40 THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 
Even this gave but a trifling alleviation to their 
sufferings. Exposed to constant wet and cold, 
and not having room to stretch their limbs, they 
often became so dreadfully cramped as to be 
incapable of moving. 
On this day, another group of islands was 
seen; from whence they observed two large 
canoes in pursuit, one of which, by three o'clock 
in the afternoon, had gained upon them, and 
arrived within two miles of the boat, when the 
savages gave up the chase, and returned to 
shore. Mr, Bligh concluded, from the direction 
of these tracts of land, that they must have been 
the dangerous Feejee Islands, of which there 
are upwards of two hundred. The appearance 
of these islands, especially of the two largest, is 
generally very beautiful and interesting. They 
are well wooded, and have extensive rivers. 
The late Captain H. J. Worth, who visited the 
Feejee Islands in the Calypso^ in June, 1848, 
said, in a report which he sent home, that the 
group was supposed to contain a population 
of 300,000 inhabitants. 
Bligh appears to have had a providential 
escape from the Feejeeans, who are not only 
cunning, cruel, and vindictive, but are to be 
ranked among the vilest and most ruthless 
cannibals. Their horrible habit of feeding on 
human flesh is the more remarkable, as they 
excel their neighbours in talent and ingenuity, 
of which Captain Cook saw several specimens in 
1777, and which have been noticed by subse- 
quent travellers. Cook admired their well-carved 
clubs and spears ; their earthen pots, variegated 
