We got an old foretopsail from the captain, which we rigged up as a tent,
in which the teachers slept, we occupying their quarters. We enjoyed a
good night's rest. In early morning the house was surrounded with
natives, many of whom were armed. They must wonder at our staying here:
they consider our goods to consist entirely of hoop-iron, axes, knives,
and arrowroot. About eleven a.m. the war canoes were launched on the
opposite side of the water. The excitement here was then great. I met a
lad running with painted skulls to the war canoe of the village. Soon it
was decorated with skulls, shells, cocoanuts, and streamers, and
launched. Those on the opposite side came out into the deep bay; ours
remained stationary till the afternoon, when about thirty men got into
her, and away towards Farm Bay to trade their hoop-iron for sago.
On Sunday, we met for our usual public services under a large tree, and a
number of natives attended, who of course could not make out what was
said, as they were conducted in Rarotongan.
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