THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
149 
willing to conceal any of their defers, has often faid, that 
they are fometimes cruel in punifhing their enemies. Ac- v 
cording to his reprefentation, they torment them very deli¬ 
berately ; at one time, tearing out fmall pieces of flefh from 
different parts; at another, taking out the eyes; then cut¬ 
ting off the nofe; and laftly, killing them by opening the 
belly. But this only happens on particular occalions. If 
cheerfulnefs argues a confcious innocence, one would fup- 
pofe that their life is feldom fullied by crimes. This, how- 
eyer, I rather impute to their feelings, which, though lively, 
feem in no cafe permanent; for I never faw them, in any 
misfortune, labour under the appearance of anxiety, after 
the critical moment was paft. Neither does care ever feem 
to wrinkle their brow. On the contrary, even the approach 
of death does not appear to alter their ufual vivacity. I 
have feen them, when brought to the brink of the grave by 
difeafe, and when preparing to go to battle ; hut, in neither 
cafe, ever obferved their countenances overclouded with 
melancholy, or ferious reflection. 
Such a difpofition, leads them to direCt all their aims only 
to what can give them pleafure and eafe. Their amufe- 
ments all tend to excite and continue their amorous pafiions; 
and their fongs, of which they are immoderately fond, an- 
fwer the fame purpofe. But as a conftant fucceflion of fen- 
fual enjoyments mull; cloy, we found, that they frequently 
varied them to more refined fubjeCts, and had much plea¬ 
fure in chanting their triumphs in war, and their occupa¬ 
tions in peace; their travels to other iflands, and adventures 
there; and the peculiar beauties, and fuperior advantages 
of their own iffand over the reft, or of different parts of it 
over other lefs favourite diftriCts. This marks, that they re¬ 
ceive great delight from muftc; and though they rather ex- 
preffed 
1777. 
December. 
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