meat and drink; the trenchers readily
accessible by means of cords; but the gourds containing arrack,
suspended neck downward, were within easy reach where they swung.

Seeing all these indications of hard roystering; like a
cautious young bridegroom at his own marriage merry-making, Taji
stood on his guard. And when Borabolla urged him to empty a gourd or
two, by way of making room in him for the incidental repast about to
be served, Taji civilly declined; not wishing to cumber the floor,
before the cloth was laid.

Jarl, however, yielding to importunity, and unmindful of the unities
of time and place, went freely about, from gourd to gourd, concocting
in him a punch. At which, Samoa expressed much surprise, that he
should be so unobservant as not to know, that in Mardi, guests might
be pressed to demean themselves, without its being expected that so
they would do. A true toss-pot himself, he bode his time.

The second lunch over, Borabolla placed both hands to the ground, and
giving the sigh of the fat man, after three vigorous efforts,
succeeded in gaining his pins; which pins of his, were but small for
his body; insomuch that they hugely staggered about, under the fine
old load they carried.

The specific object of his thus striving after an erect posture, was
to put himself in motion, and conduct us to his fish-ponds, famous
throughout the Archipelago as the hobby of the king of Mondoldo.
Furthermore, as the great repast of the day, yet to take place, was
to be a grand piscatory one, our host was all anxiety, that we should
have a glimpse of our fish, while yet alive and hearty.

We were alarmed at perceiving, that certain servitors were preparing
to accompany us with trenchers of edibles. It begat the notion, that
our trip to the fish-ponds was to prove a long journey. But they were
not three hundred yards distant; though Borabolla being a veteran
traveler, never stirred from his abode without his battalion of butlers.

The ponds were four in number, close bordering the water, embracing
about an acre each, and situated in a low fen, draining several
valleys. The excavated soil was thrown up in dykes, made tight by
being beaten all over, while in a soft state, with the heavy, flat
ends of Palm stalks. Lving side by side, by three connecting
trenches, these ponds could be made to communicate at pleasure; while
two additional canals afforded means of letting in upon them the salt
waters of the lagoon on one ha