THE PELEW ISLANDS. 3 u

When they went to battle, some of the Rupackscarried in their canoes a kind of sword, made ofvery hard wood, and inlaid with parts of shells;this they only made use of in personal engagement;they were.of sufficient weight to cleave a man’sskull.

Our people saw a very few daggers, made ofthe sting of the Ray-fish, which is jagged all upwardsfrom the point; they sheathed them in a bamboo,and their handles were of wood, formed intosome grotesque shape; the whole length of theweapon not exceeding thirteen inches.

THEIR CANOES.

As their battles were generally fought in canoes,these may with propriety follow the account oftheir warlike implements. ■ -

They were , like most other canoes, made from.the trunk of a tree dubbed out; but our people ,who had often seen vessels of this fort in manyother countries, thought those of PeiAw surpassed*in neatness and beauty any they had ever metwith elsewhere; the tree out of which they wereformed grew to a very considerable height, andresembled much the English Ash. — They werepainted red, both within and without *, and

* As their mode of applying their paint was uncommon, itmay merit being particularly described: — The colours arecrumbled with the hand into water, whilst it is warming; overa gentle fire in earthen pots; they carefully skim from thesurface whatever dry leaves or dirt may float on the top; whenthey find it sufficiently thick, they apply it warm , and let it

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