Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1894-07-19
PETER WAS A SAILOR.
NOW HE is A KING ON A SOUTH
SEA ISLAND.
But His subjects Number Only a Score
and the Products of His Kingdom
Bring no Money Into the Treasury
He Prefers His Savage Friends.


This is not said to place Peter in tn o
same category as the rulers of the
world, however, for, beyond a few
followers clad in scant calico and
banana leaves. the sailor boosted of
no subject ready and willing TO obey
his commands.
Peter returned to civilization and
made several voyages in whalers
and sealers This happened about
two years ago. He went north with
the whaler Cape Horn Pigeon on her
last voyage, and was discharged
when the vessel reached San Fran
cisco. He has been hunting for an
other job, and, being unable to find
one, has become Disguised with ple-
beian life in cosmopolitan San Fran
cisco, and desires to return to the
coral reef near Raratonga and again
become a cipher in the sum of exist
euce. He will leave on the first ira
der clearing for the southern arch
ipeliago.
Peter, whose real name is Peter
Howden, remembers England but
vaguely. He did recall though that
he took to sailing when mere
child, officiating as cabin boy to a
big, bluff skipper of a Calcutta
trader, who used to tell him that
otis a foine chance the young man
ha' in tn So seas"
The bluff skipper spoke not very
often, and when he did he never
wasted idle words for the simple
pleasure of hearing himself articu-
late.
Peter was impressed. He left the
Liverpool docks, joined trading
bark, and, before many months had
rolled by, was at Butaritari. and
sufficiently entranced with the neigh
borhood to relinquish the pleasure
of drawing his wages, so he deserted
his ship.
Drifting about from island to
island and familiarizing himself
with the manners and customs of the
South Sea islanders, Peter finally be
came the protege of big chief at
Raratonga, under whose chieftaincy
the young man served for a couple
of years.
About thirty miles from Raratonga
is small ISLAND, scarcely as large
In circumference as one-mile race
course, on which dwelt score or
more memb ers of the chiefs tribe,
who thrived by trading with occa-
sionally visiting vessels, and barter
in tropical fruits and sea-shells.
Peter was made king of this tiny
domain that was known to the ma
tives as "Illula" or "lonely-spot. "
1t derived it's name from the fact
that it is somewhat separated from
the rest of the group
Peter took up his abode on the
reef. He built for himself a little
square house with matched roof
that served as a palace, council
chamber and trading station. His
subjects clustered their huts about
the young monarch's headquarters
and looked to him for the adjust
ment of all matters pertaining to af-
fairs OF state or finance
Unfortunately Peter was unrcssan-
tically poor So were his people,
1t might have been much more inter-
estIng had his narrative gone on to
tell about how the island king grew
fabulously wealthy, married a nut
brown maiden and lived a reckless,
jolly life of extravaganza.
Not SO. Years rolled on and Peter
got poorer. Months and months
passed by and his tribe became
gradually aware that the traders
were not calling at the island like
they used to in We good old times of
yore.
Peter grew triAe lonesome once
in while and often wondered how
the big busy world would look to
him. He viewed himself in broken
traders mirror and saw that his
eyes did not have their usual snap
and brilliancy and that beneath the
tan of the tropical sun the healthy
color of youth had faded away.
The brigantine Morning Star called
at his island one time several years
ago, and one of the missionaries on
board spoke to him of San Francisco
anu UllG i dClllC COdSU.
Only eight warriors, as many wo-
men and few children remained of
the native inhabitants of the island.
These were not starving, to be sure.
for no man could ever starve as long
as nature provided him with plan
tains and fruit in plenty. But beads
were scarce. calico scarcer, and all
the little trinkets that are acquired
BY active trading which go to make
up the wealth of South Sea island
community were lacking.
Peter had been nearly thirty years
on the reef During all OF that time
he hal seen very few white men, but
he had become thoroughly versed in
the ways and manners OF his dark
skinned friends. The natives loved
him, and he loved the na ives.
The sailor did not like to leave h
friends. but re5tl IS dc sire to IN
vestigate into the ways of the out
side world seized him He told h S
savage followers that he was going
away on a short trip and promised
them he would return Great grief
followed this announcement, and for
da S Ii MA was la nour ling.
The civilized world was not what
Peter expected to find it. 1t was
cold. h2artlc.5. ungenerous. Even