Mystic Isles of the South Seas.

tells me the history of Tahiti-He berates

was reading a tattered number of "Simplicissimus," and held the paper close to his

nees. Missing buttons down its front were replaced by bits of cord or rope. The pockets were stuffed with papers, mangos, and a hunk of bread. A stump of lead-pencil was behind his ear. His hair, a dusty white, met the frayed collar of the coat, and through the temporary gaps which he made in its length to cool his body, I saw it like a gnarled and mossy tree. His hands were grimy and his nails black-edged, but there

ater. We agreed that the Tahitians were as bad drivers as the Chinese, and that they were, wittingly or unwittingly, cruel to their beasts of burden. This led to a discussion of native traits, and he was

en I was on the Merrimac fighting the Monitor, or with Mosby, the guerilla, than I am in this accursed island. I think a man is mad who can leave Tahiti a

Charlie Stoddard, who wrote 'So

n,-I don't know that Stoddard,-all page 77are meretricious, with their pomp of words and no truth. I have comparisons to make wi

about their achievements here?" I question

ur generations. Do you want to know how they got hold here? A monarchy, a foolish Louis, sent

rthward, Temoana had been a singer of psalms at the Protestant mission in his valley of Tai-o-hae, in the island of Nukahiva, a victim of shanghaiers, a cook on a whaler, a tattooed man in English penny shows, a repatriate, a protege of the Catholic archbishop of the Marquesans, and finally, through the influence of the Roman church, a king. He worked damned hard for the French flag and the church, and the

dren of Beelzebub, and taught false doctrines and morals. The Queen of Tahiti, whose dynasty the Protestant missionaries had created, advised the pope's men to seek a heathen people not already worshiping the true God. The zealous priest

anic and fled to Moorea in a canoe. The admiral then put Consul Pritchard in jail for ten days, and after chastening his mood, put him on an English ship at sea homeward page 79bound. France and England were showing their teeth at each other over more important differences, which ended in a revolution in Paris and a change of kings, so that the admiral had his way. The queen came back, the priests established their mission and their churches, and the Tahitians with any bloo

e fished in the rear of his frock and produced t

ich was standing near here an hour ago," he said. "They'll tell you th

he Tahitians weren't l

man who stood in his sunlight. He lit his cigar-end, puf

not to be disputed. He was corrupt to begin with, and religion accentuates every evil passion in him. He is a profound hypocrite, and yet a puritan for observance of the ceremonies and interdictions of his faith. He has more guile than a Japanese guide, and in land deals can skin a Moscow Jew

are at least gene

h a twig of the flamboyant tree un

you are poor, they will treat you as dirt under their feet. I know, for I am poor, and I live among them

ristianity i

r sincere except when they become fanatics, and even then they never lose their native superstitio

Souls' page 81night to keep away demons. I have seen a clergyman, educated in Paris and Louvain, exorcising devils with bell, book, and candle in Maryland, in one of the oldest and proudest cities of

ay is true, nevertheless. The Tahitian has not one good quality. He i

w the negro

relit his cigar, now onl

onfederate men-of-war. I was one of Colonel Mosby's guerillas, and was wounded with them. I have

not an

re, a politician, an intrigant. I knew Bebel and Jaurès and the men before them. I lived in Germany many years, in France, in England, anywhere, everywhere. I first came to New York from Siberia. I was bro

wafer that threatened his mouth's seine of silver strands. H

uld you join in a life-and-death issue like that of the Civil

ed my s

ads when that cheese-box of a Monitor rattled her solid shot on our slippery sides. I was two years in that damned un-Civil War, and as I started on the Southern side, I stayed on it. I left the navy to go with John Mosby and burn houses. When the war was over, and I recovered from my wound, I went to 'Frisco and crossed to Siberia, and thus back to Mosco

atively for

at the job will kill me. Most of the time I live a few kilometers from Papeete, toward Fa'a, and come in to town about steamer-time. I sleep in the chicken-coop or anywhere. I make about forty francs a month." He stamped upon the grass. "I take it you are a journalist, and

age?" I demand

d the few British and Americans here. I hate that Tahitian. I don't know a word of it after seventeen years. Say what you will, Roosevelt made them stan

e newspapers

? They call

oat, which he opened. I saw that the lining page 84was of s

summary of world events, besides articles on the administrative affairs of Tahiti. It's against the Government. Then there's 'Le Liberal,' a socialist journal, with Eugène Brunschwig editor, whi

'Liberal,' had establishments here, they would be raided and closed, for they would hardly be allowed to criticize the Government as harshly as they do. The 'Tribune' is in French and Tahitian, the 'Liberal' and the 'Journal Officiel'

of the Government call for publicity, but I'm afraid the page 85journalist might soon find himself in prison. You can do nothing. The fault is in this

Tahiti, in the soft air that one breathes, a force sweet but invincible which at length penetrates the soul, ener

rdiality between neighbors, of family and family, which one mu

s and ambitions of grandeur. There is no remedy. The King of Apamama said it all when he divided the white

nees to limber them, and began to move o

led to him, "you said all th

rt, and bit into it, with dire results to his whiskers and co

nobody her