CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.
THE MIGRATION.
A TEWAN MD--EXCHANGE OF CIVILITIES--MAX'S FAREWELL BREAKFAST--A GLANCEAT THE FUTURE.
"We go from the shores where those blue billows roll, But that Isle, and those waters, shall live in my soul."
As the victor rose to his feet, his followers uttered a fierce yell, andprecipitated themselves upon the opposite party, which instantlydispersed and fled.
Wakatta cast a half-remorseful glance at the corpse of his adversary,and, raising his powerful voice, recalled his men from the pursuit.Then wading into the brook, he began to wash the gore from his head andface: one of his people, who from his official air of bustling alacrity,must have been a professional character, or at least an amateur surgeon,examined the wounds, and dexterously applied an improvised poultice ofchewed leaves to his gashed face, using broad strips of bark forbandages.
Meantime Arthur hastened over to the islet, and released our companionsfrom the ligatures of tappa which confined their limbs. Eiulo was nosooner freed, than he ran eagerly to Wakatta, who took him in his arms,and embraced him tenderly. After a rapid interchange of questions andreplies, during which they both shed tears, they seemed to be speakingof ourselves, Eiulo looking frequently towards us, and talking withgreat animation and earnestness. They then approached the place wherewe were standing, and Wakatta spoke a few words, pointing alternatelyfrom Eiulo to us. Arthur made some reply, whereupon the old warriorwent to him, and bending down his gigantic frame gave him a cordial hug;his fresh bandaged wounds probably caused him to dispense with the usualceremony of rubbing faces.
"I expect it will be our turn next," said Max, with a grimace, "if so,observe how readily I shall adapt myself to savage etiquette, andimitate my example."
It proved as he anticipated, for Wakatta, who must have received ahighly flattering account of us from Eiulo, was not satisfied until hehad bestowed upon each one of us, Johnny included, similar tokens of hisregard, Max rushing forward, with an air of "empressement," and takingthe initiative, as he had promised. The "surgeon," who seemed to thinkthat some friendly notice might also be expected from him, in virtue ofhis official character, now advanced with a patronising air, and in histurn paid us the same civilities, not omitting the rubbing of faces, ashis chief had done. Another one of our "allies," as Max called them, ahuge, good-natured-looking savage, picked up Johnny, very much as onewould a lap-dog or a pet kitten, and began to chuck him under the chin,and stroke his hair and cheeks, greatly to the annoyance of the objectof these flattering attentions, who felt his dignity sadly compromisedby such treatment.
As soon as these friendly advances were over, Arthur entered into aconversation with Wakatta, which, from the earnest expression of thecountenance of the latter, appeared to relate to something of greatinterest. Presently he spoke to his men, who seized their weapons withan air of alacrity, as if preparing for some instant expedition, andArthur, turning to us, said that we must set out in a body for the inletwhere we had seen the canoe of the other party, as it was thought of theutmost importance to secure it if possible. We started at once, at arapid rate, Wakatta leading the way, with tremendous strides, and thebig, good-natured fellow, taking Johnny upon his back, in spite of hisprotestations that he could run himself, quite as fast as was necessary.But on reaching the inlet we found that the other party had been tooquick for us; they were already through the surf, and under sail,coasting along towards the opening in the reef opposite Palm-Islet,probably with the intention of returning to Tewa.
It is now eight days since the events last narrated took place. On theday succeeding, we buried Atollo on the shore opposite Banyan islet,together with one of his followers, who had also been killed or mortallywounded in the conflict with us. Two others of them, who were too badlyhurt to accompany the hasty flight to the inlet, are still living in thewoods, Wakatta having strictly forbidden his people to injure them.
I ought here to explain the circumstances, as Arthur learned them fromWakatta, which brought the natives to our island. A civil war hadrecently broken out in Tewa, growing out of the plots of the Frenchmenresident there, and some discontented chiefs who made common cause withthem. One of the foreigners, connected by marriage with the family of apowerful chief, had been subjected by the authority of Eiulo's father,to a summary and severe punishment, for an outrage of which he had beenclearly convicted. This was the immediate cause of the outbreak.Atollo and his followers had issued from their fastnesses and joined theinsurgents; a severe and bloody battle had been fought, in which theywere completely successful, taking the chief himself prisoner, anddispersing his adherents.
