After the usual formula of consulting me Bickley answered: "We come to take that mountain (he meant lump) off your neck and make you beautiful; also to cure all the sickness among your people." "And I come," broke in Bastin, "to give you new hearts." These announcements evidently caused great excitement.

After consultation Marama answered: "We do not want new hearts as the old ones are good, but we wish to be rid of lumps and sicknesses.

If you can do this we will make you gods and worship you and give you many wives." (Here Bastin held up his hands in horror.) "When will you begin to take away the lumps ?" "To-morrow," said Bickley.

"But learn that if you try to harm us we will bring another wave which will drown all your country." Nobody seemed to doubt our capacities in this direction, but one inquiring spirit in a wicker crate did ask how it came about that if we controlled the ocean we had arrived in half a canoe instead of a whole one.
Bickley replied to the effect that it was because the gods always travelled in half-canoes to show their higher nature, which seemed to satisfy everyone.

Then we announced that we had seen enough of them for that day and would retire to think.