THE PELEW ISLANDS. 
301 
the firfl who tailed them ; he thought them good, and 
frequently partook of them afterwards, fo that our people 
put them in poffeflion of a new difh; the men appeared 
pleafed at feeing them killed, and would go out on pur- 
pofe to drive them in their way.—Though the natives 
had not till now made thefe birds an article of food, yet, 
when they went into the woods, they frequently eat their 
eggs; but they did not admire them for being newly laid; 
the luxury to them was, when they could fwallow an imper¬ 
fect chicken in the bargain.—Pigeons they had alfo in the 
woods.—At the time of breeding, they took the young from 
the neft, and brought them up near their houfes, keeping them 
on a perch tied by one leg, and feeding them on yams; this 
bird was accounted a great dainty, as we have had occaflon to 
fee, by its being fo fparingly ufed, and none, but thofe of a 
certain dignity, permitted to eat thereof.—The people of Pe- 
lew were wonderfully aCtive and expert in climbing up trees 
in quell of thefe nefls, or any thing elfethat was an objeCt of 
their purfuit.—Thefe which I have mentioned, were the only 
birds they ufed to eat.—Our people left them two geefe, the 
only remains of their live flock. 
Several birds were feen flying about, whofe plumage ap¬ 
peared to be extremely beautiful, but they probably might 
be of the fame kinds as are found in different countries 
between the tropics.—The iflands had alfo feveral fmall 
birds, whofe notes were very melodious, particularly one 
which 
