For some days we continued to dine by stealth. Fish were
plentiful, and we also found the bivalves I had noticed on my first
landing round the fresh water pools very palatable.
At length our daily absence from the village, always at the same hour,
excited suspicion, and spies were set upon us, who reported we were
making another smoke mountain, which led to a surprise visit from
Ackbau, who came upon us one day when our meal was preparing. I had
made some rude vessels of clay, hardened by fire, in which to boil the
shell-fish, and with these simmering in the pot, and a fine rock cod
grilling upon the hot coals, we were awaiting our dinner with
pleasurable anticipation, when Ackbau appeared.
He was too astonished at what he saw to find fault, and when, later, he
had eaten of grilled cod and boiled clams, seasoned with salt and
cut-up bananas, a recipe which Melannie, with her woman's instinct, had
invented for the preparation of this delicacy, he was so pleased with
his food that he forgot to be ill-tempered.
After this surprise visit from Ackbau our privacy was at an end. Next
day the whole council came to dinner. They brought with them a quantity
of fish and clams, which they wanted cooked, and it became necessary to
make fresh fires, and to instruct them in the art of cooking.
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