OF LA PEROUSE. I57 



to teftify their regard : they then played an 

 extremely monotonous duet upon bamboo 

 flutes ; but we were very much amufed to fee 

 them blow \\ ith their nofc into a hole perforat- 

 ed at the extremity of thcfe inftruments, in 

 order to make it produce founds. They prc- 

 fented us with fome combs of a very elegant 

 fliape, one of which is to be fecn in Plate 

 XXX H. Fig. 21. 



The inhabitants that formed a circle round 

 us, having ftolen fevcral of our cfFecls, we 

 complained of this to Toohou'?, daughters, who 

 fliortly after quitted us without fiiying a word, 

 probably to go in fearch of their father, 

 and beg; him to out a floo to thcfe thefts : but 

 as we liad not time to wait tl'.eir return, we fct 

 out imrn-jviiatcly towards the Ifl:u"id of Pan- 

 gaimatoo. The tide being out, we ealily palfevi 

 over the Ihojis which connect the iflots with 

 the principal ilhmd. \\c fiopoed iialf-wav at 

 a habitation, where we were witnefs to the verv 

 whimlical n.anner in v, hicli a woman took her 

 meal. Seated near a pillar, and motionlefs as 

 a flatue, fhe from time to time opened her 

 mouth, to receive the bits of bread-fruit which 

 another woman put into it. 'VVe were inforn^;ed, 

 that file was not permitted to touch w itli her 

 hands any fort of food, bec.uife (lie liul within 

 a few days waflied the body of a dead chief. 



3 When 



