FALEPUIPUI。Itisontheedgeofthemangroveswamp，andisreachedbyasortofcausewayofturf。Whenwedrewnear，wesawthegatesstandingopenandaprodigiouscrowdoutside-
　　ImeanprodigiousforApia，perhapsahundredandfiftypeople。Thetwosentriesatthegatestoodtoarmspassively，andthereseemedtobeacontinuouscirculationinsideandout。Thecaptaincametomeetus；ourboy，whohadbeensentaheadwastheretotakethehorses；andwepassedinsidethecourtwhichwasfulloffood，andrangcontinuouslytothevoiceofthecallerofgifts；Ihadtoblushalittlelaterwhenmyownpresentcame，andIheardmyonepigandeightmiserablepine-applesbeingcountedoutlikeguineas。Inthefourcornersoftheyardandalongonewall，therearemake-shift，dwarfish，Samoanhousesorhuts，whichhavebeenrunupsinceCaptainWurmbrandcametoaccommodatethechiefs。Beforethattheywereallcrammedintothesixcells，andlockedinforthenight，someofthemwithdysentery。Theyarewretchedconstructionsenough，butsanctifiedbythepresenceofchiefs。Weheardamancorrectedloudlyto-dayforsaying’FALE’ofoneofthem；
　　’MAOTA，’roaredthehighestchiefpresent-’palace。’Abouteighteenchiefs，gorgeouslyarrayed，stooduptogreetus，andledusintooneoftheseMAOTAS，whereyoumaybesurewehadtocrouch，almosttokneel，toenter，andwherearowofprettygirlsoccupiedonesidetomaketheavakava。Thehighestchiefpresentwasamagnificentman，ashighchiefsusuallyare；IfindIcannotdescribehim；hisfaceisfullofshrewdnessandauthority；hisfigurelikeAjax；hisnameAuilua。HetooktheheadofthebuildingandputBelleonhisrighthand。Fannywascalledfirstfortheavakava。
　　OurnameswerecalledinEnglishstyle，thehigh-chiefwifeofMr。St-anunpronounceablesomething；Mrs。Straw，andthelike。Andwhenwewentintotheotherhousetoeat，wefoundwewereseatedalternatelywithchiefsaboutthe-
　　table，Iwasabouttosay，butratherfloor。EverythingwastobedoneEuropeanstylewithavengeance！Weweretheonlywhitespresent，exceptWurmbrand，andstillIhadnosuspicionofthetruth。Theybegantotakeofftheirulasnecklacesofscarletseedsandhangthemaboutournecks；
　　wepolitelyresisted，andweretoldthattheKingwhohadstoppedofftheirSIVAhadsentdowntotheprisonamessagetotheeffectthathewastogiveadinnerto-morrow，andwishedtheirsecond-handulasforit。Someofthemwerecontent；othersnot。Therewasaringofangerintheboy’svoice，ashetoldusweweretowearthempasttheKing’shouse。Dinnerover，Imustsaytheyaremoderateeatersatafeast，wereturnedtotheavahouse；andthenthecurtaindrewsuddenlyupuponthesetscene。Wetookourseats，andAuiluabegantogivemeapresent，recapitulatingeacharticleashegaveitout，withsomeappropriatecomment。Hecalledmeseveraltimes’theironlyfriend，’saidtheywereallinslavery，hadnomoney，andthesethingswereallmadebythehandsoftheirfamilies-nothingbought；hehadonephrase，inwhichIheardhisvoiceriseuptoanoteoftriumph:’Thisisapresentfromthepoorprisonerstotherichman。’Thirteenpiecesoftapa，someofthemsurprisinglyfine，oneIthinkunique；thirtyfansofeveryshapeandcolour；akavacup，etc。，etc。AtfirstAuiluaconductedthebusinesswithweightygravity；butbeforetheendofthethirtyfans，hiscommentsbegantobehumorous。
