284 cook's voyage to april, 



what they look upon as an injury ; and, like most 

 other passionate people, as soon forgetting it. I 

 never found that these fits of passion went farther 

 than the parties immediately concerned ; the specta- 

 tors not troubling themselves about the quarrel, 

 whether it was with any of us, or amongst their own 

 body ; and preserving as much indifference as if they 

 had not known any thing about it. I have often seen 

 one of them rave and scold, without any of his coun- 

 trymen paying the least attention to his agitation ; 

 and when none of us could trace the cause, or the ob- 

 ject of his displeasure. In such cases they never dis- 

 cover the least symptom of timidity, but seem deter- 

 mined, at all events, to punish the insult. For, even 

 with respect to us, they never appeared to be under 

 the least apprehension of our superiority ; but when 

 any difference happened, were just as ready to avenge 

 the wrong, as amongst themselves. 



Their other passions, especially their curiosity, ap- 

 pear in some measure to lie dormant. For few ex- 

 pressed any desire to see or examine things wholly 

 unknown to them ; and which, to those truly pos- 

 sessed of that passion, would have appeared astonish- 

 ing. They were always contented to procure the 

 articles they knew and wanted, regarding every thing 

 else with great indifference ; nor did our persons, ap- 

 parel, and manners, so different from their own, or 

 even the extraordinary size and construction of our 

 ships, seem to excite admiration, or even engage 

 attention. 



One cause of this may be their indolence, which 

 seems considerable. But, on the other hand, they 

 are certainly not wholly unsusceptible of the tender 

 passions ; if we may judge from their being so fond 

 of music, which is mostly of the grave or serious, but 

 truly pathetic sort. They keep the exactest con- 

 cert in their songs, which are often sung by great 

 numbers together, as those already mentioned, with 

 which they used to entertain us in their canoes* 



