THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 301 



They then lay hold of each other by this ffirdle, with a '777- 



■' ■' JO June. 



hand on each fide ; and he who fuccceds in drawing his 

 antagonift to him, immediately tries to lift him upon his 

 breafl, and throw him upon his back ; and if he be able to 

 turn round with him two or three times, in that polition, 

 before he throws him, his dexterity never fails of procuring 

 plaudits from the fpeclators. If they be more equally 

 matched, they clofe foon, and endeavour to throw each 

 other by entwining their legs, or lifting each other from 

 the ground ; in which ftruggles they Ihew a prodigious ex- 

 ertion of flrength, every mufcle, as it were, being ready to 

 burft with ftraining. When one is thrown, he immediately 

 quits the field, but the vi(5lor fits down for a few feconds, 

 then gets up, and goes to the fide he came from, who pro- 

 claim the vi(5tory aloud, in a fentence delivered fiowly, and 

 in a mufical cadence. After fitting a fliort fpace, he rifes 

 again and challenges; when fometimes feveral antagonifts 

 make their appearance; but he has the privilege of choo- 

 fing which of them he pleafes to wreftle with ; and has, 

 likewife, the preference of challenging again, if he fhould 

 throw his adverfary, until he himfelf be vanquiflied ; and 

 then the oppofite fide fing the fong of vidtory in favour of 

 their champion. Italfo often happens, that five or fix rife 

 from each fide, and challenge together ; in which cafe, it is 

 common to fee three or four couple engaged on the field at 

 once. But it is aftonifhing to fee what temper they preferve 

 in this exercife ; for we obferved no inftances of their leav- 

 ing the fpot, with the leafl difpleafure in their counte- 

 nances. When they find, that they are fo equally matched 

 as not to be likely to throw each other, they leave off by 

 mutual confent. And if the fall of one is not fair, or if it 

 does not appear very clearly who has had the advantage, 



both 



