They are able hands at Conversing by signs and perfectly Masters of the Language of the Eyes at both of which I have seen a Dumb man so well learnt that he might be sent to the distance of 60 Miles with a Message and return with his answer as well as if he could hear & speak.

They are for ever Changing their Names from Making New friends and Many other Accidents, and tho they do not loose their former ones, it would be difficult for a stranger to know who they were talking of or what about or be able to find an old acquaintance by his Name — as No word must be used which Contains any of the Syllables of the Chiefs Name while he is alive — They Never compare any kind of Food to a Mans head, for which reason the Heads of Animals have a different Name, nor can they think of eating any thing that has toutchd a mans head and Nothing Can Offend them More then laying a hand on their heads. Brown, who was left here by Captain Cox, was thought worse then a Cannibal for Carrying Provisions on His head of which none ever partook with him — tho they were always ready to excuse him, saying he knew no better which In fact was Nearly the Case but it was his sole study to be Contrary to them in evry thing and he took more pains that way then in Conforming to their Ways which made him disagreeable to them all.

Such is the best account that I have been able to Collect of these Islands and their Inhabitants who are without doubt the Happiest on the Face of the Globe, and shall now proceed to give such a Vocabulary ²⁰ of their language as we were able to obtain during our Stay among these Islands.

Indigenous Histories