100 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF 



The dances resemble the evolutions of a company of soldiers: the 

 two parties stand in rows, either facing each other, or back to back, or 

 else both face inwards; their motions are confined to the body and 

 arms; the legs, though not entirely at rest, seldom have much action; 

 at times the arms are thrown out from the body, when they give a 

 rapid quivering motion to the fingers, clap their hands together, and 

 afterwards slap them with great force againsl the thighs and breast, 

 while the body is rocked to and fro. Every movement is made in 

 perfect unison by the whole party, who all keep time with a mono- 

 tonous song. In their dances the great object is to make as much noise 

 and commotion as possible. Their full-moon feasts are the only peri- 

 odical ones they have. 



At the marriage of a great chief there are great rejoicings, attended 

 with dances and songs ; the latter are composed for the occasion, 

 reciting the greatness of the chief, and the prowess and character of 

 his ancestors. 



The regular monthly festival does not prevail at Makin Island. 



On Taritari a great feast is held about midwinter, in honour of 

 Teouki, the grandfather of the present king, who is considered by them 

 as the most illustrious man the island has ever produced. 



There are many other amusements : among them foot-ball, sailing 

 small canoes, swimming in the surf, and flying kites. The kites are 

 made of the pandanus-leaf reduced to half its thickness, which renders 

 it lighter than paper; and they are prettily shaped. In swimming in 

 the surf, they have a small board like that used by the Sandwich 

 Islanders. 



One of their sports differs from any we have seen, and appears to 

 be peculiar to themselves. It is a game in which dancing, fencing, and 

 singing, are combined, which produces a very animated and gay 

 spectacle, from the numbers engaged in it, which are often from one 

 to two hundred of both sexes. This sport takes place in an open space, 

 by moonlight. Each young man chooses a partner from the other sex, 

 and they arrange themselves in two rows, the partners facing each 

 other as in our country-dances. Two couples form a set, and always 

 remain together, but are continually changing places with the rest. 

 Every one is provided with a light stick of the stalk of the cocoanut- 

 leaf. At a given signal they begin their song, and the dancers strike 

 their sticks together, as if playing at single-sticks, keeping time to the 

 song ; at stated points they change places with those next below, and 

 each in turn reaches the head. As these changes all go on simulta- 

 neously, the song and clatter of sticks are kept up without interruption, 

 and in excellent time. If a person misses a stroke, there is much 



