182 COOK'S VOYAGE TO MARCH, 



the same kind with what we saw of the small parties 

 at the Friendly Islands ; and which may, perhaps, 

 with more propriety, be called the accompaniment 

 of songs, with corresponding and graceful motions 

 of the whole body. Yet as we were spectators of 

 boxing exhibitions, of the same kind with those we 

 were entertained with at the Friendly Islands, it is pro- 

 bable that they had likewise their grand ceremonious 

 dances, in which numbers of both sexes assisted. 



Their music is also of a ruder kind, having neither 

 flutes or reeds, nor instruments of any other sort, 

 that we saw, except drums of various sizes. But their 

 songs, which they sung in parts *, and accompany 



* As this circumstance, of their singing in parts, has been much 

 doubted by persons eminently skilled in music, and would be ex- 

 ceedingly curious, if it was clearly ascertained, it is to be lamented 

 that it cannot be more positively authenticated. 



Captain Burney, and Captain Phillips of the Marines, who both 

 have a tolerable knowledge of music, have given it as their opi- 

 nion, that they did sing in parts ; that is to say, that they sung 

 together in different notes, which formed a pleasing harmony. 



These gentlemen have fully testified, that the Friendly Islanders 

 undoubtedly studied their performances before they were exhibited 

 in public ; that they had an idea of different notes being useful in 

 harmony ; and also, that they rehearsed their compositions in pri- 

 vate ; and threw out the inferior voices, before they ventured to 

 appear before those who were supposed to be judges of their skill 

 in music. 



In their regular concerts, each man had a bamboo, which was 

 of a different length, and gave a different tone : these they beat 

 against the ground, and each performer, assisted by the note given 

 by this instrument, repeated the same note, accompanying it by 

 words, by which means it was rendered sometimes short, and 

 sometimes long. In this manner they sung in chorus, and not 

 only produced octaves to each other, according to their different 

 species of voice, but fell on concords, such as were not disagree- 

 able to the ear. 



Now, to overturn this fact by the reasoning of persons who did 

 not hear those performances, is rather an arduous task. And yet 

 there is great improbability that any uncivilized people should, by 

 accident, arrive at this degree of perfection in the art of music, 

 which we imagine can only be attained by dint of study, and 

 knowledge of the system and theory upon which musical compo- 

 sition is founded. Such miserable jargon as our country psalm - 

 singers practise, which may be justly deemed the lowest class of 



