The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-11-10
A South Sea Islander.

On second thought, did care to EN-
my days in Fatahuap Suddenly th,
doorway was darkened by stalwar
brave, whose noiseless step had giver
no warning of his approach.
On his shoulder he balanced q BAN
boo laden with cluster of feu, the wild
plantain, that grows abundantly on the
heights, and which, when cooked, i
indispensable to the Tahitian palate.
He paused at the threshold until his
friendly greeting had been returned
then he entered with some diffidence,
| deposited his fruits in q corner. suuat.
| ted upon the mat near me, and breath
ed audibly, for his burden was heavy.
and the trail no primrose path. Except
for the paren that girded his loins, my
visitor was quite naked.
Long we gazed at each other with an
earnest, honest gaze that ended in a
smile OF recognition; we had never met
before, but the uncivilized and the
overcivilized are brothers He placed
his hand on my shoulder and stroked
me fondly. From the back of his ear
he drew his tobacco pouch. and rolled
a cigarette, of which we took alternate
puffs in token of perpetual peace.
Presently he made a fruit Offering,
guavas, mangoes, lines; then drink
offering, water in cup formed of a
folded leaf; and then-we had been
silent until now--he said, in hesitating
English with childish accent, II know
you; you like me; you come my house,
nodded accent. The savage shout.
dered his burden, and stepped lightly
down the trail, turning now and again
to give me look or word of encour-
agement; at every stream he put down
his load and bore me dry-shod to the
other shore; when it showered, as it
now did at intervals, we halted under
some broadleaved tree.
Once we sat in the moss and renewed
our vow in tobacco; and thus TRANQUILITY
we came at last to a log smouldering
by stream, and our tramp was ended.
1t was large log, partially decayed !;
1t had been fired long before, and was
slowly and imperceptibly burning, like
gigantic piece of punk. At meal time
it could be blown into q flame: few
dry twigs and leaves heaped against
it served to warm the frugal meal.
This is the national Tahitian hearth
cloud by day, pillar of fire by night;
1t puts the blue squirt of the lucifer
match to the blush; showers cannot
quench it; the gale gives it new life; it
was the one luxury in the household or
my host
| was attracted by rude shelter,
close at hand, and went thither to in
spect it. Imagine screen of leaves,
about six feet wide and eight feet high,
sianting against the trade wind, and
supported by q couple Of Embarked
saplings; the gale rushed over it, the
rain slid down it. The sides and front
were as open as the day. Three logs
hedged in a bed of fine grass-mats,
which, like a carpet, filed the space
from the low caves in the trusses to the
sapling supports in front; plump clean
pillows were slowed in corners: an un-
covered calabash contained articles Of
feminine apparel; silver thimble and
a bit OF unfinished embroidery with
needle thrust through it lay on the mat;
q hand-lnirrow was lodged among the
beams OF the roof. Evidently the bow
er was not unvisited of women. From
the peak Of the roof hung cluster OF |
ripe bananas; filed my hands, and
returned to the blazing log.
For the most part, my companion |
and communed in silence. You may
sit for hours by savage without utter
ing syllable, yet he will turn to you at |
intervals with an intelligent glance and |
an appreciative smile, as if he compre-
hended everything you left unsaid -
9. ". St0ddard, IN The atlantic.