　　Whenitcametoalittlebasket，hesaid:’HerewasalittlebasketforTusitalatoputsixpencein，whenhecouldgetholdofone’-withadeliciousgrimace。IansweredasbestasIwasablethroughamiserableinterpreter；andallthewhile，asIwenton，Iheardthecrieroutsideinthecourtcallingmygiftoffood，whichIperceivedwastobeGargantuan。Ihadbroughtbutthreeboyswithme。Itwasplainthattheywerewhollyoverpowered。Weproposedtosendforourgiftsonthemorrow；butno，saidtheinterpreter，thatwouldneverdo；theymustgoawayto-day，Mulinuumustseemyporterstakingawaythegifts，-’make’emjella，’
　　quoththeinterpreter。AndIbegantoseethereasonofthisreallysplendidgift；onehalf，gratitudetome-onehalf，awipeattheKing。
　　Andnow，tointroducedarkercolours，youmustknowthisvisitofminetothegaolwasjustalittlebitrisky；wehadseveralcausesforanxiety；itMIGHThavebeenputup，toconnectwithaTamaseserising。Tusitalaandhisfamilywouldbegoodhostages。Ontheotherhand，thereweretheMulinuupeopleallabout。WecouldseetheanxietyofCaptainWurmbrand，nolessanxioustohaveusgo，thanhehadbeentoseeuscome；hewasdeadlywhiteandplainlyhadabadheadache，inthenoisyscene。Presently，thenoisegrewuproarious；therewasarushatthegate-arushin，notarushout-wherethetwosentriesstillstoodpassive；AuilualeapedfromhisplaceitwasthenthatIgotthenameofAjaxforhimandthenextmomentweheardhisvoiceroaringandsawhismightyfigureswayingtoandfrointhehurly-
　　burly。Asthedeucewouldhaveit，wecouldnotunderstandawordofwhatwasgoingon。Itmightbenothingmorethantheordinary’grabracket’withwhichafeastcommonlyconcludes；
　　itmightbesomethingworse。Wemadewhatarrangementswecouldformytapa，fans，etc。，aswellasformyfivepigs，mymassesoffish，taro，etc。，andwithgreatdignity，andourselvesladenwithulasandotherdecorations，passedbetweenthesentriesamongthehowlingmobtoourhorses。
　　All’swellthatendswell。OwingtoFannyandBelle，wehadtowalk；and，asLloydsaid，’hehadatlastriddeninacircus。’ThewholelengthofApiawepacedourtriumphalprogress，pasttheKing’spalace，pasttheGermanfirmatSogi-youcanfollowitonthemap-amidstadmiringexclamationsof’MAWAIA’-beautiful-itmayberendered’O
　　my！ain’ttheydandy’-untilweturnedupatlastintoourroadastheduskdeepenedintonight。Itwasreallyexciting。Andthereisonethingsure:nosuchfeastwasevermadeforasinglefamily，andnosuchpresentevergiventoasinglewhiteman。Itissomethingtohavebeentheheroofit。Andwhateverotheringredientstherewere，undoubtedlygratitudewaspresent。AsmoneyvalueIhaveactuallygainedonthetransaction！
　　Yournotearrived；littleprofit，Imustsay。Scotthasalreadyputhisnosein，inST。IVES，sir；buthisappearanceisnotyetcomplete；nothingisinthatromance，exceptthestory。IhavetoannouncethatIamoffwork，probablyforsixmonths。ImustownthatIhaveoverworkedbitterly-
　　overworked-there，that’slegible。Myhandisathingthatwas，andinthemeanwhilesoaremybrains。Andhere，intheverymidst，comesaplausibleschemetomakeVailimapay，whichwillperhapsletmeintoconsiderableexpensejustwhenIdon’twantit。Youknowthevastcynicismofmyviewofaffairs，andhowreadilyandassomepeoplesaywithhowmuchgustoItakethedarkerview？
　　WhydoyounotsendmeJeromeK。Jerome’spaper，andletmeseeTHEEBBTIDEasaserial？Itisalwaysveryimportanttoseeathingindifferentpresentments。Iwanteverynumber。
