登陆注册
15484600000042

第42章 CHAPTER XVIII(3)

Meanwhile my business was still untransacted. And on Saturday morning, I sent down and arranged with Charlie Taylor to go down that afternoon. I had scarce got the saddle bags fixed and had not yet mounted, when the rain began. But it was no use delaying now; off I went in a wild waterspout to Apia; found Charlie (Sale) Taylor - a sesquipedalian young half-caste - not yet ready, had a snack of bread and cheese at the hotel while waiting him, and then off to Malie. It rained all the way, seven miles; the road, which begins in triumph, dwindles down to a nasty, boggy, rocky footpath with weeds up to a horseman's knees; and there are eight pig fences to jump, nasty beastly jumps - the next morning we found one all messed with blood where a horse had come to grief - but my Jack is a clever fencer; and altogether we made good time, and got to Malie about dark.

It is a village of very fine native houses, high, domed, oval buildings, open at the sides, or only closed with slatted Venetians. To be sure, Mataafa's is not the worst. It was already quite dark within, only a little fire of cocoa-shell blazed in the midst and showed us four servants; the chief was in his chapel, whence we heard the sound of chaunting.

Presently he returned; Taylor and I had our soaking clothes changed, family worship was held, kava brewed, I was exhibited to the chiefs as a man who had ridden through all that rain and risked deportation to serve their master; they were bidden learn my face, and remember upon all occasions to help and serve me. Then dinner, and politics, and fine speeches until twelve at night - O, and some more kava - when I could sit up no longer; my usual bed-time is eight, you must remember. Then one end of the house was screened off for me alone, and a bed made - you never saw such a couch - I believe of nearly fifty (half at least) fine mats, by Mataafa's daughter, Kalala. Here I reposed alone; and on the other side of the tafa, Majesty and his household. Armed guards and a drummer patrolled about the house all night; they had no shift, poor devils; but stood to arms from sun-down to sun-up.

About four in the morning, I was awakened by the sound of a whistle pipe blown outside on the dark, very softly and to a pleasing simple air; I really think I have hit the first phrase:

[Fragment of music score which cannot be reproduced]

It sounded very peaceful, sweet and strange in the dark; and I found this was a part of the routine of my rebel's night, and it was done (he said) to give good dreams. By a little before six, Taylor and I were in the saddle again fasting.

My riding boots were so wet I could not get them on, so I must ride barefoot. The morning was fair but the roads very muddy, the weeds soaked us nearly to the waist, Sale was twice spilt at the fences, and we got to Apia a bedraggled enough pair. All the way along the coast, the pate (small wooden drum) was beating in the villages and the people crowding to the churches in their fine clothes. Thence through the mangrove swamp, among the black mud and the green mangroves, and the black and scarlet crabs, to Mulinuu, to the doctor's, where I had an errand, and so to the inn to breakfast about nine. After breakfast I rode home. Conceive such an outing, remember the pallid brute that lived in Skerryvore like a weevil in a biscuit, and receive the intelligence that I was rather the better for my journey.

Twenty miles ride, sixteen fences taken, ten of the miles in a drenching rain, seven of them fasting and in the morning chill, and six stricken hours' political discussions by an interpreter; to say nothing of sleeping in a native house, at which many of our excellent literati would look askance of itself.

You are to understand: if I take all this bother, it is not only from a sense of duty, or a love of meddling - damn the phrase, take your choice - but from a great affection for Mataafa. He is a beautiful, sweet old fellow, and he and I grew quite fulsome on Saturday night about our sentiments. I had a messenger from him to-day with a flannel undershirt which I had left behind like a gibbering idiot; and perpetrated in reply another baboo letter. It rains again to-day without mercy; blessed, welcome rains, making up for the paucity of the late wet season; and when the showers slacken, I can hear my stream roaring in the hollow, and tell myself that the cacaos are drinking deep. I am desperately hunted to finish my Samoa book before the mail goes; this last chapter is equally delicate and necessary. The prayers of the congregation are requested. Eheu! and it will be ended before this letter leaves and printed in the States ere you can read this scribble. The first dinner gong has sounded; JE VOUS SALUE, MONSIEUR ET CHER CONFRERE. TOFA, SOIFUA! Sleep! long life! as our Samoan salutation of farewell runs.

FRIDAY, MAY 13TH.

