At last, a smoke,
beginning with a scream of _kuku_. Now, surely sleep; but no, he changed
to a low monotonous chant, so grating on the sleepy man's nervous system
that it would have driven many desperate. At last, in the morning hours,
the notes became indistinct, long pauses were observed, and, finally, I
fell asleep.
The women carry exceedingly heavy loads up these steep hills. Yesterday
one woman had two large kits of taro, and a child of about two years on
the top of all. Ruatoka shot eight blue pigeons and one bird of paradise
to-day: the latter must be eaten with the best of all sauces--hunger. The
natives pick up heads, legs, and entrails, turn them on the fire and eat
them.
20_th_.--Yesterday evening, about six, the carriers came in with great
shouting, and glad was I to see my lad and companion Maka then. Great
was the joy at the division of salt and tobacco. Before we came here the
women and children slept in the bush at night, the men in the village.
They are at enmity with the natives on the flat across the ravine, and it
seems that sometimes they get a night visit, and may lose a man.
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