ul she still seemed to
consider herself in my debt for the mirror and some other trifles I had
given her. I now knew that I had come to the Island of Gems of which
Hartog had spoken. But, alas! of what use was all this wealth, since I
could not spend it in this place, and it seemed improbable I would ever
go back to my own country?

Melannie now returned to her dwelling, which I subsequently found she
seldom left, except at night, which accounted for the fairness of her
skin. All festivals were held at night, by moonlight, and what struck
me as peculiar was the absence of fire. Fish and shellfish were eaten
raw, but many subsisted entirely upon coconuts and fruit, which grew
upon the island in great profusion.

The native city in which I now found myself consisted of a number of
dwellings of beehive shape, thatched with grass, and usually about
twelve feet high. The queen's house was about three times as large as
the others, and was placed in the centre of the town, with an avenue of
trees, and a clear space before it for tribal dances or meetings.
Ackbau also lived in a large house. On the reserve around the queen's
palace, the older men spent most of the day in gossiping, or playing
upon reed pipes, which furnished their sole musical instrument. The
younger men made nets, mended weapons, or shaped stones for their
slings. The natives in this island did not appear to understand the
use of the bow and arrow, their only weapons being clubs, slings, and
spears. The spears were made of hard wood, polished and inlaid with
pearl shell and beaten gold. The slings were of plaited fibre, the
stones being rounded like an egg. The clubs were of various shapes,
some with rounded heads, and others bent and pointed like a pick.

CHAPTER XVIII

A QUEEN'S FAVOURITE

Three days after my coming to the Island of Gems I discovered, to my
embarrassment, that Queen Melannie regarded me with more than royal
favour. It had been her custom to seclude herself from her people
except upon occasions, but now she preferred to walk with me daily upon
the cliffs, or among the rich foliage, which made a natural garden in
the valleys. None molested us, for those to whom the queen showed
favour were taboo to the rest of the tribe, so that as long as I
retained her goodwill I was safe. But who would be dependent upon a
woman's whim?

"You do not love me, Peter," she said, for I had told her my name, "not
as I love you. Your blood is cold.