, and when we awoke it was high in the heavens. I
awoke Jack, who started up in surprise, being unable at first to
comprehend our situation. "Now, then," said he, springing up, "let's
see after breakfast.--Hallo, Peterkin, lazy fellow! how long do you mean
to lie there?"

Peterkin yawned heavily. "Well," said he, opening his eyes and looking
up after some trouble, "if it isn't to-morrow morning, and me thinking
it was to-day all this time--Hallo, Venus! where did you come from? You
seem tolerably at home, anyhow. Bah! might as well speak to the cat as
to you--better, in fact, for it understands me, and you don't."

This remark was called forth by the sight of one of the elderly females,
who had seated herself on the rock in front of the bower, and having
placed her child at her feet, was busily engaged in devouring the
remains of a roast pig.

By this time the natives outside were all astir, and breakfast in an
advanced state of preparation. During the course of it we made sundry
attempts to converse with the natives by signs, but without effect. At
last we hit upon a plan of discovering their names. Jack pointed to his
breast and said "Jack" very distinctly; then he pointed to Peterkin and
to me, repeating our names at the same time. Then he pointed to himself
again and said "Jack," and laying his finger on the breast of the chief,
looked inquiringly into his face. The chief instantly understood him,
and said "Tararo" twice distinctly. Jack repeated it after him, and the
chief, nodding his head approvingly, said "Chuck," on hearing which
Peterkin exploded with laughter. But Jack turned, and with a frown
rebuked him, saying, "I must look even more indignantly at you than I
feel, Peterkin, you rascal, for these fellows don't like to be laughed
at." Then turning towards the youngest of the women, who was seated at
the door of the bower, he pointed to her; whereupon the chief said
"Avatea," and pointing towards the sun, raised his finger slowly towards
the zenith, where it remained steadily for a minute or two.

"What can that mean, I wonder?" said Jack, looking puzzled.

"Perhaps," said Peterkin, "the chief means she is an angel come down to
stay here for a while. If so, she's an uncommonly black one!"

We did not feel quite satisfied with this explanation, so Jack went up
to her and said "Avatea." The woman smiled sadly and nodded her head,
at the same time pointing to her breast and then to the sun i