268

TRANSACTIONS AT

and the men proceed till they arrive at theplace appointed for them to stop at. If intheir way they come to any cross roads, theystick a reed in the ground in the middle of suchcross roads, as a taboo or mark of prohibitionfor any one to come down that way, and disturbthe rats while the chiefs are shooting : and thisno one will do ; for even if a considerable chiefbe passing that way, on seeing the taboo he willstof> at a distance, and sit down on the ground,out of respect or politeness to his fellow chiefs,and wait patiently till the shooting party hasgone by : a petty chief, or one of the lower or-ders, would not dare to infringe upon this tiibooat the risk of his life. The distributors of thebait being arrived at the place appointed forthem :o stop at, sit down to prepare cava, hav-ing previously given the orders of their chiefsto the owners of the neighbouring plantationsto send a supply of refreshments, such as pork,yams, fowls, and ripe plantains.

The company of chiefs having divided them-selves into two parties, set out about ten mi-nutes after the boohi, (or company that distri-butes the bait) and follow one another closelyin a row along the middle of the road, armedwith bows and arrows. It must be noticed,however, that the two parties are mixed ; thegreatest chief, in general, proceeding first, her