In this endeavour, I may say, I failed absolutely, as I did not know how to take a stellar or any other observation.
On my way out of our native house I observed, by the lantern I carried, that the compartment of it occupied by Bastin was empty, and wondered whither he had gone at that hour.

On arriving at my observation-post, a rocky eminence on open ground, where, with Tommy at my side, I took my seat with a telescope, I was astonished to see or rather to hear a great number of the natives walking past the base of the mound towards the bush.

Then I remembered that some one, Marama, I think, had informed me that there was to be a great sacrifice to Oro at dawn on that day.

After this I thought no more of the matter but occupied myself in a futile study of the heavenly bodies.

At length the dawn broke and put a period to my labours.
Glancing round me before I descended from the little hill, I saw a flame of light appear suddenly about half a mile or more away among those trees which I knew concealed the image of Oro.