THE PELEW ISLANDS, 
3i5 
the enemy. — It is hardly to be conceived with what addrefs 
they directed this weapon, or the diftance at which it would 
prove mortal. Their fpears were only calculated for a cer¬ 
tain. diftance, not being in general miflible beyond fifty or 
fixty feet.—They had other fpears about eighteen feet long, 
which were only ufed when they came to ciofe quarters with 
the enemy. 
When they went to battle, fome of the Rupacks carried in 
their canoes a kind of fword, made of very hard wood, and 
inlaid with parts of fhells; this they only made ufe of in per- 
fonal engagement; they were of fufficient weight to cleave 
a man’s fkull. 
Our people faw a very few daggers, made of the fting of 
the Ray-fijh , which is jagged all upwards from the point ; 
they fheathed them in a bamboo, and their handles were of 
wood, formed into fome grotefque fliape ; the whole length 
of the weapon not exceeding thirteen inches. 
THEIR CANOES. 
As their battles were generally fought in canoes, thefe 
may with propriety follow the account of their warlike im¬ 
plements. 
They were, like moft other canoes, made from the trunk 
of a tree dubbed out; but our people, who had often feen 
S f 2, veflels 
See plate IL 
fig' 1. 
See plate V. 
fig' 
