The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World, Vol. III. Being the First of the Second VoyageCook, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World, Vol. III. Being the First of the Second Voyage
Cook, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
Their ornaments are, amulets, necklaces, and bracelets of bones, shells,
and beads of mother of pearl, tortoise-shell, &c., which are worn by
both sexes. The women also wear on their fingers neat rings made of
tortoise-shell, and pieces in their ears about the size of a small
quill; but ear-ornaments are not commonly worn, though all have their
ears pierced. They have also a curious apron made of the outside fibres
of the cocoa-nut shell, and composed of a number of small pieces sewed
together in such a manner as to form stars, half-moons, little squares,
&c. It is studded with beads of shells, and covered with red feathers,
so as to have a pleasing effect. They make the same kind of cloth, and
of the same materials, as at Otaheite; though they have not such a
variety, nor do they make any so fine; but as they have a method of
glazing it, it is more durable, and will resist rain for some time,
which Otaheite cloth will not. Their colours are black, brown, purple,
yellow, and red; all made from vegetables. They make various sorts of
matting; some of a very fine texture, which is generally used for
clothing; and the thick and stronger sort serves to sleep on, and to
make sails for their canoes, &c. Among other useful utensils, they have
various sorts of baskets; some made of the same materials as their mats;
and others of the twisted fibres of cocoa-nuts. These are not only
durable, but beautiful; being generally composed of different colours,
and studded with beads made of shells or bones. They have many little
nick-nacks amongst them; which shows that they neither want taste to
design, nor skill to execute whatever they take in hand.
How these people amuse themselves in their leisure hours, I cannot say,
as we are but little acquainted with their diversions. The women
frequently entertained us with songs, in a manner which was agreeable
enough. They accompany the music by snapping their fingers, so as to
keep time to it. Not only their voices but their music was very
harmonious; and they have a considerable compass in their notes. I saw
but two musical instruments amongst them. One was a large flute made of
a piece of bamboo, which they fill with their noses as at Otaheite; but
these have four holes or stops, whereas those of Otaheite have only two.
The other was composed of ten or eleven small reeds of unequal lengths,
bound together side by side, as the Doric pipe of the ancients is said
to have been; and the open ends of the reeds into which they blow with
their mouths are of equal height, or in a line. They have also a drum,
which, without any impropriety, may be compared to an hollow log of
wood. The one I saw was five feet six inches long, and thirty inches in
girt, and had a slit in it, from the one end to the other, about three
inches wide, by means of which it had been hollowed out. They beat on
the side of this log with two drum-sticks, and produce an hollow sound,
not quite so musical as that of an empty cask.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account