igG 
A VOYAGE TO 
1778. 
January. 
fhore was iiTued, that I might do every thing in my power to 
prevent the importation of a fatal difeafe into this ifland, 
which I knew fome of our men now laboured under, and 
which, unfortunately, had been already communicated by us 
to other illands in thefe feas. With the fame view, I ordered 
all female vifiters to be excluded from the fhips. Many of 
them had come off in the canoes. Their fize, colour, and fea¬ 
tures did not differ much from thofe of the men; and though 
their countenances were remarkably open and agreeable, 
there were few traces of delicacy to be feen, either in their 
faces, or other proportions. The only difference in their 
drefs, was their having a piece of cloth about the body, 
reaching from near the middle, to half-way down the thighs, 
inftead of the maro worn by the other fex. They would as 
readily have favoured us with their company on board as 
the men; but I wifhed to prevent all connexion, which 
might, too probably, convey an irreparable injury to them- 
felves, and, through their means, to the whole nation. Ano¬ 
ther neceffary precaution was taken, by ftricStly enjoining, 
that no perfon, known to be capable of propagating the in¬ 
fection, fhould be fent upon duty out of the fliips. 
Whether thefe regulations, dictated by humanity, had 
the defired effect, or no, time only can difcover. I had been 
equally attentive to the fame object, when I firft vifited the 
Friendly Iflands; yet I afterward found, with real concern, 
that I had not fucceeded. And I am much afraid, that this 
will always be the cafe, in fuch voyages as ours, when¬ 
ever it is neceffary to have a number of people on fhore. 
The opportunities and inducements to an intercourfe be¬ 
tween the fexes are then too numerous to be guarded 
againft; and however confident we may be of the health 
of our men, we are often undeceived too late. It is even 
a matter 
