For the same reason, also, the doctor fibbed about his birthplace.
Unfortunately, one part of our raiment--Arfretee's blue frocks--we deemed a sort of collateral evidence against us.

For, curiously enough, an American sailor is generally distinguished by his red frock; and an English tar by his blue one: thus reversing the national colours.

The circumstance was pointed out by the captain; and we quickly explained the anomaly.

But, in vain: he seemed inveterately prejudiced against us; and, in particular, eyed the doctor most distrustfully.
By way of propping the tatter's pretensions, I was throwing out a hint concerning Kentucky, as a land of tall men, when our Vine-yarder turned away abruptly, and desired to hear nothing more.

It was evident that he took Long Ghost for an exceedingly problematical character.
Perceiving this, I resolved to see what a private interview would do.
So, one afternoon, I found the captain smoking a pipe in the dwelling of a portly old native--one Mai-Mai--who, for a reasonable compensation, did the honours of Partoowye to illustrious strangers.
His guest had just risen from a sumptuous meal of baked pig and taro pudding; and the remnants of the repast were still visible.