The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-08-18
blocks of rock, the old man paused and

blocks of rock, the old man paused and
told me:
Look yonder. At time when the
TapuZianS were without religion and
lived as wild beasts, God punished them.
Look at all the part of that mountain
quite stripped of vegetation: one night,
during a tremendous earthquake, that
mountain split in two-one part swal-
lowed up the half OF the village that then
stood on the place where those enormous
rocks are. few hundred steps further
on all would have been destroyed; there
would no longer have existed single
person in Tapuzi; but part OF the popu.
lation was not injured, and came ana
settled themselves where the village no"
is. Since then we pray to the Almighty,
and live in manner so as not To deserve
so severe a chaStisement as that ex.
perienced by the wretched victims OF thar
awful night"
The conversation and society OF this
old mani might say the King of TapuZi
was most interesting To me. But hao
already been four days absent from Jaia-
JaIa. | ordered my Lieutenant to- prepare
FIJI our departure We bid most affec-
tomato adieuS TO our hosts, and set or
In two days | returned home, quite
pleased with my journey and the good
inhabitants of Tapuzi.
SURPRISING WAR.
/ found Anna in great trouble, not only
on account of my absence, but because
on the previous evening information had
been received that the inhabitants of the
two largest towns in the Province had, as
it was stated, declared war against each
other; the most courageous amongst them,
To the number of 600 or 800 on each side,
had started for the island of Tale m.
There both parties, in the presence Of
each other, were upon the point of en-
gdging in battle; already, while skirmish-
ing, several had been mortality wounded.
This news frightened Anna; she knew
| that | was not a man who would await
quietly at home the issue Of the battle;
she already fancied she saw me- with my
10 guards, engaged in the thick OF the
/ fight, and perhaps a victim of my de-
| votedneSS.
| / cOmfoFted her as had always done,
| promising To- be prudent and not forget
/ her, but there was not moment to loses
/ 1t was necessary, at all risks to try to put
an end to- a conflict that might no doubt
cause the death of many men. How
could | do so with my 10 guards1 Dare i
/ pretend to- impose my viii as law on this
vast multitude? Clearly not. To attempt
| to do il by force would be to- sacrifice all.
| What was to be done9 Arm all my In
dams? But / had not boats enough to carry
| them to Talem
| In this difficulty decided upon setting
out alone with my Lieutenant. We took
our arms, and set sail in canoe that we
near the beach within hail of the shore,
when some armed Indians called out to
us to stand off, otherwise they would fire
upon US. Without paying attention to
this threat, my Lieutenant and /, some
minutes later, jumped boldly on shore,
and after few steps we found ourselves
in the midst of the combatants.
| went Immediately up to the chiefs and
addressed them.
"Wretched men," said to them, what
are you going to do? 1t Is upon you who
command that the severity of the law will
fall. 1t IS still time; try to deserve your
pardon. Order your men to give up their
arms; lay down your own, or else in a few
minutes | viii place myself at the head OF
your enemies to fight against you. Obeys
If not, you will be treated as rebels"
They listened attentively to me; they
were half conquered. However, one Of
them made me this reply:
And If you take away our arms, who
will satisfy us that our enemies viii nos
come to attack us?
Il will, l told them; II give you my
word; and If they do not obey me as you
are going to do, L viii return to you, i Will
give you back your arms, and will fight az
your head. "
These words, said with tone of au-
thority and command, produced the effect
l expected. The chiefs, without uttering
word, laid their arms at my feet. Their
ants, and, in a moment, heap OF car
bineS, guns, spears, and cutlaSses were
laid down before me. appointed 10
| among these individuals who had just
obeyed me, gave them each gun, and
told them
Il confide to you the care of these arms.
II anyone attempts to take possession OF
them, fire upon the aSsailantS."
1 pretended to take down their names,
and went off to the opposite camp, where
| found all the cOmbatantS on foot, ready
to march and fight against their enemies.
l stopped them, saying
THE battle is Over-your enemies are
disarmed. You, too, must give me up
your arms, or else Immediately embark In
your canoes and go home. If you do not
obey me, | will give back their arms
instantly to your opponents, and i Will
put myself at their head to fight against
you. Perform what | command you; y
promise you all shall be forgotten"
There was no room for hesitation. The
Indians knew that did not allow much
time for reflection, and that my threats
and Establishments followed each other
closely. Shortly after, they all embarked
in their canoes. remained on the beach
alone, with my Lieutenant, until / had
almost lost sight of this small feet.
then returned to the other camp, where
was impatiently expected. i announced
to the Indians they had no longer any
enemies, and that consequently they
could go back quietly to their village.
My Anna took part every day more ana
more in my labors, anxieties, and even In
some of my dangers. Would it have been
possible not to have loved her witt
deeper affection than that which onS
feels for a companion leading peacefun
and Insignificant life?
Ito be centinueI)
rDrrop1Ar NOTE -Hunting strange game-