298 JOHN BOIT
upon himself, upon which account there was to be great rejoic- ings. About noon, upwards of 100 men assembled upon the beach in front of the Village, with the King at their head. Their dress, which was exactly uniform, consisted of a Blankett, made fast around the Loins with a Girdle, and reach'd about half way down their thighs. Their hair was turn'd up, and tyed with a thick bunch before and decorated with feathers. Their faces was painted of different colours, and their bodies of a deep red. Beads and fibres of Bark were woulded round their Ancles and Knees, and at a distance they made a grand, although savage appearance. They collected near the water, at one end of the village, in regular tiers, about four deep. At each wing many women were placed with Copper Boxes," in which was small Stones, serving as part of the music. The procession moved slowly along, the front squatting on their hams, the others standing erect, with three of the King's brothers upon their shoulders, who were dancing and running from right to left, in that position while those under them was on the Continual move. The King kept in front, giving the word of Command. All their voices kept perfect tune with the rattling of the boxes. The rest of the inhabitants were seated along the beach viewing the performance. When they arrived opposite the King's house, they enter'd single file, and I fol- lowed to see the transactions within doors. About 30 of the principal Actors seated themselves in a Circle, and was pre- sented with a piece of board and a small stick. This they used instead of a Drum. The whole Company then began to dance and sing, and the Musicians joining, made it very pleasing. But the Smell was too strong for my Organs. Therefore soon drew off. These Natives are mild and chearfull, with little of that savage appearance that Savages generally have. Their Com- plexions is very light Copper, 100 but they darken it with Oil and Paint. The Hair is coarse, long and black. 'T is a
99 Hoskins also mentions such boxes. It is possible that they may have been manufactured from the sheets of copper purchased from the traders. It is certain that they were not manufactured from the native copper.
i oo Cook (Third Voyage, vol. 2, p. 303, 4to. ed. 1785) says that when the dirt and paint were well rubbed off "the whiteness of the skin appeared almost to equal that of Europeans; though rather of that effete cast which distinguishes those of our Southern nations." Almost every other voyager has made some- what the sam remark.
