1777* the pacific OCEAN'. 237 



as memorials of those whom they held most dear ; 

 and their affections of this kind are so strong, that 

 they even perform the ceremony of cutting, and 

 lamenting for joy, at the return of any of their 

 friends, who have been absent but for a short time. 



The children are initiated, at a very early age, 

 into all the practices, good or bad, of their fathers ; 

 so that you find a boy or girl, nine or ten years old, 

 able to perform all the motions, and to imitate the 

 frightful gestures, by which the more aged use to 

 inspire their enemies with terror, keeping the 

 strictest time in their song. They likewise sing, 

 with some degree of melody, the traditions of their 

 forefathers, their actions in war, and other indifferent 

 subjects ; of all which they are immoderately fond, 

 and spend much of their time in these amusements, 

 and in playing on a sort of flute. . 



Their language is far from being harsh or dis- 

 agreeable, though the pronunciation is frequently 

 guttural ; and whatever qualities are requisite in 

 any other language to make it musical, certainly 

 obtain to a considerable degree here, if we may 

 judge from the melody of some sorts of their songs. 

 It is also sufficiently comprehensive, though, in 

 many respects, deficient, if compared with our 

 European languages, which owe their perfection 

 to long improvement. But a small specimen is here 

 subjoined, from which some judgment may be 

 formed. I collected a great many of their words, 

 both now and in the course of our former voyage ; 

 and being equally attentive, in my inquiries, about 

 the languages of the other islands throughout the 

 South Sea, I have the amplest proof of their wonder- 

 ful agreement, or rather identity. This general 

 observation has indeed been already made in the 

 accounts of the former voyages.* I shall be 



* See Hawkesworth's Collection, vol. iii. p. 474-, 4*75. and 

 Captain Cook's Voyage, Vol. ii. p. 364. 



