242 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
A kind of porch is built before the door, and a piece of clear ice 
is placed in an aperture cut in the wall for a window. 
The purity of the material of which the house is framed, the 
elegance of its construction, and the translucency of its walls, 
which transmitted a very pleasing light, gave it an appearance 
far superior to a marble building, and it might be surveyed with 
feelings somewhat a-kin to those produced by the contemplation 
of a Grecian Temple; both are temples of art, inimitable of 
their kind. 
Previously to the departure of the sailors, the natives were 
asked to favour them with a dance and a song, although it might 
be supposed that the entertainment which had been derived from 
their exhibition on board the Victory, was not of that enticing 
nature, as to instil into them a longing for a repetition of it. It 
was however some gratification to observe, that the dance which 
they now executed, was different in its motions and gestures, 
from that which they had witnessed on board the ship. The 
dance was begun by one person placing himself in a variety of 
attitudes accompanied by the most extraordinary gestures, and 
the most hideous distortions of countenance. Like the similar 
amusements of different climates, this dance contained the inde¬ 
cent allusions, which are well known to form an essential feature 
in the dance of many nations in other respects far advanced in 
civilization. The body was generally in a stooping posture, 
and the hands resting upon the knees; after a few minutes, the 
performers began to sin g “ Amnah, ajahT and in a very short time 
the second performer, who had been looking at the other in si¬ 
lence began, as if inspired, to distort his face, and imitate the 
indelicate attitude of the first, and soon after to sing as chorus, 
“Hejau! Hejau /” After this had continued with increasing 
energy for ten minutes, the tune was suddenly changed to a 
shrill note, in which the words *' Weehee , Weehee ,” were uttered i 
with great rapidity. They then approached each other by slip¬ 
ping their feet forward, grinning, and in great agitation until 
their noses touched; the ceremony of kooniging was performed, 
and a savage laugh ended this extraordinary performance. 
