OQO cook's first voyage ' AUGUST, 



were the breasts also, as low as the parting of the arm ; 

 below that, they were covered with black cloth, which 

 set close to the body ; at the side of each breast, next 

 the arm, was placed a small plume of black feathers, 

 much in the same manner as our ladies now wear their 

 nosegays or bouquets ; upon their hips rested a quan- 

 tity of cloth plaited very full, which reached up to 

 the breast, and fell down below into long petticoats, 

 which quite concealed their feet, and which they 

 managed with as much dexterity as our opera dancers 

 could have done : the plaits above the waist were 

 brown and white alternately, the petticoats below were 

 all white. 



In this dress they advanced sideways in a measured 

 step, keeping excellent time to the drums, which 

 beat briskly and loud ; soon after they began to shake 

 their hips, giving the folds of cloth that lay upon 

 them a very quick motion, which was in some degree 

 continued through the whole dance, though the body 

 was thrown into various postures, sometimes stand- 

 ing, sometimes sitting, and sometimes resting on 

 their knees and elbows, the fingers also being moved 

 at the same time with a quickness scarcely to be im- 

 agined. Much of the dexterity of the dancers, how- 

 ever, and the entertainment of the spectators, con- 

 sisted in the wantonness of their attitudes and ges- 

 tures, which was, indeed, such as exceeds all de- 

 scription. 



One of these girls had in her ear three pearls ; one 

 of them was very large, but so foul that it was of 

 little value ; the other two were as big as a middling 

 pea ; these were clear, and of a good colour and 

 shape, though spoiled by the drilling. Mr. Banks 

 would fain have purchased them, and offered the 

 owner any thing she would ask for them, but she 

 could not be persuaded to part with them at any 

 price : he tempted her with the value of four hogs, and 

 whatever else she should choose, but without success ; 

 and indeed they set a value upon their pearls very nearly 



