314 LAGEDIAK’S PROPOSAL. 
not one was empty-handed: they had brought 
their finest fruit, and little specimens of their 
handiwork; and each, with unaffected cordiality, 
lavished the contents of his cornucopia on a 
chosen friend. ‘The setting sun gave the signal 
for separation, and it was obeyed amidst mutual — 
promises of meeting again on the morrow. 
Lagediak, after finishing his measurements, 
did not again move from my side. His desire of 
knowledge was boundless; nor could: the ex- 
planations I was obliged to give upon the most 
insignificant articles satisfy his curiosity. On 
learning that we could stay only a few days at 
Otdia, he again became very sorrowful, and most 
earnestly pressed me to spend the remainder of 
my life here. He left nothing untried to pro- 
cure my acquiescence in this wish: love, ambi- 
tion, glory, were successively held out as lures: 
I should have the most beautiful woman of the 
islands for my wife,—should kill the tyrant and 
usurper Lamari, as he had killed his predeces- 
sor, and should reign in his stead Tamon of 
Radack. As I let him talk on without inter- 
ruption, he supposed I should accede to his 
plans. In his joy over this offspring of his own 
