Upononepointthereseemstobenoquestion：thatthefeastwassometimesfurnishedfromwithintheclan。Intimesofscarcity，allwhowerenotprotectedbytheirfamilyconnections-intheHighlandexpression，allthecommonsoftheclan-hadcausetotremble。Itwasvaintoresist，itwasuselesstoflee。Theywerebegirtuponallhandsbycannibals；andtheovenwasreadytosmokeforthemabroadinthecountryoftheirfoes，orathomeinthevalleyoftheirfathers。
　　Atacertaincorneroftheroadourscholar-guidestruckofftohisleftintothetwilightoftheforest。Wewerenowononeoftheancientnativeroads，plungedinahighvaultofwood，andclambering，itseemed，atrandomoverbouldersanddeadtrees；buttheladwoundinandoutandupanddownwithoutacheck，forthesepathsaretothenativesasmarkedastheking’shighwayistous；
　　insomuchthat，inthedaysoftheman-hunt，itwastheirlabourrathertoblockanddefacethantoimprovethem。Inthecryptofthewoodtheairwasclammyandhotandcold；overhead，upontheleaves，thetropicalrainuproariouslypoured，butonlyhereandthere，asthroughholesinaleakyroof，asingledropwouldfall，andmakeaspotuponmymackintosh。Presentlythehugetrunkofabanyanhoveinsight，standinguponwhatseemedtheruinsofanancientfort；andourguide，haltingandholdingforthhisarm，announcedthatwehadreachedthePAEPAETAPU。
　　PAEPAEsignifiesafloororplatformsuchasanativehouseisbuilton；andevensuchapaepae-apaepaehae-maybecalledapaepaetapuinalessersensewhenitisdesertedandbecomesthehauntofspirits；butthepublichighplace，suchasIwasnowtreading，wasathingonagreatscale。Asfarasmyeyescouldpiercethroughthedarkundergrowth，theflooroftheforestwasallpaved。Threetiersofterraceranontheslopeofthehill；infront，acrumblingparapetcontainedthemainarena；andthepavementofthatwaspiercedandparcelledoutwithseveralwellsandsmallenclosures。Notraceremainedofanysuperstructure，andtheschemeoftheamphitheatrewasdifficulttoseize。IvisitedanotherinHiva-oa，smallerbutmoreperfect，whereitwaseasytofollowrowsofbenches，andtodistinguishisolatedseatsofhonourforeminentpersons；andwhere，ontheupperplatform，asinglejoistofthetempleordead-housestillremained，itsuprightsrichlycarved。Intheolddaysthehighplacewassedulouslytended。Notreeexceptthesacredbanyanwassufferedtoencroachuponitsgrades，nodeadleaftorotuponthepavement。Thestonesweresmoothlyset，andIamtoldtheywerekeptbrightwithoil。
　　Onallsidestheguardianslayencampedintheirsubsidiaryhutstowatchandcleanseit。Nootherfootofmanwassufferedtodrawnear；onlythepriest，inthedaysofhisrunning，cametheretosleep-perhapstodreamofhisungodlyerrand；but，inthetimeofthefeast，theclantroopedtothehighplaceinabody，andeachhadhisappointedseat。Therewereplacesforthechiefs，thedrummers，thedancers，thewomen，andthepriests。Thedrums-
　　perhapstwentystrong，andsomeofthemtwelvefeethigh-
　　continuouslythrobbedintime。Intimethesingerskeptuptheirlong-drawn，lugubrious，ululatingsong；intime，too，thedancers，trickedoutinsingularfinery，stepped，leaped，swayed，andgesticulated-theirplumedfingersflutteringintheairlikebutterflies。Thesenseoftime，inalltheseoceanraces，isextremelyperfect；andIconceiveinsuchafestivalthatalmosteverysoundandmovementfellinone。Somuchthemoreunanimouslymusthavegrowntheagitationofthefeasters；somuchthemorewildmusthavebeenthescenetoanyEuropeanwhocouldhavebeheldthemthere，inthestrongsunandthestrongshadowofthebanyan，rubbedwithsaffrontothrowinamorehighreliefthearabesqueofthetattoo；thewomenbleachedbydaysofconfinementtoacomplexionalmostEuropean；thechiefscrownedwithsilverplumesofoldmen’sbeardsandgirtwithkirtlesofthehairofdeadwomen。Allmannerofislandfoodwasmeanwhilespreadforthewomenandthecommons；and，forthosewhowereprivilegedtoeatofit，therewerecarrieduptothedead-housethebasketsoflong-
