85$ COOK'S VOYAGE TO APRIL, 



people, though they all obeyed him with the greatest 

 alacrity. He either naturally had, or at this time 

 put on a serious but not severe countenance ; and we 

 were desired to salute him as he sat by some people 

 who seemed of consequence. 



" We proceeded still amongst the men armed with 

 clubs, and came to a second chief, who sat fanning 

 himself, and ornamented as the first. He was re- 

 markable for his size and uncommon corpulence, 

 though to appearance not above thirty years of age. 

 In the same manner we were conducted to a third 

 chief, who seemed older than the two former, and, 

 though not so fat as the second, was of a large size. 

 He also was sitting, and adorned with red feathers ; 

 and after saluting him as we had done the others, he 

 desired us both to sit down, which we were very- 

 willing to do, being pretty well fatigued with walk- 

 ing up, and with the excessive heat we felt amongst 

 the vast crowd that surrounded us. 



" In a few minutes the people were ordered to sepa- 

 rate ; and we saw, at the distance of thirty yards, 

 about twenty young women, ornamented as the 

 chiefs with red feathers, engaged in a dance, which 

 they performed to a slow and serious air sung by 

 them all. We got up and went forward to see them ; 

 and though we must have been strange objects to 

 them, they continued their dance without paying 

 the least attention to us. They seemed to be di- 

 rected by a man who served as a prompter, and 

 mentioned each motion they were to make. But 

 they never changed the spot as we do in dancing ; 

 and though their feet were not at rest, this exercise 

 consisted more in moving the ringers very nimbly, at 

 the same time holding their hands in a prone position 

 near the face, and now and then also clapping them 

 together. * Their motions and song were performed 



* The dances of the inhabitants of the Caroline Islands have a 

 i*eat resemblance to those here described. See Lettres Edif. et 



