in search of the castaways-第102章

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im。　　Glenarvan　and　the　rest　walked　across　the　〃pah〃　and　stopped　before　Kai…Koumou。　He　was　surrounded　by　the　principal　warriors　of　his　tribe；　and　among　them　the　Maori　whose　canoe　joined　that　of　the　Kai…Koumou　at　the　confluence　of　Pohain…henna；　on　the　Waikato。　　He　was　a　man　about　forty　years　of　age；　powerfully　built　and　of　fierce　and　cruel　aspect。　His　name　was　Kara…Tete；　meaning　〃the　irascible〃　in　the　native　tongue。　Kai…Koumou　treated　him　with　a　certain　tone　of　respect；　and　by　the　fineness　of　his　tattoo；　it　was　easy　to　perceive　that　Kara…Tete　held　a　lofty　position　in　the　tribe；　but　a　keen　observer　would　have　guessed　the　feeling　of　rivalry　that　existed　between　these　two　chiefs。　The　Major　observed　that　the　influence　of　Kara…Tete　gave　umbrage　to　Kai…Koumou。　They　both　ruled　the　Waikato　tribes；　and　were　equal　in　authority。　　During　this　interview　Kai…Koumou　smiled；　but　his　eyes　betrayed　a　deep…seated　enmity。　Kai…Koumou　interrogated　Glenarvan。　〃You　are　English？〃　said　he。　〃Yes；〃　replied　Glenarvan；　unhesitatingly；　as　his　nationality　would　facilitate　the　exchange。　〃And　your　companions？〃　said　Kai…Koumou。　〃My　companions　are　English　like　myself。　　We　are　shipwrecked　travelers；　but　it　may　be　important　to　state　that　we　have　taken　no　part　in　the　war。〃　〃That　matters　little！〃　was　the　brutal　answer　of　Kara…Tete。　〃Every　Englishman　is　an　enemy。　　Your　people　invaded　our　island！　They　robbed　our　fields！　they　burned　our　villages！〃　〃They　were　wrong！〃　said　Glenarvan；　quietly。　　〃I　say　so；　because　I　think　it；　not　because　I　am　in　your　power。〃　〃Listen；〃　said　Kai…Koumou；　〃the　Tohonga；　the　chief　priest　of　Noui…Atoua　has　fallen　into　the　hands　of　your　brethren；　he　is　a　prisoner　among　the　Pakekas。　　Our　deity　has　commanded　us　to　ransom　him。　　For　my　own　part；　I　would　rather　have　torn　out　your　heart；　I　would　have　stuck　your　head；　and　those　of　your　companions；　on　the　posts　of　that　palisade。　But　Noui…Atoua　has　spoken。〃　As　he　uttered　these　words；　Kai…Koumou；　who　till　now　had　been　quite　unmoved；　trembled　with　rage；　and　his　features　expressed　intense　ferocity。　Then　after　a　few　minutes'　interval　he　proceeded　more　calmly。　〃Do　you　think　the　English　will　exchange　you　for　our　Tohonga？〃　Glenarvan　hesitated；　all　the　while　watching　the　Maori　chief。　〃I　do　not　know；〃　said　he；　after　a　moment　of　silence。　〃Speak；〃　returned　Kai…Koumou；　〃is　your　life　worth　that　of　our　Tohonga？〃　〃No；〃　replied　Glenarvan。　　〃I　am　neither　a　chief　nor　a　priest　among　my　own　people。〃　Paganel；　petrified　at　this　reply；　looked　at　Glenarvan　in　amazement。　Kai…Koumou　appeared　equally　astonished。　〃You　doubt　it　then？〃　said　he。　〃I　do　not　know；〃　replied　Glenarvan。　〃Your　people　will　not　accept　you　as　an　exchange　for　Tohonga？〃　〃Me　alone？　no；〃　repeated　Glenarvan。　　〃All　of　us　perhaps　they　might。〃　〃Our　Maori　custom；〃　replied　Kai…Koumou；　〃is　head　for　head。〃　〃Offer　first　these　ladies　in　exchange　for　your　priest；〃　said　Glenarvan；　pointing　to　Lady　Helena　and　Mary　Grant。　Lady　Helena　was　about　to　interrupt　him。　　But　the　Major　held　her　back。　〃Those　two　ladies；〃　continued　Glenarvan；　bowing　respectfully　toward　Lady　Helena　and　Mary　Grant；　〃are　personages　of　rank　in　their　own　country。〃　The　warrior　gazed　coldly　at　his　prisoner。　　An　evil　smile　relaxed　his　lips　for　a　moment；　then　he　controlled　himself；　and　in　a　voice　of　ill…concealed　anger：　〃Do　you　hope　to　deceive　Kai…Koumou　with　lying　words；　accursed　Pakeka？　　Can　not　the　eyes　of　Kai…Koumou　read　hearts？〃　And　pointing　to　Lady　Helena：　　〃That　is　your　wife？〃　he　said。　〃No！　mine！〃　exclaimed　Kara…Tete。　And　then　pushing　his　prisoners　aside；　he　laid　his　hand　on　the　shoulder　of　Lady　Helena；　who　turned　pale　at　his　touch。　〃Edward！〃　cried　the　unfortunate　woman　in　terror。　Glenarvan；　without　a　word；　raised　his　arm；　a　shot！　and　Kara…Tete　fell　at　his　feet。　The　sound　brought　a　crowd　of　natives　to　the　spot。　　A　hundred　arms　were　ready；　and　Glenarvan's　revolver　was　snatched　from　him。　Kai…Koumou　glanced　at　Glenarvan　with　a　curious　expression：　then　with　one　hand　protecting　Glenarvan；　with　the　other　he　waved　off　the　crowd　who　were　rushing　on　the　party。　At　last　his　voice　was　heard　above　the　tumult。　〃Taboo！　　Taboo！〃　he　shouted。　At　that　word　the　crowd　stood　still　before　Glenarvan　and　his　companions；　who　for　the　time　were　preserved　by　a　supernatural　influence。　A　few　minutes　after　they　were　re…conducted　to　Ware…Atoua；　which　was　their　prison。　　But　Robert　Grant　and　Paganel　were　not　with　them。

