82 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CH^AP. on one side of the apartment, glowing beneath a blazing string of 
doodoe nuts ; the musicians were on the other, under the direction of 
1825 Quintal. He was seated upon the ground, as head musician, 
and had before him a large gourd, and a piece of musical wood (porou), 
which he balanced nicely upon his toes, that there might be the less 
interruption to its vibrations. .He struck the instrument alternately 
with two sticks, and was accompanied by Dolly, who performed very 
skilfully with both hands upon a gourd, which had a longitudinal hole 
cut in one end of it ; rapidly beating the orifice with the palms of 
her hands, and releasing it again with uncommon dexterity, so as to 
produce a tattoo, but in perfect time with the other instrument. A 
third performed upon the Bounty’s old copper fish-kettle, which 
formed a sort of bass. To this exhilarating music three grown-up 
females stood up to dance, but with a reluctance which showed it was 
done only to oblige us, as they consider such performances an inroad 
upon their usual innocent pastimes. The figure consisted of such 
parts of the Otaheitan dance as were thought most decorous, and was 
little more than a shuffling of the feet, sliding past each other, and 
snapping their fingers ; but even this produced, at times, considerable 
laughter from the female spectators, perhaps from some association of 
ridiculous ideas, which we, as strangers, did not feel ; and no doubt 
had our opinion of the performance been consulted, it would have 
essentiaUy differed from theirs. They did not long continue these 
diversions, from an idea that it was too great a levity to be continued 
long; and only the three beforementioned ladies could be prevailed 
upon to exhibit their skill. One of the officers, with a view of contri- 
buting to the mirth of the colonists, had obligingly brought his violin 
on shore, and, as an inducement for them to dance again, offered to 
play some country dances and reels, if they would proceed ; but they 
could not be tempted to do so. They, however, solicited a specimen 
of the capabilities of the instrument, which was granted, and, though 
very well executed, did not give the satisfaction which we anticipated. 
They had not yet arrived at a state of refinement to appreciate har- 
mony, but were highly delighted with the rapid motion of the fingers, 
and always liked to be within sight of the instrument when it was 
