Mehevi sought to enlighten my ignorance, but he failed as signally as when
he had endeavoured to initiate me into the perplexing arcana of the taboo.
On leaving the Ti, Kory-Kory, who had, as a matter of course, accompanied
me, observing that my curiosity remained unabated, resolved to make
everything plain and satisfactory. With this intent, he escorted me
through the Taboo Groves, pointing out to my notice a variety of objects,
and endeavoured to explain them in such an indescribable jargon of words,
that it almost put me in bodily pain to listen to him. In particular, he
led me to a remarkable pyramidical structure some three yards square at
the base, and perhaps ten feet in height, which had lately been thrown up,
and occupied a very conspicuous position. It was composed principally of
large empty calabashes, with a few polished cocoa-nut shells, and looked
not unlike a cenotaph of skulls. My cicerone perceived the astonishment
with which I gazed at this monument of savage crockery, and immediately
addressed himself to the task of enlightening me: but all in vain; and to
this hour the nature of the monument remains a complete mystery to me. As,
however, it formed so prominent a feature in the approaching revels, I
bestowed upon the latter, in my own mind, the title of the “Feast of
Calabashes.”
[Illustration: THUS ARRAYED, I WOULD HAVE MATCHED THE CHARMING FAYAWAY
AGAINST ANY BEAUTY IN THE WORLD]
The following morning, awakening rather late, I perceived the whole of
Marheyo’s family busily engaged in preparing for the festival. The old
warrior himself was arranging in round balls the two grey locks of hair
that were suffered to grow from the crown of his head; his earrings and
spear, both well polished, lay beside him, while the highly decorative
pair of shoes hung suspended from a projecting cane against the side of
the house. The young men were similarly employed; and the fair damsels,
including Fayaway, were anointing themselves with “aka,” arranging their
long tresses, and performing other matters connected with the duties of
the toilet.
Having completed their preparations, the girls now exhibited themselves in
gala costume; the most conspicuous feature of which was a necklace of
beautiful white flowers, with the stems removed, and strung closely
together upon a single fibre of tappa. Corresponding ornaments were
inserted in their ears, and woven garlands upon their heads. About their
waist they wore a short tunic of spotless white tappa, and some of them
superadded to this a mantle of the same material, tied in an elaborate bow
upon the left shoulder, and falling about the figure in picturesque folds.
Thus arrayed, I would have matched the charming Fayaway against any beauty
in the world.
People may say what they will about the taste evinced by our fashionable
ladies in dress. Their jewels, their feathers, their silks and their
furbelows would have sunk into utter insignificance beside the exquisite
...continua
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