very long, extending at least three-fourths of an inch beyond the
fingers end. The wood of which it was made was the rare perfume wood
of Otaheite, with the chips of which they communicate fragrance to
their oils. We had neither seen this wood growing, nor observed the
custom of wearing long nails at this island, and therefore were at a
loss to conceive how this piece of well-executed carving could be met
with there. Mahine afterwards presented this piece to my father, who
in his turn made a present of it to the British Museum."--G.F.

[4] "The most diligent enquiries on our part, have not been sufficient
to throw clear light on the surprising objects which struck our eyes
in this island. We may, however, attempt to account for these gigantic
monuments, of which great numbers exist in every part; for as they are
so disproportionate to the present strength of the nation, it is most
reasonable to look upon them as the remains of better times. The
nearest calculation we could make, never brought the number of
inhabitants in this island beyond seven hundred, who, destitute of
tools, of shelter and clothing, are obliged to spend all their time in
providing food to support their precarious existence. It is obvious
that they are too much occupied with their wants, to think of forming
statues, which would cost them ages to finish, and require their
united strength to erect. Accordingly, we did not see a single
instrument among them in all our excursions, which could have been of
the least use in masonry or sculpture. We neither met with any
quarries, where they had recently dug the materials, nor with
unfinished statues, which we might have considered as the work of the
present race. It is therefore probable, that these people were
formerly more numerous, more opulent and happy, when they could spare
sufficient time, to flatter the vanity of their princes, by
perpetuating their names by lasting monuments. The remains of
plantations found on the summits of the hub, give strength and support
to this conjecture. It is not in our power to determine by what
various accidents a nation so flourishing, could be reduced in number,
and degraded to its present indigence. But we are well convinced that
many causes may produce this effect, and that the devastation which a
volcano might make, is alone suffic