*' HUMPBACK ING" AT VAU VAU. 249 



the worshippers did not return to their homes, for in 

 many cases they had journeyed twenty or thirty miles, 

 but lay about in the verdure, refreshing themselves with 

 fruit, principally the delightful green cocoa-nuts, which 

 furnish meat and drink both — cool and refreshing in the 

 extreme, as well as nourishing. 



We were all heartily welcome to whatever was going, 

 but there was a general air of restraint, a fear of 

 breaking the Sabbath, which prevented us from tres- 

 passing too much upon the hospitality of these devout 

 children of the sun. So we contented ourselves with 

 strolling through the beautiful glades and woods, lying 

 down, whenever we felt weary, under the shade of some 

 spreading orange tree loaded with golden fruit, and eat- 

 ing our fill, or rather eating until the smarting of our lips 

 warned us to desist. Here was aland where, apparently, 

 all people were honest, for we saw a great many houses 

 whose owners were absent, not one of which was closed, 

 although many had a goodly store of such things as a 

 native might be supposed to covet. At last, not being able 

 to rid ourselves of the feeling that we were doing some- 

 thing wrong, the solemn silence and Sundayfied air of 

 the whole region seeming to forbid any levity even in 

 the most innocent manner, we returned on board again, 

 wonderfully impressed with what we had seen, but 

 wondering what would have happened if some of the 

 ruffianly crowds composing the crews of many ships 

 had been let loose upon this fair island. 



In the evening we lowered a stage over the bows to 

 the water's edge, and had a swimming-match, the 

 water being perfectly delightful, after the great heat of 

 the day, in its delicious freshness ; and so to bunk, 

 well pleased indeed with our first Sunday in Vau Vau. 



I have no doubt whatever that some of the gentry 



