14 
BOW DITCH ISLAND. 
to repeat, in a tremulous and agitated tone, “ Nopo kilalo, mataku au” 
(sit down, I am afraid). A continued desire was manifested that our 
people should depart, and take the presents they had offered. 
Every endeavour was made to quiet their fears, and to convince 
them that our people did not come from the sun; but nearly an hour 
elapsed before they were tranquillized. After this, they became more 
familiar; but their manners continued to evince the same mixture of 
timidity and friendliness that had been observed at Oatafu. They were 
induced to trade after they were quieted, when fish-hooks and knives 
were in great request, for which mats, fishing implements, model canoes 
two or three feet long, wooden boxes with covers, cut out of the solid 
wood, and cocoa-nuts, were given. 
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 followed 
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 reluc¬ 
tance. 
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 
