31_st_.--Great crowds of people keep going and coming. We spent a
miserable night. Our old chief, Oriope, had a conclave round the fire,
and it took him all night to recount the doings of the _Naos_
(foreigners), not forgetting the toilet. At times he waxed eloquent, and
the whole gully rung again. It was useless telling him to be quiet. All
men and lads have the nose and ears pierced. A number of women and
children are about. Some of the women are fine, tall, muscular, and
clear-skinned, as light-coloured as Eastern Polynesians. The children
are lithe, blithe, and hearty--some very dark and some very light. The
women have brought large quantities of taro for salt. Oriope is very
sleepy, and I have every now and again to wake him up, so that to-night
he may sleep soundly, and not prevent our sleeping.
My name here is Oieva--that of the fine-looking old father of the
village. At present I am all alone the others being out after birds. The
natives are very friendly. They relish salt and ginger, which I have
tried with them, and which they pronounce good.
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