On rising after a sound sleep, I
found that my potted beef, which I had carefully hung from a nail
the night before, had been almost carried away by small ants. These
ants swarm in every house on low altitudes. They assemble in
legions as if by magic, and by their orderly activity carry away all
that they do not devour, of all eatables which have not been placed
on tables which have rags dipped in a solution of corrosive
sublimate wound round their legs.
We breakfasted by lamplight, and because I had said that some of the
viands reminded me of home, our kind host had provided them at that
early hour. He absolutely refused to be paid anything for the
accommodation of our party, and said he should be ashamed of himself
if he took anything from a lady travelling without a husband.
It was such a perfect morning. The full moon hung over the
enclosing palis, gleaming on coffee and breadfruit groves, and on
the surface of the river, which was just quivering under a soft sea
breeze. The dew was heavy, smoke curled idly from native houses,
the east was flushing with the dawn, and the valley looked the
picture of perfect peace. A number of natives assembled to see us
start, and they all shook hands with us, exchanging alohas, and
presenting us with leis of roses and ohias.
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