Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-07

finally brought up in the lagoon off the
kings house and close to a small fore-and-
aft schooner flying the American flag.
Our neighbor In port was the Equator
and hailed from San Francisco. Before we
anchored a boat left her. and as soon as
possible her occupants boarded u.s. One
was rather tall and slightly built. with thin
black hair, worn rather long. and a droop-
ing black mIstache. He was dressed in the
lis ual style of an island trader, with just
a soupCon of swagger in the finest braided
native hat and brilliant crimson silk cum
nierhuad, worn with the thin linen suit of
dazzling white affected by foreigners who
live il the lime islands ACCOMPANYING
him were two white ladies. and the only
white man whom Tenn Binoka allowed to
permanently reside on the island. / knew
this man as Johnny. and to this day firmly
believe that he possessed no other cogno-
men The party came direct to the trade
house. built on deck; and l had the honor
OF being introduced to Robert Louis Steven
SON. his wife and stepdaughter, Mrs
Strong.
We shook hands, exchanged cards and
greetings and inquired as usual in the is
Iands, about the wind and the weather
linen Mr. Stevenson seated himself on a
case of tobacco, while the only deck chairs
on board were offered to the two ladies
Mr. Stevenson dropped into an EASY CONVEX
sation III which he displayed a remarka BILE
technical knowledge of matters marine
Nothlng seemed 20 escape his notice. You
take but little wind to stay and YOUR YES
Sci goes round We'll on her heel" remarked
the author of Treasure Island" which
showed that QUE maneuvering in the lagoon
Ihanhei nad not been Gnnoticed. Naturally
was battered 10y his compliment 10 the
snip. and as IL was thcn past 3 o'clock I
told our Chinese steward to make tea We
stayed on deck. glad to have the pleasure
OF talking to each other for dematon
tWnite mani is indeed a rare bird i'm the
Gllherts- Stevenson finally passed me his
tobacco pouch, filled. | perceived With
4 urk!sn tobacco Of very superior quality
Il lspZ
establishment the ladies did the same .rhe:r
actions were perfectly natural: there was
TO anectaton. They evidently enioyed tho
opportunity TO openly Indulge: and really.
1hTs- stevenson did duff her cigarette yerv
prettily we are far removed from the
Petty eonventionalities of civilization Mr.
stevenson FASTENED TO explain, "and. be-
Heve me. IL is indeed most deJipbtfn1 -
throw 70 the winds the irksome ethics .,f
society / agreed. and far into the shades
OF mat baimy, tropical night I listened TO
,ne prilhant conversation of the man of
letters In his 9eglige picturesoue attire
he appeared a natural noblemsn. and 7
shdiI ever remember that meeting with the
most unmixed- of feelings
Author and King,
stevenson had completely won the regard
and the esteem of the old king and bis
people The simple islanders recognized in
him a being vastly different to those whites
with whom they had previously come in
contact King TEN Binoka controIIed
everything on A2emama. Every cocoanut
Palm paid its uthe to him TIL. pandanus
and yobyoi of the whole island were in
ahenably his should his royal fiat so issue.
Even the sea paid him tribute the fisher
Men invariably repairing to the royal dwell
ing with propitiaeory offerings On their re-
turn He Mas absolute master of life and
heid the censIs+ef his dominion stationary
ny a cruel exercise of infanticide The
Island, ne said, was already over-peopied
ana self preservation Obliged him to limit
the Increase of population
Personally Tenn Binuka was a giant
stanilrg over SIX feet three inches. He
weighed nearly I'D pounds and ALWAYS
carried MS own la deer in his boat being
dlstrusftul of mounting a vessels side nv
any other means. Ashore a small platform
sluns on shafts CT ctcoanut wood was his
conveyance II required a dozen natives 10
carr ms majestic person. On his approac h
the people would bow their heads and hide
their faces. He was king and exercised
10 the ute rmost the attributes of his SOW
erelsnty- he derived large revenue from
beche-de-mer. pearl shell and copra. Ne
EQUATIONS with the king for the purchase
OF MS cop:a had finally been suspended
FOR some reason he declined to sell the IA
tons OF dried cocoanut in the royal store
houses All hands On board became de-
spondent AID the general gloom even over
swallowed me-. one cay, about a week after
our arrival. Stevenson came aboard and in
qulred the reason for our painfully an