The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-05-08

upon me, SO full was~it Of true devo'
tion, loving trustfuEncss and deep con-
triton. 1t was fluent and comprehen'
sive, taking in all the minor trials o.
everyday life, and asking guidance ano
strength for meeting the vicissitudes o
the troublOus times now lowering ovel
fair, vet battle SCARED Samoa. | have
listened to the prayers of many mer
in many countries, have heard tho
tlowery aspirations of doctors of dog
ma, the violent pleadings OF enthusi
asst preachers, yet never have l fell
more sensibly the earnest sincerity
and loving humility of a supplian,
, than this Samoan woman.
More cigarettes were rolled ano
! lighted, and once more | was about tc
! seek repose, when Sucina asked me tC
give her an arithmetic sum TO do. !
set Il simple one in addition, moi
knowing her familiarity with more
difficult work; she performed it quick
ly and correctly, and asked for more OF
another kind; these | gave her, and
! with the same result. When the last
was finished she asked for something
in English money-pounds, shillings
and pence. / was much surprised to
see how thoroughly she understood it,
, and how quickly it was completed, al
though the operation was a long one
and involved considerable reduction.
| She took my surprise good naturedly,
evidently thinking that with her ac-
complshments she could we'll afford to
| overlook the ill-suppressed anlaZement
of white man, Later, she exhibited
specimens of her writing, which, Dy-
/ the-way, would do credit to any one
but the browning wonder Of all was re-
served for the last: without mo.
ment's warning she struck up the air. OF
Spanish song-"The Cavaier'-and
rendered the sentimental ballad re-
marKably well. | asked where she
had learned it, and was Informed that
she had "na 0na mono mai lon" (mere-
" borrowed from me- Afterwards l
found that she had copied it from Il
Spanish book | had forgotten and left
i'm her house on Il previous visit.
/ Knowing nothing Of the language,
but, like all South Sea people, having
IL natural faculty for Spanish, she had
simply followed the words carefully
until committed to memory, and had
then mastered the time very easily.
While | was being thus interested
and instructed, the other inmates of
the house were engaged in various pur-
suits. One was making "kava;" "a
slightly bitter drink made from the
grated roots of Il bush Of the same
namc) another was making tortoise
shell rings inlaid with silver; anoth-
cr fancy baskets for sale to foreigners
while several were playing "sweepy'
! ---called "casino" in America. Others
being drowsy, and feeling no restraint
because of Il visitor, had stretched out
upon their mats and We're enjoying
uuict maps the only change between
day and night apparel being i different
"lsya laval" IA cloth reaching from the
waist to within three or four inches to
the knees and the covering used, a
sheet Of "tappa," which is made from
the fibre nf Il tree, and is susceptible OF
much ornamcntation in the way oi
paints and dyes. Many very fine
Sheets are often seen, crincing really
arti~tic skill i'll their adnrnment.
With hearty "tolas" (iarewells) ano
"mIe lrleis" (slccp WE'LL ringing II
my ears, ] badc my Samoan friend:
goodnight, as | NOW bid you, dea
NElGHEoR
s. r.. BROWNE.