ei LA PEROUSK. I^Q 



The fubjecl of this dance greatly awakened 

 our curiofity ; but we foon learnt that its ob- 

 jed: was to celebrate the noble feats of fome of 

 their warriors. The women, from time to time, 

 mingled their voices with thofe of the men^ 

 accompanying their fong with the mod graceful 

 motions. 



One of the armourers of the Efperance was 

 a good deal furprifed to fee the iflander who 

 had ftolen his fabre among the number of thefc 

 dancers, and at a fliort diftance from Futtafaihc, 

 that chief having always alTured us that he had 

 not been able to difcover the thief: he appear- 

 ed, however, to be one of his fuite. The fellow- 

 retired precipitately as foon as he perceived that 

 he had been recoo-nifed. 



o 



Som.e of the iHanders had, during this time, 

 raifed a pyramid of bamboos ; to thefe they had 

 fafiened different fruits, of which Tiiidj made a 

 prcfcnt to the Admiral. 



We expreffed a defire to fee fome of the in- 

 habitants practife v.rellling; but we were in- 

 form.ed that this kind of amufement was never 

 exhibited in prefence of the Queen. 



This entertainment had attracted a great con- 

 courfe of the natives, among whom had Hipped, 

 in a number of thieves that grew more and 

 ^^ore impudent. They had already taken, by 



main 



