OF THE SOUTH SEAS 149 



but now the dirty gasolene boat brings them. I must 

 be off to the west'ard, to Aitutaki or Penrhyn." 



Poor Mac ! he never made his westward until he went 

 west in soldier parlance. 



McHenry, on our way back to Faatoai, said: 



"McTavish is a bloody fool. He gives credit to the 

 bleedin' beach-combers. If I meet that dirty Hobson, 

 I '11 beat him to a pulp." 



From under the thatched roof of our bower came the 

 sounds of: 



Faararirari 



to oe Tamarii Tahiti 

 La Li. 



The himene was in its hundredth encore. The other 

 barrel of bottled beer had been secure^ locked against 

 the needs of the morrow, and the bandsmen's inspiration 

 was only claret or sauterne, well watered. 



We sat down for dinner. The dejeuner was re- 

 peated, and eggs added for variety. We had risen from 

 breakfast four hours before, yet there was no lack of 

 appetite. The drink appeared only to make their gastric 

 juices flow freely. I hid my surfeit. The harmonies 

 had by now drawn the girls and young women from 

 other districts, word having been carried by natives pass- 

 ing in carts that a parcel of ^^apaa (non-Tahitians) were 

 faarearea (making merry) . 



These new-comers had adorned themselves for the 

 taupiti, the public fete, as they considered it, and as they 

 came along the road had plucked ferns and flowers for 

 wreaths. Without such sweet treasures upon them they 



