WHALING VOYAGE. 
323 
armed, either with spears, bows and arrows, or clubs, 
some of the latter being of large dimensions. Their 
spears were pointed at one end with hard wood, while 
the other was tastefully ornamented with the bone of a 
human leg or arm, according to the whim of the owner. 
They appeared to be capable of using all these instru- 
ments of war with the greatest dexterity. One laugh- 
ing fellow came close to me in the boat, balancing his 
spear on the palm of his hand by the middle of its shaft, 
at times shaking it in a fearful manner, and pointed it to 
my breast ; but although it was evidently done in a play- 
ful manner, I could not help observing a wildness in his 
eyes, and as I did not exactly admire my position, I 
took the liberty of gently placing it aside. 
Several tall and warlike-looking fellows, armed with 
enormous clubs and long spears, took possession of the 
beach from the first of the morning, and watched all our 
proceedings with rather a jealous eye, not seeming to 
wish us to land. 
Some of our traders appeared with a small calabash of 
slaked lime slung on their left arms, while in their right 
hands they held the stem of the bread-fruit, or some- 
thing very similar in appearance, which they used for 
rubbing their teeth, after they had dipped it in the 
lime contained in the calabash. This, with their chew- 
ing of the betel nut, which they appeared much to enjoy, 
made their teeth quite black, an effect they seemed to 
desire exceedingly, as they exhibited it to all of us to 
whom they could get near enough, with great apparent 
vanity. Such is the difference of human ideas of beauty ! 
