household gods;
but as it was in possession of my host's secluded spouse, I did not
enter.

A couch upon a pile of leaves was hastily arranged, upon which I was
bidden to seat myself, while a freshly cut cocoa-nut of enormous size
was handed to me, the soft top sliced off so that I might drink its
deliciously cool contents. These nuts must grow elsewhere, but I have
never before or since seen any so large. When green--that is, before
the meat has hardened into indigestible matter--they contain from three
pints to two quarts of liquid, at once nourishing, refreshing, and
palatable. The natives appeared to drink nothing else, and I never saw a
drop of fresh water ashore during our stay.

Taking a huge knife from some hiding-place, Irene handed it to her
father, who at once commenced to dig in the ground by his side, while
I looked on wondering and amused. Presently he fished up a bundle of
leaves bound with a vine-tendril, which he laid carefully aside. More
digging brought to light a fine yam about three pounds in weight, which,
after carefully wiping the knife on some leaves, he proceeded to peel.
It was immediately evident that the yam was perfectly cooked, for it
steamed as he removed the skin, revealing the inside as white as milk.
Some large, round leaves were laid in front of me, and the yam placed
upon them. Then mine host turned his attention to the bundle first
unearthed, which concealed a chicken, so perfectly done that, although
the bones drew out of the meat as if it had been jelly, it was full of
juice and flavour; and except for a slight foreign twang, referrible,
doubtless, to the leaves in which it had been enwrapped, I do not think
it could have been possible to cook anything in a better way, or one
more calculated to retain all the natural juices of the meat. The fowl
was laid beside the yam, another nut broached; then, handing me the big
knife, my "flem" bade me welcome, informing me that I saw my dinner.
As nothing would induce him to join me, the idea being contrary to
his notions of respect due to a guest, I was fain to fall to, and an
excellent meal I made. For dessert, a basketful of such oranges freshly
plucked as cannot be tasted under any other conditions, and crimson
bananas, which upon being peeled, looked like curved truncheons of
golden jelly, after tasting which I refused to touch anything else.

A corn-cob cigarette closed the banquet, After expressing my thanks,
I noticed that the pai