The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-10-22
A South Sea Islander.

VII second CnOu0nG, ola care 10 enQ
my days in Fatahua? Suddenly the
doorway was darkened by stalwart
brave, whose noiseless step had given
no warning of his approach.
On his shoulder he balanced a bam-
boo laden with cluster of feu, the wild
plantain, that grows abundantly on the
heights, and which, when cooked, is
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 a corner, squat
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
putfs in token of perpetual peace.
Presently he made fruit Offering.
guavas, mangoes, lines; then a drink
offering, water in cup formed of a
folded leaf; and then-we had been
silent until now--he said, in hesitatino
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 if
now did at intervals, we halted under
some broad-leaved tree. ta2
Once we sat in the moss and renewed
our vow in tobacco; and thus TRANQUILITY
we came at last to q log smouldering
by stream, and our tramp was ended.
1t was large log, partially decayed :;
it had been fired long before, and was
slowly and imperceptibly burning, like
a gigantic piece of punk. At meal time
it could be blown into flame; a 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;
it 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 Of
my host .a
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,
slanting against the trade-wind, and
supported by a 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 bed of fine grass-mats,
which, like carpet, filled the space
from the low caves in the trusses to the
sapling supports in front; plump clean
pillows were slowed in corners; an I'M
covered calabash contained articles Of
feminine apparel; silver thimble and
a bit of unfinished embroidery with q
needle thrust through it lay ON the mat
a hand-mirrow 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; l filled my hands, and
returned to the blazing log.
For the most part, my companion
and | communed in silence. You may
sit for hours by a 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.-
c.. w. iStOddard, in the atlantic.