Of thefe veifes our knowlege of the language is too imperfect
to attempt a tranilation. They frequently amufe
themfelves by finging fuch couplets as thefe when they are
alone, or with their families, efpecially after it is dark ; for
though they need no fires, they are not without the comfort
of artificial light between funfet and bed-time. Their candles
are made of the kernels of a kind of oily nut, which they
Hick one over another upon afkewer that is thruft through
the middle of them; the upper one being lighted, burns
down to the fecond, at the fame time cohfuming that part
of the lkewer which goes through i t ; the fecond taking fire
burns in the fame manner down to the third, and lo of the
reft: feme of thefe candles will burn a confiderable time,
and they give a very tolerable light. They do not often fit
up above an hour after it is dark; but when they have ftran-
gers who fleep in the houfe, they generally keep a. light
burning all night, pofiibly as a ’check upon fuch of the
women as they wilh not to honour them with their favours.
Of their itinerary concerts I need add nothing to what has
been faid already ; efpecially as I lhall have occafion, more
particularly, to mention them when I relate our adventures
upon another ifland.
In other countries, the girls and unmarried women are
fuppofed to be wholly ignorant o f what others upon fome
OGCafions may appear to k n ow ; and their conduct and con-
verfationare confequently reftrained within narrower bounds,
and kept at a more remote diftance from whatever relates to
a connection with the other fe x : but here, it is juft contrary.
Among other diverfions, there is a dance, called Timorodee,
which is performed by young girls, whenever eight or ten
o f them can be collected together, confifting o f motions and
geftures beyond imagination wanton, in the practice o f which
they
they are brought up front their earlieft childhood, accompanied
by words, which, if it were poflible, would more explicitly
convey the fame ideas. In thefe dances they keep
time with an exadtnefs which is fcarcely excelled by the bed
performers upon the ftages of Europe. But the practice
which is allowed to the virgin, is prohibited to the woman
from the moment that Ihe has put thefe hopeful leffons in
practice, and realized the fymbols of the dance;
1769,
It cannot be fuppofed that, among thefe people, chaftity is
held in much eftimation. It might be expeCted that lifters and
daughters would be offered to ftrangers, either as a courtefy,,
or for reward; and that breaches of conjugal fidelity, even
in the wife, fhould not be otherwife punilhed than by a few
hard words, or perhaps a flight beating, as indeed is the cafe
but there is a fcale in diffolute fenfuality, which. thefe people
have afeended, wholly unknown.to every other nation whofs
manners have been recorded from the. beginning of the
world to the prefent hour, and which no imagination couldpoflibly
conceive.
A very confiderable number o f the principal people of Ota--
heite, of both fexes, have formed themfelves into a fociety,
in which every woman is common to every man ; thus fe-
curing a perpetual variety as often as their inclination’
prompts them to feek it, which-is fo frequent, that the fame-
man and, woman feldom cohabit together more than two or
three days. , ;
Thefe focieties are diftinguifiied by the name o f Arreoy ;;
and the members have meetings, at which no other is prefent,
where the men amufe themfelves by wreftling, and the
women,, notwithftanding their occafional conneftion with-
different men, dance the Timorodee in all its latitude, as an
incitement to deflres.which it is faid are frequently gran ec -
? upon*-