1777* THE pacific OCEAN. 139 



to our complicated compositions, yet were they always 

 delighted with the more melodious sounds produced 

 singly on our instruments, as approaching nearer to 

 the simplicity of their own. 



Neither are they strangers to the soothing effects 

 produced by particular sorts of motion ; which, in 

 some cases, seem to allay any perturbation of mind 

 with as much success as music. Of this, I met with 

 with a remarkable instance. For on walking one 

 day about Matavai Point, where our tents were 

 erected, T saw a man paddling in a small canoe, so 

 quickly, and looking about him with such eagerness 

 on each side, as to command all my attention. At 

 first I imagined he had stolen something from one of 

 the ships, and was pursued ; but, on waiting patiently, 

 saw him repeat his amusement. He went out from 

 the shore, till he was near the place where the swell 

 begins to take its rise ; and, watching its first motion 

 very attentively, paddled before it with great quick- 

 ness, till he found that it overlooked him, and had 

 acquired sufficient force to carry his canoe before it, 

 without passing underneath. He then sat motionless, 

 and was carried along, at the same swift rate as the 

 wave, till it landed him upon the beach. Then he 

 started out, emptied his canoe, and went in search 

 of another swell. I could not help concluding that 

 this man felt the most supreme pleasure, while he was 

 driven on so fast and so smoothly by the sea ; espe- 

 cially as, though the tents and ships were so near, he 

 did not seem in the least to envy, or even to take 

 any notice of, the crowds of his countrymen collected 

 to view them as objects which were rare and curious. 

 During my stay, two or three of the natives came 

 up, who seemed to share his felicity, and always 

 called out when there was an appearance of a fa- 

 vourable swell, as he sometimes missed it, by his 

 back being turned, and looking about for it. By 

 them I understood that this exercise, which is called 

 choroee, was frequent amongst them ; and they have 



