Accounts of Otaheite Jlill imperfeB.—’The prevailing Winds * 
—Beauty of the Country. — Cultivation.—Natural Curioji- 
ties.—The Perfons of the Natives. — Difeafes.—General Cha- 
raBer.—Love of Pleafure. — Language.—Surgery and Phy- 
Jic.—Articles of Food.—EffeBs of drinking Av a.—Times and 
Manner of Eating.—ConneBions with the Females. — Cir~ 
cumcifion.—Syftem of Religion.—Notions about the Soul and 
a future Life.—Various Superjlitions.—Traditions about the 
Creation.—An hiflorical Legend.—Honours paid to the 
King.—DiJiinBion of Ranks.—Punifhment of Crimes .— 
Peculiarities of the neighbouring IJlands.—Names of their 
Gods.—Names of IJlands they vifit.—Extent of their Navi¬ 
gation. 
O what has been faid of Otaheite, in the accounts 
JL of the fucceffive voyages of Captain Wallis, Monf. 
de Bougainville, and Captain Cook, it would, at firft light, 
feem fuperfluous to add any thing; as it might he fup- 
pofed, that little could be now produced, hut a l'epetition 
of what has been told before. I am, however, far from 
being of that opinion; and will venture to affirm, though 
a very accurate defcription of the country, and of the moll 
obvious cuftoms of its inhabitants, has been already given, 
efpecially by Captain Cook, that much Hill remains un¬ 
touched ; that, in fome inftances, miftakes have been 
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