BO WDITCH ISLAND. 15 



When the king had been presented with a variety of articles, he 

 gave in return a mat and maro, after which he made a move towards 

 his town, a few hundred yards distant, whither the whole party fol- 

 lowed him. It was with difficulty that he could walk, in doing which 

 he required the aid of an assistant. He at first objected to their accom- 

 panying him, saying it was "e sa" (sacred). The whole islet was 

 covered with a grove of cocoa-nut trees, under whose shade about 

 sixty houses were scattered, only a few yards from each other, 

 and resembling those described at Oatafu, though better built and 

 larger. 



The most remarkable building was that which they said was their 

 " tui-tokelau" (house of their god). This stood in the centre, and 

 was of an oblong shape, fifty by thirty-five feet, and about twenty feet 

 in height. The roof was supported in the centre by three posts, two 

 feet in diameter, while under the place on which the rafters rested, 

 were many short and small posts : all were very roughly hewn, and 

 placed only a few feet asunder. The roof was concave, and extended 

 beyond the posts at the eaves ; the thatching was tied together, 

 which, hanging down, resembled, at a distance, the curtain of a tent 

 or marquee. All the sides were open, excepting a small railing, about 

 fifteen inches high, around the foundation, which allowed the free 

 passage of the air through. It was one of the most beautiful and 

 pleasant spots, and is well represented in the opposite plate, from a 

 drawing by Mr. Agate. They were at first unwilling that the officers 

 should enter ; but upon the explanation, that what was taboo for them, 

 would not be so for the Papalangis, they were admitted by an old 

 priest, but not without reluctance. 



The edifice contained but little furniture. Around the eaves a 

 row of mother-of-pearl shells was suspended, giving the appearance 

 of a scolloped curtain. The whole was covered with mats. In the 

 centre, around the largest pillar, a great number of enormous benches, 

 or tables, were piled, which were carved out of the solid wood, and 

 being of rude workmanship, were clumsy and ill-shaped. In all pro- 

 bability these were the reclining stools before spoken of. The natives 

 termed them "the seats of their god." Their gods, or idols, — tui- 

 tokelau, — were placed on the outside, near by. The largest of these 

 was fourteen feet high and eighteen inches in diameter. This was 

 covered or enveloped in mats, and over all a narrow one was passed, 

 shawl-fashion, and tied in a knot in front, with the ends hanging 

 down. The smaller idol was of stone, and four feet high, but only 



