17 (>9' ROUND THE WORLD. 205 



Of these verses our knowledge of tlie lano^uage is 

 too imperfect to attempt a translation. They fre- 

 quently amuse themselves by singing such couplets 

 as these when they are alone, or with their families, 

 especially after it is dark ; for though they need no 

 fires, they are not without the comfort of artificial 

 light between sunset and bedtime. Their candles 

 are made of the kernels of a kind of oily nut, which 

 they stick one over another upon a skewer that is 

 thrust through the middle of them ; the upper one 

 being lighted, burns down to the second, at the same 

 time consuming that part of the skewer which goes 

 through it ; the second taking fire burns in the same 

 manner down to the third, and so of the rest : some 

 of these candles will burn a considerable time, and 

 they give a very tolerable light. They do not often 

 sit up above an hour after it is dark ; liut when they 

 have strangers who sleep in the house, they generally 

 keep a light burning all night, possibly as a check 

 upon such of the women as they wish not to honour 

 them with their favours. 



Of their itinerary concerts I need add nothing 

 to what has been said already; especially as I 

 shall have occasion more particularly to mention 

 them when 1 relate our adventures upon another 

 island. 



In other countries, the girls and unmarried women 

 are supposed to be wholly ignorant of what others 

 upon some occasions may appear to know ; and their 

 conduct and conversation are consequently restrained 

 within narrower bounds, and kept at a more remote 

 distance from whatever relates to a connection with 

 the other sex ; but here it is just contrary. Among 

 other diversions, there is a dance, called Timorodee, 

 which is performed by young girls, whenever eight 

 or ten of them can be collected together, consisting 

 of motions and gestures beyond imagination wanton, 

 in the practice of which they are brought up from 

 their earliest childhood, accompanied by words, which, 



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