Our mate, who had his fowling-piece with him, saw a very pretty parrot on a cocoanut tree.  He approached until close under—­the natives, about forty in number, standing breathlessly round, and wondering what was going to happen.  Bang!  Down dropped the parrot; a wail, hands to ears, a shout, and we were left alone with the chief, who happened to be standing close by me.  Those natives only ceased running when they reached their homes.

We visited several villages, and at sundown returned.  In the dark we travelled along the bed of a creek, passing small villages, whose inhabitants were terribly alarmed, but none more so than our chief.  Poor fellow, he was frightened.  How nimbly he ascended his platform on our arrival at his house, where his two wives were crying, but now rejoiced to see him in the body.  Long ago the escort had returned with a terrible tale, and they feared whether their husband could have lived through it all.  But he was now considered a veritable hero, to be sung in song and shouted in dance.  Friends gather round; he tells his tale; presents the bird; the wives examine it, then the crowd of relatives.  He afraid! oh dear no!  But he looked pale for a native, and no quantity of hoop-iron would induce him to move from that platform and the side of those dear wives that night.  Enough for one day, one month, one year, so, “Good-bye, Tamate; I shall be off in the morning to see you.”  Arriving on board late, we were welcome:  they feared we had been spirited away.

The following day we got round to Ellengowan Bay.  After visiting all the villages, I went right up to the head of the bay to see Silo and its chief.  The tide was very low, and after pulling the boat some distance through mud we left her in charge of the two rowers, the mate and I going to the village.  He had hoop-iron cut in seven-inch lengths in his pockets.  The old chief received us graciously, and began giving me a long story of what he wished to do in the way of pigs and food, if I would only stay two days.  It was a sickly looking hole, and not being quite rid of fever, I hoped to get on board and away in an hour.  A large crowd gathered round, all under arms, very noisy, and certainly not gentle.  A slight scuffle took place, but was soon over.  The mate missed some of his hoop-iron, caught one young man with a piece, and took it from him.  The crowd increased.  I told the chief I should prefer his people unarmed, and not so noisy.  He spoke to them, some put down their clubs and spears; but they were hidden in the bush close by.  We bade the chief good-bye, but he expressed a great wish to see me in the boat.  Apparently with great carelessness, we made towards the beach, attended by a noisy crowd, all arms now picked up.  Remembering the difficulty we had in landing, and knowing savages preferred killing out of their own villages, hospitality having ended when friends left the precincts, I determined