334 MODESTY OF THE FEMALES. 
exceeds all description. The whole popula- 
tion of Otdia and the neighbouring islands 
assembled round our tent, and the music acted 
upon them like Huon’s horn in Oberon. ‘They 
danced and leaped about, sometimes hurrying 
the sailors into similar antics, and forming alto- 
gether a scene which would have provoked the 
most solemn philosopher to laughter. I was 
much pleased with observing the cordial gocd- 
will that subsisted between the natives and my 
crew, and with the reflection that this second 
visit would also leave on the minds of the 
Radackers an impression favourable to white 
men. 
The females looked on at a distance during 
these gambols. Decorum did not allow them 
to mingle in them, and also restrained them 
from ever visiting the ship. 
Among the groups I observed a crowd of 
children assembled round an elderly sailor, who 
was amusing and caressing them. He had been 
on duty outside the tent ever since our arrival 
at the islands; and as the Russians are parti-. 
cularly fond of children, these little creatures 
had grown quite sociable with him. A pretty 
