A VOYAGE TO 
1777. country, where there were few inhabitants, except fifhers. 
i ~ Tu ’ y ' _ . It was always holiday with our viliters, as well as with thofe 
we vifited; fo that we had hut few opportunities of obferv- 
ing, what was really the domeftic way of living of the na¬ 
tives. Under thefe difadvantages, it is not furprizing, that 
we fhould not be able to bring away with us latisfactory 
accounts of many things; but fome of us endeavoured to 
remedy thofe difadvantages, by diligent obfervation ; and I 
am indebted to Mr. Anderfon for a confiderable fhare of 
wdiat follows, in this and in the following chapter. In other 
matters, I have only expreffed, nearly in his words, remarks 
that coincided with mine; but what relates to the religion 
and language of thefe people, is entirely his own. 
The natives of the Friendly Illands feldom exceed the 
common ftature (though we have meafured fome, who 
were above fix feet) ; but are very ftrong, and well made; 
efpecially as to their limbs. They are generally broad 
about the fhoulders ; and though the mufcular difpofition 
of the men, which leems a confequence of much adtion, 
rather conveys the appearance of ftrength than of beauty, 
there are feveral to be feen, who are really handfome. 
Their features are very various ; infomuch, that it is 
fcarcely pollible to fix on any general likenefs, by which to 
charadterize them, unlefs it be a fullnefs at the point of the 
nofe, which is very common. But, on the other hand, we 
met with hundreds of truly European faces, and many ge¬ 
nuine Roman nofes, amongft them. Their eyes and teeth 
are good; but the laft neither fo remarkably white, nor fo 
well fet as is often found amongft Indian nations ; though, 
to balance that, few of them have any uncommon thick- 
nefs about the lips, a defedt as frequent as the other per¬ 
fection. 
The 
