AN ACCOUNT OF 
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1783. “ days, that they might be made gay, and rejoice with his ozvn 
SEPTEMBER. ' ' * A ' 
“ people after fubduing his enemies 
In the afternoon the King took Captain Wilson and his 
companions to fee fome canoes that were then building; and 
fhewed them alfo fome of their boat-houfes, which were 
well conftrudted, nicely thatched, and not unlike thofe that 
are made in England. From hence they were carried to 
fee fome other canoes, which were juft come in from an ex¬ 
pedition they had been fent on by themfelves, and from 
which, after four days abfence, they had returned vidtorious, 
having brought in one canoe of the enemy, though not a 
lingle prifoner. The obtaining a canoe, however trifling 
it may appear to a reader, is equal to the capture of the 
largeft Ihip of war in Europe ; as their battles are gene¬ 
rally fought near Ihore, and, when there is no appearance of 
fuccefs, they get to land and haftily haul up their canoes. 
In the evening our people were entertained with a dance of 
the warriors, who were juft then returned, which was per¬ 
formed in the following manner:—The dancers have a quan¬ 
tity of plantain leaves brought to them, which they fplit, and 
fhiver into the form of ribbands, thefe they then twine and 
fix round their heads, wrifts, waifts, ankles, and knees, and 
the leaves being of a yellowifh hue, fo prepared, have not an 
inelegant effecft when applied to their dark copper Ikin. They 
make alfo bunches or taflels of the fame, which they hold in 
their hands. When drawn out, they form themfelves into 
circles 
