THE J^AXDWICH ISLANDS. 337 



tated the movements of the foremost dancers. The 

 whole bore the impression of pure nature, and de- 

 lighted me more than a skilfully executed European 

 ballet. The theatre was inclosed with a fence of 

 bamboo canes, behind which a small house lay con- 

 cealed J before it promenaded a large hog, guarded 

 by two Kanakas, and which was stroked with much 

 fondness by the higii persons who passed by. I 

 was surprised at these caresses, and was informed 

 by Young, that in that house, resided a son of 

 Tamaahmaah, a child of nine months old, who had 

 been enti'usted to the care of Kareimoku for his 

 education ; and that this was the taboo hog, which 

 would be sacrificed to the gods, when the young 

 prince, for the first time, performed his sacred 

 duties in the moral. The dance had been given 

 to-day, in honour of the young prince ; for, though 

 he is not able to take part in the festivities, and is 

 besides not allowed to be seen before a certain 

 age, yet his high birth requires that feasts should 

 often be given in his honour. 



The (ith of December. The repairs of our 

 ship went on rapidly, but we observed that the 

 copper had been again damaged in many places, 

 and that, too, in a part which was so deep in the 

 water that the cleverest diver only would be able 

 to repair it. After my best swimmer had in vain 

 repeatedly tried to nail on a copper-plate, Karei- 

 moku sent us one of his men, who happily accom- 

 plished the work. To our great astonishment he 



VOL. I. z 



