Joseph Banks - Endeavour Journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 - No. 0380
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[Page 380]
Ulhietea
nosegays or Bouquets on their hips rested a quantity of cloth pleated very full which reachd almost up to their arms & fell down below into long peticoats reaching below their feet which they managd with as much dexterity as our opera dancers could have done these pleats were brown & white alternately but the peticoats were all white
In this dress they advancd sideways keeping excellent time to the drums which beat brisk & loud they soon began to shake their hips giving the folds of cloth that lay upon them a very quick motion which was continued during the whole dance they sometimes standing sometimes sitting & sometimes resting on their knees & elbows & generaly moving their fingers with a quickness scarce to be imagind. The chief entertainment of the spectators seemd however to arise from the Lascivious motions they often made use of which were indeed highly so more indeed than I shall atempt to describe
One of these girls had in her ear 3 pearls one of them very large but so foul that it was worth scarce any thing the other two were as large as a midling pea & of a good & clear water as well as shape for these I offerd at different times any price the owner would have but she would not hear of parting with them I offerd once the price of 4 hogs down & any thing she would ask beside but she would not hear of it indeed they have always set a value upon their pearls if tolerably good almost equal to our valuation supposing them as they always are spoild by the drilling
Between the dances of the women (for they divided