King Cacobau. 



161 



his mental faculties in full vigour, for he put to us many shrewd 

 questions concerning the work of our ship, and then, after a pause, 

 during which he seemed to be pondering over her name, asked if 

 we could give him some information regarding her previous work 

 of exploration in the Arctic regions. On this subject he seemed 

 to take much interest, and like many other people, did not fail to 

 put the rather puzzling question as to what could be the use of 

 exploring the uninhabited and inhospitable polar regions. During 

 the conference he sat cross-legged on a large mat, crouching over 

 a smoky wood fire. His hair was grey, and his upper teeth seemed 

 to be gone. From time to time messengers came into the hut, 

 who after assuming a respectful posture on the floor, asked for his 

 orders concerning various municipal affairs. To these function- 

 aries his replies were short, sharp, and decisive, and were acted 

 upon with such alacrity that it was fully evident to us that he 

 still retains no small part of his former control over his subjects.* 

 It happened, by chance, that on the day of our arrival at Bau, 

 a feast was to be given by Cacobau to a tribe of natives who had 

 just brought to him a tribute offering, consisting of eighteen large 

 green turtle. As we were landing we saw the feast, which con- 

 sisted of eight good-sized pigs roasted whole, and several huge 

 piles of yams, spread out on a sort of common outside the en- 

 closure of the native town ; but on the king being apprised of 

 our visit, he gave orders that the feast was to be transferred inside 

 the town palisades, and it was accordingly removed and spread 

 out on the grass in front of the small hut wherein he received us. 

 Then, at a signal from him, conveyed in the form of a fierce growl 

 delivered from his seat by the fire, the members of the stranger 

 tribe assembled round the roasted pigs, which were quickly cut 

 up into joints, and then carried by certain representatives of the 

 tribe into various huts, to be there quietly consumed. During all 

 this time the large trough-shaped wooden drums, called " Lalis," 



* The news of Cacobau's death has just reached England (April 1883). "Cacobau" 

 is pronounced '' Thackombow. " 



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