

 weather. At four, A. M., we passed Cape Stephen's, within two miles 

 of the shore, and hauled immediately in to the south, to examine the north 

 shore of New-Britain. While cruising along this coast, which is in- 

 dented with numerous deep bays and spacious harbours, we were visited 

 by many of the natives, whose persons, manners, habits, and customs 

 are very similar to those of New-Ireland ; but their character is much 

 more savage and hostile. This island is very thinly populated ; but 



