1777- THE PACIFIC OCEAJC. 361 



nature, generally smiling, and taking time to adjust 

 the piece of cloth which is fastened round the waist. 

 They then lay hold of each other by this girdle, with 

 a hand on each side ; and he who succeeds in draw- 

 ing his antagonist to him, immediately tries to lift 

 him upon his breast, and throw him upon his back ; 

 and if he be able to turn round with him two or three 

 times, in that position, before he throws him, his 

 dexterity never fails of procuring plaudits from the 

 spectators. If they be more equally matched, they close 

 soon, and endeavour to throw each other by entwin- 

 ing their legs, or lifting each other from the ground; 

 in which struggles they show a prodigious exertion 

 of strength, every muscle, as it were, being ready 

 to burst with straining. When one is thrown, he 

 immediately quits the field, but the victor sits down 

 for a few seconds, then gets up, and goes to the side 

 he came from, who proclaim the victory aloud, in a 

 sentence delivered slowly, and in a musical cadence. 

 After sitting a short space, he rises again and chal- 

 lenges ; when sometimes several antagonists make 

 their appearance ; but he has the privilege of 

 choosing which of them he pleases to wrestle with; 

 and has likewise, the preference of challenging 

 again, if he should throw his adversary, until he him- 

 self be vanquished ; and then the opposite side sing 

 the song of victory in favour of their champion. It also 

 often happens, that five or six rise from each side, and 

 challenge together ; in which case, it is common to 

 see three or four couple engaged on the field at once. 

 But it is astonishing to see what temper they pre- 

 serve in this exercise ; for we observed no instances 

 of their leaving the spot, with the least displeasure 

 in their countenances. When they find, that they 

 are so equally matched as not to be likely to throw 

 each other, they leave off by mutual consent. And 

 if the fall of one is not fair, or if it does not appear 

 very clearly who has had the advantage, both sides 

 sing the victory, and then they engage again. But 



