Into these little dishes of poi, as it is called, a native will daintily dip the first finger, then giving it a quick twirl, wrap a sufficient quantity on the finger, when it is skillfully and gracefully conveyed to the mouth. For drinking, we were provided small calabashes full of the juice of the young cocoanut and large calabashes containing awa awa, a drink very much esteemed by them, being in its effects very much like whisky. The cause of all this preparation was the fact that it was the yearly celebration of the maiden’s feast. On this day the inhabitants of the four villages on the island gathered at Nahua, the principal village of the kingdom. All the morning of this day, Mabel and Etta had been very busy and now were resting under the shade of the trellis of their cottage, when a native girl, about sixteen years old, came toward the house, followed by an older girl, each bearing in their hands the fall dress of a native maiden; the younger girl was Kaelea, the sister of Ahleka. She was slender and graceful; her charms would have attracted the notice of a sculptor at first glance; her face was expressive; her features delicate; her eyes brown, large, soft and languorous; her hair hung in a wavy mass far below her waist. She moved with a peculiar grace seldom seen. But, if she was beautiful, what was Maula, who came with her, Maula was the maiden of the village, of Howcu, the village on that part of the island, which was beyond the arm of the sea; she was a vision of voluptuous loveliness, tall and stately, grand in her proportions; her eyes could melt in tenderest mood or flash in the wildest anger or proudest defiance. She seemed to bend every one to her will, so strong and passionate was her nature. She was much darker than Kaelea, being a full blooded native. In her bearing she somehow made one think of a tigress; when in a happy mood, moving with a sinuous grace, which was fascinating, and when angry, one could but admire her grandeur. As these two girls were crossing the open space, between the two houses, Etta was saying to Mabel, “I can hardly believe that it is six months since we landed here. Does it seem possible to you?” “No, it does not, and yet it is strange that the time should seem to pass quickly,” replied Mabel. “I feel, whenever I think of my father, that I should be unhappy, instead of contented, as I am. My poor father, his heart, I know, is almost broken, for I was his all; and long ’ere now he has given us up as dead. My poor, poor father, I can picture in my mind his grief.” “Do not think of that Mabel. Above all not to-day when every one is expected to be happy and make merry,” begged Etta. Mabel, now seeing the two girls coming towards them, got up to receive them, as did also Etta. Kaelea and Maula entered the cottage, with the adornments they held in their hands, extended laughingly towards the two American girls.