Note 24 — Chapter X

Mr Mandslay told us of some very quaint mékés sung by the children at Nandi. They were reciting their lesson in natural history, and related many novel facts wholly unknown to science, concerning birds and insects, whose cries and songs they imitated. They specially described the mosquito, by humming and buzzing, all in measured time, and with uniform action, clapping their arms, and legs, and bodies, as if smarting from bites. Then, as if irritated beyond endurance, they threw their arms wildly about, till in despair they ceased, as if nerved for endurance, and resigned themselves to listen to the mosquito’s songs, whereupon the mosquitoes applauded their patience, and shouted Vinaka! Vinaka! (good! good!) The mosquito, it seems, is the only creature that truly mourns for man, for he can no longer drink his blood and sing songs to him; whereas other beasts rejoice over his death as that of a foe, more especially the ants, to whom his teeth are as precious as those of a whale are to a Fijian!