When the vessel had been two days at anchor they began to come down from their villages in their canoes, bringing fruit of various kinds, and on invitation they readily came on board without showing signs of apprehension or embarrassment.  On presenting to them plates of boiled rice they would not touch it until it had been previously tasted by one of the ship’s company.  They behaved whilst on board with much decorum, showed a strong degree of curiosity, but not the least disposition for pilfering.  They appeared to live in great friendship and harmony with each other, and voluntarily divided amongst their companions what was given to them.  Their stature seldom exceeds five feet and a half.  Their colour is like that of the Malays, a light brown or copper-colour.  Some canoes came alongside the vessel with only women in them, and upon being encouraged by the men several ventured on board.  When on the water they use a temporary dress to shield them from the heat of the sun, made of the leaves of the plantain, of which they form a sort of conical cap (the same was observed of the women of Engano), and there is also a broad piece of the leaf fastened round the body over their breasts, and another round their waist.  This leaf readily splits, and has the appearance of a coarse fringe.  When in their villages the women, like the men, wear only a small piece of coarse cloth, made of the bark of a tree, round their middle.  Beads and other ornaments are worn about the neck.  Although coconuts are in such plenty they have not the use of oil, and their hair, which is black, and naturally long, is, for want of it and the use of combs, in general matted and full of vermin.  They have a method of filing or grinding their teeth to a point, like the people of Sumatra.

The number of inhabitants of the two islands is supposed not to exceed 1400 persons.  They are divided into small tribes, each occupying a small river and living in one village.  On the southern island are five of these villages, and on the northern seven, of which Kakap is accounted the chief, although Labu-labu is supposed to contain the greater number of people.  Their houses are built of bamboos and raised on posts; the under part is occupied by poultry and hogs, and, as may be supposed, much filth is collected there.  Their arms consist of a bow and arrows.  The former is made of the nibong-tree, and the string of the entrails of some animal.  The arrows are of small bamboo, headed with brass or with a piece of hard wood cut to a point.  With these they kill deer, which are roused by dogs of a mongrel breed, and also monkeys, whose flesh they eat.  Some among them wear krises.  It was said that the different tribes of orang mantawei who inhabit these islands never make war upon each other, but with people of islands to the northward they are occasionally in a state of hostility.  The measurement of one of their war-canoes, preserved with great care under a shed, was twenty-five