Another Dance is the Ponnara which is performed almost evry evening in evry district through the Island. To this Dance the Weomen of evry age and discription resort to dance; young & old, Rich and Poor mix promiscuously, but no Men Join with them — when they attend the Ponnara they are always Neat and dressd in their best, their Heads decorated with Garlands of sweet scented Flowers. Having fixd on the Ground they devide themselves in two partys and seperate at 30 or 40 Yards from each other, when one of the Best players having provided a small green Bread fruit for a Ball with which she runs out about half way between the two kicks the Ball with as Much force as she is able, striking it with the upper part of the foot near the instep; if she sends the Ball through the other party or past them so as none can stop it till it stops itself then the Opposite or Her party strike up a Song & Dance, beating time to it with hands & feet with much exactness and regularity — after they have finnishd their dance, which lasts about 5 or 6 Minutes, the Other Party kick the Ball which if it Passes they who kick it Dance, but if it is stopt by them who Danced first then they dance again, Mean time the Others Stand still — after they have Playd at this for some Hours they Kick the Ball to one side and both Partys strike up together, when each, to draw the Spectators to their exibition, produce two or three Young Wantons, who stripping of their lower Garments Cover them selves with a loose piece of Cloth and at particular parts of the Song they throw Open their Cloth and dance with their fore part Naked to the Company making many lewd gestures — however these are not merely the effects of Wantoness but Custom, and those who perform thus in Publick are Shy and Bashful in private, and seldom suffer any freedom to be taken by the Men on that account.

The Single Young Men have also dances wherein they shew many indecent Gestures which would be reproachable among themselves at any other time but at the dance, it being deemd shameful for either Sex to expose themselves Naked even to each other and they are more remarkable for hiding their Nakedness in Bathing then many Europeans, always supplying the place of Cloaths with leaves at going in and coming out of the Water and the Weomen Never uncover their Breasts at any other time.

Indigenous Histories