PACIFIC AND BEERIKG’S STRAIT. 
129 
the areghe some knives in exchange, which he refused until the number CHAP, 
was increased. AVhen the bargain was concluded, the young chief 
showed the manner of playing upon the instrument, and convinced us Jan^ 
that his skill must have been the result of long practice.— The art 
consisted in giving rapid strokes with the palm of the right hand, 
and placing the left at the same time so nicely as to check the vibra- 
tions without stopping them, which produced a harmonic sound, dilfer- 
ing from that of any instrument of the kind I had ever heard. 
The other drums were about three feet and a half in height by 
nine inches in diameter, similar in other respects to the large one. The 
proficiency in execution to which the natives have attained, and the 
perfection in the manufacture of these instruments, leave little doubt 
of their taking much delight in the amusement of dancing, though, 
generally speaking, they do not appear to be a lively people. I used 
every endeavour, but in vain, to persuade the areghe to favour us with 
oneof these exhibitions, and among others,lmade the marines go through 
some of their manoeuvres, in the hope that he would exhibit something in 
return: this, however, had a very different effect from what was intended; 
for the motions of the marines were misinterpreted, and so alarmed some 
of the bystanders, that several made off, while others put themselves into 
90 attitude of defence, so that I speedily dismissed the party. 
This interview was deficient in those ceremonies which threw such 
9 lively interest over the voyages of Captain Cook, and, what was equally 
OQortifying to us, it did not obtain those supplies of fruit and vegetables 
which generally attended his visits ; although we waited a considerable 
lime in the hope of inducing the chiefs to come on board the ship, and in 
the expectation of some supplies before we quitted them, but to no pur- 
pose. I therefore summoned our party together, and we took leave 
the chiefs, who both retired, leaving us in the hands of the mob. On 
removing the drum which had been sold by the areghe, two of the 
natives laid violent hands upon it, and demanded something more than 
liad been mven. To avoid disturbance I complied with their request 
by doublino- the original sum ; but this, so far from securing the drum, 
rendered the probability of our obtaining it without force more remote.' 
I brought the old chief back to explain the matter to him, but he would 
