OF LA PEROUSE, 49 



arms of their mothers, who lavifhed on them 

 marks of the greatell tenderncfs. Thefe chil- 

 dren very foon recovered from their alarms, and 

 they flievved us tiiat they were not exempt from 

 little paflloas, whence urofe fome difputes, 

 which the mothers appeafcd almoll immeciiately 

 by a gentle correction ; but they foon flopped 

 their tears by a renewal of their carelfes. 



We knew tiiat thefe favagcs had little tafie for 

 the founds of ihe violin. We flattered O'rfclves 

 .however that they would not be quite infenfible 

 to them if Ibmc lively tunes were played, and in 

 very diilincl time. At iirfl; they left us fome mo- 

 ments in fufpenfe: our nuifician redoubled his 

 efforts, thinking to obtain their pkiiidits ; but 

 his bow fell from his hand when he faw this 

 numerous aiTembly put their finger:^ in tlieir ears 

 tliat they might hear no more. 



Thefe people are covered with vermin. We 

 admired the pitience of a woman v^lio was a 

 long time employed in picking them off from 

 one of her children ; but we law with much 

 averfion that, like moft of tlie blacks, flie 

 cracked tlv.,re difgufting infects witli her teeth, 

 and fwallowcd them immediately. It is to be 

 remarked that n-sonkies have the fame hab!ts. 



The little children were very fond of every 

 thing that was at all Ihowy; tliey n-aJe no 

 icruple to take the metal buttons from our 

 coats. The n^othcrs, iefs anxious about their 



