1777- THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 357 



danced def ore, disposed in three rows, having twenty- 

 four in front. But, before they began, we were 

 entertained with a pretty long preliminary harangue, 

 in which the whole body made responses to a single 

 person who spoke. They recited sentences (perhaps 

 verses) alternately with the chorus, and made many 

 motions with the pagge, in a very brisk mode, which 

 were all applauded with mareeai ! and fyfogge ! 

 words expressing two different degrees of praise. 

 They divided into two bodies, with their backs to 

 each other; formed again, shifted their ranks as in 

 the other dances; divided and retreated, making- 

 room for two champions, who exercised their clubs 

 as before; and after them two others: the dancers, 

 all the time, reciting slowly in turn with the chorus; 

 after which they advanced, and finished. 



These dances, if they can properly be called so, 

 lasted from eleven till near three o'clock; and 

 though they were doubtless intended particularly 

 either in honour of us, or to show a specimen of 

 their dexterity, vast numbers of their own people 

 attended as spectators. Their numbers could not 

 be computed exactly, on account of the inequality 

 of the ground; but, by reckoning the inner circle, 

 and the number in depth, which was between twenty 

 and thirty in many places, we supposed that there 

 must be near four thousand. At the same time, 

 there were round the trading place at the tent, and 

 straggling about, at least as many more; and some 

 of us computed, that, at this time, there were not 

 less than ten or twelve thousand people, in our 

 neighbourhood; that is, within the compass of a 

 quarter of a mile ; drawn together, for the most 

 part, by mere curiosity. 



It is with regret I mention, that w r e could not 

 understand what w r as spoken, while we were able 

 to see what was acted, in these amusements. This, 

 doubtless, would have afforded us much inform- 

 ation, as to the genius and customs of these people, 



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