[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]

176 WITH NATIVES IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC

round and descended from his pedestal with much
dignity, though panting from his exertions, and
looking so hot that I feared an apoplexy for the old
man. I did not know how tough such an old heathen
is, nor that his efforts were by no means at an end.
Noélesse 0512376 and such high caste as Palo’s is not
attained without trouble.

As female pigs may not be eaten, those just killed
were thrown into. the sea by the women; meanwhile,
the chiefs blew a loud blast on the shell-bugles, to
announce to all concerned that Palo’s first duty was
accomplished. The deep yet piercing tones must
have sounded far into the narrow valleys round.

Then poles were driven into the ground, to which
the tusked pigs were tied. Some were enormous
beasts, and grunted savagely when anyone came near
them. I saw my companion of the morning lying
cheerfully grunting in the shade of a tree. Now
came a peculiar ceremony, in which all who had
contributed pigs were supposed to take part. To
my disappointment, Mr. F. refused to join in. Palo
took up his position on the stone table, armed with
a club. Out of a primitive door, hastily improvised
out of a few palm-leaves, the chiefs came dancing in
single file, swinging some weapon, a spear or a club.
Palo jumped down, danced towards them, chased
each chief and finally drove them, still dancing, back
through the door. This evidently symbolized some
fight in which Palo was the victor. After having
done this about twenty times, Palo had to lead all
the chiefs in a long dance across theIsquare, passing