1773-
April.
trace the caufe, or the o b je il o f his difpleafure. In fuch
cafes they never difcover the leaft fytnptom o f timidity,
but leem determined, at all events, to puniih the infult.
For, even with refpedt to us, they never appeared to be un der
the leaft appreheniion o f our fuperiority ; but when any
difference happened, were juft as ready to avenge the wrong,
as amongft themfelves.
T h e ir .other paflions, efpecially their curiofity, appear in
fome meafure to lie dormant. For few expreffed any defire
to fee or examine things w ho lly un kn own to them ; and
•which, to thofe truly poffeffed o f that paflion, would have
appeared aftoniihing. T h e y were always contented to procure
the articles they kn ew and wanted, regarding every
thin g elfe with great indifference ; nor did our perfons, apparel,
and manners, fo different from their own, or even the
extraordinary fize and conftrudtion o f opr Ihips, feem to excite
admiration, or even engage attention.
One caufe o f this may be their indolence, which feems
confiderable. But, on the other hand, they are certainly
n ot.wh olly unfufceptible o f the tender paflions ; i f we ma y
ju d g e from their be in g fo fond o f mufic, w hich is moftly
o f the grave or ferious, but truly pathetic fort. > T h e y keep
the exadleft concert in their fongs, which are often fu n g by
great numbers together, as thofe already mentioned, with
w hich they ufed to entertain us in their canoes. Thefe are
generally flow and fo lem n ; but the mufic is not o f that confined
fort found amongft many rude nations ; for the v a r iations
are very numerous and expreflive, and the cadence or
melody powerfully foothing. Befides their fu ll concerts,
fonnets o f the fame grave caft were frequently fu n g by
fingle performers, who keep time by ftriking the hand
3 - againft
againft the thigh. However, the mufic was fometimes varied,
from its predominant folemnity o f a ir; and there were
inftances o f ftanzas being fu n g in a more g a y and live ly
ftrain, and even with a degree o f humour.
T h e only inftruments o f mufic (if fuch they may be called)
w hich I faw amongft them, were a ra ttle ; and a fmall whittle,
about an inch long, incapable o f any variation, from havin
g but one hole. T h e y ufe the rattle when they fing ; but
upon what occafions they ufe the whiftle I kn ow not, unlefs
it be when they drefs themfelves lik e particular animals,
and endeavour to imitate their howl or cry. I once faw
one o f them dreffed in a w o l f ’s ikin, with the head over his
own, and imitating that animal by m akin g a fqueaking
noife with one o f thefe whittles, which he had ini his mouth.
T h e rattles are, for the mod part, made in the ihape o f a
bird, with a few pebbles in the b e l ly ; and the tail is the
handle. T h e y have others, however, that bear rather m ore
refemblance to a child’s rattle.
In trafficking with us, fome o f them would betray a
knavifh difpofition, and carry o ff our goods without makin g
any return. But, in general, it was otherwife ; and we had
abundant reafon to commend the fairnefs o f their condudt.
However, their eagernefs to poflefs iron and brafs, and, indeed,
any kind o f metal, was fo great, that few o f them
could refill the temptation to fteal it, whenever an opportun
ity offered. T he inhabitants o f the South Sea Illands, as
appears from a variety o f inftances in the courfe o f this
voyage, rather than be jdle, would fteal any thing that they
could la y their hands upon, without ever confidering, w h e ther
it could be o f ufe to them or no. T he novelty o f the
objedt, with them, was a fufficient motive for their endeavouring,
(77?.
April.