460 MYSTIC ISLES 



"I feel, I feel, I feel, 



I feel like a morning star !" 



he Struck his thigh, and said, ''Eal That is the very- 

 thing!" And to be fair to all races, one has only to 

 hsten to an American assemblage singing "The Star- 

 spangled Banner" to learn that after the first few lines 

 most patriots decline into "ah-ah-la-la-ha-la-ah-la-la." 



Before our supper of fish and fei, Teta, who was a 

 deacon in the Protestant church, but of superior knowl- 

 edge of his own tongue and legends, asked a blessing 

 of God, and afterward recited for me the Tahitian 

 chant of creation, the source of which was in the very 

 beginnings of his race, perhaps even previous to the mi- 

 gration from Malaysia. He intoned it, solemnly, as 

 might have an ancient prophet in Israel, as we sat in the 

 starlit night, with the profound notes of the reef in uni- 

 son with his deep cadence: 



He abides — Taaroa by name — 



In the immensity of space. 



There was no earth, there was no heaven, 



There was no sea, there was no mankind. 



Taaroa calls on high; 



He changes himself fully. 



Taaroa is the root ; 



The rocks (or foundation) ; 



Taaroa is the sands ; 



Taaroa stretches out the branches (is wide-spreading). 



Taaroa is the light ; 



Taaroa is within; 



Taaroa is, 



Taaroa is below ; 

 Taaroa is enduring; 

 Taaroa is wise; 



