Chapter Twenty-two

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

PREPARATIONS FOR A GRAND FESTIVAL IN THE VALLEY--STRANGE DOINGS
IN THE TABOO GROVES--MONUMENT OF CALABASHES--GALA COSTUME OF THE
TYPEE DAMSELS--DEPARTURE FOR THE FESTIVAL

FROM the time that my lameness had decreased I had made a daily
practice of visiting Mehevi at the Ti, who invariably gave me a
most cordial reception. I was always accompanied in these
excursions by Fayaway and the ever-present Kory- Kory. The
former, as soon as we reached the vicinity of the Ti--which was
rigorously tabooed to the whole female sex--withdrew to a
neighbouring hut, as if her feminine delicacy 'restricted' her
from approaching a habitation which might be regarded as a sort
of Bachelor's Hall.

And in good truth it might well have been so considered.
Although it was the permanent residence of several distinguished
chiefs, and of the noble Mehevi in particular, it was still at
certain seasons the favourite haunt of all the jolly, talkative,
and elderly savages of the vale, who resorted thither in the same
way that similar characters frequent a tavern in civilized
countries. There they would remain hour after hour, chatting,
smoking, eating poee-poee, or busily engaged in sleeping for the
good of their constitutions.

This building appeared to be the head-quarters of the valley,
where all flying rumours concentrated; and to have seen it filled
with a crowd of the natives, all males, conversing in animated
clusters, while multitudes were continually coming and going, one
would have thought it a kind of savage Exchange, where the rise
and fall of Polynesian Stock was discussed.

Mehevi acted as supreme lord over the place, spending the greater
portion of his time there: and often when, at particular hours of
the day, it was deserted by nearly every one else except the
verd-antique looking centenarians, who were fixtures in the
building, the chief himself was sure to be found enjoying his
'otium cum dignitate'--upon the luxurious mats which covered the
floor. Whenever I made my appearance he invariably rose, and
like a gentleman doing the honours of his mansion, invited me to
repose myself wherever I pleased, and calling out 'tamaree!'
(boy), a little fellow would appear, and then retiring for an
instant, return with some savoury mess, from which the chief
would press me to regale myself. To tell the truth, Mehevi was
indebted to the excellence of his viands for the honour of my
repeated visits--a matter which cannot appear singular, when it
is borne in mind that bachelors, all the world over, are famous
for serving up unexceptionable repasts.

One day, on drawing near to the Ti, I observed that extensive
preparations were going forward, plainly betokening