Wewerenearlythreehoursinreachingthevillage，itbeingmorethanninemilesintheinterior，andthepathlyingthrougharuggedcountry。Aswepassedalong，thepartyofToo-witthewholehundredandtensavagesofthecanoeswasmomentarilystrengthenedbysmallerdetachments，offromtwotosixorseven，whichjoinedus，asifbyaccident，atdifferentturnsoftheroad。ThereappearedsomuchofsysteminthisthatIcouldnothelpfeelingdistrust，andI
　　spoketoCaptainGuyofmyapprehensions。Itwasnowtoolate，however，torecede，andweconcludedthatourbestsecuritylayinevincingaperfectconfidenceinthegoodfaithofToo-wit。Weaccordinglywenton，keepingawaryeyeuponthemanoeuvresofthesavages，andnotpermittingthemtodivideournumbersbypushinginbetween。Inthisway，passingthroughaprecipitousravine，weatlengthreachedwhatweweretoldwastheonlycollectionofhabitationsupontheisland。Aswecameinsightofthem，thechiefsetupashout，andfrequentlyrepeatedthewordKlock-klock，whichwesup。posedtobethenameofthevillage，orperhapsthegenericnameforvillages。
　　Thedwellingswereofthemostmiserabledescriptionimaginable，and，unlikethoseofeventhelowestofthesavageraceswithwhichmankindareacquainted，wereofnouniformplan。SomeofthemandthesewefoundbelongedtotheWampoosorYampoos，thegreatmenofthelandconsistedofatreecutdownataboutfourfeetfromtheroot，withalargeblackskinthrownoverit，andhanginginloosefoldsupontheground。Underthisthesavagenestled。Otherswereformedbymeansofroughlimbsoftrees，withthewitheredfoliageuponthem，madetorecline，atanangleofforty-fivedegrees，againstabankofclay，heapedup，withoutregularform，totheheightoffiveorsixfeet。Others，again，weremereholesdugintheearthperpendicularly，andcoveredoverwithsimilarbranches，thesebeingremovedwhenthetenantwasabouttoenter，andpulledonagainwhenhehadentered。Afewwerebuiltamongtheforkedlimbsoftreesastheystood，theupperlimbsbeingpartiallycutthrough，soastobendoveruponthelower，thusformingthickershelterfromtheweather。Thegreaternumber，however，consistedofsmallshallowcaverns，apparentlyscratchedinthefaceofaprecipitousledgeofdarkstone，resemblingfuller’searth，withwhichthreesidesofthevillagewerebounded。Atthedoorofeachoftheseprimitivecavernswasasmallrock，whichthetenantcarefullyplacedbeforetheentranceuponleavinghisresidence，forwhatpurposeIcouldnotascertain，asthestoneitselfwasneverofsufficientsizetocloseupmorethanathirdoftheopening。
　　Thisvillage，ifitwereworthyofthename，layinavalleyofsomedepth，andcouldonlybeapproachedfromthesouthward，theprecipitousledgeofwhichIhavealreadyspokencuttingoffallaccessinotherdirections。Throughthemiddleofthevalleyranabrawlingstreamofthesamemagical-lookingwaterwhichhasbeendescribed。Wesawseveralstrangeanimalsaboutthedwellings，allappearingtobethoroughlydomesticated。Thelargestofthesecreaturesresembledourcommonhoginthestructureofthebodyandsnout；thetail，however，wasbushy，andthelegsslenderasthoseoftheantelope。Itsmotionwasexceedinglyawkwardandindecisive，andweneversawitattempttorun。Wenoticedalsoseveralanimalsverysimilarinappearance，butofagreaterlengthofbody，andcoveredwithablackwool。Therewereagreatvarietyoftamefowlsrunningabout，andtheseseemedtoconstitutethechieffoodofthenatives。
　　Toourastonishmentwesawblackalbatrossamongthesebirdsinastateofentiredomestication，goingtoseaperiodicallyforfood，butalwaysreturningtothevillageasahome，andusingthesouthernshoreinthevicinityasaplaceofincubation。Theretheywerejoinedbytheirfriendsthepelicansasusual，buttheselatterneverfollowedthemtothedwellingsofthesavages。Amongtheotherkindsoftamefowlswereducks，differingverylittlefromthecanvass-backofourowncountry，blackgannets，andalargebirdnotunlikethebuzzardinappearance，butnotcarnivorous。Offishthereseemedtobeagreatabundance。Wesaw，duringourvisit，aquantityofdriedsalmon，rockcod，bluedolphins，mackerel，blackfish，skate，congereels，elephantfish，mullets，soles，parrotfish，leather-jackets，gurnards，hake，flounders，paracutas，andinnumerableothervarieties。Wenoticed，too，thatmostofthemweresimilartothefishaboutthegroupofLordAucklandIslands，inalatitudeaslowasfifty-onedegreessouth。TheGallipagotortoisewasalsoveryplentiful。Wesawbutfewwildanimals，andnoneofalargesize，orofaspecieswithwhichwewerefamiliar。Oneortwoserpentsofaformidableaspectcrossedourpath，butthenativespaidthemlittleattention，andweconcludedthattheywerenotvenomous。
