PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
73 
Dec. 
1 82 .i. 
tain, who, as they arrived on the beach, successively welcomed us to CHAP, 
their island, with a simplicity and sincerity which left no doubt of the ' 
truth of their professions. 
They almost all wore the cloth of the island ; their dress consisted 
of a petticoat, and a mantle loosely thrown over the shoulders, and 
reaching to the ancles. Their stature was rather above the common 
height ; and their limbs, from being accustomed to work and climb the 
hills, had acquired unusual muscularity ; but their features and man- 
ners were perfectly feminine. Their complexion, though fairer than 
that of the men, was of a dark gipsy hue, but its deep colour was less 
conspicuous, by being contrasted with dark glossy hair, which hung 
down over their shoulders in long waving tresses, nicely oiled : in 
font it was tastefully turned back from the forehead and temples, 
and was retained in that position by a chaplet of small red or white 
aTomatic blossoms, newly gathered from the flower-tree (morinda citri- 
Jolia), or from the tobacco plant ; their countenances were lively and 
good-natured, their eyes dark and animated, and each possessed an en- 
viable row of teeth. Such was the agreeable impression of their first 
appearance, which was heightened by the wish expressed simultaneously 
y the whole groupe, that we were come to stay several days with them. 
As the sun was going down, we signified our desire to get to the village 
and to pitch the observatory before dark, and this was no sooner made 
«nown, than every instrument and article found a carrier. 
ATe took the only pathway which leads from the landing-place to 
the vfllage, and soon experienced the difficulties of the ascent, which 
e istant appearance of the ground led us to anticipate. To the 
natives, however, there appeared to be no obstacles: women as well as 
men bore their burthens over the most difficult parts without incon- 
venience ; while we, obliged at times to have recourse to tufts of shrubs 
m glass for assistance, experienced serious delay, being also inpom 
moded by the heat of the weather, and by swarms of house-flies which 
Briton imported there by H.M S 
As soon as we had gained the first level, our partv resfpH 
•-•ge stones that lay half buried in long grass on one ride ofa “ 
L 
