midnight
Arrived at their destination , these were in turn portioned out , and equally distributed among the various houses of each particular district . The fish were under a strict Taboo , until the distribution was completed , which seemed to be effected in the most impartial manner . By the operation of this system every man , woman , and child in the vale , were at one and the same time partaking of this favourite article of food . Once I remember the party arrived at midnight ; but the unseasonableness of the tour did not repress the impatience of the islanders . The carriers dispatched from the Ti were to be seen hurrying in all directions through the deep groves ; each individual preceded by a boy bearing a flaming torch of dried cocoanut boughs , which from time to time was replenished from the materials scattered along the path . The wild glare of these enormous flambeaux , lighting up with a startling brilliancy the innermost recesses of the vale , and seen moving rapidly along beneath the canopy of leaves , the savage shout of the excited messengers sounding the news of their approach , which was answered on all sides , and the strange appearance of their naked bodies , seen against the gloomy background , produced altogether an effect upon my mind that I shall long remember . It was on this same occasion that Kory-Kory awakened me at the dead hour of night , and in a sort of transport communicated the intelligence contained in the words ` pehee perni ' -LRB- fish come -RRB- .