Arrived at their destination, these were in turn portioned out, and equally distributed among the various houses of each particular district.

The fish were under a strict Taboo, until the distribution was completed, which seemed to be effected in the most impartial manner.

By the operation of this system every man, woman, and child in the vale, were at one and the same time partaking of this favourite article of food.
Once I remember the party arrived at midnight; but the unseasonableness of the tour did not repress the impatience of the islanders.

The carriers dispatched from the Ti were to be seen hurrying in all directions through the deep groves; each individual preceded by a boy bearing a flaming torch of dried cocoanut boughs, which from time to time was replenished from the materials scattered along the path.

The wild glare of these enormous flambeaux, lighting up with a startling brilliancy the innermost recesses of the vale, and seen moving rapidly along beneath the canopy of leaves, the savage shout of the excited messengers sounding the news of their approach, which was answered on all sides, and the strange appearance of their naked bodies, seen against the gloomy background, produced altogether an effect upon my mind that I shall long remember.
It was on this same occasion that Kory-Kory awakened me at the dead hour of night, and in a sort of transport communicated the intelligence contained in the words 'pehee perni' (fish come).