"
Soon all were friends, chewing betel-nut and smoking tobacco. On each
canoe with paddles were over thirty men, and on the bridge adjoining the
canoes were armed men and a large supply of sago and betel-nuts. They
were going to Lese to purchase _uros_. They came alongside of our boat,
received and gave presents, and then an order was given by one from the
bridge, and away they went at full speed. It was a pretty sight in the
moonlight to see the canoe move swiftly on, when nearly eight paddles as
one touched the water. We rolled ourselves up again for another hour or
two's sleep.
At sis a.m. we weighed anchor, and were off to Motumotu. There was a
great crowd on the beach; but it was all right, as boys and girls were to
be seen there, as noisy as the grown-up folks. A chief rushed into the
water, and called on us to come. "Come, with peace from afar; come,
friends, and you will meet us as friends." We went round and entered the
river in deep water, close to eastern bank near to the village.
Pages:
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204