ity crossed
to the main, and stayed away for some time, returning with food, to spend
a few days at home on the island. During their absence, the women sail
about and trade, going as far as Dedele in Cloudy Bay, being one and the
same people. Canoes from the westward might have called at Toulon when
the men were on the mainland fighting and planting, and seeing only
women, would soon report a woman's land. Many years ago an Elema canoe
was carried away there. They were kindly treated by the Amazons, but at
Dedele on returning, were attacked and several killed; they naturally
reported a woman's land too.

The following week we visited Dedele in Cloudy Bay, which had been
visited two years previously by Messrs. Lawes and McFarlane. The village
was barricaded with high and thick mangrove sticks, with a narrow opening
to the sea. They objected to my landing, and formed a crescent in front
of the boat. I sprung ashore and asked for the chief. I held out a
piece of hoop-iron, and a rather short, well-built man, dressed with
boar's tusks and other ornaments, stepped forward and took my present. He
took me by the hand, and led me to the village, just allowing me to peep
in at the opening. I could see the women rushing out by an opening at
the other side; pigs, dogs, nets, and other valuables were being carried
off; they were rushing off wildly away into the bush. I was very anxious
to get right in, and meant to before I went to the boat. My beads were
all done up in small parcels, so I could throw them about easily. A poor
old woman was sitting under the nearest house, bewailing her sad lot,
with an infant, the mother of which had very likely gone off to the bush
to hide the valuables and to return for the child, or perhaps she was
upstairs packing up. I threw the poor old dame a packet of beads for
herself and another for the child. Spying another old lady close by on
the opposite side, I threw her one. It had the desired effect; my
friend, the chief, who stood guard at the opening, now conceived the
"happy thought" that something could be made out of me.

"Would you like to walk round and look at the village?"

"Yes, I should."

"Come, then;" and, giving me his hand, he led me, attended by an armed
crowd, to every house, on the verandahs of which I deposited a packet of
beads. He was the chief, and was named Gidage. When going round he
said--

"You are no longer Tamate, you are Gidage."

"Right, my fr