PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
175 
had erected temporary huts during the stay of the Dart, their perma- CHAP. 
Rent residences being at the opposite end of the island. They were 
in appearance the most indolent ill-looking race we had yet seen ; Feb; 
broad flat noses, dull sunken eyes, thick lips, mouths turned down 
at the corners, strongly wrinkled countenances, and long bushy hair 
niatted with dirt and vermin. Their stature was above the middle size, 
hut generally crooked ; their limbs bony, their muscles flaccid, and their 
only covering a maro. But hideous as the men were, their revolting 
appearance was surpassed by the opposite sex of the same age. The 
niales were all lolling against the cocoa-nut trees, with their arms round 
each others’ necks, enjoying the refreshing shade of a thick foliage of 
palm-trees ; while the women, old and young, were labouring hard in 
the sun, in the service of their masters, for they did not merit the name 
of husbands. The children, quite naked, were placed upon mats, crying 
and rolling to and fro, to displace some of the myriads of house-flies, 
'vhich so speckled their bodies that their real colour was scarcely dis- 
cernible. 
Amidst this scene I was introduced to the chief, who was distin- 
guished from his subjects by his superior height and strength, and 
probably maintained his authority solely by those qualities. He gave 
nie a friendly reception, and suffered us to cut down what wood we 
'vanted, confining us only to those trees which produced no edible 
fruits. In return for some presents made him, he drew from his 
canoe several pearl fishing hooks and bundles of turtle-shell, and begged 
niy acceptance of them ; but his extreme poverty was such, that I 
Could not bring myself to do so, though I do not know to what material 
nse the last mentioned article could be applied by him. 
We availed ourselves of the areghe’s permission, and sent a party 
to cut as many trees as we required, consisting principally of the pem- 
pliis acidula, as at Byam Martin Island. Mr. Marsh endeavoured to 
engage some of the natives in this employment, by offering shirts, 
tobacco, &c. ; but, notwithstanding the munificence of the reward, the 
^I'eghe alone could be roused from his lethargy ; and even he quitted 
the axe before the first tree w'as felled. 
A party of seamen was at the same time sent, under the direction 
