by a troop of the natives of both sexes; but as soon as we
approached its vicinity, the females gradually separated
themselves from the crowd, and standing aloof, permitted us to
pass on. The merciless prohibitions of the taboo extended
likewise to this edifice, and were enforced by the same dreadful
penalty that secured the Hoolah-Hoolah ground from the imaginary
pollution of a woman's presence.

On entering the house, I was surprised to see six muskets ranged
against the bamboo on one side, from the barrels of which
depended as many small canvas pouches, partly filled with powder.

Disposed about these muskets, like the cutlasses that decorate
the bulkhead of a man-of-war's cabin, were a great variety of
rude spears and paddles, javelins, and war-clubs. This then,
said I to Toby, must be the armoury of the tribe.

As we advanced further along the building, we were struck with
the aspect of four or five hideous old wretches, on whose
decrepit forms time and tattooing seemed to have obliterated
every trace of humanity. Owing to the continued operation of
this latter process, which only terminates among the warriors of
the island after all the figures stretched upon their limbs in
youth have been blended together--an effect, however, produced
only in cases of extreme longevity--the bodies of these men were
of a uniform dull green colour--the hue which the tattooing
gradually assumes as the individual advances in age. Their skin
had a frightful scaly appearance, which, united with its singular
colour, made their limbs not a little resemble dusty specimens of
verde-antique. Their flesh, in parts, hung upon them in huge