Their simple food and early habits of exercise give them a muscular power and activity not often surpassed.

It is recorded on the island that George Young and Edward Quintal have each carried, at one time, a kedge anchor, two sledge hammers, and an armourer's anvil, weighing together upwards of six hundred pounds; and that Quintal once carried a boat twenty-eight feet in length.

In the water they are almost as much at home as on land, and can remain almost a whole day in the sea.

They frequently swim round their little island, the circuit of which is at the least seven miles; and the women are nearly as expert swimmers as the men.
The female descendants of the Otaheite women are almost as muscular as the males, and taller than the generality of the sex.

Polly Young, who is not the tallest on the island, measured five feet nine inches and a half.