298 A V O Y A G E T O 



'777. was the eafe and cracefulnefs with which they were 



June. *-' J '^ 



performed. 



At night, we were entertained with the 6mnm', or night 

 dances, on a fpace before Feenou's temporary habitation. 

 They lalled about three hours ; in which time we had about 

 twelve of them performed, much afrer the fame manner as 

 thofe at Hapaee. But, in two^ that were performed by wo- 

 men, a number of men came and formed a circle within 

 their's. And, in another, confiding of twenty-four men^ 

 there were a number of motions with the hands, that we 

 had not feen before, and were highly applauded. The 

 mufic was, alfo,. once changed, in the courfe of the night j 

 and in one of the dances, Feenou appeared at the head of 

 fifty men who had performed at Hapaee, and he was well 

 drelTed with linen, a large piece of gauze, and fome little 

 pictures hung round his neck. But it was evident, after 

 the diverfions were clofed, that we had put thefe poor 

 people, or rather that they had put themfelves, to much in- 

 convenience. For being drawn together on this unin- 

 habited part of their ifland, numbers of them were obliged 

 to lie down and fleep under the bullies, by the fide of a tree, 

 or of a canoe ; nay many either lay down in the open air, 

 which they are not fond of, or walked about all the night. 



The whole of this entertainment was conducHied with far 

 better order, than could have been expefted in fo large an 

 aiTembly. Amongfl fuch a multitude, there muft be a 

 number of ill-difpofed people; and we, hourly, experienced 

 ir. All our care and attention did not prevent their plunder- 

 ing us, in every quarter; and that, in the moll daring and 

 infolent manner. There was hardly any thing that they did 

 not attempt to Heal ; and yet, as the crowd was always fo 



great, 



