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

SANTO—PIGS 1 7 5

wife was next to the table, also dancing. Palo was
entirely covered with ferns, which were stuck in his
hair, his bracelets and his belt. He still looked quite
venerable, but with a suggestion of a faun, a Bacchus
or a Neptune. It was a warm day, and the dancing
made everybody perspire more than freely.

Now one of the other men took hold of a little
pig by the hind-legs and threw it in a lofty curve
to one of the dancing chiefs, who caught the little
animal, half stunned by the fall, and, still dancing,
carried it to Palo, Who killed it by three blows on the
head, whereupon it was laid at his feet. This went
on for a long time. It was a cruel sight. Squealing
and shrieking, the poor animals flew through the air,
fell heavily on the hard earth, and lay stunned or
tried to crawl away with broken backs or legs. Some
were unhurt, and ran off, but a bloodthirsty crowd
was after them with clubs and axes, and soon brought
them back. Still, one man thought this troublesome,
and broke the hind-legs of each pig before throwing
it to the chief, so that it might not escape. It was
horrible to see and hear the bones break, but the lust
for blood was upon the crowd, and on all sides there
were passionate eyes, distorted faces and Wild yells.
Happily the work was soon done, and in front of
Palo lay a heap of half-dead, quivering animals. He
and his wife now turned their backs to the assembly,
while a few high-castes counted the corpses. For
each ten one lobe was torn off a sicca-leaf, then the
mis’sing lobes were counted, and after a puzzling
calculation, the result was announced. Palo turned