sed to set these two natives to the task
of collecting fuel for the purpose of cooking the fish which Chips and
Sails were about to catch for our midday meal by going offshore a short
distance in the catamaran; and the way he did it was something like
this.

Turning to the two natives, he poked first one and then the other on the
naked chest with his forefinger, to secure their attention, and then
proceeded to remark, with much flourishing of his hands:

"Now then, Johnnie, and you, Jim, come along wi' me and gather firewood.
Savvy?"

To this the natives naturally responded with a blank stare of
non-comprehension, gradually merging into a broad smile. Then, seeing
that his first attempt had not been exactly a success, the boatswain
proceeded upon his usual lines. Assuming an aspect of intense
earnestness, and holding his forefinger up before them, he continued:

"Now, lookee here, you coffee-coloured sweeps, me wantee you come alonga
me and catchee plenty wood for makee fire cookee fis' that them two men
are goin' for catchee. Now, then, d'ye savvy that?"

The intonation of his concluding words no doubt conveyed to the minds of
his hearers the idea that he was asking a question, for the two savages
turned to each other and exchanged a few words. Then the elder, with a
broad smile, pointed first to himself and uttered the word "Mokalua"--
which we easily understood must be his name--and then to his companion,
pronouncing the word "Vati", which was as certainly the name of the
other. So evident was this that even Murdock understood it, and, proud
of his quick comprehension, hastened to display his cleverness by
prodding the first native in the chest and remarking:

"Ay, ay; that's easy enough to understand: your name's Mokalua, and
yours,"--turning to the other--"is Vati. That's all right; I can see
that we'll soon get to understand each other. Now then, Mokalua and
Vati, let's have another try. Me wantee plenty much firewood, so you
two come and helpy me gatheree it. Comprenny?"

Further blank looks from the natives, at which the boatswain lost his
patience; and, clutching Mokalua by the wrist, while he seized the
unhappy Vati by the shoulder and violently swung him round with his face
toward the cliffs, he exclaimed savagely:

"Here, come along o' me, you two! You're like the monkeys; you can
understand, but you won't, for fear o' bein' put to work! But you don't
get over me quite so easily as that,