54 THE CRUISE OF TEE ' GUBAQOA: . 



mouthful under the impression it had burnt' his tongue fear- 

 fully. But a plate of potted salmon, to which he was 

 helped, he found so delicious that he could not sufficiently 

 express the dehght it gave him. In a word the chief 

 appeared to be delighted with his dinner, and especially 

 with the music, which they took good care not to omit for 

 his amusement. He said httle, which I attributed to his 

 suffering state ; but he hstened attentively, and it seemed to 

 me he understood a little English and Hawaiian. 



After dinner, the chief gave us on board the exhibition 

 of a native dance. It was opened by some half-dozen fine 

 and well-knit fellows, whose oiled skins, and aprons of red 

 DracEena, ghttered in the light of our lanterns as, to the 

 sound of a small drum, they executed a series of irregular 

 movements in perfect unison with each other, and keeping 

 time with a chant and clapping of hands by the group of 

 native spectators of whom there may have been between 

 eighty and a hundred. Of some the heads were bound 

 round with large beads of the pearl nautilus, while those of 

 others were radiant with wreaths composed of the flowers of 

 the scarlet Hibiscus. The women next took their turn, 

 similarly ornamented, and performed their part in first-rate 

 style. The effect was charming. ' It may seem incredible,' 

 says one who had witnessed these Samoan dances, ' to our 

 fair sisters in England, that a young lady arrayed in no 

 other garment but a mat tied round her waist should look 

 handsomely dressed ; but could they see the Samoan 

 belles enter the circle in their fuU evening costume, with 



