CHAPTER VI.
FIRST DAYS IN BOUPARI.
Throughout that day the natives brought them, from time to time, numerous presents of yam, bananas, and bread-fruit, neatly arranged in little palm-leaf baskets.

A few of them brought eggs as well, and one offering even included a live chicken.

But the people who brought them, and who were mostly young girls just entering upon womanhood, did not venture to cross the white line of coral-sand that surrounded the huts; they laid down their presents, with many salaams, on the ground outside, and then waited with a half-startled, half-reverent air for one or other of the two Shadows to come out and fetch them.

As soon as the baskets were carried well within the marked line, the young girls exhibited every sign of pleasure, and calling aloud, "Korong! Korong!"-- that mysterious Polynesian word of whose import Felix was ignorant--they retired once more by tortuous paths through the surrounding jungle.
"Why do they bring us presents ?" Felix asked at last of his Shadow, after this curious pantomime had been performed some three or four times.

"Are they always going to keep us in such plenty ?" The Shadow looked back at him with an air of considerable surprise.