After them, in order, came a sort of hollow square of chiefs or warriors, surrounding with fan-palms a central object all shrouded from the view with the utmost precaution.

This central object was covered with a huge regal umbrella, from whose edge hung rows of small nautilus and other shells, so as to form a kind of screen, like the Japanese portieres now so common in English doorways.

Two supporters held it up, one on either side, in long cloaks of feathers.

Under the umbrella, a man seemed to move; and as he approached, the natives, to right and left, fled precipitately to their huts, snatching up their naked little ones from the ground as they went, and crying aloud, "Taboo, Taboo! He comes! he comes.

Tu-Kila-Kila! Tu-Kila-Kila!" The procession wound slowly on, unheeding these common creatures, till it reached the huts.