NEW ZEALAND. 403 



assembled. Pomare divided the men into three parties or squads, and 

 stationed these at some distance from each other. Shortly after this 

 was done, I received a message from him, to say that they were all 

 hungry, and wanted me to treat them to something to eat. This was 

 refused until they had finished their dance, and much delay took place 

 in consequence. Pomare and his warriors were at first immovable : 

 but they in a short time determined they would unite on the hill-top, 

 which was accordingly ordered, although I was told they were too 

 hungry to dance well. Here they arranged themselves in a solid 

 column, and began stamping, shouting, jumping, and shaking their 

 guns, clubs, and paddles in the air, with violent gesticulations, to 

 a sort of savage time. A more grotesque group cannot well be 

 imagined ; dressed, half-dressed, or entirely naked. After much pre- 

 liminary action, they all set off, with a frantic shout, at full speed in a 

 war-charge, which not only put to flight all the animals that were 

 feeding in the neighbourhood, but startled the spectators. After 

 running about two hundred and fifty yards, they fired their guns and 

 halted, with another shout. They then returned in the same manner, 

 and stopped before us, a truly savage multitude, wrought up to 

 apparent frenzy, and exhibiting all the modes practised of maiming 

 and killing their enemies, until they became exhausted, and lay down 

 on the ground like tired dogs, panting for breath. One of the chiefs 

 then took an old broken dragoon-sword, and began running to and fro 

 before us, flourishing it, and at the same time delivering a speech at 

 the top of his voice. The speech, as interpreted to me, ran thus : 

 " You are welcome, you are our friends, and we are glad to see you ;" 

 frequently repeated. After three or four had shown off* in this way, 

 they determined they must have something to eat, saying that I had 

 promised them rice and sugar, and they ought to have it. Mr. 

 Clendon, however, persuaded them to give one of their feast-dances. 

 The performers consisted of about fifteen old, and as many young 

 persons, whom they arranged in close order. The young girls laid 

 aside a part of their dress to exhibit their forms to more advantage, 

 and they commenced a kind of recitative, accompanied by all manner 

 of gesticulations, with a sort of guttural husk for a chorus. It was 

 not necessary to understand their language to comprehend theii 

 meaning, and it is unnecessary to add, that their tastes did not appear 

 very refined, but were similar to what we have constantly observed 

 among the heathen nations of Polynesia. Their impatience now be- 

 came ungovernable, and hearing that the rice and sugar were being 

 served out, they retreated precipitately down the hill, where they all 

 set to most heartily, with their wives and children, to devour the food 