Wakatta, attended by the six followers now with him, was at this timeabsent upon an excursion to a distant part of the island, and the firstintelligence which he received of what had taken place, was accompaniedby the notice that Atollo, with a formidable band, was then in eagersearch of him. Knowing well the relentless hatred borne him by thatstrange and desperate man, and that Tewa could furnish no lurking-placewhere he would be long secure from his indefatigable pursuit, he hadhastily embarked for the island where he had once before taken refuge,under somewhat similar circumstances. Hither his implacable foe hadpursued him. This statement will sufficiently explain what has beenalready related.
All our plans are yet uncertain. Wakatta meditates a secret return toTewa, confident that by his presence there, now that the formidableAtollo is no more, he can restore his chief to liberty and to hishereditary rights, if he yet survives.
An experiment has been made with the yawl, in order to ascertain whethershe can safely convey our entire party, savage and civilised, in case weshould conclude to leave the island. The result showed that it wouldscarcely be prudent for so great a number to embark in her upon a voyageto Tewa, and Wakatta and his people have now commenced building a canoe,which is to be of sufficient size to carry twenty persons.
Browne's prejudices against the "heathen savages," have been greatlysoftened by what he has seen of these natives, and he says that, "if therest of them are equally well-behaved, one might manage to get alongwith them quite comfortably." Max has taken a great fancy to Wakatta,whom he emphatically pronounces "a trump," a "regular brick," besidesbestowing upon him a variety of other elegant and original designations,of the like complimentary character. This may be owing in part, to thefact, that the old warrior has promised him a bread-fruit plantation,and eventually a pretty grand-daughter of his own for a wife, if he willaccompany him to Tewa and settle there.
As the preparations of our allies advance towards completion, we aremore and more reconciled to the thought of embarking with them. Johnnyhas already commenced packing his shells and "specimens" for removal.Max has ascertained, greatly to his relief, for he had some doubts onthe subject, that the gridiron and other cooking utensils can be stowedsafely in the locker of the yawl, and he anticipates much benevolentgratification in introducing these civilised "institutions," among thebarbarians of Tewa.
The intestine feuds which still rage there, and the probability that"our side," will find themselves in the minority, furnish the chiefgrounds of objection to the step contemplated. But we would cheerfullyincur almost any danger that promises to increase our prospect ofultimately reaching home.
There is some talk of a preliminary reconnoitring expedition, by Wakattaand two or three of his people, for the purpose of getting some definiteinformation as to the present position of affairs at Tewa, beforesetting out for it in a body. Max, yesterday, finished his miniatureship, and exhorted me to "wind up" our history forthwith, with a Homericdescription of the great battle at the islet, and our heroic defence ofthe banyan tree. He declares it to be his intention to enclose themanuscript in the hold of the vessel and launch her when half-way toTewa, in the assured confidence that the winds and waves will waft it toits destination, or to use his own phrase,--"that we shall yet be heardof in Hardscrabble."
Five days ago, the canoe was completed, and on the succeeding
afternoon,Wakatta, accompanied by "the doctor," and two other of his people,sailed for Tewa, for the purpose of endeavouring to learn whether itwould be prudent for us to venture thither at present.
We have been living of late at the cabin, and our "allies" have made anencampment by the lake, within a hundred paces of us. The state offeverish expectation naturally produced by our present circumstances,prevents any thing like regular occupation. We do nothing all the daybut wander restlessly about among the old haunts which were ourfavourites in the peaceful time of our early sojourn here. Max hasendeavoured to relieve the tedium, and get up an interest of some sort,by renewing his attempts against the great eel. But the patriarch is aswary, and his stronghold beneath the roots of the buttress tree asimpregnable as ever, and all efforts to his prejudice, whether by forceor stratagem, still prove unavailing. To escape, in some measure, thehumiliation of so mortifying a defeat, Max now affects to be convincedthat his venerable antagonist is no eel after all, but an oldwater-snake, inheriting his full share of the ancient wisdom of theserpent, and by whom it is consequently no disgrace for any mortal manto be outwitted.
For several days past we have even neglected preparing any regularmeals, satisfying our hunger as it arose with whatever could be mostreadily procured.
