This tho it may appear Dangerous to us is no more to them then Amusement, and seldom attended with any Accident tho they hang some hours in this manner, sometimes 20, 30 or 40 fathoms from the top & often four times that from the Bottom and perhaps do not get a single feather in a whole days search.

The Shining Black feathers of the Men of War Birds they also hold in high Esteem, for which reason they always watch their Coming as they Seldom Visit this Island except when the Westerly Winds and thick Weather prevail — they afford diversion for Numbers as thev are only to be caught at the Beach, or When it happens to fall Calm when they perch on the Cocoa Nut trees, and are Caugh[t] by a snare fixd to the end of a long stick with which a man goes up and puts the Noose over the Birds Neck while it is asleep, which is in a few Minutes after it lights, and letting the stick go, it brings the Bird to the ground — While they keep on the Wing they entice them down by a Fish into which they thrust a piece of Poorow to float it, and throw it into the Water keeping it within reach of their Wands, of which each Man has one of 14 or 16 feet long; as soon as the Birds observe the Fish they instantly make towards it, somtimes 8 or 10 together, and the Men stand by and knock them down as they attempt to seize the fish, which they all attempt to do. If they do not receive a Blow before they get near enough, these Birds always seize their prey in their Claws, which are long and sharp and Webbd only to the first Joint — they are Inhabitants of the low Uninhabited Islands in the Neighbourhood of the Society Islands, and never come from home but in thick weather, their Feathers are held in Such Esteem that the

Indigenous Histories