THE PE LEW ISLANDS. 
117 
circles of two or three deep, one within another. In general 1783. 
r . SEPTEMB] 
an elderly man amongft them begins fomething like a fong, 
or long fentence, in a very folemn tone, for our countrymen 
could not difcriminate which it was, and when he comes to 
a paufe, or what we fhould call the end of a ftanza, a chorus 
is ftruck up, and the dancers all join in concert, ftill conti¬ 
nuing their figure. Their dancing does not fo much con- 
fift in capering or agility, as in a particular method they 
have of balancing themfelves, and this frequently very low 
fideways, finging together all the while ; during which, 
they will flatten their circles, fo as to bring themfelves face 
to face to each other, lifting up the taflels they hold in their 
hands, and giving them a clafhing or tremulous motion; 
.* - , ., , I . „ 
after this there will be a hidden paufe, and an exclamation 
from every voice, Weel! Then a new fentence or ftanza is 
repeated, and danced to as before, and the fame ceremony 
continued, till every man who is engaged in the dance has in 
his turn had his repetition and chorus. 
During this feftivity two large tubs of fweet drink were 
brought in, which were ferved out, firft to the EngHfJj and 
the principal people prefent, who juft tailed it, and then the 
tubs were carried to the warriors; and when the dance was 
ended, they all fat down upon the fquare, and the drink was 
ferved out to them by four perfons who feemed to be peo¬ 
ple of note, having bones upon their wrifts; the warriors 
then removed to a houfe, at which a fupper was prepared for 
them. 
