 shutting up Moa
Artua. The invariable response is »Aa, Aa« (yes, yes), repeated over again and
again in a manner which ought to quiet the scruples of the most conscientious.
After a few moments Kolory brings forth his doll again, and, while arraying it
very carefully in the tappa and red cloth, alternately fondles and chides it.
The toilet being completed, he once more speaks to it aloud. The whole company
hereupon show the greatest interest; while the priest, holding Moa Artua to his
ear, interprets to them what he pretends the god is confidentially communicating
to him. Some items of intelligence appear to tickle all present amazingly; for
one claps his hands in a rapture; another shouts with merriment; and a third
leaps to his feet and capers about like a madman.
    What under the sun Moa Artua on these occasions had to say to Kolory I never
could find out; but I could not help thinking that the former showed a sad want
of spirit in being disciplined into making those disclosures, which at first he
seemed bent on withholding. Whether the priest honestly interpreted what he
believed the divinity said to him, or whether he was not all the while guilty of
a vile humbug, I shall not presume to decide. At any rate, whatever, as coming
from the god, was imparted to those present, seemed to be generally of a
complimentary nature - a fact which illustrates the sagacity of Kolory, or else
the time-serving disposition of this hardly used deity.
    Moa Artua having nothing more to say, his bearer goes to nursing him again,
in which occupation, however, he is soon interrupted by a question put by one of
the warriors to the god. Kolory hereupon snatches it up to his ear again, and
after listening attentively, once more officiates as the organ of communication.
A multitude of questions and answers having passed between the parties, much to
the satisfaction of those who propose them, the god is put tenderly to bed in
the trough, and the whole company unite in a long chant, led off by Kolory. This
ended, the ceremony is over; the chiefs rise to their feet in high good-humour,
and my Lord Archbishop, after chatting a while, and regaling himself with a
whiff or two from a pipe of tobacco, tucks the canoe under his arm and marches
off with it.
    The whole of these proceedings were like those of a parcel of children
playing with dolls and baby-houses.
    For a youngster scarcely ten inches high, and with so few early advantages
as he doubtless had had,
