A General History & Collection of Voyages and Travels ... - Nauticus

are a mile from each other, in the direction of N. by E. and S. by W. In the bay, which is near three quartersof a mile deep, and has from thirty-four to twelve fathoms water, with a clean sandy bottom, are two sandycoves, divided from each other by a rocky point. In each is a rivulet of excellent water. The northern coveis the most commodious for wooding and watering. Here is the little water-fall mentioned by Quiros,Mendana's pilot; but the town, or village, is in the other cove. There are several other coves, or bays, onthis side of the island, and some of them, especially to the northward, may be mistaken for this; therefore,the best direction is the bearing of the west end of La Dominica.The trees, plants, and other productions of these isles, so far as we know, are nearly the same as at Otaheiteand the Society Isles. The refreshments to be got are hogs, fowls, plantains, yams, and some other roots;likewise bread-fruit and cocoa-nuts, but of these not many. At first these articles were purchased with nails.Beads, looking-glasses, and such trifles, which are so highly valued at the Society Isles, are in no esteemhere; and even nails at last lost their value for other articles far less useful.The inhabitants of these islands collectively, are, without exception, the finest race of people in this sea.For fine shape and regular features, they perhaps surpass all other nations. Nevertheless, the affinity oftheir language to that spoken in Otaheite and the Society Isles, shews that they are of the same nation.Oedidee could converse with them tolerably well, though we could not; but it was easy to see that theirlanguage was nearly the same.The men are punctured, or curiously tattowed, from head to foot. The figures are various, and seem to bedirected more by fancy than custom. These puncturations make them look dark: But the women, who arebut little punctured, youths and young children, who are not at all, are as fair as some Europeans. The menare in general tall, that is, about five feet ten inches, or six feet; but I saw none that were fat and lusty liketheEarees of Otaheite; nor did I see any that could be called meagre. Their teeth are not so good, nor are theireyes so full and lively as those of many other nations. Their hair, like ours, is of many colours, except red,of which I saw none. Some have it long, but the most general custom is to wear it short, except a bunch oneach side of the crown, which they tie in a knot. They observe different modes in trimming the beard,which is in general long. Some part it, and tie it in two bunches under the chin, others plait it, some wear itloose, and others quite short.Their clothing is the same as at Otaheite, and made of the same materials; but they have it not in suchplenty, nor is it so good. The men, for the most part, have nothing to cover their nakedness, except theMarra, as it is called at Otaheite; which is a slip of cloth passed round the waist and betwixt the legs; Thissimple dress is quite sufficient for the climate, and answers every purpose modesty requires. The dress ofthe women is a piece of cloth wrapped round the loins like a petticoat, which reaches down below themiddle of the leg, and a loose mantle over their shoulders. Their principal head-dress, and what appears tobe their chief ornament, is a sort of broad fillet, curiously made of the fibres of the husk of cocoa- nuts. Inthe front is fixed a mother-o'-pearl shell wrought round to the size of a tea saucer. Before that is anothersmaller one, of very fine tortoise-shell, perforated into curious figures. Also before, and in the centre ofthat, is another round piece of mother-o'-pearl, about the size of half-a-crown; and before this another pieceof perforated tortoise- shell, about the size of a shilling. Besides this decoration in front, some have it alsoon each side, but in smaller pieces; and all have fixed to them, the tail feathers of cocks, or tropic birds,which, when the fillet is tied on, stand upright; so that the whole together makes a very sightly ornament.They wear round the neck a kind of ruff or necklace, call it which you please, made of light wood, the out