The men next proceeded to embrace their relation Jenna in the same manner they had before done me; and this part of the ceremony was now concluded.

The women, who had retired after having welcomed me, again came in from behind some bushes, where the children all yet remained and, bringing several of them up to me, insisted on my hugging them.  The little things screamed and kicked most lustily, being evidently frightened out of their wits; but the men seized on and dragged them up.  I took the youngest ones in my arms, and by caresses soon calmed their fears; so that those who were brought afterwards cried to reach me first, instead of crying to be taken away.

A POINT OF HONOUR.

A considerable time had been occupied by these various occurrences, which to me had been most interesting; but one of a more painful character was now to follow.  It appears that a sister of the native Jenna had been speared and killed by a man who at present was resident with this tribe; and, although most of them were on friendly terms with this native, they conceived that Jenna was bound to revenge her death in fair and open fight.  The old lady (my mother) went up to him and, seizing his merro, or throwing-stick, told him that the man who had killed his sister was at a little distance; “and if,” said she, “you are not a man, and know not how to use this, let a woman’s hand try what it can do,” at the same time trying to force it from him.  All the time that she was thus pretending to wrench his merro away she indulged in a most eloquent speech to endeavour to rouse his courage.  I do not know enough of the language to translate it with proper spirit or effect, as I only caught the general meaning:  it had however a great effect on Jenna; and some young ladies coming in at the conclusion, his mind was instantly made up; indeed the certainty that bright eyes were to look upon his deeds appeared to have much the same effect upon him that it had upon the knights of old and, jumping up, he selected three good spears (all the men being willing to lend him theirs) and hurried off to an open space where his antagonist was waiting for him.

NATIVE MODE OF COMBAT.

The combats, one of which was now about to take place, much resemble the ancient tournaments.  They are conducted with perfect fairness.  The combatants fight in an open space, their friends all standing by to see fair play, and all the preliminaries as to what blows are to be considered foul or fair are arranged beforehand, sometimes with much ceremony.

Taking into account the fantastic ornaments and paintings of the natives, the graceful attitudes they throw themselves into either when trying to avoid the spears of their enemy, or about to throw their own; and the loud cries and wild motions with which they attempt to confuse and terrify their adversaries, I must confess that if any exhibition of this nature can be considered showy or attractive, this has no ordinary claims to admiration.