14 2
mIy. The meeting of the arreoys gave rife to thefe frequent dramatic
entertainments; their prefence feemed to enliven the
whole country, and to infpire all the people with extraordinary
cheerfulnefs. They frequently fhifted their garments,
made of their beft kinds of cloth; they pafled their
time in luxurious idlenefs, perfuming their hair with fragrant
oils, finging and playing on the flute, and palling
from one entertainment to another; in fliort, they enjoyed
the bleflings of their iflands in the utmofl extent; and fo -
much refembled the happy indolent people whom Ulyfles
found in Phasacia,, that they could apply the poet’s lines to
themfelves with peculiar propriety;
T o drefs, to dance, to ling, our foie delight,
The feaft or bath by day, and love by night. P ope-’s Homer.»
Our friend Mahine was perhaps the only perfon among
the nobility who did not enjoy that great degree of happi-
nefs which fo vifibly reigned among the r.efl. He was not
received with thofe diftinguifhiog marks of favour which
had been lavifked upon him at Taheitee; for it feems, even
in the South Seas, a man is no where lefs efteemed than in
his own country. AJ1 his relations, who were extremely
numerous, expected prefents as their due; whilfl at Taheitee
his .liberality made him friends, and procured him
great advantages. As long as the generous youth had
•fome of thofe riches left, which he had collected at the
peril
peril of his life, on our dangerous and difmal cruize, he was Jjj*.
perpetually importuned to Chare them out; and though
he freely diflributed all he had, fome of his acquaintances
complained that he was niggardly. He was foon reduced
to beg a fupply of European wares from his friends on
board, having only faved a few red feathers, and fome
other curiofities, as a prefent for O-Poonee, the king of Bo-
rabora, to whom he was related. Under thefe difagreeable
eircumflances, he longed to return to Taheitee, and told us
he was refolved to fettle there, as foon as he Ihould have
vilited Poonee, and his other relations at Borabora. He
would willingly have embarked with us again for England,
if we had given him the leafl hope of returning to the
South Sea ; but captain Cook having told him, that no {hip
would ever be fent to his iflands again, he deprived himfelf
of the pleafure of feeing our country, rather than part for
ever from his native groves. When we refledl on the fate
of his countryman, O-Mar, we have fome reafon to think
this determination fortunate for his heart and morals.
The fplendour of England remains unknown to him; but
at the fame time he has no idea of thofe enormities which-
difgrace the opulent capitals of the world-
After the dance was over, Mahine invited us to the'
diftridt in which his lands were fituated. He had frequently
told us, that he had pofleflions in this ifland; but as fome;
©f our people had doubted of his veracity, he was glad to