130 
A VOYAGE TO 
1779. markable for their tender and conftant attention to them : 
— - and the men would often lend their affiftance in thofe do- 
meftic offices, with a willingnefs that does credit to their 
feelings. 
It muft, however, be obferved, that they fall very ffiort 
of the other iflanders, in that heft teft of civilization, the 
refpedt paid to the women. Here they are not only de¬ 
prived of the privilege of eating with the men, but the belt 
forts of food are tabooed , or forbidden them. They are not 
allowed to eat pork, turtle, feveral kinds of filh, and fome 
fpecies of the plantains ; and we were told that a poor girl 
got a terrible beating, for having eaten, on board our ffiip, 
one of thefe interdicted articles. In their domeftic life, 
they appear to live almofl entirely by themfelves, and 
though we did not obferve any inftances of perfonal ill- 
treatment, yet it was evident they had little regard or at¬ 
tention paid them. 
The great hofpitality and kindnefs, with which we were 
received by them, have been already frequently remarked; 
and indeed they make the principal part of our tranfadlions 
with them. Whenever we came on ffiore, there was a con- 
ftant ftruggle who fhould be mod: forward in making us 
little prefents, bringing refrefhments, or fhewing forae 
other mark of their refpedt. The old people never failed 
of receiving us with tears of joy ; feemed highly gratified 
with being allowed to touch us, and were conflantly mak¬ 
ing comparifons between themfelves and us, with the 
ftrongeft marks of humility. The young women were not 
lefs kind and engaging, and, till they found, not with {land¬ 
ing our utmofl endeavours to prevent it, that they had rea- 
fom to repent of our acquaintance, attached themfelves to 
us without the lead referve. 
In juffice, however, to the fex, it muft be obferved, that 
1 thefe 
