Poultry, sucking-pigs, and
puppies - the last, after being scalded and scraped, were
stuffed with vegetables and spices, rolled in plantain
leaves, and placed in the ground upon stones already heated.
More stones were then laid over them, and fires lighted on
the top of all. While the cooking was in progress, the
Kanakas ground TARO roots for the paste called 'poe'; the
girls danced and sang. The songs were devoid of melody,
being musical recitations of imaginary love adventures,
accompanied by swayings of the body and occasional choral
interruptions, all becoming more and more excited as the
story or song approached its natural climax. Sometimes this
was varied by a solitary dancer starting from the circle, and
performing the wildest bacchanalian antics, to the vocal
incitement of the rest. This only ended with physical
exhaustion, or collapse from feminine hysteria.
The food was excellent; the stuffed puppy was a dish for an
epicure. Though knives and forks were unknown, and each
helped herself from the plantain leaf, one had not the least
objection to do likewise, for the most scrupulous cleanliness
is one of the many merits of these fascinating creatures.
Before every dip into the leaf, the dainty little fingers
were plunged into bowls of fresh water provided for the
purpose. Delicious fruit followed the substantial fare; a
small glass of KAVA - a juice extracted from a root of the
pepper tribe - was then served to all alike. Having watched
the process of preparing the beverage, I am unable to speak
as to its flavour. The making of it is remarkable. A number
of women sit on the ground, chew the root, and spit its juice
into a bowl. The liquor is kept till it ferments, after
which it becomes highly intoxicating. I regret to say that
its potency was soon manifested on this occasion. No sooner
did the poison set their wild blood tingling, than a free
fight began for the remaining gourds. Such a scratching,
pulling of hair, clawing, kicking, and crying, were never
seen. Only by main force did we succeed in restoring peace.
It is but fair to state that, except on the celebration of
one or two solemn and sacred rites such as that of the
LOOHOU, these island Thyades never touch fermented liquors.
CHAPTER XXXI
IT was an easier task when all was over to set the little
Amazons on their horses than to keep them there, for by the
time we had perched one on her saddle, or pad rather, and
adjusted her with the greatest nicety, another whom we had
just left would lose her balance and fall with a scream to
the ground. It was almost as difficult as packing mules on
the prairie. For my part it must be confessed that I left
the completion of the job to others. Curious and
entertaining as the feast was, my whole attention was centred
and absorbed in Arakeeta, which that artful little
enchantress had the gift to know, and lashed me accordingly
with her eyes more cruelly than she had done with her whip.
I had got so far, you see, as to learn her name, the first
instalment of an intimacy which my demolished heart was
staked on perfecting. I noticed that she refused the KAVA
with real or affected repugnance; and when the passage of
arms, and legs, began, she slipped away, caught her animal,
and with a parting laugh at me, started off for home. There
was not the faintest shadow of encouragement in her saucy
looks to follow her. Still, she was a year older than
Juliet, who was nearly fourteen; so, who could say what those
looks might veil? Besides:
Das Naturell der Frauen
Ist so nah mit Kunst verwandt,
that one might easily be mistaken. Anyhow, flight provoked
pursuit; I jumped on to my horse, and raced along the plain
like mad. She saw me coming, and flogged the more, but being
the better mounted of the two, by degrees I overhauled her.
As I ranged alongside, neither slackened speed; and reaching
out to catch her bridle, my knee hooked under the hollow of
hers, twisted her clean off her pad, and in a moment she lay
senseless on the ground. I flung myself from my horse, and
laid her head upon my lap. Good God! had I broken her neck!
She did not stir; her eyes were closed, but she breathed, and
her heart beat quickly. I was wild with terror and remorse.
I looked back for aid, but the others had not started; we
were still a mile or more from Honolulu. I knew not what to
do. I kissed her forehead, I called her by her name. But
she lay like a child asleep. Presently her dazed eyes opened
and stared with wonderment, and then she smiled. The tears,
I think, were on my cheeks, and seeing them, she put her arms
around my neck and - forgave me.
She had fallen on her head and had been stunned. I caught
the horses while she sat still, and we walked them slowly
home. When we got within sight of her hut on the outskirts
of the town, she would not let me go further. There was
sadness in her look when we parted. I made her understand (I
had picked up two or three words) that I would return to see
her. She at once shook her head with an expression of
something akin to fear. I too felt sorrowful, and worse than
sorrowful, jealous.
When the night fell I sought her hut. It was one of the
better kind, built like others mainly with matting; no doors
or windows, but with an extensive verandah which protected
the inner part from rain and sun. Now and again I caught
glimpses of Arakeeta's fairy form flitting in, or obscuring,
the lamplight. I could see two other women and two men. Who
and what were they?
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