It Ran Through A Much More Considerable Compass Of Notes, Than Is Employed At Otaheite, Or Even At Tonga-Tabboo; And Had A Serious Turn Which Distinguished It Very Remarkably From The Softer Effeminate Music Of Those Islands.

The words seemed to be naturally arranged, and flowed very currently from the tongue.

When the first had finished his song, another began; his tune was different as to the composition, but had the same serious style which strongly marked the general turn of the people. They were indeed seldom seen to laugh so heartily, and jest so facetiously, as the more polished nations of the Friendly and Society Islands, who have already learnt to set a great value on these enjoyments. On the afternoon of this day, our friends importuned us to sing to them again. We readily complied with their request, and when they seemed to wonder at the difference in our songs, we endeavoured to make them comprehend that we were natives of different countries. Hearing this, they pointed out an elderly thin man in the circle of our hearers, and telling us that he was a native of Irromanga, desired him to sing to us. The man immediately stepped forward, and began a song, in the course of which he made a variety of gesticulations, not only to our entertainment, but to the great satisfaction of all the people about him. His song was to the full as musical as that of the people of Tanna, but it seemed to be of a droll or humorous nature, from his various ludicrous postures, and from the particular tone of the whole.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 736 of 885
Words from 198679 to 198950 of 239428