action of a tiny child, most quaintly dressed, and entering keenly into his duties. He begins in the most dramatic manner by delivering a shrill exhortation to his _corps de ballet_, and then leads them with perfect accuracy through every manœuvre of advance, retreat, &c., &c. Each district has certain dances peculiar to itself, and the people of one neither can nor will join in the _méké_ of another. Thus the people of aristocratic Bau positively sneered when asked whether they could not perform some of the dances of their neighbours at Rewa, which monopolises the most graceful _méké_ of all—namely, one which represents the breaking of the waves on a coral-reef—a poetic idea admirably rendered. Years ago I remember the delight with which we hailed an exquisite statuette in Sir Noel Paton’s studio, representing the curling of a wave, by a beautiful female figure, supposed to be floating thereon; but I never dreamt that we should find the same idea so perfectly carried out by a race whom we have been wont to think of only as ruthless savages. The idea to be conveyed is that of the tide gradually rising on the reef, till at length there remains only a little coral isle, round which the angry breakers rage, flinging their white foam on every side. At first the dancers form in long lines and approach silently, to represent the quiet advance of the waves. After a while the lines break up into smaller companies, which advance with outspread hands and bodies bent forward, to represent rippling wavelets, the tiniest waves being represented by children. Quicker and quicker they come on, now advancing, now retreating, yet, like true waves, steadily progressing, and gradually closing on every side of the imaginary islet, round which they play or battle, after the manner of breakers, springing high in mid-air, and flinging their arms far above their heads to represent the action of spray. As they leap and toss their heads, the soft white _masi_ or native cloth (which for greater effect they wear as a turban with long streamers, and also wind round the waist, thence it floats in long scarf-like ends) trembles and flutters in the breeze. The whole effect is most artistic, and the orchestra do their part by imitating the roar of the surf on the reef—a sound which to them has been a never-ceasing lullaby from the hour of their birth.