MEKE-MEKES. 117 



flapped his arms, when another climbed after him, and they bit 

 and scratched and squalled just as big bats do, and the first 

 comer was turned out. The whole dance lasted about half an 

 hour, and between each figure there was a slight pause. The 

 time was wonderful every swish of their likus was in unison, 

 and they were most clever in adapting themselves to any in- 

 equality in the ground. There was a musical accompaniment 

 of native drums and hollow bamboos, played by about twenty 

 gaily-dressed old gentlemen. 



Next came a ' Club Dance.' The square was surrounded, 

 except on one side, where stood the great church, by plantations 

 of bananas and bread-fruit ; so that one saw nothing of the 

 preparations or formation, arid heard the chant of the dancers 

 before they came in from the different paths. From either side 

 advanced a party, each about eighty strong, marching three 

 abreast, armed with short spears made of bamboo, cut into 

 fantastic shapes at the end, or with the shafts painted or 

 covered with a matting of reeds. As the two parties approached 

 each other very slowly they chanted, and swung their bodies 

 from side to side, thrusting and parrying with their spears, 

 which were held overhead ; every hand and every foot moving 

 exactly together. When about twelve yards from each other, 

 each body wheeled away from us, and we saw advancing 

 between them from some distance another body of men, of 

 about the same strength as both the others, but twelve abreast, 

 and armed with clubs. This meke, in which over three hundred 

 men were dancing, was wild and picturesque, and the men fine, 

 well-made fellows, all chiefs or men of high birth. The dresses 

 in this dance were even more brilliant than in the last. Each 

 man had a liku of strips of pandanus leaf, dyed black, yellow, 

 and red in strips. Their bodies and faces were elaborately 

 painted black and red, and their heads were done up in folds 



