But look there," said I, pointing to a man whose
skin was of a much lighter colour than the generality of the natives.
"I've seen a few of these light-skinned fellows among the Feejeeans.
They seem to me to be of quite a different race."
"So they are," answered Bill. "These fellows come from the Tongan
Islands, which lie a long way to the eastward. They come here to build
their big war-canoes; and, as these take two and sometimes four years
to build, there's always some o' the brown-skins among the black
sarpents o' these islands."
"By the way, Bill," said I, "your mentioning serpents reminds me that I
have not seen a reptile of any kind since I came to this part of the
world."
"No more there are any," said Bill, "if ye except the niggers
themselves; there's none on the islands but a lizard or two, and some
sich harmless things. But I never seed any myself. If there's none on
the land, however, there's more than enough in the water, and that
reminds me of a wonderful brute they have here. But come, I'll show it
to you." So saying, Bill arose, and, leaving the men still busy with
the baked pig, led me into the forest. After proceeding a short
distance, we came upon a small pond of stagnant water. A native lad had
followed us, to whom we called and beckoned him to come to us. On Bill
saying a few words to him which I did not understand, the boy advanced
to the edge of the pond and gave a low, peculiar whistle.
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