ide, who had at first been unaware of our entrance, the chief's wife
gave a slight start, alarmed doubtless by my appearance. She could never
have seen, nor even dreamed of, such a spectacle as I must have
presented, haggard, ragged, faint with hunger, and worn with fatigue as I
was. The chief motioned to me that I should kneel at his wife's feet,
and kiss her hand, but I merely bowed, not considering this a fit moment
to protest otherwise against such sacrilegious mummeries. But the
woman--her name I learned later was Ocyale--did not take my attitude in
bad part. The startled expression of her face changed to a look of pity,
and, with a movement of her hand, she directed Doto to bring a large
golden cup from the table at the upper end of the room. Into this cup
she ladled some dark liquid from a bowl which was placed on a small three-
legged stand, or dumb waiter, close to her side. Next she spilt a little
of the wine on the polished floor, with an appearance of gravity which I
did not understand. It appears that this spilling of wine is a drink
offering to their idols. She then offered me the cup, which I was about
to taste, when I perceived that the liquor was indubitably _alcoholic_!

A total abstainer, I had, I am thankful to say, strength enough to resist
the temptation thus adroitly thrust upon me. Setting down the cup, I
pointed to the badge of blue ribbon, which, though damp and colourless,
remained faithful to my button-hole. I also made signs I was hungry, and
would be glad of something to eat. My gestures, as far as the blue
ribbon went, must have been thrown away, of course, but any one could
understand that I was fainting from hunger. The mistress of the house
called to one of the spinning girls, who rose and went within the door
opening from the platform at the upper end of the room. She presently
returned with an old woman, a housekeeper, as we would say, and obviously
a faithful and familiar servant. After some conversation, of which I was
probably the topic, the old woman hobbled off, laughing. She soon came
back, bringing, to my extreme delight, a basket with cakes and goat
cheese, and some cold pork in a dish.

I ought, perhaps, to say here that, in spite of the luxury of their
appointments, and their extraordinary habit of "eating and drinking all
day to the going down of the sun" (as one of their own poets says), these
islanders are by no means good cooks. I have tasted of more savou