| 51 there but a few minutes when Bro. Rodger came and awoke me, telling me that he had been arrested for baptizing without a license.
A Bro. Smith, whom we had just baptized, was arrested with Bro. Rodger. He had unquestionably been mistaken for me. Bro. Rodger returned to the meeting-house, where the officer was, and I started to follow him, but was prevented by the brethren. Amid the wailings of the sisters and the protests of the brethren, Brn. Rodger and Smith followed the officer about a quarter of a mile to a public house, where it was ascertained that the officer was drunk; that he had no papers, and was acting without authority. Our brethren were then set at liberty, and soon they came returning to Tiona with songs of rejoicing upon their heads. During the afternoon, while I was in the meeting-house writing out licenses and letters of instruction, this same officer came and made a great bluster as to what he would do the next day; but he said nothing to me, nor interfered with me in any way.
THE FEAST-THE ADIEUS.
In the morning we all met at the meeting-house, where we well improved the time in instructing the Saints in their duties. At dismissal it was agreed that our adieus could not be delayed longer than to-morrow at noon. The Saints wanted to go in a body to see us on board; but being satisfied that we had in some manner violated an ordinance of the protectorate, for which action we were liable, we thought it the part of wisdom, if possible, to avoid any further excitement.
The next morning we finished our writing; met with the Saints at the meeting-house, and then tried to get away; but a feast was preparing, and there was no letting us off before that was over. So at eleven o'clock in the forenoon we sat down to the feast under the grateful shade of a patriarchal breadfruit-tree. A raised platform was fixed for Bro. Rodger and me, upon which was set for our use boiled breadfruit, raw bananas, cocoanut [coconut]-milk, fried chicken, scrambled eggs, etc., all of which was laid upon a table-cloth of spotless purity.
Our table was at the head of a large oblong circle, some thirty feet across, covered with Tara leaves (a large broad leaf), which gave it the look of green carpeting. Around the edge of this circle the feast was set; the center of the circle being graced by a canoe-shaped wooden vessel, which held a barbacued [barbecued] hog.
However, before we had time to compose ourselves for the work in hand, a difficulty arose in the shape of several dogs, chickens, and a pig, which incontinently broke through this charming circle of hungry Saints, and made a splendid charge on the edibles around them. Then such a time! But in all such contests man will come off victorious; so one brother whipped off his bandanna, festooned it around one of the pig's fore feet, led him outside to a sapling, and there triumphantly tied him! The dogs and chickens also were finally got outside, and a patrol established to keep them there. so order was restored, and then, after lifting
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