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（TO THEIR OWN KNOWLEDGE； ON THE REPORT OF THEIR OWN SPY） who
held the rebel party in check； and having thus called on war
to fall； they can do no more； sit equally 'expertes' of VIS
and counsel； regarding their handiwork。 It is always a cry
with these folk that he （Mataafa） had no ammunition。 I
always said it would be found； and we know of five boat…loads
that have found their way to Malie already。 Where there are
traders； there will be ammunition； aphorism by R。 L。 S。
Now what am I to do next？
Lives of the Stevensons？ HISTORIA SAMOAE？ A History for
Children？ Fiction？ I have had two hard months at fiction； I
want a change。 Stevensons？ I am expecting some more
material； perhaps better wait。 Samoa； rather tempting； might
be useful to the islands … and to me； for it will be written
in admirable temper； I have never agreed with any party； and
see merits and excuses in all； should do it （if I did） very
slackly and easily； as if half in conversation。 History for
Children？ This flows from my lessons to Austin； no book is
any good。 The best I have seen is Freeman's OLD ENGLISH
HISTORY； but his style is so rasping； and a child can learn
more； if he's clever。 I found my sketch of general Aryan
History； given in conversation； to have been practically
correct … at least what I mean is； Freeman had very much the
same stuff in his early chapters； only not so much； and I
thought not so well placed； and the child remembered some of
it。 Now the difficulty is to give this general idea of main
place； growth； and movement； it is needful to tack it on a
yarn。 Now Scotch is the only History I know； it is the only
history reasonably represented in my library； it is a very
good one for my purpose； owing to two civilisations having
been face to face throughout … or rather Roman civilisation
face to face with our ancient barbaric life and government；
down to yesterday； to 1750 anyway。 But the TALES OF A
GRANDFATHER stand in my way； I am teaching them to Austin
now； and they have all Scott's defects and all Scott's
hopeless merit。 I cannot compete with that； and yet； so far
as regards teaching History； how he has missed his chances！
I think I'll try； I really have some historic sense； I feel
that in my bones。 Then there's another thing。 Scott never
knew the Highlands； he was always a Borderer。 He has missed
that whole； long； strange； pathetic story of our savages；
and； besides； his style is not very perspicuous to childhood。
Gad； I think I'll have a flutter。 Buridan's Ass！ Whether to
go； what to attack。 Must go to other letters； shall add to
this； if I have time。
CHAPTER XIII
NOV。 25TH； 1891。
MY DEAR COLVIN； MY DEAR COLVIN； … I wonder how often I'm
going to write it。 In spite of the loss of three days； as I
have to tell； and a lot of weeding and cacao planting； I have
finished since the mail left four chapters； forty…eight pages
of my Samoa history。 It is true that the first three had
been a good deal drafted two years ago； but they had all to
be written and re…written； and the fourth chapter is all new。
Chapter I。 Elements of Discord…Native。 II。 Elements of
Discord…Foreign。 III。 The Success of Laupepa。 IV。 Brandeis。
V。 Will probably be called 'The Rise of Mataafa。' VI。 FUROR
CONSULARIS … a devil of a long chapter。 VII。 Stuebel the
Pacificator。 VIII。 Government under the Treaty of Berlin。
IX。 Practical Suggestions。 Say three…sixths of it are done；
maybe more； by this mail five chapters should go； and that
should be a good half of it； say sixty pages。 And if you
consider that I sent by last mail the end of the WRECKER；
coming on for seventy or eighty pages； and the mail before
that the entire Tale of the BEACH OF FALESA； I do not think I
can be accused of idleness。 This is my season； I often work
six and seven； and sometimes eight hours； and the same day I
am perhaps weeding or planting for an hour or two more … and
I daresay you know what hard work weeding is … and it all
agrees with me at this time of the year … like … like
idleness； if a man of my years could be idle。
My first visit to Apia was a shock to me； every second person
the ghost of himself； and the place reeking with infection。
But I have not got the thing yet； and hope to escape。 This
shows how much stronger I am； think of me flitting through a
town of influenza patients seemingly unscathed。 We are all
on the cacao planting。
The next day my wife and I rode over to the German
plantation； Vailele； whose manager is almost the only German
left to speak to us。 Seventy labourers down with influenza！
It is a lovely ride； half…way down our mountain towards Apia；
then turn to the right； ford the river； and three miles of
solitary grass and cocoa palms； to where the sea beats and
the wild wind blows unceasingly about the plantation house。
On the way down Fanny said； 'Now what would you do if you saw
Colvin coming up？'
Next day we rode down to Apia to make calls。
Yesterday the mail came； and the fat was in the fire。
NOV。 29TH？
BOOK。 All right。 I must say I like your order。 And the
papers are some of them up to dick； and no mistake。 I agree
with you the lights seem a little turned down。 The truth is；
I was far through （if you understand Scots）； and came none
too soon to the South Seas； where I was to recover peace of
body and mind。 No man but myself knew all my bitterness in
those days。 Remember that； the next time you think I regret
my exile。 And however low the lights are； the stuff is true；
and I believe the more effective； after all； what I wish to
fight is the best fought by a rather cheerless presentation
of the truth。 The world must return some day to the word
duty； and be done with the word reward。 There are no
rewards； and plenty duties。 And the sooner a man sees that
and acts upon it like a gentleman or a fine old barbarian；
the better for himself。
There is my usual puzzle about publishers。 Chatto ought to
have it； as he has all the other essays； these all belong to
me； and Chatto publishes on terms。 Longman has forgotten the
terms we are on； let him look up our first correspondence；
and he will see I reserved explicitly； as was my habit； the
right to republish as I choose。 Had the same arrangement
with Henley； Magazine of Art； and with Tulloch Fraser's。 …
For any necessary note or preface； it would be a real service
if you would undertake the duty yourself。 I should love a
preface by you； as short or as long as you choose； three
sentences； thirty pages； the thing I should like is your
name。 And the excuse of my great distance seems sufficient。
I shall return with this the sheets corrected as far as I
have them； the rest I will leave； if you will； to you
entirely； let it be your book； and disclaim what you