They've a strange custom among them, Ralph, which is called _tabu_, and they carry it to great lengths.

If a man chooses a particular tree for his god, the fruit o' that tree is tabued to him; and if he eats it, he is sure to be killed by his people, and eaten, of course, for killing means eating hereaway.

Then, you see that great mop o' hair on the chief's head?
Well, he has a lot o' barbers to keep it in order; and it's a law that whoever touches the head of a living chief or the body of a dead one, his hands are tabued; so, in that way, the barbers' hands are always tabued, and they daren't use them for their lives, but have to be fed like big babies, as they are, sure enough!" "That's odd, Bill.

But look there," said I, pointing to a man whose skin was of a much lighter colour than the generality of the natives.

"I've seen a few of these light-skinned fellows among the Fejeeans.