CHAPTER　XI　THE　CHIEF'S　FUNERAL

KAI…KOUMOU；　as　frequently　happens　among　the　Maories；　joined　the　title　of　ariki　to　that　of　tribal　chief。　He　was　invested　with　the　dignity　of　priest；　and；　as　such；　he　had　the　power　to　throw　over　persons　or　things　the　superstitious　protection　of　the　〃taboo。〃　The　〃taboo；〃　which　is　common　to　all　the　Polynesian　races；　has　the　primary　effect　of　isolating　the　〃tabooed〃　person　and　preventing　the　use　of　〃tabooed〃　things。　　According　to　the　Maori　doctrine；　anyone　who　laid　sacrilegious　hands　on　what　had　been　declared　〃taboo；〃　would　be　punished　with　death　by　the　insulted　deity；　and　even　if　the　god　delayed　the　vindication　of　his　power；　the　priests　took　care　to　accelerate　his　vengeance。　By　the　chiefs；　the　〃taboo〃　is　made　a　political　engine；　except　in　some　cases；　for　domestic　reasons。　　For　instance；　a　native　is　tabooed　for　several　days　when　his　hair　is　cut；　when　he　is　tattooed；　when　he　is　building　a　canoe；　or　a　house；　when　he　is　seriously　ill；　and　when　he　is　dead。　If　excessive　consumption　threatens　to　exterminate　the　fish　of　a　river；　or　ruin　the　early　crop　of　sweet　potatoes；　these　things　are　put　under　the　protection　of　the　taboo。　If　a　chief　wishes　to　clear　his　house　of　hangers…on；　he　taboos　it；　if　an　English　trader　displeases　him　he　is　tabooed。　His　interdict　has　the　effect　of　the　old　royal　〃veto。〃　If　an　object　is　tabooed；　no　one　can　touch　it　with　impunity。　When　a　native　is　under　the　interdict；　certain　aliments　are　denied　him　for　a　prescribed　period。　　If　he　is　relieved；　as　regards　the　severe　diet；　his　slaves　feed　him　with　the　viands　he　is　forbidden　to　touch　with　his　hands；　if　he　is　poor　and　has　no　slaves；　he　has　to　take　up　the　food　with　his　mouth；　like　an　animal。　In　short；　the　most　trifling　acts　of　the　Maories　are　directed　and　modified　by　this　singular　custom；　the　deity　is　brought　into　constant　contact　with　their　daily　life。　　The　taboo　has　the　same　weight　as　a　law；　or　rather；　the　code　of　the　Maories；　indisputable　and　undisputed；　is　comprised　in　the　frequent　applications　of　the　taboo。　As　to　the　prisoners　confined　in　the　Ware…Atoua；　it　was　an　arbitrary　taboo　which　had　saved　them　from　the　fury　of　the　tribe。　Some　of　the　natives；　friends　and　partisans　of　Kai…Koumou；　desisted　at　once　on　hearing　their　chief's　voice；　and　protected　the　captives　from　the　rest。　Glenarvan　cherished　no　illusive　hopes　as　to　his　own　fate；　nothing　but　his　death　could　atone　for　the　murder　of　a　chief；　and　among　these　people　death　was　only　the　concluding　act　of　a　martyrdom　of　torture。　　Glenarvan；　therefore；　was　fully　prepared　to　pay　the　penalty　of　the　righteous　indignation　that　nerved　his　arm；　but　he　hoped　that　the　wrath　of　Kai…Koumou　would　not　extend　beyond　himself。　What　a　night　he　and　his　companions　passed！　　Who　could　picture　their　agonies　or　measure　their　sufferings？　　Robert　and　Paganel　had　not　been　restored　to　them；　but　their　fate　was　no　doubtful　ma