And then a bird or two appeared, hovering and orying; swiftly these became more numerous; and presently, looking ahead, we were aware of a vast effervescence of winged life. In this place, theannular isle was mostly under water, carrying here and there on its submerged line a wooded islet. Over one of these, the birds hung and flew with an incredible density like that of gnats or hiving bees; the mass flashed white and black, and heaved, and quivered; and the screaming of the creatures rose over the voice of the surf in a shrill, chattering whirr. As you descend some inland valley, a not dissimilar sound announces the nearness of a mill and pouring river. Some stragglers, as I said, came to meet our approach; a few still hung about the ship as we departed-not for long. The orying died away, the last pair of wings was left behind; and once more the low shores of Kauehi streamed past our eyes in

Published in *The Sun*, April 12, 1891, the *Vailima Edition*, vol 26, 1923 and the *South Seas Edition* of the Works, 1925.

49

with-a-thrill---at-first-of-stupid-horrer-then-of-wiser-relief-that-I-found-two-of-the
band
company a-little-neeper I-saw-that
party inhumanely-defaecated-Then-one-came-neeper-and-two-of-the-band-were-seen-inhumanly
defaecated-them, and not the least adorned, were inhumanly defaced. I-had-a-moment-to
shpanking-then-a-grateful-sense-of---I-shrank-and-then-I-was-grateful---The-standard-had
fallen-with-the circumstance; and those who had would be elsewhere things to frighten
children, might here count admiration and awake desire. Sey-after

For-the-first-

THE SOUTH SEAS.

PART II.

THE DANGEROUS ARCHIPELAGO (<u>continued</u>).

XXV. A Pearl Island: Penrhyn.
Entrance to Penrhyn-- The Children-- The Minstrels-- Shell and Wreck--
Wages-- Manners-- 142

XXVI. Leprosy at Penrhyn
A leper waif-- Leprosy and the Polynesians-- A new Molokai--
Possible Danger to Europe-- 147

XXVII. Manihiki
Architecture-- Brand new fellow-countrymen-- "The copra eaters"--
Charms of Manihiki-- A love affair-- 151

(The first two titles were published in *The Sun*, May 24, 1891 and also in the
*South Seas Edition of the Works of R. L. Stevenson*, vol.20 (Scribner's, 1925),
and also in the *Vailima Edition*, vol.26, 1923.
*Manihiki* is apparently unpublished.