80S

PUBLIC FESTIVALS

“ knee a little, and trembling, as it were, with“ rage. He continued in this manner only a“ few seconds, when he moved to the other“ side, and having stood in the same posture“ there, for the same short time, retreated from.“ the ground as fast as when he made his ap-“ pearance. The dancers, who had divided“ into two parties, kept repeating something“ slowly; and now advanced, and joined again,“ ending with universal applause. It should“ seem that this dance was considered as one“ of their capital performances, if we might“ judge from some of the principal people being“ engaged in it; for one of their drums was“ beat by Futtafaihe, the brother of Poulaho,“ another by Feenow, and the third, which did“ not belong to the chorus, by Mareewagee“ himself, at the entrance of his hut*.

“ 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<c afforded us much information as to the genius

* It must here be noticed that it is a difficult matter tobeat these drums properly, consequently it is considered agreat accomplishment, and never practised by the lowerorders : it must also be observed, that whenever among thedancers there are principal chiefs, as, no doubt, there w'ereon the above occasion, the drums are always beaten bypersons of the first consequence.