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We selected a new position for the house, at the back of a large temple; gave them tobacco and red cloth, they promising gladly to have wood cut against my next return. Sitting on the platform, Rua turned to me and asked, "Tamate, who is your real Maiva friend?"
In a flash every arrow was taken from its bow, and again not a weapon was to be seen. Iko then called out again to Pouta, and Tamate told Iko what he was to say to his friend, the savage chief. For some minutes the conversation went on. At last Iko came to the point of asking for a canoe to take them ashore. Chief Pouta hesitated.
"No white man has even seen the people of Iala," said Tamate for that was the native name given to James Chalmers, the Scottish boy who had now gone out to far-off Papua as a missionary. "Iko there" and he pointed to a stalwart Papuan who stood by the funnel "is the only one of us who has seen them and can speak their tongue.
All the women and children had been sent away, for these men were out to fight. They did not know whether this strange house upon the water with the smoke coming from its chimney was the work of gods or devils. Still they stood there to face the strange thing and, if need be, to fight. Brown Iko stood in the bows of the Miro; near him stood Tamate.
"Kaione, Gidage;" and away he started, leaving Tamate on the beach, surrounded by an interesting crowd of natives. It was near here, a few years after, that a beche-de-mer party of seven were murdered; and on the opposite side of the bay two cedar-seekers were waylaid, and lost their lives. We went into Sandbank Bay, and I landed at the village of Domara. What a scene it was!
Without stooping each caught up an arrow that stood between his toes and with one movement fixed it and pulled the bamboo strings of their black bows till the notch of the arrows touched their ears. A hundred arrows were aimed at the hearts of Tamate and Mr. and Mrs. Abel. Swiftly Iko stood upon the bulwark of the Miro, and shouted just one word at the top of his voice.
He was the chief, and was named Gidage. When going round he said "You are no longer Tamate, you are Gidage." "Right, my friend; you are no longer Gidage, you are Tamate." I gave him an extra present, and he gave me a return one, saying, "Gidage, we are friends; stay, and I, Tamate, will kill you a pig." "No, Tamate. Gidage must go; but hopes to re-return, and will then eat Tamate's pig."
So Tamate, wishing to ask Iko how far away the village of Iala was, spoke first to old Vaaburi, and then Vaaburi asked Iko. Iko stretched out his dark forefinger, and made them understand that that finger meant the length of their journey to Iala.
Such as she keep the natives in constant fear, do what they like, and get what they like. It is affirmed by all that the great Lolo sorcerer, Arua, keeps snakes in bamboos, and uses them for his nefarious purposes. Late in the afternoon we left, accompanied by Madu and a number of youths carrying pig, cocoanuts, and sugar-cane. When leaving, the chief said, "Go, Tamate; we are friends."
Look where they would, in every direction, this white woman and the two men were completely surrounded by an unbroken mass of wild and armed savages, who stood gazing upon the strange apparitions in their midst. Tamate, without a pause, perfectly calm, and showing no signs of fear, spoke to Pouta and his men through old Vaaburi and Iko. "We have come," he said, "so that we may be friends.
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