ALONE WITH CANNIBALS 
ference; they did not meet, however, but simply 
contented themselves with calling from ridge to ridge. 
Gradually the idea of the vendetta wore out of their 
minds, and at last it was proposed that the murderer, 
instead of paying a life for a life, should simply pay a 
pig for the murdered man. 
Accordingly two messengers brought in the com- 
pensation, slung on a pole. ‘The pig was solemnly 
slain and eaten, and the incident was closed. 
The next extract from my son’s diary is more 
important, for if his journey close to the Kebea was 
risky, it was not nearly so sensational as one he had 
afterwards to make back to Ekeikei in order to relieve 
our higher camp from the pinch of hunger. His own 
account, however, scarcely gives a hint of the peril he 
was In. 
“ July 30th.—All the boys engaged to go to Ekeikei 
for the sago have run away, as they say that the 
natives at the village of Madui are hostile. Sam has 
gone out carrier hunting and obtained only two. 
“July 31st.—I left this morning (as we are out 
of trade and provisions) at 6 o'clock for Ekeikei, 
arriving there at 4.30, but it was 2 a.m. before I 
could rest: 
“* Sat., Aug. 1st.—Left Ekeikei early about 7 A.m., 
and reached Madui about 4 o'clock. Had a bad night ; 
it was very long, and I had no sleep at all. The mist 
very thick over the Madui hills. A good night for 
moths had it not been so light.” 
‘““ Aug. 2nd.—Reached the Kebea at 3 P.M. 
‘Aug. 3rd.—Very busy making sago boxes. 
227 
