THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
ed it, by his back being turned, and looking about for it. 1777. 
By them I underftood, that this exercife, which is called l December ; 
eborooe , was frequent amongft them; and they have pro¬ 
bably more amufements of this fort, which afford them at 
leaf! as much pleafure as fkaiting, which is the only one of 
ours, with whofe effects I could compare it. 
The language of Otaheite, though doubtlefs radically the 
fame with that of New Zealand and the Friendly Illands, is 
deflitute of that guttural pronunciation, and of fome con- 
fonants, with which thole latter dialedts abound. The fpe- 
cimens we have already given, are fufficient to mark 
wherein the variation chiefly confifls, and to fhew, that, 
like the manners of the inhabitants, it haS become foft and 
foothing. During the former voyage, I had collected a co¬ 
pious vocabulary, which enabled me the better to compare 
this dialedl with that of the other iflands ; and, during this 
voyage, I took every opportunity of improving my ac¬ 
quaintance with it, by converfing with Omai, before we ar¬ 
rived, and by my daily intercourfe with the natives, while we 
now remained there *. It abounds with beautiful and figu¬ 
rative expreflions, which, were it perfectly known, would, I 
have no doubt, put it upon a level with many of the lan¬ 
guages that are moft in efbeem for their warm and bold 
images. For inftance; the Otaheiteans exprefs their notions 
of death very emphatically, by faying, 46 That the foul goes 
into darknefs; or rather into night.” And, if you feem to 
entertain any doubt, in afking the queflion, 46 if fuch a per- 
fon is their mother?” they immediately reply, with fur- 
* See this vocabulary, at the end of the fecond volume of Captain Cook’s fecond 
voyage. Many corrections, and additions to it, were now made by this indefatigable in¬ 
quirer ; but the fpecimens of the language of Otaheite, already in the hands of the Public, 
feem fufficient for every ufeful purpofe, 
prize. 
