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read aloud in confidence to the neighbours； and a mass of
fudge and fun； which would have driven me crazy ten years
ago； and now makes me smile。
On Friday； Henry came and told us he must leave and go to 'my
poor old family in Savaii'； why？ I do not quite know … but；
I suspect； to be tattooed … if so； then probably to be
married； and we shall see him no more。 I told him he must do
what he thought his duty； we had him to lunch； drank his
health； and he and I rode down about twelve。 When I got
down； I sent my horse back to help bring down the family
later。 My own afternoon was cut out for me； my last draft
for the President had been objected to by some of the
signatories。 I stood out； and one of our small number
accordingly refused to sign。 Him I had to go and persuade；
which went off very well after the first hottish moments； you
have no idea how stolid my temper is now。 By about five the
thing was done； and we sat down to dinner at the Chinaman's …
the Verrey or Doyen's of Apia … G。 and I at each end as
hosts； G。's wife … Fanua； late maid of the village； her
（adopted） father and mother； Seumanu and Faatulia； Fanny；
Belle； Lloyd； Austin； and Henry Simele； his last appearance。
Henry was in a kilt of gray shawl； with a blue jacket； white
shirt and black necktie； and looked like a dark genteel guest
in a Highland shooting…box。 Seumanu （opposite Fanny； next
G。） is chief of Apia； a rather big gun in this place； looking
like a large； fatted； military Englishman； bar the colour。
Faatulia； next me； is a bigger chief than her husband。 Henry
is a chief too … his chief name； Iiga （Ee…eeng…a）； he has not
yet 'taken' because of his youth。 We were in fine society；
and had a pleasant meal…time； with lots of fun。 Then to the
Opera … I beg your pardon； I mean the Circus。 We occupied
the first row in the reserved seats； and there in the row
behind were all our friends … Captain Foss and his Captain…
Lieutenant； three of the American officers； very nice
fellows； the Dr。； etc； so we made a fine show of what an
embittered correspondent of the local paper called 'the
shoddy aristocracy of Apia'； and you should have seen how we
carried on； and how I clapped； and Captain Foss hollered
'WUNDERSCHON！' and threw himself forward in his seat； and how
we all in fact enjoyed ourselves like school…children； Austin
not a shade more than his neighbours。 Then the Circus broke
up； and the party went home； but I stayed down； having
business on the morrow。
Yesterday； October 12th； great news reaches me； and Lloyd and
I； with the mail just coming in； must leave all； saddle； and
ride down。 True enough； the President had resigned！ Sought
to resign his presidency of the council； and keep his
advisership to the King； given way to the Consul's objections
and resigned all … then fell out with them about the
disposition of the funds； and was now trying to resign from
his resignation！ Sad little President； so trim to look at；
and I believe so kind to his little wife！ Not only so； but I
meet D。 on the beach。 D。 calls me in consultation； and we
make with infinite difficulty a draft of a petition to the
King。 。 。 。 Then to dinner at M。's； a very merry meal；
interrupted before it was over by the arrival of the
committee。 Slight sketch of procedure agreed upon； self
appointed spokesman； and the deputation sets off。 Walk all
through Matafele； all along Mulinuu； come to the King's
house； he has verbally refused to see us in answer to our
letter； swearing he is gase…gase （chief…sickness； not common
man's）； and indeed we see him inside in bed。 It is a
miserable low house； better houses by the dozen in the little
hamlet （Tanugamanono） of bushmen on our way to Vailima； and
the President's house in process of erection just opposite！
We are told to return to…morrow； I refuse； and at last we are
very sourly received； sit on the mats； and I open out；
through a very poor interpreter； and sometimes hampered by
unacceptable counsels from my backers。 I can speak fairly
well in a plain way now。 C。 asked me to write out my
harangue for him this morning； I have done so； and couldn't
get it near as good。 I suppose （talking and interpreting） I
was twenty minutes or half…an…hour on the deck； then his
majesty replied in the dying whisper of a big chief； a few
words of rejoinder （approving）； and the deputation withdrew；
rather well satisfied。
A few days ago this intervention would have been a deportable
offence； not now； I bet； I would like them to try。 A little
way back along Mulinuu； Mrs。 G。 met us with her husband's
horse； and he and she and Lloyd and I rode back in a heavenly
moonlight。 Here ends a chapter in the life of an island
politician！ Catch me at it again； 'tis easy to go in； but it
is not a pleasant trade。 I have had a good team； as good as
I could get on the beach； but what trouble even so； and what
fresh troubles shaping。 But I have on the whole carried all
my points； I believe all but one； and on that （which did not
concern me） I had no right to interfere。 I am sure you would
be amazed if you knew what a good hand I am at keeping my
temper； talking people over； and giving reasons which are not
my reasons； but calculated for the meridian of the particular
objection； so soon does falsehood await the politician in his
whirling path。
CHAPTER XII
MAY； OCTOBER 24TH。
MY DEAR CARTHEW； … See what I have written； but it's Colvin
I'm after … I have written two chapters； about thirty pages
of WRECKER since the mail left； which must be my excuse； and
the bother I've had with it is not to be imagined； you might
have seen me the day before yesterday weighing British sov。's
and Chili dollars to arrange my treasure chest。 And there
was such a calculation； not for that only； but for the ship's
position and distances when … but I am not going to tell you
the yarn … and then； as my arithmetic is particularly lax；
Lloyd had to go over all my calculations； and then； as I had
changed the amount of money； he had to go over all HIS as to
the amount of the lay； and altogether； a bank could be run
with less effusion of figures than it took to shore up a
single chapter of a measly yarn。 However； it's done； and I
have but one more； or at the outside two； to do； and I am
Free！ and can do any damn thing I like。
Before falling on politics； I shall give you my day。 Awoke
somewhere about the first peep of day； came gradually to； and
had a turn on the verandah before 5。55； when 'the child' （an
enormous Wallis Islander） brings me an orange； at 6；
breakfast； 6。10； to work； which lasts till； at 10。30； Austin
comes for his history lecture； this is rather dispiriting；
but education must be gone about in faith … and charity； both
of which pretty nigh failed me to…day about （of all things）
C