4oo 
A VOYAGE TO 
1777 * 
Ny. 
ing on thofe of a different lize; but their dancing is much 
the fame as when they perform pubhckly. The dancing 
of the men (if it is to be called dancing), although it does 
not conlift much in moving the feet, as we do, has a thou- 
fand different motions with the hands, to which we are 
entire ftrangers; and they are performed with an eafe and 
grace which are not to be defcribed, nor even conceived, 
but by thofe who have feen them. But I need add nothing 
to what has been already faid on this fubjebt, in the account 
of the incidents that happened during our ftay at the 
illands 
* If, to the copious defcriptions that occur in the preceding pages, of the particular 
entertainments exhibited in Hapaee and Tongataboo, we add the general view of the 
ufual amufements of the inhabitants of thefe illands, contained in this paragraph, and 
compare it with the quotation from the Jefuit’s Letters, in a former note (p. 255.), we 
Ihall be ftill more forcibly ftruck with the reafonablenefs of tracing fuch fingularly re- 
fembling cuftoms to one common fource. The argument, in confirmation of this, 
drawn from indentity of language, has been already illuftrated, by obferving the remark¬ 
able coincidence of the name, by which the Chiefs at the Caroline Illands, and thofe at 
Hatnao, one of the Friendly ones, are diftinguifhed. But the argument does not reft 
on a fingle inftance, though that happens to be a very ftriking one. Another of the 
very few fpecimens of the dialed! of the North Pacific Illanders, preferved by father Can- 
tova, furnilhes an additional proof. Immediately after the paffage above referred to, he 
proceeds thus : “ Ce divertifiement s’appelle, en leur langue, tanger ifaifil; qui veut dire, 
11 la plainte des femmes.” Lettres Edfiantes et Curieufes , Tom. xv. p. 315. Now it is 
very remarkable, that we learn from Mr. Anderfon’s collection of words, which will 
appear in this chapter, that la plainte des femmes , or, in Englilh, the mournful fang of the 
women , which the inhabitants of the Caroline Illands exprefs in their language ta?iger 
ifaifil , would, by thofe of Tongataboo, be expreffed tangee vefaine. 
If any one Ihould ftill doubt, in fpite of this evidence, it may be recommended to his 
confideration, that long feparation, and other caufes, have introduced greater variations 
in the mode of pronouncing thefe two words, at places confelledly inhabited by tire fame 
race, than fubfift in the fpecimen juft given. It appears, from Mr. Anderfon’s voca¬ 
bulary, printed in Captain Cook’s fecond voyage, that what is pronounced tangee at the 
Friendly Illands, is taee at Otaheite ■, and the vefaine of the former, is the waheine of the 
latter. 
Whether 
