"Give us your present, and we will give it to him, but you must not
land."
"I am Tamate, from Suau, and have come as a friend to visit your old
chief, and I must land."
An elderly woman came close up to the boat, saying, "You must not land,
but I will take the present, or," pointing to a young man close by, "he
will take it for his father," he being the chief's son.
"No; I must see the chief for myself; but the son I should also like to
know, and will give him a present too."
Springing ashore, followed by the mate, a fine, daring fellow, much
accustomed to roughing it on the diggings, and not the least afraid of
natives, I walked up the long beach to the village, to the chief's house.
The old man was seated on the platform in front of the house, and did not
even deign to rise to receive us. I told him who I was, and the object
of my coming. He heard me through, and treated the whole as stale news.
I placed my present on the platform in front of him, and waited for some
word of satisfaction; but none escaped the stern old chieftain.
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