They were totally
unarmed, and most of them unclothed; one or two, however, wore portions
of European attire. One had on a pair of duck trousers which were much
too large for him, and stuck out in a most ungainly manner. Another
wore nothing but the common scanty native garment round the loins, and
a black beaver hat. But the most ludicrous personage of all, and one
who seemed to be chief, was a tall, middle-aged man, of a mild, simple
expression of countenance, who wore a white cotton shirt, a swallow-tailed
coat, and a straw hat, while his black, brawny legs were totally
uncovered below the knees.
"Where's the commander of this ship?" inquired our captain, stepping up
to this individual.
"I is capin," he answered, taking off his straw hat and making a low
bow.
"You!" said our captain in surprise. "Where do you come from, and where
are you bound? What cargo have you aboard?"
"We is come," answered the man with the swallowtail, "from Aitutaki; we
was go for Rarotonga. We is native miss'nary ship; our name is de
_Olive Branch_; an' our cargo is two tons cocoa-nuts, seventy
pigs, twenty cats, and de Gosp'l."
This announcement was received by the crew of our vessel with a shout
of laughter, which, however, was peremptorily checked by the captain,
whose expression instantly changed from one of severity to that of
frank urbanity as he advanced towards the missionary and shook him
warmly by the hand.
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