　　AsweapproachedthevillagewithToo-witandhisparty，avastcrowdofthepeoplerushedouttomeetus，withloudshouts，amongwhichwecouldonlydistinguishtheeverlastingAnamoo-moo！andLama-Lama！Weweremuchsurprisedatperceivingthat，withoneortwoexceptions，thesenewcomerswereentirelynaked，andskinsbeingusedonlybythemenofthecanoes。Alltheweaponsofthecountryseemedalsotobeinthepossessionofthelatter，fortherewasnoappearanceofanyamongthevillagers。Therewereagreatmanywomenandchildren，theformernotaltogetherwantinginwhatmightbetermedpersonalbeauty。Theywerestraight，tall，andwellformed，withagraceandfreedomofcarriagenottobefoundincivilizedsociety。Theirlips，however，likethoseofthemen，werethickandclumsy，sothat，evenwhenlaughing，theteethwereneverdisclosed。
　　Theirhairwasofafinertexturethanthatofthemales。Amongthesenakedvillagerstheremighthavebeentenortwelvewhowereclothed，likethepartyofToo-wit，indressesofblackskin，andarmedwithlancesandheavyclubs。Theseappearedtohavegreatinfluenceamongtherest，andwerealwaysaddressedbythetitleWampoo。These，too，werethetenantsoftheblackskinpalaces。ThatofToo-witwassituatedinthecentreofthevillage，andwasmuchlargerandsomewhatbetterconstructedthanothersofitskind。Thetreewhichformeditssupportwascutoffatadistanceoftwelvefeetorthereaboutsfromtheroot，andtherewereseveralbranchesleftjustbelowthecut，theseservingtoextendthecovering，andinthiswaypreventitsflappingaboutthetrunk。Thecovering，too，whichconsistedoffourverylargeskinsfastenedtogetherwithwoodenskewers，wassecuredatthebottomwithpegsdriventhroughitandintotheground。Thefloorwasstrewedwithaquantityofdryleavesbywayofcarpet。
　　Tothishutwewereconductedwithgreatsolemnity，andasmanyofthenativescrowdedinafterusaspossible。Too-witseatedhimselfontheleaves，andmadesignsthatweshouldfollowhisexample。Thiswedid，andpresentlyfoundourselvesinasituationpeculiarlyuncomfortable，ifnotindeedcritical。Wewereontheground，twelveinnumber，withthesavages，asmanyasforty，sittingontheirhamssocloselyaroundusthat，ifanydisturbancehadarisen，weshouldhavefounditimpossibletomakeuseofourarms，orindeedtohaverisentoourfeet。Thepressurewasnotonlyinsidethetent，butoutside，whereprobablywaseveryindividualonthewholeisland，thecrowdbeingpreventedfromtramplingustodeathonlybytheincessantexertionsandvociferationsofToo-wit。Ourchiefsecuritylay，however，inthepresenceofToo-withimselfamongus，andweresolvedtostickbyhimclosely，asthebestchanceofextricatingourselvesfromthedilemma，sacrificinghimimmediatelyuponthefirstappearanceofhostiledesign。
　　Aftersometroubleacertaindegreeofquietwasrestored，whenthechiefaddressedusinaspeechofgreatlength，andverynearlyresemblingtheonedeliveredinthecanoes，withtheexceptionthattheAnamoo-moos！werenowsomewhatmorestrenuouslyinsisteduponthantheLama-Lamas！Welistenedinprofoundsilenceuntiltheconclusionofthisharangue，whenCaptainGuyrepliedbyassuringthechiefofhiseternalfriendshipandgoodwill，concludingwhathehadtosaybeapresentofseveralstringsofbluebeadsandaknife。Attheformerthemonarch，muchtooursurprise，turneduphisnosewithsomeexpressionofcontempt，buttheknifegavehimthemostunlimitedsatisfaction，andheimmediatelyordereddinner。Thiswashandedintothetentovertheheadsoftheattendants，andconsistedofthepalpitatingentrailsofaspecialsofunknownanimal，probablyoneoftheslim-leggedhogswhichwehadobservedinourapproachtothevillage。Seeingusatalosshowtoproceed，hebegan，bywayofsettingusanexample，todevouryardafteryardoftheenticingfood，untilwecouldpositivelystanditnolonger，andevincedsuchmanifestsymptomsofrebellionofstomachasinspiredhismajestywithadegreeofastonishmentonlyinferiortothatbroughtaboutbythelooking-glasses。Wedeclined，however，partakingofthedelicaciesbeforeus，andendeavouredtomakehimunderstandthatwehadnoappetitewhatever，havingjustfinishedaheartydejeuner。
