It is still in use, however, among the Spaniards in South America; from whom, it seems, the Tahitians have borrowed the contrivance, as well as the name by which all places of confinement are known among them.
The stocks were nothing more than two stout timbers, about twenty feet in length, and precisely alike.

One was placed edgeways on the ground, and the other, resting on top, left, at regular intervals along the seam, several round holes, the object of which was evident at a glance.
By this time, our guide had informed us that he went by the name of "Capin Bob" (Captain Bob); and a hearty old Bob he proved.

It was just the name for him.

From the first, so pleased were we with the old man that we cheerfully acquiesced in his authority.
Entering the building, he set us about fetching heaps of dry leaves to spread behind the stocks for a couch.

A trunk of a small cocoa-nut tree was then placed for a bolster--rather a hard one, but the natives are used to it.