The procession was led off by two venerable-looking savages, each provided
with a spear, from the end of which streamed a pennon of milk-white tappa.
After them went several youths, bearing aloft calabashes of poee-poee; and
followed in their turn by four stalwart fellows, sustaining long bamboos,
from the tops of which hung suspended, at least twenty feet from the
ground, large baskets of green bread-fruit. Then came a troop of boys,
carrying bunches of ripe bananas, and baskets made of woven leaflets of
cocoa-nut boughs, filled with the young fruit of the tree, the naked
shells, stripped of their husks, peeping forth from the verdant
wicker-work that surrounded them. Last of all came a burly islander,
holding over his head a wooden trencher, in which lay disposed the
remnants of our midnight feast, hidden from view, however, by a covering
of bread-fruit leaves.

Astonished as I was at this exhibition, I could not avoid smiling at its
grotesque appearance, and the associations it naturally called up. Mehevi,
it seemed, was bent on replenishing old Marheyo's larder, fearful,
perhaps, that without this precaution his guests might not fare as well as
they could desire.

As soon as I descended from the pi-pi, the procession formed anew,
enclosing us in its centre; where I remained, part of the time carried by
Kory-Kory, and occasionally relieving him from his burden by limping along
with a spear. When we moved off in this order, the natives struck up a
musical recitative, which, with various alternations, they continued until
we arrived at the place of our destination.

As we proceeded on our way, bands of young girls, darting from the
surrounding groves, hung upon our skirts, and accompanied us with shouts
of merriment and delight, which almost drowned the deep notes of the
recitative. On approaching old Marheyo's domicile, its inmates rushed out
to receive us; and while the gifts of Mehevi were being disposed of, the
superannuated warrior did the honours of his mansion with all the warmth
of hospitality evinced by an English squire, when he regales his friends
at some fine old patrimonial mansion.

CHAPTER XII

Attempt to procure relief from Nukuheva--Perilous adventure of Toby
in the Happar Mountains--Eloquence of Kory-Kory.

Amidst these novel scenes a week passed away almost imperceptibly. The
natives, actuated by some mysterious impulse, day after d