　　Whenthemonarchhadmadeanendofhismeal，wecommencedaseriesofcross-questioningineveryingeniousmannerwecoulddevise，withaviewofdiscoveringwhatwerethechiefproductionsofthecountry，andwhetheranyofthemmightbeturnedtoprofit。Atlengthheseemedtohavesomeideaofourmeaning，andofferedtoaccompanyustoapartofcoastwhereheassuredusthebichedemerpointingtoaspecimenofthatanimalwastobefoundingreatabundance。Weweregladofthisearlyopportunityofescapingfromtheoppressionofthecrowd，andsignifiedoureagernesstoproceed。
　　Wenowleftthetent，and，accompaniedbythewholepopulationofthevillage，followedthechieftothesoutheasternextremityoftheisland，norfarfromthebaywhereourvessellayatanchor。Wewaitedhereforaboutanhour，untilthefourcanoeswerebroughtaroundbysomeofthesavagestoourstation。thewholeofourpartythengettingintooneofthem，wewerepaddledalongtheedgeofthereefbeforementioned，andofanotherstillfartherout，wherewesawafargreaterquantityofbichedemerthantheoldestseamenamongushadeverseeninthosegroupsofthelowerlatitudesmostcelebratedforthisarticleofcommerce。Westayednearthesereefsonlylongenoughtosatisfyourselvesthatwecouldeasilyloadadozenvesselswiththeanimalifnecessary，whenweweretakenalongsidetheschooner，andpartedwithToo-wit，afterobtainingfromhimapromisethathewouldbringus，inthecourseoftwenty-fourhours，asmanyofthecanvass-backducksandGallipagotortoisesashiscanoeswouldhold。Inthewholeofthisadventurewesawnothinginthedemeanourofthenativescalculatedtocreatesuspicion，withthesingleexceptionofthesystematicmannerinwhichtheirpartywasstrengthenedduringourroutefromtheschoonertothevillage。
　　THEchiefwasasgoodashisword，andweweresoonplentifullysup。pliedwithfreshprovisions。Wefoundthetortoisesasfineaswehadeverseen，andtheduckssurpassedourbestspeciesofwildfowl，beingexceedinglytender，juicy，andwell-flavoured。Besidesthese，thesavagesbroughtus，uponourmakingthemcomprehendourwishes，avastquantityofbrownceleryandscurvygrass，withacanoe-loadoffreshfishandsomedried。Thecelerywasatreatindeed，andthescurvygrassprovedofincalculablebenefitinrestoringthoseofourmenwhohadshownsymptomsofdisease。Inaveryshorttimewehadnotasinglepersononthesick-list。Wehadalsoplentyofotherkindsoffreshprovisions，amongwhichmaybementionedaspeciesofshellfishresemblingthemusselinshape，butwiththetasteofanoyster。Shrimps，too，andprawnswereabundant，andalbatrossandotherbirds’eggswithdarkshells。Wetookin，too，aplentifulstockofthefleshofthehogwhichIhavementionedbefore。Mostofthemenfounditapalatablefood，butIthoughtitfishyandotherwisedisagreeable。Inreturnforthesegoodthingswepresentedthenativeswithbluebeads，brasstrinkets，nails，knives，andpiecesofredcloth，theybeingfullydelightedintheexchange。
　　Weestablishedaregularmarketonshore，justunderthegunsoftheschooner，whereourbarteringswerecarriedonwitheveryappearanceofgoodfaith，andadegreeoforderwhichtheirconductatthevillageof_Klock-klock_hadnotledustoexpectfromthesavages。
　　Matterswentonthusveryamicablyforseveraldays，duringwhichpartiesofthenativeswerefrequentlyonboardtheschooner，andpartiesofourmenfrequentlyonshore，makinglongexcursionsintotheinterior，andreceivingnomolestationwhatever。Findingtheeasewithwhichthevesselmightbeloadedwith_bichedemer_，owingtothefriendlydispositionoftheislanders，andthereadinesswithwhichtheywouldrenderusassistanceincollectingit，CaptainGuyresolvedtoenterintonegotiationswithToo-witfortheerectionofsuitablehousesinwhichtocurethearticle，andfortheservicesofhimselfandtribeingatheringasmuchaspossible，whilehehimselftookadvantageofthefineweathertoprosecutehisvoyagetothesouthward。Uponmentioningthisprojecttothechiefheseemedverywillingtoenterintoanagreement。Abargainwasaccordinglystruck，perfectlysatisfactorytobothparties，bywhichitwasarrangedthat，aftermakingthenecessarypreparations，suchaslayingoffthepropergrounds，erectingaportionofthebuildings，anddoingsomeotherworkinwhichthewholeofourcrewwouldberequired，theschoonershouldproceedonherroute，leavingthreeofhermenontheislandtosuperintendthefulfilmentoftheproject，andinstructthenativesindryingthe_bichedemer_。Inregardtoterms，theseweremadetodependupontheexertionsofthesavagesinourabsence。Theyweretoreceiveastipulatedquantityofbluebeads，knives，redcloth，andsoforth，foreverycertainnumberofpiculsofthe_bichedemer_whichshouldbereadyonourreturn。