318 cook's voyage to may, 



way , but their ending, at eacli interval, was 

 ent. For they increased their motions to a prodi- 

 gious quickness, shaking their heads from shoulder to 

 shoulder, with such force, that a spectator, unaccus- 

 tomed to the sight, would suppose, that they ran a 

 risk of dislocating their necks. This was attended 

 with a smart clapping of the hands, and a kind of 

 savage holla, or shriek, not unlike what is sometimes 

 practised in the comic dances on our European 

 theatres. They formed the triple semi-circle, as the 

 preceding dancers had done ; and a person who ad- 

 vanced at the head on one side of thesemi-circle,began 

 by repeating something in a truly musical recitative, 

 which was delivered with an air so graceful, as might 

 put to the blush our most applauded performers. He 

 was answered in the same manner, by the person at 

 the head of the opposite party. This being repeated 

 several times, the whole body on one side joined in 

 the responses- to the whole corresponding body on 

 the opposite side, as the semi-circle advanced to the 

 front ; and they finished, by singing and dancing 

 as they had begun. 



These two last dances were performed with so 

 much spirit, and so great exactness, that they met 

 with universal approbation. The native spectators, 

 who no doubt were perfect judges whether the se- 

 veral performances were properly executed, could 

 not withhold their applauses at some particular parts ; 

 and even a stranger, who never saw the diversion 

 before, felt similar satisfaction, at the same instant. 

 For though, through the whole, the most strict con- 

 cert was observed, some of the gestures were so 

 expressive, that it might be said they spoke the 

 language that accompanied them, if we allow that 

 there is any connection between motion and sound. 

 At the same time, it should be observed, that though 

 the music of the chorus and that of the dancers 

 corresponded, constant practice in these favourite 



