“The chief, who was our guide in the matter,” wrote Mrs. Stevenson, “found four large fat hogs, which Louis bought, and four cases of ship’s biscuit were sent over from the Casco, which is lying at Papeete for repairs....  Our hogs were killed in the morning, washed in the sea, and roasted whole in a pit with hot stones.  When done they were laid on their stomachs in neat open coffins of green basket work, each hog with his case of biscuits beside him.  Early in the morning the entire population began bathing, a bath being the preliminary to everything.  At about three o’clock—­four was the hour set—­there was a general movement toward our premises, so that I had to hurry Louis into his clothes, all white even to his shoes.  Lloyd was also in white, but barefoot....  The chief, who speaks French very well, stood beside Louis to interpret for him.  By the time we had taken our respective places on the veranda in front of our door, an immense crowd had assembled.  They came in five detachments....  Each set of people came bending under the weight of bamboo poles laden with fruits, figs, fowls, etc.  All were dressed in their gayest and many had wreaths of leaves or flowers on their heads.  The prettiest sight of all was the children, who came marching two and two abreast, the bamboo poles lying lengthwise across their shoulders.

“When all the offerings had been piled in five great heaps upon the ground, Louis made his oration to the accompaniment of the squealing of pigs, the cackling of hens, and the roar of the surf....  A speech was made in return on behalf of the village....  Each speaker finished by coming forward with one of the smaller things in his hand, which he offered personally to Louis, and then shook hands with us all and retired.  Among these smaller presents were many fish-hooks for large fishing, laboriously carved from mother-of-pearl shell.  One man came with one egg in each hand saying ’carry these to Scotland with you, let them hatch into cocks, and their song shall remind you of Tautira.’  The schoolmaster, with a leaf-basket of rose apples, made his speech in French.”

While overhauling the Casco two or three days before they planned to leave Tautira, Captain Otis was shocked to find the whole upper half of the main masthead completely eaten out by dry-rot.  This necessitated taking the schooner around to Papeete, on the other side of the island, for repairs.  Under ordinary circumstances the setting of a new masthead need to have delayed them but a few days; in the South Seas, however, it was a different matter.  Only after searching for days in Papeete was he able to find a man who knew anything of ship-carpentering, and when found he worked according to his own sweet will.  So it was five weeks before the Casco was ready to return for her passengers, who in the meantime were in a state of anxiety as to her whereabouts.

During their enforced stay Ori treated the entire family like a brother indeed, doing everything in his power to make their visit pleasant.