s
their own, or whether they learnt it from the Spaniards, who buried the
captain of their ship on the island in 1774, there were no means of
ascertaining; but it was certain they had no intimation of that kind
from anybody belonging to the _Bounty._ When the funeral took place, the
chiefs and many of the natives attended the ceremony, and shewed great
attention during the service. Many of the principal natives attended
divine service on Sundays, and behaved with great decency. Some of the
women at one time betrayed an inclination to laugh at the general
responses; but, the captain says, on looking at them they appeared much
ashamed.

The border of low land, which is of the breadth of about three miles,
between the sea-coast and the foot of the hills, consists of a very
delightful country, well covered with bread-fruit and cocoa-trees, and
strewed with houses in which are swarms of children playing about. 'It
is delightful,' Bligh observes, 'to see the swarms of little children
that are every where to be seen employed at their several amusements;
some flying kites, some swinging in ropes suspended from the boughs of
trees, others walking on stilts, some wrestling, and others playing all
manner of antic tricks such as are common to boys in England. The little
girls have also their amusements, consisting generally of heivahs or
dances. On an evening, just before sunset the whole beach abreast the
ship is described as being like a parade, crowded with men, women, and
children, who go on with their sports and amusements till nearly dark,
when every one peaceably returns to his home. At such times, we are
told, from three to four hundred people are assembled together, and all
happily diverted, good humoured, and affectionate to one another,
without a single quarrel having ever happened to disturb the harmony
that existed among these amiable people. Both boys and girls are said to
be handsome and very sprightly.

It did not appear that much pains were taken in their plantations,
except those of the ava and the cloth-plant; many of the latter are
fenced with stone, and surrounded with a ditch. In fact, Nature has done
so much for them, that they have no great occasion to use exertion in
obtaining a sufficient supply of either food or raiment. Yet when Bligh
commenced taking up the bread-fruit plants, he derived much assistance
from the natives in collecting and pruning them, which they understood
perfectly well.

The behav