Well, the last chapter, by far the most difficult and ungrateful, is well under way, I have been from six to seven hours upon it daily since I last wrote; and that is all I have done forbye working at Samoan rather hard, and going down on Wednesday evening to the club. I make some progress now at the language; I am teaching Belle, which clears and exercises myself. I am particularly taken with the FINESSE of the pronouns. The pronouns are all dual and plural and the first person, both in the dual and plural, has a special exclusive and inclusive form. You can conceive what fine effects of precision and distinction can be reached in certain cases. Take Ruth, i. VV. 8 to 13, and imagine how those pronouns come in; it is exquisitely elegant, and makes the mouth of the LITTERATEUR to water. I am going to exercitate my pupil over those verses to-day for pronoun practice.

TUESDAY.

同类推荐
  • 太上洞玄灵宝二部传授仪

    太上洞玄灵宝二部传授仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 筠廊二笔

    筠廊二笔

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 海南杂着

    海南杂着

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 请宾头卢法

    请宾头卢法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 诸法集要经

    诸法集要经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 一等丫鬟:毒后来袭

    一等丫鬟:毒后来袭

    作为第一丫鬟,首要任务自然是帮助主人排除万难。打不过怎么办?不怕!姐毒死他。一个少不经事的少女意外闯祸死亡后,被一个满肚子轨迹的小毒女占据身体。从此,她的名字让所有人为之丧胆。她用了十年,名正言顺戴上凤冠,披上霞帔,坐上母仪天下的鸾凤金座。
  • 自带宠物小精灵的穿越

    自带宠物小精灵的穿越

    由一架游戏机引发的穿越,主角带着六只小精灵穿越到了神奇宝贝世界~主角已变身,目测是一只治愈系的小萝莉……大概是治愈系的吧……小精灵也变成了小小的样子,很可爱哟~活泼的火雉鸡,轻浮的皮卡丘,认真的小火龙,害羞的可可多拉,小气的小锯鳄,和小精灵在一起的生活一定很有趣吧!
  • 乱始天荒

    乱始天荒

    他灵魂有异,不被天地所容。凭着一门霸道的功法,掠夺万物生机,延续微命。天地不容,万族争锋,无尽神秘,站在时代的风口浪尖,他能否杀出一条血路,逆天改命……故事,从这里开始……
  • 恋上我的霸道总裁

    恋上我的霸道总裁

    风浪接连不断击破了她平淡的生活风平浪静迷雾散去,真相大白于众后她只莞尔一笑紧握身旁人的手。
  • 钱筱筱的咸鱼翻身记

    钱筱筱的咸鱼翻身记

    由于大学毕业开始工作了,再加上跟网站的合约到期了,所以这本书是彻底坑了,只有5万字而且也没有结局,大家不用看了。以后可能会重新发文,但是也要什么时候工作不加班了之后……现在是彻底坑了……大家拜拜……
  • 妇人大全良方

    妇人大全良方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 千金归来:BOSS,HOLD住

    千金归来:BOSS,HOLD住

    “厉言墨!你放手,在不放手我就喊人了!”“哦?喊人?你是我的老婆,我为什么要放手?”厉言墨挑了挑眉说道。安云惜继续喊到:“你混蛋!”“混蛋?那我就真的做出混蛋该做的事了”唔……你……干嘛三年前,因为一次误会让她离开了他,三年后她回来了,厉言墨想:这一次,我绝对不会让你在从我的身边逃走了霸道总裁的追妻之路能否成功呢?包甜!宠文宠文呀!
  • 命运的守望

    命运的守望

    一个在错误的时间错误的地点出现的少年,肩负着拯救人类的命运。然而当不幸降临在他的身上时他选择了逃避。到底是对?还是错?这一切是否能如他所愿?在神族与混血种的战斗他又会起到什么作用?
  • 穿越之如果不曾爱过

    穿越之如果不曾爱过

    大龄未婚女青年一觉醒来穿越成一个痴儿,不受宠的姐姐,妖娆腹黑的皇子,温润如玉的公子。她该何去何从。她只想简简单单的活着,却不想还是卷进了一场皇室的阴谋之中。
  • 斗破苍穹之炎帝萧炎

    斗破苍穹之炎帝萧炎

    无尽火域,炎帝掌之,万火焚苍穹。这是炎帝萧炎突破斗帝后的故事,一个爽文,炎帝粉千万不要错过哦。