264 
SOUTH SEA 
of these islands, in the centre of the great North Pacific 
Ocean, the temperature of the air is exceedingly regular, 
the variations in the thermometer not exceeding five 
degrees for weeks, and during the whole year the range 
does not exceed twenty-five degrees. 
In fact, Oahoo is an exceedingly pleasant place, and 
it possesses everything necessary for an Englishman’s 
enjoyment, which is well demonstrated by the appear- 
ance of those who reside here ; for they look as jolly and 
rosy as if they were residing in their own country with 
all the enjoyments of life, so very different to that sickly 
hue which European countenances obtain in almost all 
other tropical climates. 
If the traveller should ever touch at Oahoo, he will 
find the society excellent ; he can enjoy himself at the 
major’s table-d’hote for a trifling consideration, with 
various delicacies, among which our favourite roast beef 
is always to be found. He may occupy several days, I 
might with propriety say weeks, with journeying about 
the island, observing its natural peculiarities. Close 
behind the town, he may observe a large tree, which 
resembles our walnut, the trunk of which is driven full 
of human teeth— for it is, or was the custom of those 
islanders, on the death of a king, queen, or great chief, 
to knock some of their front teeth out with stones, 
which they afterwards thought proper to drive into the 
bark of the tree I have mentioned. I saw several in it 
myself, which were nearly grown over by the bark, as if 
it was anxious to hide the memento of so barbarous and 
ridiculous a custom. But, above all, the voyager must 
