er infinite labour and difficulty,
that the hungry animal can pierce the husk and shell so as to get at the
meat. I have frequently been amused at seeing one of them, after crunching
the obstinate nut with his teeth for a long time unsuccessfully, get into
a violent passion with it. He would then root furiously under the
cocoa-nut, and, with a fling of his snout, toss it before him on the
ground. Following it up, he would crunch at it again savagely for a
moment, and the next knock it on one side, pausing immediately after, as
if wondering how it could so suddenly have disappeared. In this way the
persecuted cocoa-nuts were often chased half across the valley.

The second day of the Feast of Calabashes was ushered in by still more
uproarious noises than the first. The skins of innumerable sheep seemed to
be resounding to the blows of an army of drummers. Startled from my
slumbers by the din, I leaped up, and found the whole household engaged in
making preparations for immediate departure. Curious to discover of what
strange events these novel sounds might be the precursors, and not a
little desirous to catch a sight of the instruments which produced the
terrific noise, I accompanied the natives as soon as they were in
readiness to depart for the Taboo Groves.

The comparatively open space that extended from the Ti toward the rock, to
which I have before alluded as forming the ascent to the place, was, with
the building itself, now altogether deserted by the men; the whole
distance being filled by bands of females, shouting and dancing under the
influence of some strange excitement.

I was amused at the appearance of four or five old women, who in a state
of utter nudity, with their arms extended flatly down their side, and
holding themselves perfectly erect, were leaping stiffly into the air,
like so many sticks bobbing to the surface, after being pressed
perpendicularly into the water. They preserved the utmost gravity of
countenance, and continued their extraordinary movements without a single
moment's cessation. They did not appear to attract the observation of the
crowd around them, but I must candidly confess that, for my own part, I
stared at them most pertinaciously.

Desirous of being enlightened in regard to the meaning of this peculiar
diversion, I turned inquiringly to Kory-Kory: that learned Typee
immediately proceeded to explain the whole matter thoroughly. But all that
I could comprehend from what he sa