[Musicalnotationwhichcannotbeproduced。Itmeanstwo/fourtimewithquaver，quaver，crotchetrepeatedforthreebars。]
　　Itisdifficulttoconceivewhatfireanddevilrytheygetintothesehammeringfinales；allgotogether，voices，hands，eyes，leaves，andflutteringfinger-rings；thechorusswingstotheeye，thesongthrobsontheear；thefacesareconvulsedwithenthusiasmandeffort。
　　Presentlythetroopstoodupinabody，thedrumsformingahalf-
　　circleforthesoloists，whoweresometimesfiveorevenmoreinnumber。Thesongsthatfollowedwerehighlydramatic；thoughIhadnonetogivemeanyexplanation，Iwouldattimesmakeoutsomeshadowybutdecisiveoutlineofaplot；andIwascontinuallyremindedofcertainquarrelsomeconcertedscenesingrandoperasathome；justsothesinglevoicesissuefromandfallagainintothegeneralvolume；justsodotheperformersseparateandcrowdtogether，brandishtheraisedhand，androlltheeyetoheaven-orthegallery。AlreadythisisbeyondtheThespianmodel；theartofthispeopleisalreadypasttheembryo：song，dance，drums，quartetteandsolo-itisthedramafulldevelopedalthoughstillinminiature。Ofallso-calleddancingintheSouthSeas，thatwhichIsawinButaritaristandseasilythefirst。TheHULA，asitmaybeviewedbythespeedyglobe-trotterinHonolulu，issurelythemostdullofman’sinventions，andthespectatoryawnsunderitslengthasatacollegelectureoraparliamentarydebate。ButtheGilbertIslanddanceleadsonthemind；itthrills，rouses，subjugates；ithastheessenceofallart，anunexploredimminentsignificance。Wheresomanyareengaged，andwhereallmustmakeatagivenmomentthesameswift，elaborate，andoftenarbitrarymovement，thetoilofrehearsalisofcourseextreme。Buttheybeginaschildren。Achildandamanmayoftenbeseentogetherinamaniap’：themansingsandgesticulates，thechildstandsbeforehimwithstreamingtearsandtremulouslycopieshiminactandsound；itistheGilbertIslandartistlearningasallartistsmusthisartinsorrow。
　　Imayseemtopraisetoomuch；hereisapassagefrommywife’sdiary，whichprovesthatIwasnotaloneinbeingmoved，andcompletesthepicture：-’Theconductorgavethecue，andallthedancers，wavingtheirarms，swayingtheirbodies，andclappingtheirbreastsinperfecttime，openedwithanintroductory。Theperformersremainedseated，excepttwo，andoncethree，andtwiceasinglesoloist。Thesestoodinthegroup，makingaslightmovementwiththefeetandrhythmicalquiverofthebodyastheysang。
　　Therewasapauseaftertheintroductory，andthentherealbusinessoftheopera-foritwasnoless-began；anoperawhereeverysingerwasanaccomplishedactor。Theleadingman，inanimpassionedecstasywhichpossessedhimfromheadtofoot，seemedtransfigured；onceitwasasthoughastrongwindhadsweptoverthestage-theirarms，theirfeatheredfingersthrillingwithanemotionthatshookmynervesaswell：headsandbodiesfollowedlikeafieldofgrainbeforeagust。Mybloodcamehotandcold，tearsprickedmyeyes，myheadwhirled，Ifeltanalmostirresistibleimpulsetojointhedancers。Onedrama，Ithink，I
　　verynearlyunderstood。Afierceandsavageoldmantookthesolopart。Hesangofthebirthofaprince，andhowhewastenderlyrockedinhismother’sarms；ofhisboyhood，whenheexcelledhisfellowsinswimming，climbing，andallathleticsports；ofhisyouth，whenhewentouttoseawithhisboatandfished；ofhismanhood，whenhemarriedawifewhocradledasonofhisowninherarms。Thencamethealarmofwar，andagreatbattle，ofwhichforatimetheissuewasdoubtful；buttheheroconquered，ashealwaysdoes，andwithatremendousburstofthevictorsthepiececlosed。
