14 s 



A VOYACE TO 



»779- not got the art of prefcrving the bread-fruit, and making the 

 . four parte of it called Maihee, as at the Society Iflands ; and it 



was lome fatisfaction to us, in return for their great kind- 

 nefs and hofpitality, to have it in our power to teach them 

 this ufeful fecrct. They are exceedingly cleanly at their 

 meals ; and their mode of drefling both their animal and 

 vegetable food, was univcrfally allowed to be greatly fupe- 

 rior to ours. The Chiefs conflantly begin their meal with a 

 doze of the extract of pepper-root, brewed after the ufuai 

 manner. The women eat apart from the men, and are ta- 

 booed, or forbidden, as has been already mentioned, the ufc 

 of pork, turtle, and particular kinds of plantains. How- 

 ever, they would eat pork with us in private ; but we could 

 never prevail upon them to touch the two lafl articles. 



The way of fpending their time appears to be very fimple, 

 and to admit of little variety. They rife with the fun ; and, 

 after enjoying the cool of the evening, retire to reft a few 

 hours after fun-fct. The making of canoes and mats forms 

 the occupations of the Erces ; the women are employed in 

 manufacturing cloth ; and the Toivtcrws arc principally en- 

 gaged in the plantations and filhing. Their idle hours are 

 filled up with various amufements. Their young men and 

 women are fond of dancing ; and, on more folemn occa- 

 lions, they have boxing and wreftling matches, after the 

 manner of the Friendly lllands ; though, in all thefc re- 

 fpects, they are much inferior to the latter. 



Their dances have a much nearer rcfemblance to thofc of 

 the New Zcalandcrs, than of the Otahciteans or Friendly 

 Iflanders. They are prefaced with a flow, folemn fong, in 

 which all the party join, moving their legs, and gently link- 

 ing their breads, in a manner, and with attitudes, that are 



perfectly 



