of stunning than killing, and threw them on a
fire, and, after letting them lie five minutes or so on one side, turned
them over on the other, then drew them from the fire and devoured them.
The grubs they ate raw.

Jackson was much surprised at what he terms, "this beastly way of
feeding," because in his previous experience he had found the Feejeeans
to be extremely particular in all preparations of food. On inquiring
the cause of the change, however, he was informed, "that they felt proud
that they were able to endure such hard fare, and that it was essential
to their warlike customs, as they could not expect to sleep as well in
war-time as in peace, and that they must endure every inconvenience, and
pay no attention whatever to comfort!"

At length they arrived at the island of Mouta, where they landed to
announce their arrival to the king, and to present him with a gift of
whales' teeth, which are much prized, and used on nearly all such
occasions. In order to reach the town they had to proceed up a long,
serpentine, narrow river, each bank of which was so thickly covered with
mangrove trees that they overshadowed it completely--rendering it
exceedingly dark and dismal. In the middle of the town stood the king's
house, and directly opposite was the "bure," or temple. The whole town
contained about one hundred and fifty houses.

Having presented the whales' teeth to his savage majesty, they related
all that had happened on the voyage, detailing the minutest particulars,
after which they went to the temple to do honour to the god of war; and
here the story of the voyage was repeated to the priest, who replied in
a long speech. This speech was listened to with the deepest attention,
because it was considered prophetic. The priest finished off by
encouraging all present to be obedient to the god of war, and to do
their best to gratify his appetite, adding, that the success of the
whole expedition depended on their obedience. He reminded them that the
god was a great lover of animal food, especially of human flesh.
Jackson afterwards found that the appetite of the priest was quite as
peculiar and strong as that of the god in this respect, and that the
king was a greater cannibal than the priest!

Next morning they re-embarked and started for Male, in the disturbed
district. The inhabitants of Male lived on the top of a mountain shaped
like a sugar-loaf, and having only one path leading up it. At the top
this