　　Politicallywebeginthenewyearwitheveryexpectationofabustin2or3days，abustwhichmayspelldestructiontoSamoa。IhavewrittentoBaxterabouthisproposal。
　　MYDEARCOLVIN，-Ihadfullyintendedforyoureducationandmoralhealthtofobyouoffwiththemeanestpossibleletterthismonth，andunfortunatelyIfindIwillhavetotreatyoutoagoodlongaccountofmattershere。IbelieveIhavetoldyoubeforeaboutTui-ma-le-alii-fanoandmytakinghimdowntointroducehimtotheChiefJustice。Well，TuicamebacktoVailimaonedayintheblackestsortofspirits，sayingthewarwasdecided，thathealsomustjoininthefight，andthattherewasnohopewhateverofsuccess。Hemustfightasapointofhonourforhisfamilyandcountry；
　　andinhiscase，evenifheescapedonthefieldofbattle，deportationwastheleasttobelookedfor。HesaidhehadaletterofcomplaintfromtheGreatCouncilofA’anawhichhewishedtolaybeforetheChiefJustice；andheaskedmetoaccompanyhimasifIwerehisnurse。Wewentdownaboutdinnertime；andbythewayreceivedfromalurkingnativethefamousletterinanofficialblueenvelopegummeduptotheedges。Itprovedtobeadeclarationofwar，quiteformal，butwithsomevariationsthatreallymadeyoubounce。
　　Whiteresidentsweredirectlythreatened，biddentohavenothingtodowiththeKing’sparty，nottoreceivetheirgoodsintheirhouses，etc。，underpainofanaccident。
　　However，theChiefJusticetookitverywiselyandmildly，andbetweenus，heandIandTuimadeupaplanwhichhasprovedsuccessful-sofar。Thewarisover-fifteenchiefsarethismorningundergoingacuriousdoubleprocessoflaw，comparabletoacourtmartial；inwhichtheircomplaintsaretobeconsidered，andifpossiblerighted，whiletheirconductistobecriticised，perhapspunished。Uptonow，therefore，ithasbeenamostsuccessfulpolicy；butthedangerisbeforeus。Myownfeelingwoulddecidedlybethatallwouldbespoiledbyasingleexecution。Thegreathopeafterallliesintheknotless，ratherflaccidcharacterofthepeople。ThesearenoMaoris。AllthepowersthatCedarcrantzletgobydisusethenewC。J。isstealthilyandboldlytakingbackagain；perhapssomeothersalso。HehasshamedthechiefsinMulinuuintoalawagainsttakingheads，withapunishmentofsixyears’imprisonmentand，forachief，degradation。Tohimhasbeenleftthesoleconductofthisanxiousanddecisiveinquiry。Ifthenativesstandit，why，well！ButIamnervous。
　　DEARCOLVIN，-Byareaction，whenyourletterisalittledecent，mineistobenakedandunashamed。Wehavebeenmuchexercised。Noonecanprophesyhere，ofcourse，andthebalancestillhangstrembling，butITHINKitwillgoforpeace。
　　Themailwasverylatethistime；hencethepaltrynessofthisnote。WhenitcameandIhadreadit，IretiredwithTHEEBBTIDEandreaditallbeforeIslept。Ididnotdreamitwasnearasgood；IamafraidIthinkitexcellent。A
　　littleindecisionaboutAttwater，notmuch。Itgivesmegreathope，asIseeICANworkinthatconstipated，mosaicmanner，whichiswhatIhavetodojustnowwithWEIROF
　　HERMISTON。
　　Wehavegivenaball；Isendyouapaperdescribingtheevent。Wehavetwoguestsinthehouse，Captain-CountWurmbrandandMonsieurAlbertdeLautreppe。Lautreppeisawfullynice-aquiet，gentlemanlyfellow，GONFLEDEREVES，ashedescribeshimself-onceasculptorintheatelierofHenryCrosse，heknowssomethingofart，andisreallyaresourcetome。
