partly covered with growing flesh.  In as many more days, it is generally entirely covered; after which, when the patient has acquired some strength, he bathes in the water, and recovers.  We know that wounds will heal over leaden bullets; and, sometimes, though rarely, over other extraneous bodies.  But what makes me entertain some doubt of the truth of so extraordinary skill, as in the above instance, is, that in other cases which fell under my own observation, they are far from being so dexterous.  I have seen the stump of an arm, which was taken off, after being shattered by a fall from a tree, that bore no marks of skilful operation, though some allowance be made for their defective instruments.  And I met with a man going about with a dislocated shoulder, some months after the accident, from their being ignorant of a method to reduce it; though this be considered as one of the simplest operations of our surgery.  They know that fractures or luxations of the spine are mortal, but not fractures of the skull; and they likewise know, from experience, in what parts of the body wounds prove fatal.  They have sometimes pointed out those inflicted by spears, which, if made in the direction they mentioned, would certainly have been pronounced deadly by us, and yet these people have recovered.

Their physical knowledge seems more confined; and that, probably because their diseases are fewer than their accidents.  The priests, however, administer the juices of herbs in some cases; and women who are troubled with after-pains, or other disorders after child-bearing, use a remedy which one would think needless in a hot country.  They first heat stones, as when they bake their food; then they lay a thick cloth over them, upon which is put a quantity of a small plant of the mustard kind; and these are covered with another cloth.  Upon this they seat themselves and sweat plentifully, to obtain a cure.  The men have practised the same method for the venereal lues, but find it ineffectual.  They have no emetic medicines.

Notwithstanding the extreme fertility of the island, a famine frequently happens, in which it is said many perish.  Whether this be owing to the failure of some seasons, to over-population, which must sometimes almost necessarily happen, or to wars, I have not been able to determine; though the truth of the fact may fairly be inferred, from the great economy that they observe with respect to their food, even when there is plenty.  In times of scarcity, after their bread-fruit and yams are consumed, they have recourse to various roots, which grow without cultivation upon the mountains.  The patarra, which is found in vast quantities, is what they use first.  It is not unlike a very large potatoe or yam, and good when in its growing state; but when old, is full of hard stringy fibres.  They then eat two other roots, one not unlike taro; and lastly, the eohee.  This is of two sorts; one of them possessing deleterious qualities, which obliges them to slice and macerate it in water a night before they bake and eat it.  In this respect, it resembles the cassava root of the West Indies; but it forms a very insipid moist paste, in the manner they dress it.  However, I have seen them eat it at times when no such scarcity reigned.  Both this and the patarra are creeping plants:  the last with ternate leaves.