people here were of a light coffee colour, with wavy hair. The men, of
large stature, well formed, and dressed with a degree of taste far in
advance of any of the savages we had hitherto met with. Elaborate
devices were tattooed upon the exposed parts of their bodies; a
petticoat of finely-plaited cloth reached from waist to knee; beautiful
necklets made from red and white coral hung round their necks; while
their hair was frizzled like a mop upon their heads, powdered red or
yellow. The women were similarly attired, save that their petticoats
were longer and their hair hung straight, while the children went
entirely naked except for garlands of bright flowers. No weapons were
carried by these islanders, and upon landing we found them friendly,
and inclined to offer us hospitality.

The houses in the town to which they welcomed us are of a beehive
shape; the sides open during the day, but closed at nights by blinds
made from the leaves of the coconut tree. The floor is formed of
powdered white coral, and is very clean. The town was built in a
semi-circle facing the beach. In the centre was the king's house, a
building of the same construction as the others, but of larger size.
Beautifully-made mats and wooden bowls formed the only furniture in
these dwellings, some of the mats being trimmed with red feathers,
while others resembled shaggy white wool rugs, which, on closer
inspection, proved to be made from the bark of a dwarf hibiscus, with
which the islands abound, bearing a bright red flower. The food of the
islanders consists of fish, coconuts, taro, yams, and breadfruit, of
which there is a plentiful supply.

In return for their hospitality, Hartog distributed among the natives
pieces of bright-coloured cloth, beads, knives, and other trifles,
which, in the eyes of these simple savages, were so many wonders