ornaments was that which decorated the countenance of the chief. Two broad
stripes of tattooing, diverging from the centre of his shaven crown,
obliquely crossed both eyes--staining the lids--to a little below either
ear, where they united with another stripe, which swept in a straight line
along the lips, and formed the base of the triangle. The warrior, from the
excellence of his physical proportions, might certainly have been regarded
as one of nature's noblemen, and the lines drawn upon his face may
possibly have denoted his exalted rank.

This warlike personage, upon entering the house, seated himself at some
distance from the spot where Toby and myself reposed, while the rest of
the savages looked alternately from us to him, as if in expectation of
something they were disappointed in not perceiving. Regarding the chief
attentively, I thought his lineaments appeared familiar to me. As soon as
his full face was turned upon me, and I again beheld its extraordinary
embellishment, and met the strange gaze to which I had been subjected the
preceding night, I immediately, in spite of the alteration in his
appearance, recognised the noble Mehevi. On addressing him, he advanced at
once in the most cordial manner, and greeting me warmly, seemed to enjoy
not a little the effect his barbaric costume had produced upon me.

I forthwith determined to secure, if possible, the goodwill of this
individual, as I easily perceived he was a man of great authority in his
tribe, and one who might exert a powerful influence upon our subsequent
fate. In the endeavour I was not repulsed; for nothing could surpass the
friendliness he manifested towards both my companion and myself. He
extended his sturdy limbs by our side, and endeavoured to make us
comprehend the full extent of the kindly feelings by which he was
actuated. The almost insuperable difficulty in communicating to one
another our ideas, affected the chief with no little mortification. He
evinced a great desire to be enlightened with regard to the customs and
peculiarities of the far-off country we had left behind us, and to which,
under the name of Maneeka, he frequently alluded.

But that which more than any other subject engaged his attention, was the
late proceedings of the "Franee," as he called the French, in the
neighbouring bay of Nukuheva. This seemed a never-ending theme with him,
and one concerning which he was never weary of interrogating us. All the
information we