[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]

122 WITH NATIVES IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC

Thus two lazy days passed, during which our host
was constantly working for me, sending his foreman, '
the “moli,” to all the neighbouring villages, with
such good results that at last I was able to engage
four boys for two months. I took them on board
at once, well pleased to have the means, at last, of
moving about independently.

We sailed in the evening, and when, next morning,
we rounded Cape Quiros, we found a heavy sea, so
that the big ship pitched and ploughed with dull
hissing through the foaming waves. She lay aslant
under the pressure of the wind that whistled in the
rigging, and the full curve of the great sails was a
fine sight; but it was evident that the sails and ropes
were in a very rotten condition, and soon, with
anxious looks, we followed the growth of a tear in
the mainsail, wondering whether the mast would
stand the strain. A heavy sea broke the rudder,
and altogether it was high time to land when we
entered Port Olry in the late afternoon.

A few days later I started for Hog Harbour, for
the plantation of the Messrs. Th., near which I meant
to attend a great feast, or “ sing-sing.” This meant a
march of several hours through the bush. My boys
had all put on their best finery,—trousers, shirts, gay
handkerchiefs,—and had painted their hair with fresh
lime.

“Well, boys, are you ready?” “Yes, Masta,”
they answer, with conviction, though they are far '
from ready, as they are still tying their bundles.
After waiting a while, I say, “Well, me, me go.”