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and manuscripts； three chairs； and； in one of the beds； the Squire
busy writing to yourself； as it chances； and just at this moment
somewhat bitten by mosquitoes。 He has just set fire to the insect
powder； and will be all right in no time； but just now he
contemplates large white blisters； and would like to scratch them；
but knows better。 The house is not bare； it has been inhabited by
Kanakas； and … you know what children are！ … the bare wood walls
are pasted over with pages from the GRAPHIC； HARPER'S WEEKLY； etc。
The floor is matted； and I am bound to say the matting is filthy。
There are two windows and two doors； one of which is condemned； on
the panels of that last a sheet of paper is pinned up； and covered
with writing。 I cull a few plums：…
'A duck…hammock for each person。
A patent organ like the commandant's at Taiohae。
Cheap and bad cigars for presents。
Revolvers。
Permanganate of potass。
Liniment for the head and sulphur。
Fine tooth…comb。'
What do you think this is？ Simply life in the South Seas
foreshortened。 These are a few of our desiderata for the next
trip； which we jot down as they occur。
There； I have really done my best and tried to send something like
a letter … one letter in return for all your dozens。 Pray remember
us all to yourself； Mrs。 Boodle； and the rest of your house。 I do
hope your mother will be better when this comes。 I shall write and
give you a new address when I have made up my mind as to the most
probable； and I do beg you will continue to write from time to time
and give us airs from home。 To…morrow … think of it … I must be
off by a quarter to eight to drive in to the palace and breakfast
with his Hawaiian Majesty at 8。30： I shall be dead indeed。 Please
give my news to Scott； I trust he is better； give him my warm
regards。 To you we all send all kinds of things； and I am the
absentee Squire；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO CHARLES BAXTER
HONOLULU； APRIL 1889。
MY DEAR CHARLES； … As usual； your letter is as good as a cordial；
and I thank you for it； and all your care； kindness； and generous
and thoughtful friendship； from my heart。 I was truly glad to hear
a word of Colvin； whose long silence has terrified me； and glad to
hear that you condoned the notion of my staying longer in the South
Seas； for I have decided in that sense。 The first idea was to go
in the MORNING STAR； missionary ship； but now I have found a
trading schooner； the EQUATOR； which is to call for me here early
in June and carry us through the Gilberts。 What will happen then；
the Lord knows。 My mother does not accompany us： she leaves here
for home early in May； and you will hear of us from her； but not； I
imagine； anything more definite。 We shall get dumped on
Butaritari； and whether we manage to go on to the Marshalls and
Carolines； or whether we fall back on Samoa； Heaven must decide；
but I mean to fetch back into the course of the RICHMOND … （to
think you don't know what the RICHMOND is！ … the steamer of the
Eastern South Seas； joining New Zealand； Tongatabu； the Samoas；
Taheite； and Rarotonga； and carrying by last advices sheep in the
saloon！） … into the course of the RICHMOND and make Taheite again
on the home track。 Would I like to see the SCOTS OBSERVER？
Wouldn't I not？ But whaur？ I'm direckit at space。 They have nae
post offishes at the Gilberts； and as for the Car'lines！ Ye see；
Mr。 Baxter； we're no just in the punkshewal CENTRE o' civ'lisation。
But pile them up for me； and when I've decided on an address； I'll
let you ken； and ye'll can send them stavin' after me。 … Ever your
affectionate；
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO CHARLES BAXTER
HONOLULU； 10TH MAY 1889。
MY DEAR CHARLES； … I am appalled to gather from your last just to
hand that you have felt so much concern about the letter。 Pray
dismiss it from your mind。 But I think you scarce appreciate how
disagreeable it is to have your private affairs and private
unguarded expressions getting into print。 It would soon sicken any
one of writing letters。 I have no doubt that letter was very
wisely selected； but it just shows how things crop up。 There was a
raging jealousy between the two yachts； our captain was nearly in a
fight over it。 However； no more； and whatever you think； my dear
fellow； do not suppose me angry with you or …； although I was
ANNOYED AT THE CIRCUMSTANCE … a very different thing。 But it is
difficult to conduct life by letter； and I continually feel I may
be drifting into some matter of offence； in which my heart takes no
part。
I must now turn to a point of business。 This new cruise of ours is
somewhat venturesome； and I think it needful to warn you not to be
in a hurry to suppose us dead。 In these ill…charted seas； it is
quite on the cards we might be cast on some unvisited； or very
rarely visited； island； that there we might lie for a long time；
even years； unheard of； and yet turn up smiling at the hinder end。
So do not let me be 'rowpit' till you get some certainty we have
gone to Davie Jones in a squall； or graced the feast of some
barbarian in the character of Long Pig。
I have just been a week away alone on the lee coast of Hawaii； the
only white creature in many miles； riding five and a half hours one
day； living with a native； seeing four lepers shipped off to
Molokai； hearing native causes； and giving my opinion as AMICUS
CURIAE as to the interpretation of a statute in English； a lovely
week among God's best … at least God's sweetest works …
Polynesians。 It has bettered me greatly。 If I could only stay
there the time that remains； I could get my work done and be happy；
but the care of my family keeps me in vile Honolulu； where I am
always out of sorts； amidst heat and cold and cesspools and beastly
HAOLES。 What is a haole？ You are one； and so； I am sorry to say；
am I。 After so long a dose of whites； it was a blessing to get
among Polynesians again even for a week。
Well； Charles； there are waur haoles than yoursel'； I'll say that
for ye； and trust before I sail I shall get another letter with
more about yourself。 … Ever your affectionate friend
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO W。 H。 LOW
HONOLULU； （ABOUT） 20TH MAY '89。
MY DEAR LOW； … The goods have come； many daughters have done
virtuously； but thou excellest them all。 … I have at length
finished THE MASTER； it has been a sore cross to me； but now he is
buried； his body's under hatches； … his soul； if there is any hell
to go to； gone to hell； and I forgive him： it is harder to forgive
Burlingame for having induced me to begin the publication； or
myself for suffering the induction。 … Yes； I think Hole has done
finely； it will be one of the most adequately illustrated books of
our generation； he gets the note； he tells th