These beams kept the plank parallel with the canoe, but not in contact
with it, for it floated in the water with an open space between; thus
forming a sort of double canoe. This we found was intended to prevent
the upsetting of the canoe, which was so narrow that it could not have
maintained an upright position without the outrigger. We could not help
wondering both at the ingenuity and the clumsiness of this contrivance.
When the canoe was ready, we assisted the natives to carry the
prisoners into it, and helped them to load it with provisions and
fruit. Peterkin also went to the plum tree for the purpose of making a
special onslaught upon the hogs, and killed no less than six of them.
These we baked and presented to our friends on the day of their
departure. On that day Tararo made a great many energetic signs to us,
which, after much consideration, we came to understand were proposals
that we should go away with him to his island; but having no desire to
do so, we shook our heads very decidedly. However, we consoled him by
presenting him with our rusty axe, which we thought we could spare,
having the excellent one which had been so providentially washed ashore
to us the day we were wrecked. We also gave him a piece of wood with
our names carved on it, and a piece of string to hang it round his neck
as an ornament.
In a few minutes more we were all assembled on the beach. Being unable
to speak to the savages, we went through the ceremony of shaking hands,
and expected they would depart; but before doing so, Tararo went up to
Jack and rubbed noses with him, after which he did the same with
Peterkin and me! Seeing that this was their mode of salutation, we
determined to conform to their custom, so we rubbed noses heartily with
the whole party, women and all! The only disagreeable part of the
process was when we came to rub noses with Mahine, and Peterkin
afterwards said that when he saw his wolfish eyes glaring so close to
his face, he felt much more inclined to _bang_ than to _rub_
his nose.
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