exhibited. It refetnbled the immediately preceding one, in
fome refpedls, having the fame number o f performers, who
began nearly in the fame w a y ; but their ending, at each
interval, was different. For they increafed their motions to
a prodigious quicknefs, ihaking their heads from Ihoulder
to Ihoulder, with fuch force, that a fpeftator, unaccuftomed
to the fight, would fuppofe, that they ran a riik of diilo-
cating their necks. This was attended with a fmart clapping
of the hands, and a kind of favage holla! or ihriek,
not unlike what is fometimes pradifed in the comic dances
on our European theatres. They formed the triple ferni-
ctrcle, as the preceding dancers had done; and a perfon,
who advanced at the head on one fide of the femicircle,
began by repeating fomething in a truly mufical recitative,
which was delivered with an air fo graceful, as might put
to the hluih our moil applauded performers. He was an-
fwered in the fame manner, by the perfon at the head of
the oppofite party. This being repeated feveral times, the
whole body, on one fide, joined in the refponfes to the
whole correfponding body on the oppofite fide, as the femicircle
advanced to the front j and they finiihed, by finging
and dancing as they had begun.
Thefe two lait dances were performed with fo much
fpirit, and fo great exaftnefs, that they met with univerfal
approbation. The native fpeilators, who, no doubt, were
perfedl judges whether the feveral performances were properly
executed, could not withhold their applaufes at fome
particular parts; and even a ilranger, who never faw the
diverlion before, felt fimilar fatisfailion, at the fame in-
ftaiu. For though, through the whole, the moil Uriel concert
was obfexved, fome of the geilures were fo expreffiv.e,
that it might be faid, they, fpoke the language that accompanied
them j i f we allow that there is any connection be.
JJ tw e e q
tween motion and found. At the fame time, it fliould be 1777- May.
obferved, that though the mufic of the chorus, and that of u—I—
the dancers, correfponded, confiant practice in thefe favourite
amufements of our friends, feems to have a great fhare in
effecting the exaCt time they keep in their performances.
For we obferved, that if any of them happened accidentally
to be interrupted, they never found the fmalleft difficulty in
recovering the proper place of the dance or fong. And
their perfeCt difcipline was, in no inftance, more remarkable,
than in the fudden tranfitions they fo dexterouily made
from the ruder exertions, and harih founds, to the fofteft
airs, and gentleft movements*.
The place where the dances were performed, was an
open fpace amongft the trees, juft by the fea, with lights, at
fmall intervals, placed round the infide of the circle. The
concourfe of people was pretty large, though not equal to
the number aflembled in the forenoon, when the marines
exercifed. At that time, fome of our gentlemen gueffed
there might be prefent about five thoufand perfons ; others
thought there were more; but they who reckoned that
there were fewer, probably, came nearer to the truth.
* In a former note, at p. 188. it was obferved, that the fongs and dances of the Caroline
Iflanders, in the North Pacific, bear a great refemblance to thofe o f the inhabitants
o f Wateeoo. The' remark may be now extended to thofe of the Friendly Iilanders,
defcribed at large in this chapter. That the reader may judge for himfelf, I have
fde&ed the following particulars from Father Cantova’s account. “ Pendant la
<c nuit, au clair de la lune, ils s’aflemblent, de temps en temps, pour chanter & danfer
“ devant la ma^fon de leur Tamole. Leurs danfes fe font au fon de la voix, car ils
“ n’ont point d’inftrument de mufique. La beauté de la danfe, confîfte dans l’exaéte
“ uniformité des’ mouvemens du corps. Les hommes, feparés des femmes, fe poftent
“ vis-à-vis les uns des autres après quoi, ils remuent la tête, les bras,- les mains, les
“ pieds, en cadence.— Leur tête eft couverte de plumes, ou de fleurs ;— et l’on voit, at-
“ tachées à leurs oreilles, des feuilles de palmier tiflues avec affez d’art.—-Les femmes,
“ de leur coté,— fe regardant les unes les autres, commencent un chant pathétique &
<c langoureux, accômpagnai\t le fon de leur voix du mouvement cadencé de la tête &
des bras,” Lettres Edifiantes & Curieufes^ Torn. xv. p. 314, 3*5.
C H A P .