I could
not make it out well, but they seem all doing the same thing."
"I know what they are about, William: they are cutting themselves with
knives or other sharp instruments. It is the custom of these people.
The dead are all put into the canoes, and these women are lamenting
over them; perhaps they are going away, since the dead are in the
canoes. but there is no saying."
Chapter LXIV
The second day was passed in keeping a look-out upon the savages, and
awaiting a fresh attack. They could perceive from the top of the
cocoa-nut tree that the savages held a council of war in the forenoon,
sitting round in a large circle, while one got up in the centre and
made a speech, flourishing his club and spear while he spoke. In the
afternoon the council broke up, and the savages were observed to be
very busy in all directions, cutting down the cocoa-nut trees, and
collecting all the brushwood.
Ready watched them for a long while, and at last came down a little
before sunset. "Mr. Seagrave," said he, "we shall have, in my opinion,
no attack this night, but to-morrow we must expect something very
serious; the savages are cutting down the trees, and making large
faggots; they do not get on very fast, because their hatchets are made
of stone and don't cut very well, but perseverance and numbers will
effect everything, and I dare say that they will work all night till
they have obtained as many faggots as they want.
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