　　pig。Itistoldthatthefeastswerelongkeptup；thepeoplecamefromthembrutishlyexhaustedwithdebauchery，andthechiefsheavywiththeirbeastlyfood。Therearecertainsentimentswhichwecallemphaticallyhuman-denyingthehonourofthatnametothosewholackthem。Insuchfeasts-particularlywherethevictimhasbeenslainathome，andmenbanquetedonthepoorclayofacomradewithwhomtheyhadplayedininfancy，orawomanwhosefavourstheyhadshared-thewholebodyofthesesentimentsisoutraged。Toconsiderittoocloselyistounderstand，ifnottoexcuse，thefervoursofself-righteousoldship-captains，whowouldmantheirguns，andopenfireinpassing，onacannibalisland。
　　Andyetitwasstrange。There，uponthespot，asIstoodunderthehigh，drippingvaultoftheforest，withtheyoungpriestontheonehand，inhiskiltedgown，andthebright-eyedMarquesanschoolboyontheother，thewholebusinessappearedinfinitelydistant，andfalleninthecoldperspectiveanddrylightofhistory。Thebearingofthepriest，perhaps，affectedme。Hesmiled；hejestedwiththeboy，theheirbothofthesefeastersandtheirmeat；heclappedhishands，andgavemeastaveofoneoftheold，ill-omenedchoruses。Centuriesmighthavecomeandgonesincethisslimytheatrewaslastinoperation；andIbeheldtheplacewithnomoreemotionthanImighthavefeltinvisitingStonehenge。
　　InHiva-oa，asIbegantoappreciatethatthethingwasstilllivingandlatentaboutmyfootsteps，andthatitwasstillwithintheboundsofpossibilitythatImighthearthecryofthetrappedvictim，myhistoricattitudeentirelyfailed，andIwassensibleofsomerepugnanceforthenatives。Buthere，too，thepriestsmaintainedtheirjocularattitude：rallyingthecannibalsasuponaneccentricityratherabsurdthanhorrible；seeking，Ishouldsay，toshamethemfromthepracticebygood-naturedridicule，asweshameachildfromstealingsugar。WemayhererecognisethetemperateandsagaciousmindofBishopDordillon。
　　CHAPTERXII-THESTORYOFAPLANTATION
　　TAAHAUKU，onthesouth-westerlycoastoftheislandofHiva-oa-
　　Tahuku，saytheslovenlywhites-maybecalledtheportofAtuona。
　　Itisanarrowandsmallanchorage，setbetweenlowcliffypoints，andopeningaboveuponawoodyvalley：alittleFrenchfort，nowdisusedanddeserted，overhangsthevalleyandtheinlet。Atuonaitself，attheheadofthenextbay，isframedinatheatreofmountains，whichdominatethemoreimmediatesettlingofTaahaukuandgivethesalientcharacterofthescene。Theyarereckonedatnohigherthanfourthousandfeet；butTahitiwitheightthousand，andHawaiiwithfifteen，canoffernosuchpictureofabrupt，melancholyalps。Inthemorning，whenthesunfallsdirectlyontheirfront，theystandlikeavastwall：greentothesummit，ifbyanychancethesummitshouldbeclear-water-courseshereandtheredelineatedontheirface，asnarrowascracks。Towardsafternoon，thelightfallsmoreobliquely，andthesculptureoftherangecomesinrelief，hugegorgessinkingintoshadow，huge，tortuousbuttressesstandingedgedwithsun。Atallhoursofthedaytheystriketheeyewithsomenewbeauty，andthemindwiththesamemenacinggloom。
　　Themountains，dividinganddeflectingtheendlessairydelugeoftheTrade，aredoubtlessanswerablefortheclimate。Astrongdraughtofwindblewdayandnightovertheanchorage。Dayandnightthesamefantasticandattenuatedcloudsfledacrosstheheavens，thesameduskycapofrainandvapourfellandroseonthemountain。Theland-breezescameverystrongandchill，andthesea，liketheair，wasinperpetualbustle。Theswellcrowdedintothenarrowanchoragelikesheepintoafold；brokeallalongbothsides，highontheone，lowontheother；keptacertainblowholesoundingandsmokinglikeacannon；andspentitselfatlastuponthebeach。
　　OnthesideawayfromAtuona，theshelteringpromontorywasanurseryofcoco-trees。Someweremereinfants，nonehadattainedtoanysize，nonehadyetbeguntoshootskywardwiththatwhip-
　　likeshaftofthematurepalm。Intheyoungtreesthecolouralterswiththeageandgrowth。Nowallisofagrass-likehue，infinitelydainty；nexttheribgrowsgolden，thefrondsremaininggreenasferns；andthen，asthetrunkcontinuestomountandtoassumeitsfinalhueofgrey，thefansputonmanlierandmoredecideddepthsofverdure，standoutdarkuponthedistance，glistenagainstthesun，andflashlikesilverfountainsintheassaultofthewind。InthisyoungwoodofTaahauku，allthesehuesandcombinationswereexampledandrepeatedbythescore。Thetreesgrewpleasantlyspaceduponahillysward，hereandthereinterspersedwitharackfordryingcopra，oratumble-downhutforstoringit。EveryhereandtherethestrollerhadaglimpseoftheCASCOtossinginthenarrowanchoragebelow；andbeyondhehadeverbeforehimthedarkamphitheatreoftheAtuonamountainsandthecliffybluffthatclosesittoseaward。Thetrade-windmovinginthefansmadeaceaselessnoiseofsummerrain；andfromtimetotime，withthesoundofasuddenanddistantdrum-beat，thesurfwouldburstinasea-cave。
