 rout of merry young idlers. Sometimes I was too
indolent for exercise, and, accepting one of the many invitations I was
continually receiving, stretched myself out on the mats of some hospitable
dwelling, and occupied myself pleasantly either in watching the proceedings of
those around me, or taking part in them myself. Whenever I chose to do the
latter, the delight of the islanders was boundless; and there was always a
throng of competitors for the honour of instructing me in any particular craft.
I soon became quite an accomplished hand at making tappa - could braid a grass
sling as well as the best of them - and once, with my knife, carved the handle
of a javelin so exquisitely, that I have no doubt, to this day, Karnoonoo, its
owner, preserves it as a surprising specimen of my skill. As noon approached,
all those who had wandered forth from our habitation began to return; and when
midday was fairly come, scarcely a sound was to be heard in the valley - a deep
sleep fell upon all. The luxurious siesta was hardly ever omitted, except by old
Marheyo, who was so eccentric a character, that he seemed to be governed by no
fixed principles whatever; but acting just according to the humour of the
moment, slept, ate, or tinkered away at his little hut, without regard to the
proprieties of time or place. Frequently he might have been seen taking a nap in
the sun at noonday, or a bath in the stream at midnight. Once I beheld him
perched eighty feet from the ground, in the tuft of a cocoa-nut tree, smoking;
and often I saw him standing up to the waist in water, engaged in plucking out
the stray hairs of his beard, using a piece of mussel-shell for tweezers.
    The noontide slumber lasted generally an hour and a half, very often longer;
and after the sleepers had arisen from their mats they again had recourse to
their pipes, and then made preparations for the most important meal of the day.
    I, however, like those gentlemen of leisure who breakfast at home and dine
at their club, almost invariably, during my intervals of health, enjoyed the
afternoon repast with the bachelor chiefs of the Ti, who were always rejoiced to
see me, and lavishly spread before me all the good things which their larder
afforded. Mehevi generally produced, among other dainties, a baked pig, an
article which, I have every reason to suppose, was provided for my sole
gratification.
    The Ti was a right jovial place. It did my heart, as well as
