Only they were not wearing their robes of office at the moment, in accordance with a well-known savage custom; they had come naked and in disgrace, as befits all suppliants.

They had left behind them the insignia of their rank in their own shaken huts, and bowed down their bare backs to the rain and the lightning.
"Yes, I saw them among the other islanders," Felix answered, half-smiling, but prudently remaining within the taboo-line, as his Shadow advised him.
Toko kept his hand still on his master's shoulder.

"Oh, king," he said, beseechingly, and with great solemnity, "I am doing wrong to warn you; I am breaking a very great Taboo.

I don't know what harm may come to me for telling you.

Perhaps Tu-Kila-Kila will burn me to ashes with one glance of his eyes.