　　LetterfromMeredithverykind。HaveyouseennomoreofGraham？
　　Whataboutmygrandfather？Thefamilyhistorywillgrowtobequiteachapter。
　　IsupposeIamgrowingsensitive；perhaps，bylivingamongbarbarians，Iexpectmorecivility。Lookatthisfromtheauthorofaveryinterestingandlaudatorycritique。Hegivesquiteafalsedescriptionofsomethingofmine，andtalksaboutmy’insolence。’Frankly，Isupposed’insolence’
　　tobeatapuaword。Idonotuseittoagentleman，Iwouldnotwriteitofagentleman:Imaybewrong，butIbelievewedidnotwriteitofagentlemaninolddays，andinmyviewhecleverfellowasheiswantstobekickedforapplyingittome。Bywritinganovel-evenabadone-Idonotmakemyselfacriminalforanybodytoinsult。Thismayamuseyou。Buteitherthereisachangeinjournalism，toogradualforyoutoremarkitonthespot，orthereisachangeinme。
　　Icannotbearthesephrases；Ilongtoresentthem。Myforbears，thetenantfarmersoftheMains，wouldnothavesufferedsuchexpressionsunlessithadbeenfromCauldwell，orRowallan，ormaybeAuchendrane。MyFamilyPridebristles。
　　Iamlikethenegro，’Ijustheardlastnight’whomygreat，great，great，greatgrandfatherwas-Everyours，R。L。S。
　　MYDEARCOLVIN，-Thisistheverydaythemailgoes，andI
　　haveasyetwrittenyounothing。Butitwasjustaswell-
　　asitwasallaboutmy’blacksandchocolates，’andwhatofithadrelationtowhitesyouwillreadsomeofintheTIMES。
　　Itmeans，asyouwillsee，thatIhaveatoneblowquarrelledwithalltheofficialsofSamoa，theForeignOffice，andI
　　supposeherMajestytheQueenwithmilkandhoneyblest。Butyou’llseeintheTIMES。Iamverywellindeed，butjustaboutdeadandmightygladthemailisnearhere，andIcanjustgiveupallhopeofcontendingwithmyletters，andliedownfortherestoftheday。TheseTIMESlettersarenoteasytowrite。AndIdaresaytheConsulssay，’Why，then，doeshewritethem？’
　　IhadmiserableluckwithST。IVES；beingalreadyhalf-waythroughit，abookIhadorderedsixmonthsagoarrivesatlast，andIhavetochangethefirsthalfofitfromtoptobottom！HowcouldIhavedreamedtheFrenchprisonerswerewatchedoverlikeafemalecharityschool，keptinagrotesquelivery，andshavedtwiceaweek？AndIhadmadeallmypointsontheideathattheywereunshavedandclothedanyhow。However，thislastisbetterbusiness；ifonlythebookhadcomewhenIorderedit！APROPOS，manyofthebooksyouannouncedon’tcomeasamatteroffact。Whentheyareofanyvalue，itisbesttoregisterthem。Yourletter，alas！isnothere；Isentitdowntothecottage，withallmymail，forFanny；onSundaynightaboycomesupwithalanternandanotefromFanny，tosaythewoodsarefullofAtuasandImustbringahorsedownthatinstant，asthepostsareestablishedbeyondherontheroad，andshedoesnotwanttohavethefightgoingonbetweenus。Impossibletogetahorse；soIstartedinthedarkonfoot，witharevolver，andmyspursonmybarefeet，leavingdirectionsthattheboyshouldmountaftermewiththehorse。TrysuchanexperienceonOurRoadonce，anddoit，ifyouplease，afteryouhavebeendowntownfromnineo’clocktillsix，onboardtheship-of-warlunching，teachingSundaySchoolI
　　actuallydoandmakingnecessaryvisits；andtheSaturdaybefore，havingsatalldayfromhalfpastsixtohalf-pastfour，scrivingatmyTIMESletter。Abouthalf-wayup，justinfactat’point’oftheoutposts，ImetFannycomingup。