254 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



body of spectators seemed well pleased, the chief entertained 

 us, in his turn, with an exhibition, which, as was acknow- 

 ledged by us all, was performed with a dexterity and 

 exactness far surpassing the specimen we had given of our 

 military manoeuvres. It was a kind of a dance, so entirely 

 different from anything I had ever seen, that I fear I can 

 give no description that will convey any tolerable idea 

 of it to my readers. It was performed by men ; and one 

 hundred and five persons bore their parts in it. Each of 

 them had in his hand an instrument neatly made, shaped 

 somewhat like a paddle, of two feet and a half in length, 

 with a small handle and a thin blade, so that they were very 

 light. With these instruments they made many and 

 Various flourishes, each of which was accompanied with a 

 different movement. At first the performers ranged them- 

 selves in three lines, and, by various evolutions, each man 

 changed his station in such a manner that those who had 

 been in the rear came into the front. Nor did they remain 

 long in the same position. At one time they extended 

 themselves in one line, they then formed into a semicircle, 

 and lastly into two square columns. While this last move- 

 ment was executing, one of them advanced and performed 

 an antic dance before me, with which the whole 

 ended. 



" The musical instruments consisted of two drums, or 

 rather two hollow logs of wood, from which some varied 

 notes were produced by beating on them with two sticks. 

 It did not, however, appear to me that the dancers were 

 much assisted by these sounds, but by a chorus of vocal 

 music, in which all the performers joined at the same time. 

 Their song was not destitute of pleasing melody, and all 

 their corresponding motions were executed with so much 

 skill, that the numerous body of dancers seemed to act as 

 if they were one great machine. It was the opinion of 

 every one of us that such a performance would have met 

 with universal applause on an European theatre, and it so 

 far exceeded any attempt we had made to entertain them, 

 that they seemed to pique themselves upon the superiority 

 they had over us. As to our musical instruments, they held 

 none of them in the least esteem, except the drum, and 

 even that they did not think equal to their own. 



" In order to give them a more favourable opinion of 

 English amusements, and to leave their minds fully im- 

 pressed with the deepest sense of our superior attainments, 

 I directed some fireworks to be got ready ; and, after it was 

 dark, played them off in the presence of Feenou, the other 

 chiefs, and a vast concourse of their people. Our water 

 and sky-rockets, in particular, pleased and astonished them 



