420 MYSTIC ISLES 



everything except, of course, gifts of fruit and fish. 

 Every night there would be a big time, dancing and 

 drinking. Jiminy! But times were different then. 

 Look at me! I 've lived freely all my life, and I am 

 over forty years here, but you would n't know I was past 

 seventy. It 's the climate and not worrying or being 

 worried about clothes or sin." 



The bride had long since left the table, removed her 

 shoes, and put on a Mother Hubbard gown. She and 

 her mother I saw having a bite together in private com- 

 fort. 



There v^^ere many speeches by Tahitians, most of them 

 long, and some referring to the happy couple and their 

 progeny in the quaint way of the medieval French in 

 the chamber scenes after marriage, as related in story 

 and drama. . The pastors depressed their mouths, the 

 deacons filled theirs with food to stifle their laughter, 

 and the groom was the subject of flattering raillery. 

 The women did not sit down, because mostly occupied in 

 the service; but the hetairce, Miri, Caroline, and Maraa, 

 entertained the bachelors without criticism or competi- 

 tion. The Tahitian women had no jealousy of these 

 wantons, or, at least, no condemnation of them. They 

 have always had the place in Polynesia that certain an- 

 cient nations gave them, half admired and half tolerated. 

 They had official note once a year when the most skilful 

 of them received the government cachet for excellence 

 in dances before the governor and his cabinet celebrat- 

 ing the fall of the Bastile. They became quite as well 

 known in their country by their performance on those 

 festal days as our greatest dancers or actresses. 



When the mats became deserted, and the pastors had 



