| Citation |
PP-P.774.009
21 Feb 1774:21, 22, 23 (3/122)
A specimen of Indian cookery, with several incidents, at
King George's Island. From Lieutenant Cook's voyage round
the world, published by Dr. Hawkesworth.
[3 columns of customs of burial, archery]
Mr. Banks, in his morning walk this day, met a number of the
natives, whom, upon enquiry, he found to be travelling
musicians; and having learnt where they were be at night, we
all repaired to the place. The band consisted of two flutes
and three drums, and we found a great number of people
assembled upon the occasion. The drummers accompanied the
musick with their voices, and, to our great surprize, we
discovered that we were generally the subject of the song.
We did not expect to have found among the uncivilized
inhabitants of this sequestered foot, a character, which has
been the subject of such praise and veneration where genius
and knowledge have been most conspicuous; yet these were the
bards or minstrels of Otahiite. Their song was
unpremeditated, and accompanied with music; they were
continually going about from place to place, and they were
rewarded by the master of the house, and the audience, with
such things as one wanted and the other could spare.
. . .
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