'771- In fome parts of India, no man of confequence will con-
defcend to marry a virgin; in Europe ffie who has loft that
character is univerfally rejected. Turks, Arabs, Tartars,
and Ruffians are jealous even of an imaginary charadterir-
tic of virginity, which the native of Malabar bellows upon,
his Idol.
None of thefe women ventured to Hay on board after
fun-fet, but returned to the Ihore to pa-fs the; night, like
the greater part of the inhabitants, under the fliade of the
wild wood which lined the coaft. There they lighted numerous
fires, and were heard converfing during the greateff
part of' the night. It feems their eagernefs to continue the
trade with us, would' not permit them to return to their
dwellings, which were probably fituated in the remoteft part
of the ifland. Our goods were in great repute with them;
Nails, which the natives commonly hung on a firing round
the neck, or ftuck through the ear, were very current for
fowls, and fmaller ones for bunches of bananas, and coco*
nuts. Their fowls were thel'argeft we had ever feen, and
extremely well-tailed. Their plumage was commonly very
gloffy, and beautifully coloured with red' and gold. Our
failors bought numbers of them, in order to enjoy the barbarous
amufemenr of feeing them fight. From the time
of our leaving Huahine, they had daily followed the cruel
occupation of tormenting thefe poor birds, by trimming
their wings, and ihcenfing them againft each other. They
had
had fo well fucceeded with thofe of Huahine, that fome of
them fought with the moft defperate fury of true gamecocks
; but they were well difappointed with thofe which
they purchafed at Tonga-Tabboo, and as they could not
make them fight, they were forced to eat them in revenge.
Early the next morning, the captain’s friend Attahha or
Attagha (fee p. 447.) came on board in one of the firft
canoes, and breakfafted with us. He was dreft in mats,
one of which, on account of the coolnefs of the morning,
he had drawn over his fhoulders., He refembled all other
uncivilized people in the circumftance that his attention
could not be fixed to one objedt for any fpace of time, and
it was difficult to prevail on him to fit ftill, whilft Mr.
Hodges drew his portrait. An excellent print, executed by
Mr. Sherwin, has . been made from his drawing, which ex-
preffes the countenance of this chief, and the mild charafter
of the whole nation, better than.any defcription. It is inferted
in captain Cook’s account of this voyage, and reprefents
Attahha in the adtion of thankfgiving, laying a nail on his
head, which he had received as a prefent. After breakfaft, the
captains and my father prepared to return to the ffiore with
him; but juft as he was going out of the cabin, he happened
to fee a Taheitian dog running about the deck; at this fight
he could not conceal his joy, but clapped his hands on his
breaft, and turning to the captain, repeated the word gporree *
Tuefday 5»
* Oone lignifies a dog at Taheitee ; and ghooree at N ew Zeeland.
N n n a near