24^ AVOYAGETO 



1777- various flouriflies, each of which was accompanied with a 

 ^'^' different attitude of th€ body, or a different movement. At 

 fn ft, the performers ranged themfelves in three lines ; and, 

 by various evolutions, each man changed his ftation in fuch 

 a manner, that thofe who had been in the rear, came into 

 the front. Nor did they remain long in the fame pofition ; 

 but thefe changes were made by pretty quick tranfuions. 

 At one time, tliey extended themfelves in one line ; they, 

 then, formed into a femicircle ; and, laftly, into two fquare 

 columns. While this lall movement was executing, one of 

 them advanced, and performed an antic dance before me ; 

 with which the whole ended. 



The mufical inftruments confided of two drums, or rather 

 two hollow logs of wood, from which fome varied notes 

 were produced, by beating on them with two flicks. It did 

 nor, however, appear to me, that the dancers were much 

 aflifted or direded by thefe founds, but by a chorus of vocal 

 muiic, in Mhich all the performers joined at the fame time. 

 Their fong was not deftitute of pleafing melody ; and all 

 their correfponding motions v/ere executed with fo much 

 ilcill, that the numerous body of dancers feemed to ac!il, as 

 if they were one great machine. It was the opinion of every 

 one of us, that fuch a performance would have met with 

 univerfal applaufe on a European theatre ; and it fo far ex^ 

 ceeded any attempt we had made to entertain them, that 

 they feemed to picque themfelves upon the fuperiority they 

 had over us. As to our mufical inflruments, they held none 

 of them in the leail efteem, except the drum ; and even 

 that they did not think equal to their own. Our French 

 horns, in particular, feemed to be held in great contempt ; 

 for neither here, nor at any other of the iflands, would they 

 pay the fmalleft attention to them. 



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