T H E P A C I F I C O C E A N. 151 



ed ir, by his back beinsr turned, and lookins; about for it. '777- 



' -^ n 1 December. 



By them I underftood, that this exerciie, which is called ' r—^ 



ehorooe, was frequent amongft them ; and they have pro- 

 bably more amufements of this fort, which afford them at 

 leail as much plcafure as flcaiting, which is the only one of 

 ours, with whofe efFeifls I could ODmpare it. 



The language of Otaheitc, though doubclcfs radically the 

 fame with that of New Zealand and the Friendly Iflands, is 

 deftitutc of that guttural pronunciation, and of fome con- 

 fonants, with which thofe latter diale(5ls abound. The fpe- 

 cimens we have already given, are fuflicient to mark 

 wherein the variation chiefly confifts, and to fliew, that, like 

 the manners of the inhabitants, it has become foft and 

 foothing. During the former voyage, I had collecftcd a co- 

 pious vocabulary, which enabled me the better to compare 

 this dialccft with that of the other iflands ; and, during this 

 voyage, I took every opportunity of improving my ac- 

 quaintance v/ith it, by converfmg with Omai, before we ar- 

 rived, and by my daily intercourfe with the natives, while we 

 now remained there ••■, It abounds with beautiful and figura- 

 tive exprefiions, which, were it perfe(5lly known, would, I 

 have no doubt, put it upon a level with many of the languages 

 that are mod in cflccm for their warm and bold images. 

 For inftance ; the Otaheitcans exprefs their notions of death 

 very emphatically^ by faying, " That the foul goes into 

 darknefs ; or rather into night." And, if you feem to en- 

 tertain any doubt, in aflcing,the quedion, " if fuch a per- 

 fon is their mother:" they immediately reply, with fur- 



* See this vocabulary, at the end of the fccoiid volume of Captain Coak's fecond- 

 voyage. Many corrections, and additions to it, were ncjw made by this inde- 

 fatigable inquirer ; but the fpecimens of the language of Otaheite, already in the 

 hands of the Public, feem fufficient for every ufcful purpofe. 



prize, 



