3 77 3-
AUGUST.
hou-fe which lay farther up, where he wilhed to entertain
us -with a dinner. Though we were much exhaufted with
fatigue, we agreed not to ddfappoint him, and returned
about two miles along the delightful banks of the river
Matavai, through groves of coco, bread-fruit, apple, and
cloth-trees, and numerous plantations of bananas and eddoes.
The river formed various windings in the valley from
fide to fide, fo that we were obliged to crofs it feveral
times, and our new hoft with one of his fervants always
infilled upon carrying us over on their backs. At laft we
arrived at his houfe, which was fituated on a little eminence,
where the river gently murmured over a bed of pebbles.
An elegant mat was fpread for us on the dry grafs
in a corner of the houfe, which was of the clofer fort,
being walled in with reeds. We were immediately fur-
rounded by a great number of our friend’s relations, who
feated themfelves near us ; and hisdaughter, who m elegance
of form, clearnefs of complexion, and agreeable features,
equalled, if not furpaffed the Tabeitian beauties we had
hitherto fees, together with fomeof her young companions,
were very affiduous in their endeavours to be agreeable.
The moft efficacious remedy they employed befides their
fmiles, to recover us from the great wearinefs which we
felt, was to chafe our arms and legs with their hands,
fqueezing the mufcles gently between the fingers and the
palm. Whether this operation facilitated the circulation
j of
o f the blood through the minuter veflels, or reftored the
over-ftrained mufcles to their natural elafticity, I cannot
determine ; but its effedt was certainly fo falutary, that
our flrength was perfectly reftored, and we did not feel
the lead remaining inconvenience from the fatiguing
journey of the day. Captain Wallis mentions a fimilar
inftance of the excellence of this remedy, and of the beneficence
of the inhabitants of Taheitee*; and Ofbeck, in his
voyage to China, defcribes this operation as a common
pradtice among Chinefe barbers, who are faid to be very
expert at it f . Mr. Grofe too, in his voyage to the Eaft
Indies, gives a very circumftantial account of the art of
champing, which feems to be a luxurious refinement upon
this wholefome reftorative. It deferves to be mentioned
here, that this ingenious author has given quotations from
Martial and Seneca, which make it evident that the Romans
were acquainted with this pradtice:):.
Percurrit agili corpus arte ta&atrix,
Manumque do&am fpargit omnibus membris. ’ Martia l.
We had no longer reafon to complain of the want of
appetite which had been the confequence of our fatigue ;
but as foon as our dinner was placed before us, confuting
* See Hawkefworth, vol. I. p.. 463.
f See Ofleck ’s and Torcen’s Voyages to China., vol. I. p , 231. and II. p. 246.
% See Grofe’ s Voyage, vol. I. p. 113.
V o l. I. Z z of