580 
JACKSONS STORY. 
afterwards beat up another with the scrapings of some red 
root, which they wrapped np in a leaf and placed on the fire, 
and when cooked gave to him ; he fancied it was poison, and 
privately conveyed it into his bosom, pretending he had eaten 
it ; he gave his cap to one of the Chiefs, who had before asked 
for it, and several other things also, which they fancied ; they 
then ate a cocoa-nut, and gave him the shell, filled with 
urine ; afterwards, about twenty natives came, each bring- 
ing a load of wood, all cut of equal length, which they piled 
up like a chimney, and made a sign for him to sit on a stone 
flag in front of the fire, and then applied a light to the pile, 
which flamed up almost instantaneously and most beautifully, 
blazing out on all sides ; his seat became very hot, but he 
maintained his post on the stone until the whole was con- 
sumed ; then about fifty girls came and were ranged around 
him, and signs were made for him to select one of them, this 
he also declined doing. 
A Chief, having three tail feathers of the cock stuck in his 
hair, came and turned his back to Jackson, this act termi- 
nated their curious ceremonies ; suddenly all disappeared, 
and the Chief beckoned him to enter his house ; on one 
side there was a neat bed, made of soft mats ; the Chief laid 
himself upon it, and pointed to the damp sand, intimating 
that was to be his resting-place. Two natives came in, one 
laid on either side of him, placing his spear by Jackson's 
side, two others laid down with their heads touching his, and 
two more by his feet, whilst another two threw themselves 
down near the door. 
When the cock crew, they arose one by one, and went 
out. He felt extremely hungry, and determined to obtain, 
if possible, some of the cocoa-nuts from the trees which grew 
in the Chief's court-yard, he therefore gently got up, went 
out, and succeeded in climbing one of the trees, from which 
he took a nut; he had just managed to scratch a hole in it 
with his fingers, when he was perceived, and dragged back 
again. In the morning he was escorted back to the coast, 
and then there was a fight about him, some appearing to 
wish him to be given up, others opposing ; several lives were 
lost, but a boat came off, and he was rescued. 
