But it was not always so easy to perceive wherein you had contravened the spirit of this institution.

I was many times called to order, if I may use the phrase, when I could not for the life of me conjecture what particular offence I had committed.
One day I was strolling through a secluded portion of the valley, and hearing the musical sound of the cloth-mallet at a little distance, I turned down a path that conducted me in a few moments to a house where there were some half-dozen girls employed in making tappa.

This was an operation I had frequently witnessed, and had handled the bark in all the various stages of its preparation.

On the present occasion the females were intent upon their occupation, and after looking up and talking gaily to me for a few moments, they resumed their employment.

I regarded them for a while in silence, and then carelessly picking up a handful of the material that lay around, proceeded unconsciously to pick it apart.