374 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



we received upon those occasions. Wherever we went, the 

 people flocked about us, eager to offer every assistance 

 in their power, and highly gratified if their services were 

 accepted. 



" The satisfaction we derived from their gentleness and 

 hospitality was, however, frequently interrupted by that 

 propensity to stealing which they have in common with 

 all the other islanders of these seas. This circumstance was 

 the more distressing, as it sometimes obliged us to have 

 recourse to acts of severity, which we should willingly have 

 avoided, if the necessity of the case had not absolutely 

 called for them. 



" On the 28th, Captain Clerke, whose ill health confined 

 him for the most part on board, paid Terreeoboo his first 

 visit at his hut on shore. He was received with the same 

 formalities as were observed with Captain Cook ; and on his 

 coming away, though the visit was quite unexpected, he 

 received a present of thirty large hogs, and as much fruit 

 and roots as his crew could consume in a week. 



" As we had not yet seen anything of their sports or 

 athletic exercises, the natives, at the request of some of our 

 officers, entertained us this evening with a boxing-match. 

 Though these games were much inferior, as well in point 

 of solemnity and magnificence, as in the skill and powers 

 of the combatants, to what we had seen exhibited at the 

 Friendly Islands, yet, as they differed in some particulars, it 

 may not be improper to give a short account of them. We 

 found a vast concourse of people assembled on a level spot 

 of ground, at a little distance from our tents. A long space 

 was left vacant in the midst of them, at the upper end of 

 which sat the judges, under three standards, from which 

 hung slips of cloth of various colours, the skins of two wild 

 geese, a few small birds, and bunches of feathers. When 

 the sports were ready to begin, the signal was given by the 

 judges, and immediately two combatants appeared. They 

 came forward slowly, lifting up their feet very high behind 

 and drawing their hands along the soles. As they ap- 

 proached, they frequently eyed each other from head to foot 

 in a contemptuous manner, casting several arch looks at the 

 spectators, straining their muscles, and using a variety of 

 affected gestures. Being advanced within reach of each 

 other, they stood with both arms held out straight before 

 their faces, at which part all their blows were aimed. 

 They struck in what appeared to our eyes an awkward 

 manner, with a full swing of the arm, made no attempt to 

 parry, but eluded their adversary's attack by an inclination 

 of the body, or by retreating. The battle was quickly 

 decided, for if either of them was knocked down, or even 



