to get it abolished. From the lowest to the
highest, the people were addicted to thieving; for even the principal
chiefs could not resist temptation when it came in their way. On one of
their expeditions Mr Banks and his companions had the greater part of
their clothes stolen from them while they were asleep. They had no
doubt that Oberea was concerned in the robbery.

Still the people possessed qualities which won the regard of their
visitors. In all their habits they were scrupulously clean. They
regularly bathed three times in the day, washed their mouths before and
after eating, and their hands frequently during each meal. It was the
custom for the chiefs to take their meals alone, seated on the ground,
with leaves instead of a cloth spread before them, and their food ready
cooked in a basket by their side. Their chief animal food consisted of
pigs and dogs, the latter being carefully kept for the purpose, and fed
entirely on vegetable diet. It was agreed that South Sea dog was but
little inferior to English lamb. The meat was either broiled or baked
in earth-ovens. A hole was dug in the ground, and a fire lighted in it,
small stones being mixed with the wood. When the hole was sufficiently
hot, the fire was raked out, and a layer of hot stones placed at the
bottom; on this leaves were put. The animal to be cooked was laid on
the top of them, and covered, first with more leaves, and then with the
remainder of the hot stones; the whole being then covered up with earth.
All the fish and flesh eaten by the natives was baked in the same way.

An excursion in the pinnace, made by Captain Cook and Mr Banks, round
the island, gave them a perfect knowledge of its shape and size. It
consists of two peninsulas joined by a narrow neck of land, and was
found to be about thirty leagues in circumference. Though they were
received in a very friendly way, the natives stole their clothes or
whatever they could lay hands on. On this excursion they met with a
representation of one of their Etuas, or deities. It was the figure of
a man constructed of basket-work, rudely made, and rather more than
seven feet high. The wicker skeleton was completely covered with
feathers, which were white where the skin was to appear, and black in
the parts which it is their custom to paint or stain. On the head was a
representation of hair; there were also four protuberances, three in
front and one behind, which the English would have