tendant produced
another present--from the king. This was a live sucking pig, a pair of
fat Muscovy ducks, and a huge green turtle. This latter was carried in
by four women, and placed in the centre of the room. We then, through
the trader, made return gifts of a bolt of white calico, a lamp and a
tin of kerosene. Touching these with her hand the old woman signed to
her attendants to take them away, and then, with another polite speech,
left the house.

The moment the king's mother retired, many more of the common people
swarmed into the house, and all seemed highly delighted to learn that we
intended to stay and see the great fish drive.

As every one of our native crew was very anxious to join in the
sport, the captain had asked the king's mother to 'tapu' the ship till
daylight, and shortly afterwards we were told by a messenger from the
king that this had been done, and that no native would attempt to board
the ship till we had returned. Although these people were honest enough,
our captain thought it hardly safe enough to leave the ship without a
white man on board, for all natives are very careless with the use of
fire, and, being great smokers, he felt nervous on that score.

At five o'clock we were taken to the king's house, where we found the
whole population assembled. A great feast was spread out, and King
Ralok, who advanced to meet us, took us by our hands and sat us down in
the midst of a vast collection of baked fish, bread fruit, turtle meat
and eggs, and roast fowls, pigeons and pork. Of course we had to eat;
but at the earliest opportunity the trader told the king that we were
anxious to see the preparations made for the drive before it got too
dark. Ralok at once agreed, and after drinking the milk of a young
coco-nut to wash down the repast, we made a start for the scene of
operations.

This was along the shore of the lagoon. At high water, for nearly two
or three miles, the white, sandy bottom would be covered by a depth of
about four feet of water; at low water, as it was now, it was dry. Here
and there were clumps of coral boulders, generally circular in shape,
and these, at high water, would be just flush with the surface. These
boulders were some two or three hundred yards apart, and as we came out
upon the lagoon beach we saw that they were connected by a vast number
of nets lying upon the sand, in readiness to rise, by means of their
light wooden floats of puka wood, as soon as the incomin