Niue. 
287 
you are lamakai —shockingly mean. In Samoa, 
at night time, fires are lit and mirth and 
merriment prevail, and the sound of singing 
and dancing may be heard in every village after 
evening service. In Niue there is none of this ; 
there is no dancing—that is strictly forbidden, 
save a decorous, semi-religious performance 
that takes place when a new church is opened, 
or on the occasion of some religious function ; 
and as for singing, nothing but hymns are 
tolerated, hymns shouted at the very greatest 
tension of naturally harsh and guttural voices 
in a tongue that is a curious combination of 
Maori and Hawaiian. As soon as darkness 
falls upon the islands the natives retire to their 
dwellings. No one, unless it is some enterpris¬ 
ing fowl or pig stealer, or a stealthy lover 
hurrying to his trysting-place, will brave the 
darkness. Now and then you may hear the 
crunching of the broken coral pebbles in the 
roadway, and the tread of footsteps of the leo 
leo , or policemen on their beat to arrest any 
one who is abroad without good reason. 
At daylight the people are up and about. 
Those who own plantations of yams, taro, 
