THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
147 
dangerous manoeuvres, was altogether aftonifhing, and is 
fcarcely to be credited *. 
An accident, of which I was a near fpedlator, fhews at 
how early a period they are fo far familiarized to the water, 
as both to lofe all fears of it, and to fet its dangers at de¬ 
fiance. A canoe being overfet, in which was a woman with 
her children, one of them an infant, who, I am convinced, 
was not mor-e than four years old, feemed highly delighted 
with what had happened, fwimming about at its eafe, and 
playing a hundred tricks, till the canoe was put to rights 
again. 
Befides the amufements I have already mentioned, the 
young children have one, which was much played at, and 
fhewed no fmall degree of dexterity. They take a fhort 
Hick, with a peg fharpened at both ends, running through 
one extremity of it, and extending about an inch on each 
fide; and throwing up a ball made of green leaves moulded 
together, and fecured with twine, they catch it on the point 
of the peg; and immediately throwing it up again from the 
peg, they turn the flick round, and thus keep catching it 
on each peg alternately, without miffing it, for a confider- 
able time. They are not lefs expert at another game of the 
fame nature, toffing up in the air, and catching, in their 
turns, a number of thefe balls; fo that we frequently faw 
little children thus keep in motion five at a time. With this 
latter play the young people like wife divert themfelves at 
the Friendly Iflands. 
The great refemblance which prevails in the mode of 
agriculture and navigation, among!! all the inhabitants of 
the South Sea illands, leaves me very little to add on thofe 
1779 - 
March. 
* An amufement, fomewhat fimilar 
p. 150. 
to this, at Otaheite, has been defcribed, Vol. II. 
U 2 heads. 
