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well set up； tall； lean； and dignified。 As I write the breeze is
brisking up； doors are beginning to slam： and shutters； a strong
draught sweeps round the balcony； it looks doubtful for to…morrow。
Here I shut up。 … Ever your affectionate；
R。 L。 STEVENSON。
Letter： TO DR。 SCOTT
APIA； SAMOA； JANUARY 20TH； 1890。
MY DEAR SCOTT； … Shameful indeed that you should not have heard of
me before！ I have now been some twenty months in the South Seas；
and am （up to date） a person whom you would scarce know。 I think
nothing of long walks and rides： I was four hours and a half gone
the other day； partly riding； partly climbing up a steep ravine。 I
have stood a six months' voyage on a copra schooner with about
three months ashore on coral atolls； which means （except for
cocoanuts to drink） no change whatever from ship's food。 My wife
suffered badly … it was too rough a business altogether … Lloyd
suffered … and； in short； I was the only one of the party who 'kept
my end up。'
I am so pleased with this climate that I have decided to settle；
have even purchased a piece of land from three to four hundred
acres； I know not which till the survey is completed； and shall
only return next summer to wind up my affairs in England；
thenceforth I mean to be a subject of the High Commissioner。
Now you would have gone longer yet without news of your truant
patient； but that I have a medical discovery to communicate。 I
find I can （almost immediately） fight off a cold with liquid
extract of coca； two or （if obstinate） three teaspoonfuls in the
day for a variable period of from one to five days sees the cold
generally to the door。 I find it at once produces a glow； stops
rigour； and though it makes one very uncomfortable； prevents the
advance of the disease。 Hearing of this influenza； it occurred to
me that this might prove remedial； and perhaps a stronger
exhibition … injections of cocaine； for instance … still better。
If on my return I find myself let in for this epidemic； which seems
highly calculated to nip me in the bud； I shall feel very much
inclined to make the experiment。 See what a gulf you may save me
from if you shall have previously made it on ANIMA VILI； on some
less important sufferer； and shall have found it worse than
useless。
How is Miss Boodle and her family？ Greeting to your brother and
all friends in Bournemouth； yours very sincerely；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO CHARLES BAXTER
FEBRUAR DEN 3EN 1890。
DAMPFER LUBECK ZWISCHEN APIA UND SYDNEY。
MY DEAR CHARLES； … I have got one delightful letter from you； and
heard from my mother of your kindness in going to see her。 Thank
you for that： you can in no way more touch and serve me。 。 。 。 Ay；
ay； it is sad to sell 17； sad and fine were the old days： when I
was away in Apemama； I wrote two copies of verse about Edinburgh
and the past； so ink black； so golden bright。 I will send them； if
I can find them； for they will say something to you； and indeed one
is more than half addressed to you。 This is it …
TO MY OLD COMRADES
Do you remember … can we e'er forget？ …
How； in the coiled perplexities of youth；
In our wild climate； in our scowling town；
We gloomed and shivered； sorrowed； sobbed； and feared？
The belching winter wind； the missile rain；
The rare and welcome silence of the snows；
The laggard morn； the haggard day； the night；
The grimy spell of the nocturnal town；
Do you remember？ … Ah； could one forget！
As when the fevered sick that all night long
Listed the wind intone； and hear at last
The ever…welcome voice of the chanticleer
Sing in the bitter hour before the dawn； …
With sudden ardour； these desire the day：
（Here a squall sends all flying。）
So sang in the gloom of youth the bird of hope；
So we； exulting； hearkened and desired。
For lo！ as in the palace porch of life
We huddled with chimeras； from within …
How sweet to hear！ … the music swelled and fell；
And through the breach of the revolving doors
What dreams of splendour blinded us and fled！
I have since then contended and rejoiced；
Amid the glories of the house of life
Profoundly entered； and the shrine beheld：
Yet when the lamp from my expiring eyes
Shall dwindle and recede； the voice of love
Fall insignificant on my closing ears；
What sound shall come but the old cry of the wind
In our inclement city？ what return
But the image of the emptiness of youth；
Filled with the sound of footsteps and that voice
Of discontent and rapture and despair？
So； as in darkness； from the magic lamp；
The momentary pictures gleam and fade
And perish； and the night resurges … these
Shall I remember； and then all forget。
They're pretty second…rate； but felt。 I can't be bothered to copy
the other。
I have bought 314 and a half acres of beautiful land in the bush
behind Apia； when we get the house built； the garden laid； and
cattle in the place； it will be something to fall back on for
shelter and food； and if the island could stumble into political
quiet； it is conceivable it might even bring a little income。 。 。 。
We range from 600 to 1500 feet； have five streams； waterfalls；
precipices； profound ravines； rich tablelands； fifty head of cattle
on the ground （if any one could catch them）； a great view of
forest； sea； mountains； the warships in the haven： really a noble
place。 Some day you are to take a long holiday and come and see
us： it has been all planned。
With all these irons in the fire； and cloudy prospects； you may be
sure I was pleased to hear a good account of business。 I believed
THE MASTER was a sure card： I wonder why Henley thinks it grimy；
grim it is； God knows； but sure not grimy； else I am the more
deceived。 I am sorry he did not care for it； I place it on the
line with KIDNAPPED myself。 We'll see as time goes on whether it
goes above or falls below。
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO E。 L。 BURLINGAME
SS。 LUBECK； ＇BETWEEN APIA AND SYDNEY； FEBRUARY＇ 1890。
MY DEAR BURLINGAME； … I desire nothing better than to continue my
relation with the Magazine； to which it pleases me to hear I have
been useful。 The only thing I have ready is the enclosed barbaric
piece。 As soon as I have arrived in Sydney I shall send you some
photographs； a portrait of Tembinoka； perhaps a view of the palace
or of the 'matted men' at their singing； also T。's flag； which my
wife designed for him： in a word； what I can do best for you。 It
will be thus a foretaste of my book of travels。 I shall ask you to
let me have； if I wish it； the use of the plates made； and to make
up a little tract of the verses and illustrations； of which you
might send six copies to H。 M。 Tembinoka； King of Apemama VIA
Butaritari； Gilbert Islands。 It might be best to send it by
Crawford and Co。；