Max pronounces this last, "an alarming indication of the state of utterdemoralisation towards which we are hastening, and, in fact, thecommencement of a relapse into barbarism."
"One of the chief points of difference," he says, "between civilised andsavage man, is, that the former eats at stated and regular intervals, asa matter of social duty, whereas the latter only eats when he ishungry!"
_Two days later_. Wakatta has returned from his expedition, full ofhope and confidence, and actually looking ten years younger than when Ifirst saw him. He says that the position of affairs at Tewa is mostpromising. The recently victorious rebels have fallen into fiercecontentions among themselves, and a large faction of them, with theleaders of which he has entered into communication, is willing to unitewith him against the others, upon being assured of indemnity for pastoffences. Eiulo's father still lives, and has already gathered thenucleus of a force capable of retrieving his fortunes.
All is now finally determined upon, and we only wait for a favourablebreeze to bid adieu to these shores.
The morning of Wakatta's return, also witnessed another event of nearlyequal importance. I allude to a great farewell breakfast, given by Maxin celebration of our approaching departure, as well as for the purposeof stemming the current of the demoralising influence above alluded to.The "founder of the feast," together with Eiulo and Johnny, was uppreparing it with his own hospitable hands, a full hour before the restof us were awake.
It consisted of all the delicacies and luxuries that our island canafford: there were roasted oysters fresh from the shore, and poachedeggs fresh from the nest, (Max had despatched one of the natives toSea-birds' Point after them before daylight); then there were fishnicely broiled, and mealy taro, and baked bread-fruit hot from asubterranean Polynesian oven.
In the enjoyment of this generous fare, our drooping spirits rose, andMax, as was his wont, became discursive.
"What a humiliating reflection," exclaimed he, "that we should havepermitted ourselves to be so disturbed and fluttered, by the prospect ofa slight change in our affairs! Why should we distrust our destiny, orshrink from our mission? Why these nervous apprehensions, and theseunreasonable doubts?"--(Hear! hear!)
"`There _is_ a providence that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we will.'
"Let us accept, then, the belief which all things tend to confirm, thata glorious future awaits us in our new sphere of action at Tewa!"
"Ah!" sighed Browne, after a momentary pause, "Tewa may be a fineplace--but I doubt if they have any such oysters as these there." Theaction accompanying these words must have given Eiulo a clue to theirpurport, for he hastened eagerly to protest, through Arthur, asinterpreter, that the oysters at Tewa were much larger and fatter; headded, "that since we liked them so much, he would have them all`tabooed,' as soon as we arrived, so that `common people,' wouldn't darefor their lives to touch one."
"I used to regard the `taboo,'" said Browne, "as an arbitrary andoppressive heathen custom. But how ignorant and prejudiced we sometimesare in regard to foreign institutions! We must be very careful when weget there about introducing rash innovations upon the settled order ofthings."
"We will establish an enlightened system of common schools," said Max,"to begin with, and Arthur shall also open a Sunday-school."
"And in the course of time we will found a college, in which Browneshall be professor of Elocution and Oratory," said Morton.
"And you," resumed Max, "shall have a commission as Major-General in theRepublican army of Tewa, which you shall instruct in modern tactics, andlead to victory against the rebels."
"In the Royal army, if you please," interrupted Browne; "Republicanismis one of those crude and pestilent innovations which I shall set myface against! Can any one breathe so treasonable a suggestion in thepresence of the heir-apparent to the throne?--If such there be,Major-General Morton, I call upon you to attach him for a traitor!"
"And I," cried Johnny, "what shall I do!"
"Why," answered Max, "you shall rejoice the hearts of the Tewanjuveniles, by introducing among them the precious lore of thestory-books. The rising generation shall no longer remain in heathenignorance of Cinderella, and Jack of the Bean-stalk, and his still moreillustrious cousin, the Giant-killer! The sufferings of Sinbad, thevoyages of Gulliver, the achievements of Munchausen, the adventures ofCrusoe, shall yet become to them familiar as household words!"
"And Archer's mission shall be no less dignified and useful," resumedBrowne, "he shall keep the records of the monarchy, and become thefaithful historian of the happy, prosperous, and glorious reign of Eiulothe First!"
THE END.
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