,88 AVOYAGETO 



1777- former, and, though not fo fat as the fecond, was of a large 

 ^ , -^"'_f lize. He alfo was fitting, and adorned with red feathers ; and 

 after fainting him as we had done the others, he defired 

 us both to fit down. Which we were very willing to do, 

 "being pretty well fatigued with walking up, and with the 

 excefiive heat we felt amongfl the vaft crowd that fur- 

 rounded us. 



In a few minutes, the people were ordered to feparate ; 

 and we faw, at the diftance of thirty yards, about twenty 

 young women, ornamented as the Chiefs, with red fea- 

 thers, engaged in a dance, which they performed to a flow 

 and ferious air, fung by them all. We got up, and went 

 forward to fee them ; and though we muft have been 

 firange objects to them, they continued their dance, with- 

 out paying the lead attention to us. They feemed to be 

 dire<5ted by a man who ferved as a prompter, and mentioned 

 each motion they were to make. But they never changed 

 the fpot, as we do in dancing, and though their feet were 

 not at reft, this exercife confifted more in moving the fingers 

 very nimbly, at the fame time holding the hands in a prone 

 pofition near the face, and now and then alfo clapping them 

 together*. Their motions and fong were performed in 

 fuch exad: concert, tliat it fliould feem they had been taught 

 - with great care ; and probably they were felec5led for this 

 ceremony, as few of thofe whom v^e faw in the crowd 

 equalled them in beauty. In general, they were rather 

 fi.out thanflender, with black hair flowing in ringlets down 

 the neck, and of an olive complexion. Their features were, 



* The dances of the inhabitants of the Caroline Iflands, have a great refemblance 

 to thofe hc-re defcribed. See Lettres Edif. et Ciirieufes, Tom. xv. p. 315. See alio, iix 

 the fame volume, p. 207. what is faid of the finging and dancing of the inhabitants 

 of the Palaos Iflands, which belong to the fame group. 



rather. 



