ons, looked like so many ant-hills. Scores of the savages were
vigorously plying their stone pestles in preparing masses of poee-poee,
and numbers were gathering green bread-fruit and young cocoa-nuts in the
surrounding groves; while an exceeding great multitude, with a view of
encouraging the rest in their labours, stood still, and kept shouting most
lustily without intermission.

It is a peculiarity among these people, that when engaged in any
employment they always make a prodigious fuss about it. So seldom do they
ever exert themselves, that when they do work they seem determined that so
meritorious an action shall not escape the observation of those around.
If, for example, they have occasion to remove a stone to a little
distance, which perhaps might be carried by two able-bodied men, a whole
swarm gather about it, and, after a vast deal of palavering, lift it up
among them, every one struggling to get hold of it, and bear it off
yelling and panting as if accomplishing some mighty achievement. Seeing
them on these occasions, one is reminded of an infinity of black ants
clustering about and dragging away to some hole the leg of a deceased fly.

Having for some time attentively observed these demonstrations of good
cheer, I entered the Ti, where Mehevi sat complacently looking out upon
the busy scene, and occasionally issuing his orders. The chief appeared to
be in an extraordinary flow of spirits, and gave me to understand that on
the morrow there would be grand doings in the groves generally, and at the
Ti in particular; and urged me by no means to absent himself. In
commemoration of what event, however, or in honour of what distinguished
personage, the feast was to be given, altogether passed my comprehension.
Mehevi sought to enlighten my ignorance, but he failed as signally as when
he had endeavoured to initiate me into the perplexing arcana of the taboo.

On leaving the Ti, Kory-Kory, who had, as a matter of course, accompanied
me, observing that my curiosity remained unabated, resolved to make
everything plain and satisfactory. With this intent, he escorted me
through the Taboo Groves, pointing out to my notice a variety of objects,
and endeavoured to explain them in such an indescribable jargon of words,
that it almost put me in bodily pain to listen to him. In particular, he
led me to a remarkable pyramidical structure some three yards square at
the base, and perhaps ten feet in height, which had lately bee