The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-04-10
THE KINGS YAGONA.

THE KINGS YAGONA.
From the CHRISTIAN Union.
when am ut home" said Will
Sullivan, the second morning he spent
in the Fiji Islands, my father is al
ways scolding me for being lazy, and
coming late TO breakfast, but il lived
here would always be in time"
Bob Rogers laughed at this.
Eyes / would, responded Will, "for
/ would never go TO bed"
That's all very nice now," replied
Bob.
"I wouldn't" said Will, varying his
assertion. "It's too lovely to lose an
hour, night or day, in sleep"
go TO bed. It's all pretty enough now,
but sleeping is as pleasant in Fiji as in
Greenland. II you were here during
the rainy season you would be glad
enough to be late to breakfast some
times"
"why. / should think you would
find plenty 10 do then"
80 / do; but expect you have
work ahead when you lie in bed in
Boston. Last year father made me
read the logan Bible with him, and
that kept me busy. Last April went
out turtle fishing. but don't expect
to do il again. Mamma cried all the
time was away"
81 would like that. Not TO have my
mother cry, but TO go after turtles. j
say, Bob. 1 wish the faculty would
move Yale to FIJI. I'd not mind GO
ing TO college then.
lyon give me your chance" answer
ed Bob. "You can come TO Fiji and
learn all the dialects, aud l will 60 10
America. But yet I should hate TO 60
away" he added, looking around him.
Bob had been born in the Fiji Islands
and he sometimes tired OF them, bat
everything was so fresh aud lovely this
morning, and Will was 30 enthusiastic,
that he looked at the scene before him
with frightened eyes, and caught some
Of his companions admiration. The
ocean was dashing against the coral
reefs, sending great crested waves up
on them 10 break and run back. In.
side the reefs the lagoon lay as still
and quiet as sninland lake. Ii was
covered with the sails OF the double
canoes aud near TO the shore group
| OF girls and boys were darling aud di.
wing through the water; a couple OF
little fellows, hardly more than babies
were ont on surf boards and a short
distance of a number OF natives from
lnbou were unloading a smsll canoe OF
yams and bananas. The mountain
that rises in the center Of Somosomo
and bears in its crest a silver lake, was
half hidden in fieecy clouds, while il.
sides we're green with foliage, with co
coanut trees, with taro beds aud Ions
! lines OF forest trees.
The village lay off some distanc,
from the shore, but not very far from
where the boys were standing a larg,
group of men were fastening To ant
fro carrying baskets, feeding fires
shonldering dead pigs, and talking and
gesticulatiDg in the most excited man
] ner.
"Did those men work all night?'
asked Will. when l went to sleep i
was 10 the tune sung by the pigs wh'
were being killed, and when | awaken
ed they were still squeaking.
"Ot course" answered Bob, puttinI
his hands in his pockets, "they have :.
begin days before or they wonld neve
get through feast. Why, / don't he
| lieve that you have any idea Of what
Fiiian can 10 when he wants 10 give
party. Tomorrow the Island will b
filled with people, aud as the only rul
is 10 give every man eight times q
much rs he can eat, the supply has 4
be enormous. once saw q pnddinl
made in honor OF Lakemba chic
that was twenty-one feet in circumfeI
ence. IL took some time 10 cook that
u should think so" replied WILL
IF I was chief cock at Fijian feas
would want q month in which to ge
ready. Why those hills of yams, tai
ties and all sorts OF things that we sa'
yesterday would take week just !
put into pots"
"a month would hardly serve you,
said BOZ. They have tons Of food
cook up. Papa has several times see
teasts where people provided over thre
hundred tons.
"I hope they have no men in Oh
measured said Will.
"Oh, mo-" exclaimed Bob. 81 kno
you all think that every Fijian is a car
nibal, but we do not know Of one q
this island, and the few that ever com
here are so ashamed OF 10 that they d.
ny il. II you want 10 make the me
over yonder angry enough 10 kill 20,
you need only ask them IL they are u
ing 10 have bakolo at Their feast"
"Bakolo2" repeated Will.
"Yes; that il what they call II. b.
as for this feast, I sm tired Of H..
Months ego they began planting for i
They have hshed for weeks. ha,
not had . cocOauut or banana, exec
from some visiting canoes, for ever I
long. The little pig we had for dinn'
Yesterday came from Rewa. Ever
thing here IL under the taboo for II
feast, and nobody dsres touch ap
thing that grows or that runs on for
"Hov do they taboo everything
asked Will.
q "Do you see that little mound"-tl
boys we're now walking along the sho
with a stick stuck up in II and son
. cocoanut leaves ON it?"
! with little fence around q
q mound?"
[, Eyes; that is the cocoanut taboo.
. When that is put up, hands of COCO
nntsi Other things are tabooed by a
clamation." a.
THAT would be a good fashion to
troduce nc home" said Will. "N
grandfather would like 20 taboo
cherries from the boys, know"
!. "Oh, they taboo everything here
y said Bob. 'In one town they cam
sell their chickens because chief b
put them under taboo; In another
o' one can drink out Of cup; IN anoth
sail mp . certain river. Old II: