the hands of warlike visitors, resolved to test the qualities of the wood. Convoking four of his friends, he held council with them, and they determined to cut the tree down and make its timber into spears, thus gaining an advantage over the other warriors. Many of their friends advised them not to touch the tree, for it was said to be under the protection of an evil spirit named Vao. Oa and his friends were not discouraged, but were firm in their determination, and proceeded with their task. Each of them provided himself with a sharp stone axe, and with a torch made by threading candle-nuts upon a sharp spike of wood—then stealthily, by night, they stole away upon their expedition. They found the tree easily even in the darkness, so strange was it in form and unlike the appearance of the other vegetation to which they were accustomed. It was supported on four gigantic roots, gnarled and twisted into grim contortions. The men lighted their candle-nut torches and placed them around in a circle, thus making the place as light as day. Then the four axemen began their work, each taking a root as the mark of his axe; Oa sitting at a little distance to direct their labours. As some of the woodmen made deeper and cleaner cuts than others they changed places, but found to their
