hung in wavy curls down
their smooth brown backs. * Since the advent of the missionaries this
costume has been suppressed.

Nearly all the young unmarried girls wore narrow head circlets of white
pandanus leaf, profusely adorned and embroidered with red and yellow
beads, flat pieces of polished pearl shell, and edged with green and
gold and scarlet parrots' feathers. Their address and modest demeanour
was engaging in the extreme, and we noticed that they showed the utmost
deference and respect to an aged female who sat on a mat in the centre
of the room, surrounded by a number of young children. She was, we
learnt, the king's mother, and at her request the trader led us over to
where she sat, and gave us a formal introduction. She received us in a
pleasant but dignified manner, and the moment that she opened her lips
to speak the clatter of tongues around us ceased as if by magic, and the
most respectful silence prevailed.

As neither the captain nor myself were able to speak the local
dialect--which is similar to that of Ponape--we were somewhat at a loss
to answer the questions she put to us, and etiquette forbade the trader
to volunteer his services as an interpreter, till the old dame asked
him. Presently, however, she desired him to tell us that she was very
pleased to see us; that the fish drive would, she hoped, interest us
greatly. Then, at a sign from her, a handsome young man who stood in the
doorway came forward and laid down a bundle of mats at our feet; this
was the old lady's formal present to the captain and myself. She then
rose, and bidding us to come and see her in her son's house before we
sailed, she walked over to the end of the room, attended by her retinue
of children, and sat down again on a finely-worked mat, which was spread
out before her. Then she made another and longer speech on behalf of her
son, who, she said, had desired her to say that he was very pleased
we had brought the ship to an anchor; that his stomach was filled with
friendship for white men; and that the trader would tell us that all
that he (the king) said was true; also that if any of her people stole
even the most trifling article from our ship they would be severely
punished, etc. Furthermore, she trusted that after we had spent one
night at the white man's house and seen the fish drive, we would spend
the following morning with her, when we should be feasted, and every
honour and attention shown us. Then the young man at