MALOLO, 299 
some hampers of them. As I entered, I found one of his young 
wives helping him to food, his hands being tabooed since the death 
of his son. 
Requiring some yams for the vessels, I asked him to have a 
quantity brought. He was all willingness at first, and with those 
about him appeared very anxious to procure a quantity for me; but I 
understood this manceuvre, and well knew from other indications that 
none would be brought. Messenger after messenger in a short time 
began to arrive, stating one excuse and another, and many more mes- 
sengers returned than went forth. 
The king’s orator had, on my first landing, importuned me to ex- 
change some yams for bottles, to which I finally agreed, in order to 
get rid of him, and sent my cockswain off to the tender for them. 
About the time the messengers were coming in, the cockswain re- 
turned. The orator, it appeared, had now changed his mind, and had 
no yams to barter, I now began to talk of our “fiery spirits” to 
the chief, through the interpreter, telling them all the mischief they 
could do, how they could burn the roofs off the yam-houses, so that one 
could see whether the Feejee men told lies, and how they could be 
made to follow a man who did not keep his engagements. To all this 
they listened with great attention, and I wound up by telling them 
that I wished to purchase three hundred yams, and that if they were 
not in a heap before the chief’s house before ava could be drunk, 
I would be obliged to send a spirit to look in, for I was well aware 
they had plenty of yams, and large ones too. As respected the 
orator, I said that if he did not at once perform the engagement 
which he had so importuned me to make with him, I would send a 
spirit to chase him. It was truly amusing to see this fellow’s con- 
sternation ; he flew about from house to house, begging for yams, (for 
I do not believe he owned one,) until he got his ten; and these were 
very fine ones. 
In a short time the whole koro was in a stir, and natives of all sizes 
and sexes were bringing yams to the heap. The largest in size were 
carefully placed outside of the heap, and one of these measured four 
feet six inches long, and seven inches in diameter. When the heap 
was finished, it was presented to me in due form, with a native drum 
(lale), which I had desired to have. For all this I sent the chief a 
musket, the usual price of one thousand yams, and a whale’s tooth in 
token of friendship. 
After the drum had been presented to me, I was desirous of hearing 
them beat upon it. They have several beats or calls to give notice to 
the koro, one of which was for the calling of the people together to 
