ad finished, a number of wooden bowls full of maize
porridge were put down between the guests--one bowl to each couple
facing each other. But before commencing, a portion was laid aside and
dedicated to their gods, with various mysterious ceremonies; for here,
as in other places where the gospel is not known, the poor savages
fancied that they could propitiate God with sacrifices. They had never
heard of the "sacrifice of a broken spirit and a contrite heart." This
offering being made, the feast began in earnest. Not only was it a rule
in this feast that every mouthful should be swallowed by each guest,
however unwilling and unable he should be to do so, but he who could
dispose of it with greatest speed was deemed the greatest man--at least
on that occasion--while the last to conclude his supper was looked upon
with some degree of contempt!

It seems strange that such a custom should ever have arisen, and one is
not a little puzzled in endeavouring to guess at the origin of it.
There is one fact that occurs to us as the probable cause. The Indian
is, as we have before hinted, frequently reduced to a state bordering on
starvation, and in a day after he may be burdened with superabundance of
food. He oftentimes, therefore, eats as much as he can stuff into his
body when he is blessed with plenty, so as to be the better able to
withstand the attacks of hunger that may possibly be in store for him.
The amount that an Indian will thus eat at a single meal is incredible.
He seems to have the power of distending himself for the reception of a
quantity that would kill a civilised man. Children, in particular,
become like tightly inflated little balloons after a feast, and as they
wear no clothing, the extraordinary rotundity is very obvious, not to
say ridiculous. We conclude, therefore, that unusual powers of
gormandising, being useful, come at last to be cultivated as
praiseworthy.

By good fortune Dick and Joe Blunt happened to have such enormous
gluttons as _vis-a-vis_, that the portions of their respective bowls
which they could not devour were gobbled up for them. By good capacity
and digestion, with no small amount of effort, Henri managed to dispose
of his own share; but he was last of being done, and fell in the
savages' esteem greatly. The way in which that sticky compost of boiled
maize went down was absolutely amazing. The man opposite Dick, in
particular, was a human boa-constrictor. He well-nigh suff