FRIENDLY ISLANDS. 307 



Mission-house to receive the presents, and as each was laid down 

 the missionary said " faka fatai " (thank yon), on which the 

 natives often repeated "faka fatai Jesu" (thank the Lord), and 

 then came forward to shake hands, in which I joined till I was 

 fairly tired, so many hands were offered. I generally spent 

 more or less of every favourable tide on the coral reefs, the 

 general features of which I have already described. One day 

 the mission families, including children and servants, accom- 

 panied me on an excursion to the summit of a high hill distant 

 about three miles from the house, and on our return from ascend- 

 ing it we had a native pic-nic, my first experience of Tongan 

 cookery. A message had been sent forward to a village near 

 the hill, and the natives came out to meet us. They were told 

 we should stop to rest on our return, and we then pursued a 

 shaded pathway through a thick forest, gradually rising as it 

 wound around the hills till we reached the top of the highest. 

 The day was lovely and the view charming. On coming down 

 to the village we seated ourselves under a tree to await the 

 serving of the dinner. It soon made its appearance, and con- 

 sisted of two pigs baked whole, and brought in baskets, being- 

 wrapped up in plantain leaves ; we had also baked yams and 

 taro root (Ccdadium esculentum), a kind of large arum plant, 

 besides a native soup made from cocoa-nut, in the same manner 

 as almond milk is prepared. Cocoa-nuts, both hot and cold, 

 served for drink ; the hot being taken during dinner, and the 

 cold as a dessert. The whole repast was set before Mr. Daniel 

 as the principal guest, and he sent portions to all in turn. My 

 share was about a quarter of the smaller pig and a huge yam ; 

 like Benjamin's portion, five times as much as I could dispose 

 of. The hot cocoa-nut milk was drunk out of little cups neatly 

 made on the spot, by folding a young banana leaf, and leaves of 

 the same useful plant served us for plates and dishes ; while the 

 ribs of the leaves acted as soap and water, brush and towel, all 

 combined in one. Water however was poured on our hands 

 after the repast to supply the want of finger-glasses. All the 

 food was very cleanly cooked and very good, and we did it full 

 justice with plenty of help from the natives, so that when we rose 

 from table the two pigs and most of the yams had disappeared. 

 'We came home in the cool of the evening and enjoyed a cup of 

 hot tea, the most cooling drink that I know of for a warm climate. 



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