They are generally acquainted with the art of convers ing Their voice is soft and harmonious; and their 'language, freed from every harsh or guttural sound, abounds in vowel combinations. They direct their voy- • ages by the sun, moon, and stars; and have names for many of the constellations, resembling in several instances those of the Greeks.
The character of the Otahcitans is a singular mixture of the savage qualities, and of certain vices and accom plishments of civilized life. They are in their general manners gentle, good-tempered, kind, hospitable, and generous to one another in a great degree. But in their wars, which frequently happen, they are ferocious and bloody, giving no quarter in battle, and putting the pri soners to a cruel death, ravaging the country of the van quished without mercy, and killing all that come in their way, of every age and sex. They are faithless in their transactions, and strongly addicted to thieving, at least from European visitors. They have great command of their feelings, and are expert in every species of cunning. They are the most consummate flatterers in the world ; and can assume such insinuating manners, and practise so many arts of endearment, as generally to accomplish their object with strangers. The population of Otaheite was estimated by Captain Cook, though probably beyond the truth, at 100,000 ; by the first missionaries at 15,000; and
. by Turnbull at 5000. This melancholy decrease of in habitants is owing to the practice of infanticide, the fre quency of their wars, the unnatural habits of the Arreoys, the custom of human sacrifices, and the prevalence of venereal But the threatened extinction of these interesting islanders, by these ruinous practices, ap pears now to be averted by the successful labours of the missionaries, who have at length prevailed, by the most persevering exertions, not only in civilizing the manners of the people, but in bringing the whole community to renounce their idolatrous rites, and embrace the profes sion of the Christian faith. Their bloody human sacrifices, murder of infants, and other unnatx ..l practices, have ceased. Schools are every where established among them; the duties of religious worship duly otserved ; and the various benefits of civilization rapidly extending. The same changes have taken place in all the other So ciety Islands, and much of what has been said, in this ac count of Otaheite, must be considered as applicable to its former, not to its present state.*—See Cook's Voyages ; Wilson's Missionary Voyage; and Turnbull's Voyage round the World. (9)