capacious muzzle directed point-blank at the chief's house.
The men were fully armed, as usual; and the captain ordered me to go
with them, to assist in the work. I was much pleased with this order,
for it freed me from the captain's company, which I could not now
endure, and it gave me an opportunity of seeing the natives.

As we wound along in single file through the rich, fragrant groves of
banana, cocoa-nut, bread-fruit, and other trees, I observed that there
were many of the plum and banyan trees, with which I had become familiar
on the Coral Island. I noticed, also, large quantities of taro--roots,
yams, and sweet potatoes growing in enclosures. On turning into an open
glade of the woods, we came abruptly upon a cluster of native houses.
They were built chiefly of bamboos, and were thatched with the large,
thick leaves of the pandanus; but many of them had little more than a
sloping roof and three sides with an open front, being the most simple
shelter from the weather that could well be imagined. Within these and
around them were groups of natives--men, women, and children--who all
stood up to gaze at us as we marched along, followed by the party of men
whom the chief had sent to escort us. About half-a-mile inland we
arrived at the spot where the sandal-wood grew, and while the men set to
work I clambered up an adjoining hill to observe the country.

About midday the chief arrived with several followers, one of whom
carried a baked pig on a wooden platter, with yams and potatoes on
several plantain leaves, which he presented to the men, who sat down
under the shade of a tree to dine. The chief sat down to dine also;
but, to my surprise, instead of feeding himself, one of his wives
performed that office for him! I was seated beside Bill, and asked him
the reason of this.

"It is beneath his dignity, I believe, to feed himself," answered Bill;
"but I dare say he's not particular, except on great occasions. They've
a strange custom among them, Ralph, which is called _tabu_, and they
carry it to great lengths. If a man chooses a particular tree for his
god, the fruit o' that tree is tabued to him; and if he eats it, he is
sure to be killed by his people--and eaten, of course, for killing means
eating hereaway. Then, you see that great mop o' hair on the chief's
head? Well, he has a lot o' barbers to keep it in order; and it's a law
that whoever touches the head of a living chief or the body of a dead
on