rers. Her heart-rending cries; her fearful struggles; and, more
than all, the horrid indifference and cruelty of her executioners, have
left upon my mind an indelible impression. I now resolved that if my
suspicions proved just, I would make an earnest effort to prevent the
repetition of so inhuman a deed, and from what I had already seen of the
mild disposition of Mowno, I was inclined to believe that there was
great hope of success in such an endeavour.

"Rokoa, on hearing the conversation above mentioned, had given me a
significant glance, which sufficiently explained to me how he understood
it. A very few moments sufficed to confirm my worst suspicions: I
learned that the aged female who had spoken of herself as Malola, was
Mowno's aunt and that she was, with her own full consent and approval,
to be destroyed in a few days. From the manner in which Olla alluded to
it, while I inferred that such acts were by no means uncommon among
these people, I at the same time clearly perceived, that custom and
education had not stifled or perverted in her gentle nature, at least,
the ordinary feelings and impulses of humanity, and that she anticipated
the deed with terror and loathing. I determined to watch for an
opportunity to converse with Mowno, and discover, if possible, whether
the cruel insensibility, implied in countenancing such a practice, could
really be concealed beneath so smooth and pleasant an aspect.

"Meanwhile, the meal, to which we had been summoned, was spread under
the shade trees beside the house. It consisted of baked fish, served up
in banana leaves, roasted yams, poe-poe, a preparation of bread-fruit,
and an excellent kind of pudding, made of cocoa-nut-pulp and taro. It
was easy to perceive that Olla, with all her playfulness and girlish
vivacity, was a notable housekeeper."

"Let me interrupt you a moment, to ask a single question," said Max.
"Did you get the recipe for making that pudding from Mrs Mowno?--if so,
please impart the same for the general good, and I will try my hand at
it the first convenient opportunity."

"Heathen!" exclaimed Browne, "can you think of nothing but gormandising?
Pray, Arthur, proceed."

"And bring on those cannibals forthwith," added Morton, "for unless you
do so, Johnny will despair entirely of any fighting, and go to sleep."

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

AN EXPLOSION.

THE CANNIBALS APPRECIATE MUSIC AND ELOQUENCE, BUT TAKE OFFENCE AT THE
NEW THEOLOGY.

"T