Some of the more emulous among them tried to imitate my feats of agility, but always came dismally to grief--a performance that created even more frantic merriment than my own.

After a little while the blacks disappeared, only to come forth a few minutes later with their bodies gorgeously decorated with stripes of yellow ochre and red and white pigments.

These startling preparations preceded a great _corroboree_ in honour of my arrival, and in this embarrassing function I was, of course, expected to join.

The ceremony was kept up with extraordinary vigour the whole night long, but all I was required to do was to sit beating sticks together, and join in the general uproar.
This was all very well for a little while, but the monotony of the affair was terrible, and I withdrew to my hammock before midnight.
In the morning I saw a great fleet of catamarans putting off from the mainland, and in a very short time between fifty and sixty natives joined our party on the island.

Then followed the usual greetings and comical expressions of amazement--of course, at the sight of me, my boat, and everything in it.