356 cook's VOYAGE TO 3VSE, 



use in battle. They did this, by first twirling them 

 in their hands, and making circular strokes before 

 them with great force and quickness ; but so skil- 

 fully managed, that, though standing quite close, 

 they never interfered. They shifted their clubs from 

 hand to hand, with great dexterity; and after con- 

 tinuing a little time, kneeled, and made different 

 motions, tossing the clubs up in the air, which they 

 caught as they fell, and then went off as hastily 

 as they entered. Their heads were covered with 

 pieces of white cloth* tied at the crown (almost 

 like a night-cap) with a wreath of foliage round the 

 forehead; but they had only very small pieces of 

 white cloth tied about their waists; probably, that 

 they might be cool, and free from every incumbrance 

 or weight. A person with a spear, dressed like the 

 former, then came in, and in the same hasty manner; 

 looking about eagerly, as if in search of somebody to 

 throw it at. He then ran hastily to one side of the 

 crowd in the front, and put himself in a threatening 

 attitude, as if he meant to strike with his spear at 

 one of them, bending the knee a little, and trembling, 

 as it were with rage. He continued in this manner 

 only a few seconds, when he moved to the other side, 

 and having stood in the same posture there, for the 

 same short time, retreated from the ground, as fast 

 as when he made his appearance. The dancers, who 

 had divided into two parties, kept repeating some- 

 thing slowly all this while; and now advanced, and 

 joined again, ending with universal applause. It 

 should seem, that this dance was considered as one 

 of their capital performances, if we might judge 

 from some of the principal people being engaged in 

 it. For one of the drums was beat bv Futtafaihe, the 

 brother of Poulaho, another by Feenou, and the 

 third, which did not belong to the chorus, by Maree- 

 wagee himself, at the entrance of his hut. 



The last dance had forty men, and two drums, as 

 a chorus. It consisted of sixty men, who had not 



