THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
247 
toms, and particularly from what we obferved of the ho- 1778. 
nours paid to their Chiefs, it feems reafonable to believe, 
that it is of the fame nature with that which prevails 
throughout all the illands we had hitherto vilited; and, 
probably, their wars amongft themfelves are equally fre¬ 
quent. This, indeed, might be inferred from the number 
of weapons which we found them polTefTed of, and from 
the excellent order thefe were kept in. But we had diredt 
proof of the fadf from their own confeflion; and, as we 
underftood, thefe wars are between the different diftridts 
of their own illand, as well as between it and their neigh¬ 
bours of Oneeheow and Orrehoua. We need fcarcely aflign 
any other caufe belides this, to account for the appear¬ 
ance, already mentioned, of their population bearing no 
proportion to the extent of their ground capable of culti¬ 
vation. 
Belides their fpears or lances, made of a fine chefnut- 
coloured wood, beautifully polifired, fome of which are 
barbed at one end, and flattened to a point at the other, 
they have a fort of weapon which we had never feen be¬ 
fore, and not mentioned by any navigator, as ufed by the 
natives of the South Sea. It is fomewhat like a dagger; in 
general, about a foot and a half long, firarpened at one or 
both ends, and fecured to the hand by a firing. Its ufe is 
to ltab in clofe fight; and it feems well adapted to the pur- 
pofe *. Some of thefe may be called double daggers, having 
a handle in the middle, with which they are better enabled 
to ftrike different ways. They have alfo bows and arrows ; 
but, both from their apparent fcarcity, and their flender 
make, it may almoft be prefumed that they never ufe them 
in battle. The knife or faw, formerly mentioned, with 
which they diffeft the dead bodies, may alfo be ranked 
* See Plate LXVII. fig. 6. 
3 
amongft 
