The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-15
THE KINGS PRAY PLACE. ArEMAMA.

skimming under all plain sail with bubblng
scuppers. So wc had the breeze. which was
well worth a dollar in itself: but the bulletin
about my friend in England proved. some six
months later when got my mail. to have been
groundless. Perhaps London lies beyond the
horizon OF the island gods.
Tembinok'. in his first dealings. showed
himself sternly averse to superstition. and.
had not the Equator delayed. We might have
left the island and still supposed him an az
nostic. 1t chanced one day. however that he
came to our moniap. and found Mrs. Stevenson
in the midst Of gamo Of patience. She ex-
planned the game as we'll as she was able. and
wound up jocularly by telling him this was her
devil work. and II she W on the Equator would
arrive next day. Temtinok' must have drawn
long breath. We were not so high and dry
after all: he need no longer dissemble. and he
plunged ct once into confessions. He made
devil work every day. he told US. to know II
ships were coming in. and then afterward
brought US regular reports Of the results. It
was surprising how regularly he was wrong.
but he had always an explanation ready.
There had been some schooner In tho off1ng
out Of Wow. but either she was not bound for
Apemama or had changed her course or lay
becslmed. used to regard the King with
generation as he thus publicly deceived him
the Church. all tho philosophers ond
men Of science Of the past: before
him. all those that are to come: himself
in the midst; the whole visionary series
bowed over the same task OF welding incon-
gruities. To the end Tembinok' spoke reluc-
family OF the island gods and their worship.
and I learned but little. Taburik Is the god Of
thunder. and deals in wind and weather.
while since there we're wizards who could
call him down in the form OF lightning. MY
patha he tell me he soc: you think he lie ?"
Tlentl-pronounced something like "cheench."
and identified by his Majesty with the devil
sends and removes bodily sickness. He Ia
whistled for in the Paumotuan manner. and Is
said to appear. but the King has never seen
him. The doctors treat disease by the aid Of
cheench: eclectic Tembinok' at the same time
administering pain killer" from his medi-
cine chest. so as to give the sufferer both
chances. II think mo- betta." observed his
Majesty. with moro than his usual self-ap.
proval. Apparently the gods are not Jealous.
and placidly enjoy both shrine and priest In
common. On Tamaitis medicine tree. for in
stance. the model canoes are hung UP en- u0to
fora prosperous voyage. and must therefore
ba dedicated to Taburik. god Of the weather:
but the stone in front Is the place OF sick folk
come to paclfy cheench.
1t CHANGED by great good luck that evon as
We spoke OF these affairs l found myself
threatened with O cold. do not suppose
was ever glad OF cold before. or shall ever be
again; but the opportunity to SEQ tho sorcerers
at work was priceless. and called IN the
faculty OF Apemama They came in a body. all
III their Sundays best, and hung with wreaths
and shells. the insignia OF the devil worker.
Tamaiti knew already: Terutak saw for
the first time. a tall. lauk. raw boncd. serious