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and the most are just what was to be expected。
SATURDAY。
I must tell you of our feast。 It was long promised to the
boys； and came off yesterday in one of their new houses。 My
good Simele arrived from Savaii that morning asking for
political advice； then we had Tauilo； Elena's father； a
talking man of Tauilo's family； Talolo's cousin； and a boy of
Simele's family； who attended on his dignity； then Metu； the
meat…man … you have never heard of him； but he is a great
person in our household … brought a lady and a boy … and
there was another infant … eight guests in all。 And we sat
down thirty strong。 You should have seen our procession；
going （about two o'clock）； all in our best clothes； to the
hall of feasting！ All in our Sunday's best。 The new house
had been hurriedly finished； the rafters decorated with
flowers； the floor spread； native style； with green leaves；
we had given a big porker； twenty…five pounds of fresh beef；
a tin of biscuit； cocoanuts； etc。 Our places were all
arranged with much care； the native ladies of the house
facing our party； the sides filled up by the men； the guests；
please observe： the two chief people； male and female； were
placed with our family； the rest between S。 and the native
ladies。 After the feast was over； we had kava； and the
calling of the kava was a very elaborate affair； and I
thought had like to have made Simele very angry； he is really
a considerable chief； but he and Tauilo were not called till
after all our family； AND THE GUESTS； I suppose the principle
being that he was still regarded as one of the household。 I
forgot to say that our black boy did not turn up when the
feast was ready。 Off went the two cooks； found him；
decorated him with huge red hibiscus flowers … he was in a
very dirty under shirt … brought him back between them like a
reluctant maid； and； thrust him into a place between Faauma
and Elena； where he was petted and ministered to。 When his
turn came in the kava drinking … and you may be sure； in
their contemptuous； affectionate kindness for him； as for a
good dog； it came rather earlier than it ought … he was cried
under a new name。 ALEKI is what they make of his own name
Arrick； but instead of
｛ the cup of ｝
｛'le ipu o ｝
Aleki！' it was called 'le ipu o VAILIMA' and it was explained
that he had 'taken his chief…name'！ a jest at which the
plantation still laughs。 Kava done； I made a little speech；
Henry translating。 If I had been well； I should have alluded
to all； but I was scarce able to sit up； so only alluded to
my guest of all this month； the Tongan； Tomas； and to Simele；
partly for the jest of making him translate compliments to
himself。 The talking man replied with many handsome
compliments to me； in the usual flood of Samoan fluent
neatness； and we left them to an afternoon of singing and
dancing。 Must stop now； as my right hand is very bad again。
I am trying to write with my left。
SUNDAY。
About half…past eight last night； I had gone to my own room；
Fanny and Lloyd were in Fanny's； every one else in bed； only
two boys on the premises … the two little brown boys Mitaiele
（Michael）； age I suppose 11 or 12； and the new steward； a
Wallis islander； speaking no English and about fifty words of
Samoan； recently promoted from the bush work； and a most
good； anxious； timid lad of 15 or 16 … looks like 17 or 18；
of course … they grow fast here。 In comes Mitaiele to Lloyd；
and told some rigmarole about Paatalise （the steward's name）
wanting to go and see his family in the bush。 … 'But he has
no family in the bush；' said Lloyd。 'No；' said Mitaiele。
They went to the boy's bed （they sleep in the walled…in
compartment of the verandah； once my dressing…room） and
called at once for me。 He lay like one asleep； talking in
drowsy tones but without excitement； and at times 'cheeping'
like a frightened mouse； he was quite cool to the touch； and
his pulse not fast； his breathing seemed wholly ventral； the
bust still； the belly moving strongly。 Presently he got from
his bed； and ran for the door； with his head down not three
feet from the floor and his body all on a stretch forward；
like a striking snake： I say 'ran；' but this strange movement
was not swift。 Lloyd and I mastered him and got him back in
bed。 Soon there was another and more desperate attempt to
escape； in which Lloyd had his ring broken。 Then we bound
him to the bed humanely with sheets； ropes； boards and
pillows。 He lay there and sometimes talked； sometimes
whispered； sometimes wept like an angry child； his principal
word was 'Faamolemole' … 'Please' … and he kept telling us at
intervals that his family were calling him。 During this
interval； by the special grace of God； my boys came home； we
had already called in Arrick； the black boy； now we had that
Hercules； Lafaele； and a man Savea； who comes from
Paatalise's own island and can alone communicate with him
freely。 Lloyd went to bed； I took the first watch； and sat
in my room reading； while Lafaele and Arrick watched the
madman。 Suddenly Arrick called me； I ran into the verandah；
there was Paatalise free of all his bonds and Lafaele holding
him。 To tell what followed is impossible。 We were five
people at him … Lafaele and Savea； very strong men； Lloyd； I
and Arrick； and the struggle lasted until 1 A。M。 before we
had him bound。 One detail for a specimen： Lloyd and I had
charge of one leg； we were both sitting on it； and lo！ we
were both tossed into the air … I； I daresay； a couple of
feet。 At last we had him spread…eagled to the iron bedstead；
by his wrists and ankles； with matted rope； a most inhumane
business； but what could we do？ it was all we could do to
manage it even so。 The strength of the paroxysms had been
steadily increasing； and we trembled for the next。 And now I
come to pure Rider Haggard。 Lafaele announced that the boy
was very bad； and he would get 'some medicine' which was a
family secret of his own。 Some leaves were brought
mysteriously in； chewed； placed on the boy's eyes； dropped in
his ears （see Hamlet） and stuck up his nostrils； as he did
this； the weird doctor partly smothered the patient with his
hand； and by about 2 A。M。 he was in a deep sleep； and from
that time he showed no symptom of dementia whatever。 The
medicine （says Lafaele） is principally used for the wholesale
slaughter of families； he himself feared last night that his
dose was fatal； only one other person； on this island； knows
the secret； and she； Lafaele darkly whispers； has abused it。
This remarkable tree we must try to identify。
The man…of…war doctor came up to…day； gave us a strait…
waistcoat； taught us to bandage； examined the boy and saw he
was apparently well … he insisted on doing his work all
morning； poor lad； and when he first came