PACIFIC. AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 303 



brated in consequence of a strong-bold on an emi- 

 nence near it, where the old men and women used 

 to retire in all cases of attack upon the district. In fge 

 this last and important battle Taati's brother lost his 

 life, supporting to the last the cause of idolatry. 

 Taati himself had been converted to the new faith, 

 and was joined with Pomarree in opposition to his 

 relation. 



While we were at anchor, a whale-ship arrived 

 from New Zealand, with a party of natives of that 

 country on board, whom the master permitted to 

 exhibit their war-dance for our diversion. After 

 the duty of the day was over, the party assembled 

 in front of the consul's house, and the Otaheitans, 

 anxious for an opportunity of comparing the dances 

 of other countries with their own, crowded round in 

 great numbers to witness the performance. 



The exhibition took place by torch-light, and 

 began by the party being drawn up in a line with 

 their chief in advance, who regulated their motions ; 

 which, though very numerous, were all simultaneous, 

 and showed that they were well practised in them. 

 They began by stamping their feet upon the ground, 

 and then striking the palms of the hands upon the 

 thighs for about a minute, after which, they threw 

 their bodies into a variety of contortions, twisted their 

 heads about, grinned hideously, and made use of all 

 kinds of imprecations and abuse on their supposed 

 enemy, as if to defy him to battle : having at length 

 worked themselves into a complete frenzy, they ut- 

 tered a yell, and rushed to the conflict ; which, from 

 what we saw represented, must in reality be horrible ; 

 the effect upon the peaceable Otaheitans was such 

 that long before they came to the charge some of them 



