ount of the white strangers, she had
despatched him forthwith back to the shore, to bring them to the
village; which commission, it seemed, he was resolved faithfully to
execute, at every hazard."

"Really," said Browne, "civilisation must have made some considerable
progress in Angatan, if the savages there make such docile and
complaisant husbands."

"This was not an ordinary case," replied Arthur; "in the first place,
Mowno was an uncommonly good-natured sort of a savage; then he had a
very pretty, persuasive little wife, and he had not yet been long enough
married, to have entirely merged the zeal and devotion of the lover, in
the easy indifference, and staid authority of the husband; but this is
anticipating.

"When I informed Rokoa of the young chief's invitation, and my
acceptance of it, he refused to consent to my going, except upon the
condition that he should accompany me, and share whatever danger might
attend the step. Mowno acquiesced in this arrangement, though I thought
he didn't seem to be altogether pleased with it. Barton, also, on
learning that Rokoa and myself had concluded to go to the village,
resolved to accompany us. Mowno was impatient to have us set out at
once, and Rokoa having given some directions to the crew, as to their
conduct during our absence, we hastily made our preparations, and in a
few moments after the matter had been decided upon, the whole party left
the shore and entered the forest. A quarter of an hour's walk brought
us to a flourishing bread-fruit plantation, which we passed through
without seeing a single dwelling, or any indications of inhabitants.
This was bounded by a wild ravine, crossing which, we entered a dense
and gloomy grove, composed almost entirely of the sacred miro, and one
other kind of tree, the branches of which sprang horizontally from the
trunk, in a series of whorls, one above another, twisting round from
left to right, and clothed with broad leaves of so dark a green as to
seem almost black. Near the centre of this grove, we came suddenly upon
a large marae, built principally of loose stones, overgrown with moss
and lichens. It was a spacious, uncovered inclosure, the front of which
consisted of a strong bamboo fence, while the three remaining sides were
of stone. Within the inclosure, at one side, was a small building,
probably the priest's dwelling, and in the centre arose a solid
pyramidal structure, on the terraced sides of which were range