[R. L. Stevenson]

the it
Now for Samoan story, which I owe to the kindness
of Dr. F. Otto Sierich: whole [sic] collection of folk-tales
I expect with a high degree of interest. A man in Manu'a
was married to two wif wives, and had no issue. He went to
Savaii, married there a third and was more fortunate. When
his wife was near her time, he remembered he was then-a-poor
in a strange island, like a poor man; and when his child
must
was born, he would be shamed for lack of gifts. It was in
vain his wife dissuaded him: and he returned to his father
in Manu'a, asking help; and with what he could get, he set
off in the night to reëmbark. Now his wives had heard of
his coming; they were incensed he did not stay to visit
them, and on the beach, by his canoe, intercepted and slew
Now
him. That-night the third wife lay asleep in Savaii, her
and
babe was born and slept by her side; when she was awakened
by the spirit of her husband. - "Get up", he said, "my father
to
is sick in Manu'a and we must go and visit him!" - "It is
take
well," said she; "carry you the child, while I carry its
mats." - "Icannot carry the child," he said; "I am too cold
from the sea." Now, when they were got on board the canoe,
the wife smellt carrion.- "How is this?" she said. "What
have you got in the canoe that should smell carrion." -
"It is nothing in the canoe," said the spirit. "It is the
land blowing down the mountain, where some beast lies dead."
It appears it was still night when they reached Manu'a -

["- the swiftest passage upon record - and as they entered\nthe reef, the bale fires burned in the village. Again\nshe asked him to carry the child; but now he need no more\ndissemble. - \"I cannot carry your child,\" said he; \"for I\nam dead, and the fires you see are burning for my funeral.""]