As they neared the shore one of the natives who was swimming dived, and before he came to the surface the water was dyed with blood.
‘Laumasan! [good],’ chuckled Meri.
The native came to the surface, and they saw he had dived and stabbed a shark that had been in pursuit.
‘That was cleverly done,’ said Wal.
‘They must have some pluck,’ said Edgar.
‘Good fighters, many of them,’ said Wal. ‘We must try and get them to give us an exhibition of spear-throwing and stone-slinging. It will interest you.’
They got out of the canoes and waded through the surf to the beach. Here a number of natives, men and women, were gathered. The women were fairly well covered with long girdles reaching below the knee. These girdles were made of rolled dried fibre of the banana stalk, which was soft to touch and very like hemp. They also wore a few ornaments, and their hair was shorter than the men’s, standing erect in a forest of little curls about an inch long.
The chief conducted them to his hut, which was rudely constructed, but large enough to hold half a dozen persons comfortably. This hut was built amongst the trees, and there were huts of a smaller size for about eight or ten families.
The chief gave them to understand that they must join them at the marum, or place of public meeting.
This meeting was held under a banyan tree in a large clear space. All the men assembled here at sundown for their evening meal.