THE SOCIETY ISLANDS 225 



this, repeated every day, while we staid, by one 

 or another of our people. And yet the curiosity 

 of the natives continued still unabated. They 

 were exceedingly delighted with these animals, 

 after they had seen the use that was made of 

 them; and, as far as I could judge, they conveyed 

 to them a better idea of the greatness of other 

 nations, than all the other novelties, put together, 

 that their European visitors had carried amongst 

 them." 



Otoo, anxious to entertain the Englishmen, 

 invited them to dramatic pieces interspersed 

 with dances ravishingly executed by the flower 

 of the Tahitian aristocracy. Cook himself was 

 charmed by the music, the dances and the in- 

 comparable grace of the pretty dancers. In re- 

 turn he gave a firework display, which seemed 

 so supernatural to the natives that a great num- 

 ber of them fled in panic. 



The extreme sympathy which he felt for the 

 people was distinctly cooled when he saw with 

 his own eyes that the Tahitians were given to the 

 horrible practice of human sacrifice. 



The inhabitants of Tahiti had declared war 

 upon those of the neighbouring island of Emeo. 

 Otoo and all the principal chiefs begged Cook to 

 lend them his powerful help. The latter, to the 

 great disappointment of Towha, refused point- 



