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enough to know all of these for the bad kind that bears no
fruit。 My Henry moralised over this the other day； how hard
it was that the bad banana flourished wild； and the good must
be weeded and tended； and I had not the heart to tell him how
fortunate they were here； and how hungry were other lands by
comparison。 The ascent of this lovely lane of my dry stream
filled me with delight。 I could not but be reminded of old
Mayne Reid； as I have been more than once since I came to the
tropics； and I thought； if Reid had been still living； I
would have written to tell him that； for； me； IT HAD COME
TRUE； and I thought； forbye； that； if the great powers go on
as they are going； and the Chief Justice delays； it would
come truer still； and the war…conch will sound in the hills；
and my home will be inclosed in camps； before the year is
ended。 And all at once … mark you； how Mayne Reid is on the
spot … a strange thing happened。 I saw a liana stretch
across the bed of the brook about breast…high； swung up my
knife to sever it； and … behold； it was a wire！ On either
hand it plunged into thick bush； to…morrow I shall see where
it goes and get a guess perhaps of what it means。 To…day I
know no more than … there it is。 A little higher the brook
began to trickle； then to fill。 At last； as I meant to do
some work upon the homeward trail； it was time to turn。 I
did not return by the stream； knife in hand； as long as my
endurance lasted； I was to cut a path in the congested bush。
At first it went ill with me； I got badly stung as high as
the elbows by the stinging plant； I was nearly hung in a
tough liana … a rotten trunk giving way under my feet； it was
deplorable bad business。 And an axe … if I dared swing one …
would have been more to the purpose than my cutlass。 Of a
sudden things began to go strangely easier； I found stumps；
bushing out again； my body began to wonder； then my mind； I
raised my eyes and looked ahead； and； by George； I was no
longer pioneering； I had struck an old track overgrown； and
was restoring an old path。 So I laboured till I was in such
a state that Carolina Wilhelmina Skeggs could scarce have
found a name for it。 Thereon desisted； returned to the
stream； made my way down that stony track to the garden；
where the smoke was still hanging and the sun was still in
the high tree…tops； and so home。 Here； fondly supposing my
long day was over； I rubbed down； exquisite agony； water
spreads the poison of these weeds； I got it all over my
hands； on my chest； in my eyes； and presently； while eating
an orange； A LA Raratonga； burned my lip and eye with orange
juice。 Now； all day； our three small pigs had been adrift；
to the mortal peril of our corn； lettuce； onions； etc。； and
as I stood smarting on the back verandah； behold the three
piglings issuing from the wood just opposite。 Instantly I
got together as many boys as I could … three； and got the
pigs penned against the rampart of the sty； till the others
joined； whereupon we formed a cordon； closed； captured the
deserters； and dropped them； squeaking amain； into their
strengthened barracks where； please God； they may now stay！
Perhaps you may suppose the day now over； you are not the
head of a plantation； my juvenile friend。 Politics
succeeded： Henry got adrift in his English； Bene was too
cowardly to tell me what he was after： result； I have lost
seven good labourers； and had to sit down and write to you to
keep my temper。 Let me sketch my lads。 … Henry … Henry has
gone down to town or I could not be writing to you … this
were the hour of his English lesson else； when he learns what
he calls 'long expessions' or 'your chief's language' for the
matter of an hour and a half … Henry is a chiefling from
Savaii； I once loathed； I now like and … pending fresh
discoveries … have a kind of respect for Henry。 He does good
work for us； goes among the labourers； bossing and watching；
helps Fanny； is civil； kindly； thoughtful； O SI SIC SEMPER！
But will he be 'his sometime self throughout the year'？
Anyway； he has deserved of us； and he must disappoint me
sharply ere I give him up。 … Bene … or Peni…Ben； in plain
English … is supposed to be my ganger； the Lord love him！
God made a truckling coward； there is his full history。 He
cannot tell me what he wants； he dares not tell me what is
wrong； he dares not transmit my orders or translate my
censures。 And with all this； honest； sober； industrious；
miserably smiling over the miserable issue of his own
unmanliness。 … Paul … a German … cook and steward … a glutton
of work … a splendid fellow； drawbacks； three： （1） no cook；
（2） an inveterate bungler； a man with twenty thumbs；
continually falling in the dishes； throwing out the dinner；
preserving the garbage； （3） a dr…； well； don't let us say
that … but we daren't let him go to town； and he … poor； good
soul … is afraid to be let go。 … Lafaele （Raphael）； a strong；
dull； deprecatory man； splendid with an axe； if watched； the
better for a rowing； when he calls me 'Papa' in the most
wheedling tones； desperately afraid of ghosts； so that he
dare not walk alone up in the banana patch … see map。 The
rest are changing labourers； and to…night； owing to the
miserable cowardice of Peni； who did not venture to tell me
what the men wanted … and which was no more than fair … all
are gone … and my weeding in the article of being finished！
Pity the sorrows of a planter。
I am； Sir； yours； and be jowned to you； The Planter；
R。 L。 S。
Tuesday 3rd
I begin to see the whole scheme of letter…writing； you sit
down every day and pour out an equable stream of twaddle。
This morning all my fears were fled； and all the trouble had
fallen to the lot of Peni himself； who deserved it； my field
was full of weeders； and I am again able to justify the ways
of God。 All morning I worked at the South Seas； and finished
the chapter I had stuck upon on Saturday。 Fanny； awfully
hove…to with rheumatics and injuries received upon the field
of sport and glory； chasing pigs； was unable to go up and
down stairs； so she sat upon the back verandah； and my work
was chequered by her cries。 'Paul； you take a spade to do
that … dig a hole first。 If you do that； you'll cut your
foot off！ Here； you boy； what you do there？ You no get
work？ You go find Simele； he give you work。 Peni； you tell
this boy he go find Simele； suppose Simele no give him work；
you tell him go 'way。 I no want him here。 That boy no
good。' … PENI （from the distance in reassuring tones）； 'All
right； sir！' … FANNY （after a long pause）； 'Peni； you tell
that boy go find Simele！ I no want him stand here all day。
I no pay that boy。 I see him all day。 He no do nothing。' …
Luncheon； beef； soda…scones； fried bananas； pine…apple in
claret； coffee。 Try to write a poem； no go