198 A MISSION TO VITI. 
along. ‘It will never do to be at once discovered,’ he 
said to himself; ‘I must disguise myself. But what 
shape shall I assume? That of a hog oradog? Asa 
hog, I should not be allowed to come near the door; 
and, as a dog, I should have to fetch the bones thrown 
outside. Neither will answer my purpose. I shall 
therefore assume the shape of a woman.’ Continuing 
his walk along the beach, he met an old woman, carrying 
a basket of taro and puddings, ready cooked, and, with- 
out letting her be at all aware of it, he exchanged figures 
with her. He then inquired whither she was going, 
and, being informed to the house of the God of Rewa, 
he took the basket from her, and, leaving club and spear 
on the beach, proceeded to his destination. His disguise 
was so complete, that even his own daughter did not re- 
cognise him. ‘ Who is that?’ she asked, as he was about 
to enter. ‘It is I, replied Rokoua, in a feigned voice ; 
‘T have come from Monisa with food.’ ‘Come in, old 
lady,’ said Naiogabui, ‘and sit down.’ Rokoua accord- 
ingly entered, and took care to sit like a Fijian woman 
would do, so that his disguise might not be discovered. 
‘Are you going back to-night? he was asked. ‘No, 
the disguised god replied ; ‘ there is no occasion for that.’ 
Finding it very close in the house, Rokoua proposed a 
walk and a bath, to which both Naiogabui and Naimila- 
mila agreed. When getting the women to that spot of 
the beach where club and spear had been left, he threw 
off his disguise, and exclaimed, ‘You little knew who I 
was; I am Rokoua, your lord and master, and, at the 
same time taking hold of their hands, he dragged the 
runaways to the canoe, and departed homewards. 
