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simply the most entertaining night of my life。 Withal I still have
colds； I have one now； and feel pretty sick too； but not as at
home： instead of being in bed； for instance； I am at this moment
sitting snuffling and writing in an undershirt and trousers； and as
for colour； hands； arms； feet； legs； and face； I am browner than
the berry： only my trunk and the aristocratic spot on which I sit
retain the vile whiteness of the north。
Please give my news and kind love to Henley； Henry James； and any
whom you see of well…wishers。 Accept from me the very best of my
affection： and believe me ever yours；
THE OLD MAN VIRULENT。
TAITI； OCTOBER 7TH； 1888。
Never having found a chance to send this off； I may add more of my
news。 My cold took a very bad turn； and I am pretty much out of
sorts at this particular； living in a little bare one…twentieth…
furnished house； surrounded by mangoes； etc。 All the rest are
well； and I mean to be soon。 But these Taiti colds are very severe
and； to children； often fatal； so they were not the thing for me。
Yesterday the brigantine came in from San Francisco； so we can get
our letters off soon。 There are in Papeete at this moment； in a
little wooden house with grated verandahs； two people who love you
very much； and one of them is
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO CHARLES BAXTER
TAITI； AS EVER WAS； 6TH OCTOBER 1888。
MY DEAR CHARLES； … 。 。 。 You will receive a lot of mostly very bad
proofs of photographs： the paper was so bad。 Please keep them
very private； as they are for the book。 We send them； having
learned so dread a fear of the sea； that we wish to put our eggs in
different baskets。 We have been thrice within an ace of being
ashore： we were lost （！） for about twelve hours in the Low
Archipelago； but by God's blessing had quiet weather all the time；
and once； in a squall； we cam' so near gaun heels ower hurdies；
that I really dinnae ken why we didnae athegither。 Hence； as I
say； a great desire to put our eggs in different baskets；
particularly on the Pacific （aw…haw…haw） Pacific Ocean。
You can have no idea what a mean time we have had； owing to
incidental beastlinesses； nor what a glorious； owing to the
intrinsic interest of these isles。 I hope the book will be a good
one； nor do I really very much doubt that … the stuff is so
curious； what I wonder is； if the public will rise to it。 A copy
of my journal； or as much of it as is made； shall go to you also；
it is； of course； quite imperfect； much being to be added and
corrected； but O； for the eggs in the different baskets。
All the rest are well enough； and all have enjoyed the cruise so
far； in spite of its drawbacks。 We have had an awfae time in some
ways； Mr。 Baxter； and if I wasnae sic a verra patient man （when I
ken that I HAVE to be） there wad hae been a braw row； and ance if I
hadnae happened to be on deck about three in the marnin'； I THINK
there would have been MURDER done。 The American Mairchant Marine
is a kent service； ye'll have heard its praise； I'm thinkin'； an'
if ye never did； ye can get TWA YEARS BEFORE THE MAST； by Dana；
whaur forbye a great deal o' pleisure； ye'll get a' the needcessary
information。 Love to your father and all the family。 … Ever your
affectionate friend；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO MISS ADELAIDE BOODLE
TAITI； OCTOBER 10TH； 1888。
DEAR GIVER； … I am at a loss to conceive your object in giving me
to a person so locomotory as my proprietor。 The number of thousand
miles that I have travelled； the strange bed…fellows with which I
have been made acquainted； I lack the requisite literary talent to
make clear to your imagination。 I speak of bed…fellows； pocket…
fellows would be a more exact expression； for the place of my abode
is in my master's righthand trouser…pocket； and there； as he waded
on the resounding beaches of Nukahiva； or in the shallow tepid
water on the reef of Fakarava； I have been overwhelmed by and
buried among all manner of abominable South Sea shells； beautiful
enough in their way； I make no doubt； but singular company for any
self…respecting paper…cutter。 He； my master … or as I more justly
call him； my bearer； for although I occasionally serve him； does
not he serve me daily and all day long； carrying me like an African
potentate on my subject's legs？ … HE is delighted with these isles；
and this climate； and these savages； and a variety of other things。
He now blows a flageolet with singular effects： sometimes the poor
thing appears stifled with shame； sometimes it screams with agony；
he pursues his career with truculent insensibility。 Health appears
to reign in the party。 I was very nearly sunk in a squall。 I am
sorry I ever left England； for here there are no books to be had；
and without books there is no stable situation for； dear Giver；
your affectionate
WOODEN PAPER…CUTTER。
A neighbouring pair of scissors snips a kiss in your direction。
Letter： TO SIDNEY COLVIN
TAITI； OCTOBER 16TH； 1888。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … The cruiser for San Francisco departs to…morrow
morning bearing you some kind of a scratch。 This much more
important packet will travel by way of Auckland。 It contains a
ballant； and I think a better ballant than I expected ever to do。
I can imagine how you will wag your pow over it； and how ragged you
will find it； etc。； but has it not spirit all the same？ and though
the verse is not all your fancy painted it； has it not some life？
And surely； as narrative； the thing has considerable merit！ Read
it； get a typewritten copy taken； and send me that and your opinion
to the Sandwiches。 I know I am only courting the most excruciating
mortification； but the real cause of my sending the thing is that I
could bear to go down myself； but not to have much MS。 go down with
me。 To say truth； we are through the most dangerous； but it has
left in all minds a strong sense of insecurity； and we are all for
putting eggs in various baskets。
We leave here soon； bound for Uahiva； Reiatea； Bora…Bora； and the
Sandwiches。
O； how my spirit languishes
To step ashore on the Sanguishes；
For there my letters wait；
There shall I know my fate。
O； how my spirit languidges
To step ashore on the Sanguidges。
18TH。 … I think we shall leave here if all is well on Monday。 I am
quite recovered； astonishingly recovered。 It must be owned these
climates and this voyage have given me more strength than I could
have thought possible。 And yet the sea is a terrible place；
stupefying to the mind and poisonous to the temper； the sea； the
motion； the lack of space； the cruel publicity； the villainous
tinned foods； the sailors； the captain； the passengers … but you
are amply repaid when you sight an island； and drop anchor in a new
wor