1769.
Augo-ft.
we fhould be glad to have him along with us» he promifed
to be of the party.
Monday 7. Early in the morning, therefore, I fet out both with the
pinnace and long-boat for Otaha, having fome of the gentlemen
with me ; and in our way we called upon Opoony, who
was in his canoe, ready to join us.' As foon as we landed at
Otaha, I made him a prefent of an ax, which I thought
might induce bim to encourage his. fubjedts to bring us fuch
prov-ifion- as we wanted; but in this we,found ourfelves fadly
difappointedy for after flaying with him. till noon, we left
him without being able to procure a Angle article. I then
proceeded to the north point of the ifland, in the pinnace,
having fent the long-boat, another way. As I went along I
picked up half a dozen hogs, as many fowls, and.fome plantains
and yams. Having viewed and iketched the harbour
on this fide of the ifland, I made the heft of my way back,
with the long-boat, which joined me foon after it was dark;
and about ten o’clock at night we got on board the fhip.
In this excurfion Mr. Banks was not with us; he fpent the
morning on board the fhip, trading with the natives, who
came off in their canoes, for provifions and curiofities; and
in the afternoon he went on fhore with his draughtfman, to
fketch the dreffes of the dancers which he had feen a day or
two before. He found the company exactly the lame, except
that another woman had been added to it:: the dancing
alfo of the women was the fame, but the interludes, of the
men were fonlewhat varied; he faw five or fix performed;.
Which were different from each- other, and' very much, re-
Tuefday s. fern-bled the drama of our fiage dances. The. next day, he
went afhore again, with Dr. Solander,, and they directed
their courfe towards the dancing company, which, from the
time
time Of our fecond landing, had gradually moved about
two leagues in their courfe round the ifland. They faw
more dancing and more interludes, the interludes ftill varying
from each other: in one of them the performers, who
were,all men, were divided into two parties, which were
diftinguiftied from each other by the colour of their cloaths,
one being brown, and the other white. The brown party
reprefented a mafter and fervants, and the white party a
company of thieves:' the mafter gave a badket'of meat to the
reft of his party, with a charge to take care of it: the dance
of the white party confifted of feveral expedients to fteal it,
and that of the brown party in preventing their fuccefs.
After fome time, thofe who had charge of the balket placed
themfelves round it, upon the ground, and leaning upon it,
appeared to go to ileep; the others, improving this opportunity,
came gently upon them, and lifting them up from the
halket, carried off their prize : the fleepers foon after awaking,
miffed their balket, but prefently fell a dancing, without
■ any farther regarding their lofs; fo that the dramatic adtion
of this dance wns, according to the fevereft laws o f criticifm,
one, and our lovers of fimplicity would here have been gratified
with an entertainment perfedlly fuited to the chaftity
of their tafte.
On the 9th, having fpent the morning in trading with the wednef.9.
canoes, we took the opportunity of a breeze, which fprung
up at.Eaft, and having flopped our leak, and got, the frelh
flock which we had purchafed on board, we failed out of the
harbour. When we were failing away, Tupia ftrongly
urged me to fire a ftiot towards Bolabola, poffibly as a mark
o f his refentment, and to fhew the power of his new allies:
in this I thought proper to gratify him, though we were
feven leagues diftant. •y^Hile
M m 2