THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
189 
countenance expretted a degree of complacency and mo- 
defty, peculiar to the fex in every part of the world; but 
perhaps more confpicuous here, where Nature prefented us 
with her productions in the fulled: perfection, unbiased in 
fentiment by cuftom, or unreftrained in manner by art. 
Their fhape and limbs were elegantly formed. For, as 
their drefs confifted only of a piece of glazed cloth fattened 
about the waift, and fcarcely reaching fo low as the knees, 
in many we had an opportunity of obferving every part. 
This dance was not finifhed, when we heard a noife, as if 
fome horfes had been galloping toward us; and, on looking 
afide, we faw the people armed with clubs, who had been 
defired, as we fuppofed, to entertain us with the light of 
their manner of fighting. This they now did, one party 
purfuing another who fled. 
As we fuppofed the ceremony of being introduced to the 
Chiefs was at an end, we began to look about for Mr. Gore 
and Omai; and, though the crowd would hardly fuffer us 
to move, we at length found them coming up, as much in¬ 
commoded by the number of people as we had been, and 
introduced in the fame manner to the three Chiefs, whofe 
names were Otteroo, Taroa, and Fatouweera. Each of 
thefe expectted a prefent; and Mr. Gore gave them fuch 
things as he had brought with him from the fhip, for that 
purpofe. After this, making ufe of Omai as his interpre¬ 
ter, he informed the Chiefs with what intention we had 
come on fhore; but was given to underftand, that he mutt 
wait till the next day, and then he fhould have what was 
wanted. 
They now feemed to take fome pains to feparate us from 
each other; and every one of us had his circle to furround 
and gaze at him. For my own part, I was, at one time, 
above 
1777. 
April 
—v—' 
