190 
Wild Life in Southern Seas. 
the rear of the houses ; and then arises a horrible 
squealing, and much laughter from the women 
and girls, as a small black porker is dragged 
before the dame to inspect. She gives a nod. 
Thump ! a blow from a heavy club terminates 
the animal’s woes, and the carcase is dragged 
off by our carriers and the women, many more 
of whom are now present, having come in from 
the plantations with vegetables and fruit. 
Then how the native girls cluster round our 
two fair fellow-travellers, and press fruit and 
young coconuts upon them ; already they have 
made a couch of layers of tappa, with a soft roll 
of finely-worked mats for a pillow, and the two 
white ladies recline thereon and look happy, and 
talk away in Samoan to the girls. 
So we smoke and chat till a wild-eyed urchin 
calls out to the women, and announces that the 
meal is ready to be taken from the oven of leaves 
and stones. Away run our hostesses, and in 
five minutes return with roasted pork, fish, taro 
and baked plantains, which are laid out on 
platters made of interwoven coconut leaves. In 
the centre is placed a great pile of green coco¬ 
nuts. The two ladies are served with food on 
their couch ; but the doctor and myself seat 
