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open space beyond, and saw moving towards its centre a clown. His body was entirely covered with green and dried leaves, and vines bound round in every way; on his head he wore a mask somewhat resembling a bear's head, painted black on one side, and orange on the other; in one hand he carried a large club, and in the other, one of the short ones, to which our men had given the name of " Handy Billy;" his movements were very much like those of our clowns, and drew down immense applause from the spectators. The musicians now began a monotonous song on one note, the bass alternating with the air; they then sound one of the common chords in the bass clef, without the alternation. Some of the performers clapped their hands to make a sharp sound; others beat sticks together; while a few had joints of large bamboo, two or three feet long, open at one end, which they struck on the open end, producing a sound similar to that of a weak-toned drum. Although it could not be called music, they kept good time. The notes of the music were obtained, and are as follows:

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To this air they use words applicable to the occasion. The dancers now advanced two by two, from behind a large rock which had served to screen them from view; they were all dressed in their gala dresses, with white salas and new masi on; the chiefs had around their turbans, wreaths of natural vines and flowers, which had a pretty effect; their faces were painted in various patterns, black and vermilion. In entering, their progress was slow, taking no more than three measured steps between each halt; as they drew nearer they changed their order to three and four abreast, using their clubs in a variety of attitudes, which are well represented in the admirable drawing Mr. Drayton has

made of this scene. The whole number of dancers in the procession was upwards of a hundred. At the end of each strain of music they advanced three steps at a time, bowing gracefully to us, and changing the position of their clubs. When all had entered the square they became more violent in their actions, jumping, or rather treading the ground violently, at the same time joining in the song. Each dance was finished with a kind of war-whoop at the top of their voices.

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The clown was, in the mean time, very active in mimicking the chiefs and the most remarkable of the dancers. The whole exhibition lasted fully an hour, and when the dance was over, each brought his club and laid it in front of us as a present. These weapons formed a very large pile; and it was amusing to me to perceive many of them change their clubs for those of much less value before they brought them to present. In return for these, they expected presents, which were given them.

John Sac, or Tuatti, our New Zealander, was desirous of showing the dance of his country, which excited great astonishment among them. John's dance was one of great energy and violence, and as opposite from that we had just witnessed as could well be conceived. We had afterwards several dances by young girls and children, with which the afternoon's amusements ended.

The flute, although much in use among them, was not played on this occasion. It consists simply of a piece of bamboo, both ends of which are stopped; it has five holes, one of which is placed near the end, to which the left nostril is applied. Of the other holes, two are in the middle, and two at the other end, for the fingers. This instrument produces a low plaintive note, which is but slightly varied by the closing and opening of the holes. It is sometimes accompanied by the voice, a union which the whites informed me was greatly admired by the natives, who not unfrequently applaud the performance by clapping their hands. No other instrument but the flute is played by the women as an accompaniment for the voice. They likewise have a kind of Pandean pipe, made of several reeds of different sizes, lashed together.

The next day, Tui Levuka paid me a visit for the purpose of receiving the presents, which I told him I was desirous to give him, in return for the clubs we received at the exhibition of the dance. He remained late in the evening, in order, as he said, to prevent the

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