ing child in a dentist's chair, restrained me in his powerful
grasp, and actually encouraged the wretch in this infliction of torture.

Almost frantic with rage and pain, I yelled like a bedlamite; while Toby,
throwing himself into all the attitudes of a posture-master, vainly
endeavoured to expostulate with the natives by signs and gestures. To have
looked at my companion, as, sympathizing with my sufferings, he strove to
put an end to them, one would have thought that he was the deaf and dumb
alphabet incarnated. Whether my tormentor yielded to Toby's entreaties, or
paused from sheer exhaustion, I do not know; but all at once he ceased his
operations, and at the same time the chief relinquishing his hold upon me,
I fell back, faint and breathless with the agony I had endured.

My unfortunate limb was now left much in the same condition as a
rump-steak after undergoing the castigating process which precedes
cooking. My physician, having recovered from the fatigues of his
exertions, as if anxious to make amends for the pain to which he had
subjected me, now took some herbs out of a little wallet that was
suspended from his waist, and moistening them in water, applied them to
the inflamed part, stooping over it at the same time, and either
whispering a spell, or having a little confidential chat with some
imaginary demon located in the calf of my leg. My limb was now swathed in
leafy bandages, and grateful to Providence for the cessation of
hostilities, I was suffered to rest.

Mehevi shortly after rose to depart; but before he went he spoke
authoritatively to one of the natives, whom he addressed as Kory-Kory; and
from the little I could understand of what took place, pointed him out to
me as a man whose peculiar business henceforth would be to attend upon my
person. I am not certain that I comprehended as much as this at the time,
but the subsequent conduct of my trusty body-servant fully assured me that
such must have been the case.

I could not but be amused at the manner in which the chief addressed me
upon this occasion, talking to me for at least fifteen or twenty minutes
as calmly as if I could understand every word that he said. I remarked
this peculiarity very often afterwards in many other of the islanders.

Mehevi having now departed, and the family physician having likewise made
his exit, we were left about sunset with the ten or twelve natives, who by
this time I had ascertained composed the household of