　　Therewerealsocomicpieces，whichcausedgreatamusement。Duringone，anoldmanbehindmeclutchedmebythearm，shookhisfingerinmyfacewitharoguishsmile，andsaidsomethingwithachuckle，whichItooktobetheequivalentof”O，youwomen，youwomen；itistrueofyouall！”Ifearitwasnotcomplimentary。Atnotimewastheretheleastsignoftheuglyindecencyoftheeasternislands。Allwaspoetrypureandsimple。Themusicitselfwasascomplexasourown，thoughconstructedonanentirelydifferentbasis；onceortwiceIwasstartledbyabitofsomethingverylikethebestEnglishsacredmusic，butitwasonlyforaninstant。Atlasttherewasalongerpause，andthistimethedancerswereallontheirfeet。Asthedramawenton，theinterestgrew。Theperformersappealedtoeachother，totheaudience，totheheavenabove；theytookcounselwitheachother，theconspiratorsdrewtogetherinaknot；itwasjustanopera，thedrumscominginatproperintervals，thetenor，baritone，andbassallwheretheyshouldbe-exceptthatthevoiceswereallofthesamecalibre。A
　　womanoncesangfromthebackrowwithaveryfinecontraltovoicespoiltbybeingmadeartificiallynasal；Inoticeallthewomenaffectthatunpleasantness。Atonetimeaboyofangelicbeautywasthesoloist；andatanother，achildofsixoreight，doubtlessaninfantphenomenonbeingtrained，wasplacedinthecentre。Thelittlefellowwasdesperatelyfrightenedandembarrassedatfirst，buttowardstheclosewarmeduptohisworkandshowedmuchdramatictalent。Thechangingexpressionsonthefacesofthedancersweresospeaking，thatitseemedagreatstupiditynottounderstandthem。’
　　Ourneighbouratthisperformance，Karaiti，somewhatfavourshisButaritarianmajestyinshapeandfeature，being，likehim，portly，bearded，andOriental。Incharacterheseemsthereverse：alert，smiling，jovial，jocular，industrious。Athomeinhisownisland，helabourshimselflikeaslave，andmakeshispeoplelabourlikeaslave-driver。Hetakesaninterestinideas。Georgethetradertoldhimaboutflying-machines。’Isthattrue，George?’heasked。
　　’Itisinthepapers，’repliedGeorge。’Well，’saidKaraiti，’ifthatmancandoitwithmachinery，Icandoitwithout’；andhedesignedandmadeapairofwings，strappedthemonhisshoulders，wenttotheendofapier，launchedhimselfintospace，andfellbulkilyintothesea。Hiswivesfishedhimout，forhiswingshinderedhiminswimming。’George，’saidhe，pausingashewentuptochange，’George，youlie。’Hehadeightwives，forhissmallrealmstillfollowsancientcustoms；butheshowedembarrassmentwhenthiswasmentionedtomywife。’TellherIhaveonlybroughtonehere，’hesaidanxiously。AltogethertheBlackDouglaspleasedusmuch；andasweheardfreshdetailsoftheking’suneasiness，andsawforourselvesthatalltheweaponsinthesummerparlourhadbeenhid，wewatchedwiththemoreadmirationthecauseofallthisanxietyrollingonhisbiglegs，withhisbigsmilingface，apparentlyunarmed，andcertainlyunattended，throughthehostiletown。TheRedDouglas，pot-belliedKuma，havingperhapsheardwordofthedebauch，remaineduponhisfief；hisvassalsthuscameuncommandedtothefeast，andswelledthefollowingofKaraiti。
　　FRIDAY，JULY26-Atnightinthedark，thesingersofMakinparadedintheroadbeforeourhouseandsangthesongoftheprincess。’Thisistheday；shewasbornto-day；NeiKamaunavewasbornto-day-abeautifulprincess，QueenofButaritari。’SoIwastolditwentinendlessiteration。Thesongwasofcourseoutofseason，andtheperformanceonlyarehearsal。Butitwasaserenadebesides；adelicateattentiontoourselvesfromournewfriend，Karaiti。
　　SATURDAY，JULY27-Wehadannouncedaperformanceofthemagiclanternto-nightinchurch；andthisbroughtthekingtovisitus。
　　InhonouroftheBlackDouglasIsupposehisusualtwoguardsmenwerenowincreasedtofour；andthesquadmadeanoutlandishfigureastheystraggledafterhim，instrawhats，kiltsandjackets。
