Chapter 3
Eliena
IN OUR spick and span white outfits, braided with gold, we made a pretty presentable guard of honour, standing on both sides of the entrance from the gangway as that bronze-bodied queen came on board. The occupants of the canoe had hesitated not a moment, when, as the gangway was lowered, the skipper signalled his invitation, the energy of his efforts to make himself understood causing us to laugh.
Saunders was given the task of going down to receive the boat, but the agile islanders needed no assistance from him. Four spearwomen, splendidly naked but for, here and there, pieces of pearl-shell armour held in place by fibre chains, and as splendidly unashamed, arrived first, but stood still when they reached the deck and made an opening through which came the regal woman
