CHA-CHA. 267 



and wear all the necklaces, armlets, bracelets, and leglets 

 they can get hold of. Between the ages of thirteen and 

 thirty these women have unquestionably most perfect 

 figures ; certainly I did not observe an ill-made woman 

 amongst them, and, having often witnessed crowds of 

 from twenty to a hundred bathing in the river, I have had 

 my chances to form a judgment, especially as on such 

 occasions they are not bashful ; on the contrary, if you 

 are acquainted with any of them, these unsophisticated 

 maids and matrons, innocent of the requirements of pro- 

 priety, will expect you to join the group on the bank arid 

 admire such extra touches in the diving and swimming per- 

 formances as any of the nymphs may like to indulge in. 

 And a water frolic being one of the chief diversions of the 

 Hiloes, they generally spend, from their childhood up, a 

 couple of hours of each day enjoying one, becoming most ex- 

 pert and intrepid swimmers. 



The belle of the nation, Cha-cha by name, had a face 

 undeniably handsome, while her figure was a poem in 

 form. And as I have found it to be a generally received 

 opinion that if there is an American-Indian woman who 

 cannot be described as plain, it is because she is ugly, 

 which indeed is true as regards many tribes ; and thinking 

 it but fair to my readers to show the erroneousness of that 

 belief, I will, with the kind indulgence of such ladies as 

 may do me the honour to peruse these recollections, draw 

 a picture of this child of nature, exactly as I have seen her 

 on more than one occasion ; premising that, should this 

 book fall into the hands of any person (if such there be) 

 who thinks the Greek statues should be covered with 



