MYSTIC ISLES 519 



student and the painter, were foremost in the prepara- 

 tions of the amuraa ma, and many houses suppHed the 

 extensive, soft mats which were put on the sward for 

 the table, while the ladies laid the cloth of banana leaves 

 down their center, and adorned it with flowers. 



Ori-a-Ori sat at the head and I beside him. His ven- 

 erable countenance bore a smile of delight in being in 

 such jovial company, and he answered the quips and 

 drank the toasts as if a youth. I was leaving early in 

 the afternoon, and the banquet was begun before mid- 

 day. We had hardly reached the dessert when the ac- 

 cordions burst into the allegro airs of the adapted songs 

 of America and Europe. Between them speeches of 

 friendship were addressed to me by the chief and others, 

 and I sorrowfully replied. Choti gave the key-note to 

 our mutual regrets at my leaving by quoting the letter 

 in Tahitian written by Ori-a-Ori to Rui at Honolulu 

 long ago: 



I make you to know my great affection. At the hour when 

 you left us, I was filled with tears; my wife, Rui Telime, also, 

 and all of my household. When you embarked I felt a great sor- 

 row. It is for this that I went up on the road, and j^ou looked 

 from that ship, and I looked at you on the ship with great 

 grief until you had raised the anchor and hoisted the sails. 

 When the ship started I ran along the beach to see you still; 

 and when you were on the open sea I cried out to you, "Farewell, 

 Louis" ; and when I was coming back to my house I seemed to 

 hear your voice crying, "Rui, farewell." Afterwards I watched 

 the ship as long as I could until the night fell ; and when it was 

 dark I said to myself, "If I had wings I should fly to the ship 

 to meet you, and to sleep amongst you, so that I might be able 

 to come back to shore and to tell to Rui TeUme, "I have slept 

 upon the ship of Teriitera." After that we passed that night 

 in the impatience of grief. Towards eight o'clock I seemed to 



