The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. V. Being the First of the Third VoyageCook, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. V. Being the First of the Third Voyage
Cook, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
The last dance had forty men, and two drums, as a chorus. It consisted
of sixty men, who had not danced before, disposed in three rows, having
twenty-four in front. But, before they began, we were entertained with a
pretty long preliminary harangue, in which the whole body made responses
to a single person who spoke. They recited sentences (perhaps verses)
alternately with the chorus, and made many motions with the _pagge_, in
a very brisk mode, which were all applauded with _mareeai!_ and
_fyfogge!_ words expressing two different degrees of praise. They
divided into two bodies, with their backs to each other; formed again,
shifted their ranks as in the other dances; divided and retreated,
making room for two champions, who exercised their clubs as before; and
after them two others: the dancers, all the time, reciting slowly in
turn with the chorus; after which they advanced, and finished.
These dances, if they can properly be called so, lasted from eleven till
near three o’clock; and though they were doubtless intended particularly
either in honour of us, or to show a specimen of their dexterity, vast
numbers of their own people attended as spectators. Their numbers could
not be computed exactly, on account of the inequality of the ground;
but, by reckoning the inner circle, and the number in depth, which was
between twenty and thirty in many places, we supposed that there must be
near four thousand. At the same time, there were round the trading place
at the tent, and straggling about, at least as many more; and some of us
computed, that, at this time, there were not less than ten or twelve
thousand people, in our neighbourhood; that is, within the compass of a
quarter of a mile; drawn together, for the most part, by mere curiosity.
It is with regret I mention, that we could not understand what was
spoken, while we were able to see what was acted, in these amusements.
This, doubtless, would have afforded us much information, as to the
genius and customs of these people, It was observable, that, though the
spectators always approved of the various motions, when well made, a
great share of the pleasure they received seemed to arise from the
sentimental part, or what the performers delivered in their speeches.
However, the mere acting part, independently of the sentences repeated,
was well worth our notice, both with respect to the extensive plan on
which it was executed, and to the various motions, as well as the exact
unity, with which they were performed. But neither pencil nor pen can
describe the numerous actions and motions, the singularity of which was
not greater, than was the ease and gracefulness with which they were
performed.
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