Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition : during the years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842 . endicularly. The oar has a broad blade, and isten feet in length : the sculler thus has the whole weight of his bodyto assist his strength in using it: it is confined in a hole in the plat-form. There is generally one of these oars at each end, and they areenabled to propel one of these large canoes between two and threemiles an hour by means of them. The Tongese are great adepts in managing their canoes whenunder sail; and they sail much more swiftly on a wind than before this canoe is
Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition : during the years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842 . endicularly. The oar has a broad blade, and isten feet in length : the sculler thus has the whole weight of his bodyto assist his strength in using it: it is confined in a hole in the plat-form. There is generally one of these oars at each end, and they areenabled to propel one of these large canoes between two and threemiles an hour by means of them. The Tongese are great adepts in managing their canoes whenunder sail; and they sail much more swiftly on a wind than before this canoe is of Feejee origin, I shall defer describing it until asucceeding chapter. The canoe of these chiefs was seen advancing slowly over the calmsea by the efforts of its scullers, and was filled with men, all singingthe following air, keeping perfect time and making excellent music ;the notes were obtained by Mr. Drayton. TONGATABOO. 21 n-cI^ff^-^rr=ff -?-? * * r r F ft) U 4-4 kj I—H- 4 4 •> >*»j ?>»«g *?)• -tt (--^-e-F 1 Ir-H-H5^- iii *~ -d 4. d -»-P-F-W-^F3 C3 1 1 1 V <F. To this they sing any words, but generally such as are applicableto the mission of business or pleasure they may be on; and althoughthe air and bass are heard most distinctly, the four parts are all sungin the most perfect harmony. From the fact that the tenors andbasses sing parts of a bar, alternating with each other, and come inperfectly, it would seem that they cultivate music in their own rudeway, producing a wild but agreeable effect. To this the scullers keeptime. This music has a great resemblance to that of the Samoan Group,and it is the custom in both to sing it while at work. It may there-fore be inferred that it is native, for the Tongese never had foreignmusic of any kind taught them. The missionaries themselves donot sing, and. declared they were not able to tell Old Hundred fromGod save the King, if the same words were adapted to both!The females of this island, generally
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade184, booksubjectvoyagesaroundtheworld
