stared with cocoa-nut trees, where we also saw some small houses. The
sides of the mountains are thickset with plantations, and the mould in
the new-cleared land seemed to be of a brown-reddish colour. This island
is of no regular figure, but is full of points shooting forth into the
sea, between which are many sandy bays, full of cocoa-nut trees. The
middle of the isle lies in 3 degrees 10 minutes south latitude. It is
very populous. The natives are very black, strong, and well-limbed
people, having great round heads, their hair naturally curled and short,
which they shave into several forms, and dye it also of divers
colours--viz., red, white, and yellow. They have broad round faces, with
great bottle-noses, yet agreeable enough till they disfigure them by
painting, and by wearing great things through their noses as big as a
man's thumb, and about four inches long. These are run clear through
both nostrils, one end coming out by one cheek-bone, and the other end
against the other; and their noses so stretched that only a small slip of
them appears about the ornament. They have also great holes in their
ears, wherein they wear such stuff as in their noses. They are very
dexterous, active fellows in their proas, which are very ingeniously
built. They are narrow and long, with outriggers on one side, the head
and stern higher than the rest, and carved into many devices--viz., some
fowl, fish, or a man's head painted or carved; and though it is but
rudely done, yet the resemblance appears plainly, and shows an ingenious
fancy. But with what instruments they make their proas or carved work I
know not, for they seem to be utterly ignorant of iron. They have very
neat paddles, with which they manage their proas dexterously, and make
great way through the water. Their weapons are chiefly lances, swords
and slings, and some bows and arrows. They have also wooden fish-spears
for striking fish. Those that came to assault us in Slinger's Bay on the
main are in all respects like these, and I believe these are alike
treacherous. Their speech is clear and distinct. The words they used