nee,
which in some instances was neatly ornamented with small white shells;
their arms and ankles were loaded with rings formed of ebony, ivory, and
coloured glass, some of the former bore evident marks of having been
turned in a lathe. The lobes of their ears were perforated with large
holes, from which enormous earrings of ivory and ebony, in the shape of
padlocks, were suspended, sometimes as many as three from one ear. A few
of the natives had gold earrings of considerable size but rude
workmanship. The boys and younger men had their hair cut short, and their
heads smeared over with a preparation of lime, which bleaches the
naturally black hair to a flaxen colour; as soon as this is effected, the
hair is allowed to grow to a considerable length, and in due time
presents a piebald appearance, the ends retaining the flaxen colour while
the roots are black. When grown to a sufficient length it is wound
gracefully round the head and fastened by a comb of sandalwood or
tortoise-shell; some specimens of which were very large, and of such
superior manufacture as to indicate an intercourse with much more
civilized nations.

LEPROSY.

The natives appeared to be healthy with the exception of a sort of
leprosy, from which many of them were suffering. It gave them a most
disgusting appearance, but did not appear to cause any inconvenience, nor
were they avoided by the rest of their companions, as if the disease had
been contagious. On our first landing, very few of the natives had any
arms, but they afterwards brought down some bows and arrows, some of
which were four or five feet long, neatly headed with iron. We also saw a
few iron-headed spears, a few cresses, and some hatchets of a very rude
construction.

CANOES.

Their canoes, about thirty of which were hauled upon the beach, were from
twenty-five to thirty feet long, and very narrow, with outriggers
projecting ten or twelve feet from each side, and supporting a piece of
buoyant wood to give stability. They carried one large mat-sail, but did
not appear to sail fast.

As soon as we had satisfied our curiosity on the beach, old Lomba led the
way to the village on the crest of the hill. The ascent commenced close
to the landing place by a flight of steps rudely formed by logs of wood
laid across a narrow path cut in the hillside, which brought us to within
forty or fifty feet of the summit. After which we had to climb two
ladders, made of hard red wood richly carved,