　　Threecarriedtheirarmsreversed，thebuttsovertheirshoulders，themuzzlesmenacingtheking’splumpback；thefourthhadpassedhisweaponbehindhisneck，andheldittherewitharmsextendedlikeabackboard。Thevisitwasextraordinarilylong。Theking，nolongergalvanisedwithgin，saidanddidnothing。Hesatcollapsedinachairandletacigargoout。Itwashot，itwassleepy，itwascrueldull；therewasnoresourcebuttospyinthecountenanceofTebureimoaforsomeremainingtraitofMR。CORPSE
　　thebutcher。Hishawknose，crudelydepressedandflattenedatthepoint，didtrulyseemtoustosmellofmidnightmurder。Whenhetookhisleave，Makabademeobservehimgoingdownthestairorratherladderfromtheverandah。’Oldman，’saidMaka。’Yes，’
　　saidI，’andyetIsupposenotoldman。’’Youngman，’returnedMaka，’perhapsfo’ty。’AndIhaveheardsinceheismostlikelyyounger。
　　Whilethemagiclanternwasshowing，Iskulkedwithoutinthedark。
　　ThevoiceofMaka，excitedlyexplainingtheScriptureslides，seemedtofillnotthechurchonly，buttheneighbourhood。Allelsewassilent。Presentlyadistantsoundofsingingaroseandapproached；andaprocessiondrewnearalongtheroad，thehotcleansmellofthemenandwomenstrikinginmyfacedelightfully。
　　Atthecorner，arrestedbythevoiceofMakaandthelighteninganddarkeningofthechurch，theypaused。Theyhadnomindtogonearer，thatwasplain。TheywereMakinpeople，Ibelieve，probablystaunchheathens，contemnersofthemissionaryandhisworks。Ofasudden，however，amanbrokefromtheircompany，tooktohisheels，andfledintothechurch；nextmomentthreehadfollowedhim；thenextitwasacoveyofnearuponascore，allpeltingfortheirlives。Sothelittlebandoftheheathenpausedirresoluteatthecorner，andmeltedbeforetheattractionsofamagiclantern，likeaglacierinspring。Themorestaunchvainlytauntedthedeserters；threefledinaguiltysilence，butstillfled；andwhenatlengththeleaderfoundthewitortheauthoritytogethistroopinmotionandrevivethesinging，itwaswithmuchdiminishedforcesthattheypassedmusicallyonupthedarkroad。
　　Meanwhileinsidetheluminouspicturesbrightenedandfaded。I
　　stoodforsomewhileunobservedintherearofthespectators，whenIcouldhearjustinfrontofmeapairofloversfollowingtheshowwithinterest，themaleplayingthepartofinterpreterandlikeAdamminglingcaresseswithhislecture。Thewildanimals，atigerinparticular，andthatoldschool-treatfavourite，thesleeperandthemouse，werehailedwithjoy；butthechiefmarvelanddelightwasinthegospelseries。Maka，intheopinionofhisaggrievedwife，didnotproperlyrisetotheoccasion。’Whatisthematterwiththeman?Whycan’thetalk?’shecried。Thematterwiththeman，Ithink，wasthegreatnessoftheopportunity；
　　hereeledunderhisgoodfortune；andwhetherhedidillorwell，theexposureofthesepious’phantoms’didasamatteroffactsilenceinallthatpartoftheislandthevoiceofthescoffer。
　　’Whythen，’thewordwentround，’whythen，theBibleistrue！’
　　Andonourreturnafterwardsweweretoldtheimpressionwasyetlively，andthosewhohadseenmightbeheardtellingthosewhohadnot，’Oyes，itisalltrue；thesethingsallhappened，wehaveseenthepictures。’Theargumentisnotsochildishasitseems；
　　forIdoubtiftheseislandersareacquaintedwithanyothermodeofrepresentationbutphotography；sothatthepictureofaneventontheoldmelodramaprinciplethat’thecameracannotlie，Joseph，’wouldappearstrongproofofitsoccurrence。Thefactamusedusthemorebecauseourslidesweresomeofthemludicrouslysilly，andoneChristbeforePilatewasreceivedwithshoutsofmerriment，inwhichevenMakawasconstrainedtojoin。