Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/115

] we saw several numerous shoals, which, rising to the surface of the sea, agitated it for a considerable space at different times, producing nearly the same appearance as a current passing over a shallow in calm weather.

These savages even stripped themselves of their clothes in order to barter with us.

Some of the young men had drops at their ears, made with a serpentine of great hardness. They were cut of an oval figure, and for the most part near four inches long.

The men of riper years wore, as a kind of trophy, a little piece of the large bone of the forearm of a man, which hung at the breast by a little string that passed round the neck. (See Plate XXV.) They set a great value on this ornament.

It is well known that these people are greedy devourers of human flesh; and every thing that recals to their minds the idea of such food, seems to give them the greatest pleasure. A sailor on board offered one of them a knife; and, to shew him the use of it, imitated the action of cutting off one of his fingers, which he immediately carried to his mouth, and pretended to eat. The cannibal, who watched all his motions, expressed great joy, laughing heartily for some time, and