sides. One of these was reserved for the missionary and the white man,
and hauling our canoe up on the beach at the invitation of the people,
we sat down under a shed whilst the women grilled us some of the
freshly-caught fish. This took barely over ten minutes, as fires had
already been lighted by the children. The absence of bread was made up
for by the flesh of half-grown coconuts and cooked _puraka_--gigantic
species of taro which thrives well in the sandy soil of the Equatorial
islands of the Pacific. Just as we had finished eating and were
preparing our lines we heard loud cries from the natives who were still
engaged among the _atuli_, and three or four of them seizing spears
began chasing what were evidently some large fish. Presently one of them
darted his weapon, and then gave a loud cry of triumph, as he leapt into
the water and dragged out a large salmon-like fish called "utu", which
was at once brought ashore for my inspection. The man who had struck
it--an active, wiry old fellow named Viliamu (William) was panting with
excitement. Some large _gatala_, he said, had just made their appearance
with the _utu_ and were pursuing the small fish; therefore would we
please hurry forward with our preparations. Then the leader of the
entire party stood up and bellowed out in bull-like tones his
instructions. The canoes were all to start together, and when the ground
was reached all lines were to be lowered simultaneously; there was to be
no crowding. The white man and missionary, however, if they wished,
could start first and make a choice of position.

"No, no," I said, "let us all start fair."

This was greeted with a chorus of approval, and then leaving the women
and children to attend to the camp, we hurried back to the canoes. Just
as we were leaving the hut I had a look at the _utu_--a fish I had never
before seen. It was about three feet in length, and only for its head