1777- THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 25tf 



in such exact concert, that it should seem they 

 had been taught with great care ; and probably they 

 were selected for this ceremony, as few of those 

 whom we saw in the crowd equalled them in beauty. 

 In general they were rather stout than slender, with 

 black hair flowing in ringlets down the neck, and of 

 an olive complexion. Their features were rather 

 fuller than what we allow to perfect beauties, and 

 much alike ; but their eyes were of a deep black, 

 and each countenance expressed a degree of com- 

 placency and modesty peculiar to the sex in every 

 part of the world, but perhaps more conspicuous 

 here, where Nature presented us with her produc- 

 tions in the fullest perfection, unbiassed in sentiment 

 by custom, or unrestrained in manner by art. Their 

 shape and limbs were elegantly formed ; for, as 

 their dress consisted only of a piece of glazed cloth 

 fastened about the waist, and scarcely reaching so 

 low as the knees, in many we had an opportunity of 

 observing every part. This dance was not finished 

 when we heard a noise as if some horses had been 

 gallopping toward us ; and, on looking aside, we 

 saw the people armed with clubs, who had been de- 

 sired, as we supposed, to entertain us with the sight 

 of their manner of fighting. This they now did, one 

 party pursuing another who fled. 



"As we supposed the ceremony of being introduced 

 to the chiefs was at an end, we began to look 

 about for Mr. Gore and Omai; and though the crowd 

 would hardly suffer us to move, we at length found 

 them coming up, as much incommoded by the number 

 of people as we had been, and introduced in the same 

 manner to the three chiefs, whose names were 

 Otteroo, Taroa, and Fatouweera. Each of these 

 expected a present ; and Mr. Gore gave them such 



Curieuses, torn. xv. p. 315. See also, in the same volume, p. 207, 

 what is said of the singing and dancing of the inhabitants of the 

 Palaos Islands, which belong to the same group. 



s. 2 



