96 INTERVIEW WITH 



supported by rudely-carved pillars. The other 

 formed the women's apartment, and through the 

 doorway half-a-dozen faces were visible. These 

 we understood were Obie's favourite wives. On 

 one side of the court, under the roof, stood Obie's 

 throne, covered by a grass mat of most elegant 

 manufacture ; and under the opposite verandah 

 was an upright loom, with an unfinished web of 

 grass cloth. 



After waiting about ten minutes, a side door 

 opened, and in rushed Obie, a tall man with a 

 pleasing countenance, dressed in scarlet cloth. 

 He wore a cap made of pipe coral on his head, 

 much the same shape as the fool's cap of our 

 schools ; and thirty or forty chains of very large 

 pieces of coral were passed round his neck and 

 loins. He had on also a great number of arm- 

 lets and leglets of the same article ; indeed, I 

 should say he had nearly one hundred pounds' 

 value of coral on him. Poor Jordan was the 

 first he saw, and rushing upon him, at once he 

 gave him a most fraternal hug ; then shaking 

 hands with Lander and myself, he took his seat 

 on the throne, placing us on each side of him. 



The interview lasted about a quarter of an 



