The path
leads along a narrow tract of good country, with dense swamps on both
sides. The village is large, with good houses kept nice and clean; but I
can conceive of no more unhealthy locality--swamp all around. A number
of people were down with fever, some in their houses, others lying
exposed to the sun. I asked them if they had no _vatavata_ (spirits)
knocking around in their district, and did they not much trouble them.
"Oh, trouble us much, very much." I told them I thought so, and the
sooner they removed from that place the better--that they were right in
the centre of sickness and death. They said, "And what is to become of
the place of our forefathers, and the cocoanuts they planted?" "Better
leave them, or in a short time there will be none left to remember their
forefathers, or eat their cocoanuts." Madu was in the country, and we
waited his return. He tried hard to get me to stay over-night, but it
was of no use. He presented me with a pig and feathers, and we concluded
friendship by my giving a return present.
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