　　Attheupperendoftheinlet，itslow，cliffyliningsinks，atbothsides，intoabeach。Acoprawarehousestandsintheshadowoftheshoresidetrees，flittedaboutforeverbyaclanofdwarfishswallows；andalineofrailsonahighwoodenstagingbendsbackintothemouthofthevalley。Walkingonthis，thenew-
　　landedtravellerbecomesawareofabroadfresh-waterlagoononearmofwhichhecrosses，andbeyond，ofagroveofnoblepalms，shelteringthehouseofthetrader，Mr。Keane。Overhead，thecocosjoininacontinuousandloftyroof；blackbirdsareheardlustilysinging；theislandcockspringshisjubilantrattleandairshisgoldenplumage；cow-bellssoundfarandnearinthegrove；andwhenyousitinthebroadverandah，lulledbythissymphony，youmaysaytoyourself，ifyouareable：’BetterfiftyyearsofEurope……’
　　Fartheron，thefloorofthevalleyisflatandgreen，anddottedhereandtherewithstriplingcoco-palms。Throughthemidst，withmanychangesofmusic，therivertrotsandbrawls；andalongitscourse，whereweshouldlookforwillows，puraosgrowinclusters，andmakeshadowypoolsafteranangler’sheart。Avalemorerichandpeaceful，sweeterair，asweetervoiceofruralsounds，Ihavefoundnowhere。Onecircumstancealonemightstriketheexperienced：hereisaconvenientbeach，deepsoil，goodwater，andyetnowhereanypaepaes，nowhereanytraceofislandhabitation。
　　Itisbutafewyearssincethisvalleywasaplacechokedwithjungle，thedebatablelandandbattle-groundofcannibals。Twoclanslaidclaimtoit-neithercouldsubstantiatetheclaim，andtheroadslaydesert，orwereonlyvisitedbymeninarms。Itisforthisveryreasonthatitwearsnowsosmilinganappearance：
　　cleared，planted，builtupon，suppliedwithrailways，boat-houses，andbath-houses。For，beingnoman’sland，itwasthemorereadilycededtoastranger。ThestrangerwasCaptainJohnHart：ImaHati，’Broken-arm，’thenativescallhim，becausewhenhefirstvisitedtheislandshisarmwasinasling。CaptainHart，amanofEnglishbirth，butanAmericansubject，hadconceivedtheideaofcottoncultureintheMarquesasduringtheAmericanWar，andwasatfirstrewardedwithsuccess。HisplantationatAnahowashighlyproductive；islandcottonfetchedahighprice，andthenativesusedtodebatewhichwasthestrongerpower，ImaHatiortheFrench：decidinginfavourofthecaptain，because，thoughtheFrenchhadthemostships，hehadthemoremoney。
　　HemarkedTaahaukuforasuitablesite，acquiredit，andofferedthesuperintendencetoMr。RobertStewart，aFifeshireman，alreadysometimeintheislands，whohadjustbeenruinedbyawaronTauata。Mr。Stewartwassomewhataversetotheadventure，havingsomeacquaintancewithAtuonaanditsnotoriouschieftain，Moipu。
　　Hehadoncelandedthere，hetoldme，aboutdusk，andfoundtheremainsofamanandwomanpartlyeaten。Onhisstartingandsickeningatthesight，oneofMoipu’syoungmenpickedupahumanfoot，andprovocativelystaringatthestranger，grinnedandnibbledattheheel。NoneneedbesurprisedifMr。Stewartfledincontinentlytothebush，laythereallnightinagreathorrorofmind，andgotofftoseaagainbydaylightonthemorrow。’Itwasalwaysabadplace，Atuona，’commentedMr。Stewart，inhishomelyFifeshirevoice。Inspiteofthisdireintroduction，heacceptedthecaptain’soffer，waslandedatTaahaukuwiththreeChinamen，andproceededtoclearthejungle。
　　Warwaspursuedatthattime，almostwithoutinterval，betweenthemenofAtuonaandthemenofHaamau；andoneday，fromtheoppositesidesofthevalley，battle-orIshouldrathersaythenoiseofbattle-ragedalltheafternoon：theshotsandinsultsoftheopposingclanspassingfromhilltohillovertheheadsofMr。
　　StewartandhisChinamen。Therewasnogenuinefighting；itwaslikeabickerofschoolboys，onlysomefoolhadgiventhechildrenguns。Onemandiedofhisexertionsinrunning，theonlycasualty。