Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/159

 others perfectly nude. Some wore red flannel shirts, or sailors’ old blue jackets, buttoned, and nothing else. They were wild with delight at the return of their young chief. Finally, after a tremendous yell, the old chief, John’s father, made his appearance. He was a very large man, and was tattooed all over his face. He wore over his shoulders a very fine, large mat, beautifully bordered with many rich feathers. His son, our John, wore nothing but his blue dungaree trousers and tarpaulin  hat. As they advanced, they eyed each other, and purred like two cats. Finally, when they met, they touched the ends of their noses together, then, placing  their hands on each other’s shoulders, they would purr  and rub noses again and again. All this time we were standing beside John, while the natives were moaning,  wailing, and making all kinds of hideous noises. In fact, they all seemed to be crazy. At a signal given by the old chief, they suddenly departed to their huts. We followed John, his father, and others of the royal family  to the palace, or White House. It was a very large building, low studded, and contained but one room. On the dark, dirty walls were hanging old flint-lock guns, war-clubs, spears, mats, calabashes, sailors' sou’westers, old  pea-jackets, junk bottles, skulls, and human heads dry as  those of mummies. Presently we were served with peaches, boiled fish, fresh pork, and sweet potatoes. After this we were treated to some of their dances.

The war-dance, in which John took part, was confined to the young men, and was very interesting. The peace -dance was quite affecting, as were several of the others. To give them a rest, we danced several fore-and-afters,