tril, and blow into the hole
at one end with the other. The middle finger of the left hand is applied
to the first hole on the left, and the fore-finger of the right to the
lowest hole on that side. In this manner, though the notes are only
three, they produce a pleasing, yet simple music, which they vary much
more than one would think possible, with so imperfect an instrument.
Their being accustomed to a music which consists of so few notes, is,
perhaps, the reason why they do not seem to relish any of ours, which is
so complex. But they can taste what is more deficient than their own;
for, we observed, that they used to be well pleased with hearing the
chant of our two young New Zealanders, which consisted rather in mere
strength, than in melody of expression.

The weapons which they make, are clubs of different sorts (in the
ornamenting of which they spend much time), spears, and darts. They have
also bows and arrows; but these seemed to be designed only for
amusement, such as shooting at birds, and not for military purposes. The
stools are about two feet long, but only four or five inches high, and
near four broad, bending downward in the middle, with four strong legs,
and circular feet; the whole made of one piece of black or brown wood,
neatly polished, and sometimes inlaid with bits of ivory. They also
inlay the handles of fly-flaps with ivory, after being neatly carved;
and they shape bones into small figures of men, birds, and other things,
which must be very difficult, as their carving instrument is only a
shark's tooth.

Yams, plantains, and cocoa-nuts, compose the greatest part of their
vegetable diet. Of their animal food, the chief articles are hogs,
fowls, fish, and all sorts of shellfish; but the lower people eat rats.
The two first vegetable articles, with bread-fruit, are what may be
called the basis of their food at different times of the year, with fish
and shell-fish; for hogs, fowls, and turtle, seem only to be occasional
dainties reserved for their chiefs. The intervals between the seasons of
these vegetable productions, must be sometimes considerable, as they
prepare a sort of artificial bread from plantains, which they put under
ground before ripe, and suffer them to remain till they ferment, when
they are taken out, and made up into small balls; but so sour and
indifferent, that they often said our bread was preferable, though
somewhat musty.

Their food is generally dressed by baking, in th