The war being resolved upon, preparations now went on, and consumed so much time that many again lost interest. They grew impatient, first at the preparations, and then at the expected war itself, and so had to be repeatedly stirred up by new infusions of resolution. Koree superintended the preparations, whose chief work was to keep the minds of the people prepared; for our early ancestors could not hold a resolution as long as we. Their anger was soon cool, like their love, and their attention went rapidly from one subject to another.
“Hollow out some water-melons,” said Koree, “in which to carry our weapons.”
The Ammi had used melon rinds for vessels, when they wanted something larger than a cocoanut shell. These lasted, indeed, but a short time, but they were easily replaced.
“Water-melons are too heavy,” said one, “and will spoil before we reach the enemy. Let us use bark which can be tied at the ends and hung over our shoulders.”
Some, accordingly, took bark, but many preferred melons or gourds, which, however, they exchanged for bark before proceeding far. It takes experience to learn what is best for war or peace.
“Sharpen your clubs,” said Koree, “but only at one end. Let the other end be blunt, so as to serve for a staff in marching and a weapon in battle.”
They accordingly sharpened their clubs, which served as spears, and also aided them in digging for roots, clams and other provisions.
They also provided split bones and broken cocoanut shells, which were sharp, and so served both as weapons to cut and implements to dig.
Some thought of still other things which might be useful in war, and filled their bark knapsacks with so much that, when they were ready to start they were so hopelessly overloaded that they could scarcely move. But they gained experience on the way, and soon learned what to leave as well as what to take, thus acquiring early the soldier’s virtue of learning to throw away.