came next； five times the cup…bearers marched up and down the
house and passed the cup on； five times it was filled and the
General's name and titles heralded at the bowl； and five
times he refused it （after examination） as too small。 It is
said this commemorates a time when Malietoa at the head of
his army suffered much for want of supplies。 Then this same
military gentleman must DRINK five cups； one from each of the
great names： all which took a precious long time。 He acted
very well； haughtily and in a society tone OUTLINING THE
part。 The difference was marked when he subsequently made a
speech in his own character as a plain God…fearing chief。 A
few more high chiefs； then Tusitala； one more； and then Lady
Jersey； one more； and then Captain Leigh； and so on with the
rest of our party … Henry of course excepted。 You see in
public； Lady Jersey followed me … just so far was the secret
kept。
Then we came home； Belle； Graham and Lloyd to the Chinaman's；
I with Lady Jersey； to lunch； so severally home。 Thursday I
have forgotten： Saturday； I began again on Davie； on Sunday；
the Jersey party came up to call and carried me to dinner。
As I came out； to ride home； the search…lights of the CURACOA
were lightening on the horizon from many miles away； and next
morning she came in。 Tuesday was huge fun： a reception at
Haggard's。 All our party dined there； Lloyd and I； in the
absence of Haggard and Leigh； had to play aide…de…camp and
host for about twenty minutes； and I presented the population
of Apia at random but （luck helping） without one mistake。
Wednesday we had two middies to lunch。 Thursday we had Eeles
and Hoskyn （lieutenant and doctor … very； very nice fellows …
simple； good and not the least dull） to dinner。 Saturday；
Graham and I lunched on board； Graham； Belle； Lloyd dined at
the G。's； and Austin and the WHOLE of our servants went with
them to an evening entertainment； the more bold returning by
lantern…light。 Yesterday； Sunday； Belle and I were off by
about half past eight； left our horses at a public house； and
went on board the CURACOA in the wardroom skiff； were
entertained in the wardroom； thence on deck to the service；
which was a great treat； three fiddles and a harmonium and
excellent choir； and the great ship's company joining： on
shore in Haggard's big boat to lunch with the party。 Thence
all together to Vailima； where we read aloud a Ouida Romance
we have been secretly writing； in which Haggard was the hero；
and each one of the authors had to draw a portrait of him or
herself in a Ouida light。 Leigh； Lady J。； Fanny； R。L。S。；
Belle and Graham were the authors。
In the midst of this gay life； I have finally recopied two
chapters； and drafted for the first time three of Davie
Balfour。 But it is not a life that would continue to suit
me； and if I have not continued to write to you； you will
scarce wonder。 And to…day we all go down again to dinner；
and to…morrow they all come up to lunch！ The world is too
much with us。 But it now nears an end； to…day already the
CURACOA has sailed； and on Saturday or Sunday Lady Jersey
will follow them in the mail steamer。 I am sending you a
wire by her hands as far as Sydney； that is to say either you
or Cassell； about FALESA： I will not allow it to be called
UMA in book form； that is not the logical name of the story。
Nor can I have the marriage contract omitted； and the thing
is full of misprints abominable。 In the picture； Uma is rot；
so is the old man and the negro； but Wiltshire is splendid；
and Case will do。 It seems badly illuminated； but this may
be printing。 How have I seen this first number？ Not through
your attention； guilty one！ Lady Jersey had it； and only
mentioned it yesterday。
I ought to say how much we all like the Jersey party。 My boy
Henry was enraptured with the manners of the TAWAITAI SILI
（chief lady）。 Among our other occupations； I did a bit of a
supposed epic describing our tryst at the ford of the
Gasegase； and Belle and I made a little book of caricatures
and verses about incidents on the visit。
TUESDAY。
The wild round of gaiety continues。 After I had written to
you yesterday； the brain being wholly extinct； I played
piquet all morning with Graham。 After lunch down to call on
the U。S。 Consul； hurt in a steeple…chase； thence back to the
new girls' school which Lady J。 was to open； and where my
ladies met me。 Lady J。 is really an orator； with a voice of
gold； the rest of us played our unremarked parts；
missionaries； Haggard； myself； a Samoan chief； holding forth
in turn； myself with （at least） a golden brevity。 Thence；
Fanny； Belle； and I to town； to our billiard room in
Haggard's back garden； where we found Lloyd and where Graham
joined us。 The three men first dressed； with the ladies in a
corner； and then； to leave them a free field； we went off to
Haggard and Leigh's quarters； where … after all to dinner；
where our two parties； a brother of Colonel Kitchener's； a
passing globe…trotter； and Clarke the missionary。 A very gay
evening； with all sorts of chaff and mirth； and a moonlit
ride home； and to bed before 12。30。 And now to…day； we have
the Jersey…Haggard troupe to lunch； and I must pass the
morning dressing ship。
THURSDAY； SEPT。 1ST。
I sit to write to you now； 7。15； all the world in bed except
myself； accounted for； and Belle and Graham； down at
Haggard's at dinner。 Not a leaf is stirring here； but the
moon overhead （now of a good bigness） is obscured and partly
revealed in a whirling covey of thin storm…clouds。 By Jove；
it blows above。
From 8 till 11。15 on Tuesday； I dressed ship； and in
particular cleaned crystal； my specially。 About 11。30 the
guests began to arrive before I was dressed； and between
while I had written a parody for Lloyd to sing。 Yesterday；
Wednesday； I had to start out about 3 for town； had a long
interview with the head of the German Firm about some work in
my new house； got over to Lloyd's billiard…room about six； on
the way whither I met Fanny and Belle coming down with one
Kitchener； a brother of the Colonel's。 Dined in the
billiard…room； discovered we had forgot to order oatmeal；
whereupon； in the moonlit evening； I set forth in my tropical
array； mess jacket and such； to get the oatmeal； and meet a
young fellow C。 … and not a bad young fellow either； only an
idiot … as drunk as Croesus。 He wept with me； he wept for
me； he talked like a bad character in an impudently bad
farce； I could have laughed aloud to hear； and could make you
laugh by repeating； but laughter was not uppermost。
This morning at about seven； I set off after the lost sheep。
I could have no horse； all that could be mounted … we have
one girth…sore and one dead…lame in the establishment … were
due at a picnic about 10。30。 The morning was very wet； and I
set off barefoot； with my trousers over my knees； and a
macintosh。 Presently I had to take a side path in the bush；
missed it； came forth in a great oblong patch of taro
solemnly surrounded by forest … no soul； no sign； no sound …
and as I stood there at a loss； suddenly between the showers
out broke the note of a harmonium and a woman's voice singing
an air that I know very well； but have （as usual） forgot the
name of。 'Twas from a great way off； but seemed to fill the
world。 It was strongly romantic； and gave me a point which
brought me； by all sorts of forest wading； to an open space
of palms。 These were of all ages； but mostly at that age
when the branches arch from the ground level； range
themselves； with leaves exquisitely green。 The whole
interspace was overgrown with convolvulus； purple； yellow and
white； often as deep as to my waist； in which I floundered
aimlessly。 The very mountain was invisible from here。 The
rain came and went； now in sunlit April showers； now with the
proper tramp and rattle of the tropics。 All this while I met
no sight or sound of man； except the voice which was now
silent； and a damned pig…fence that headed me off at every
corner。 Do you know barbed wire？ Think of a fence of it on
rotten posts； and you barefoot。 But I crossed it at last
with my heart in my mouth and no harm done。 Thence at last
to C's。： no C。 Next place I came to was in the zone of
woods。 They offered me a buggy and set a black boy to wash
my legs and feet。 'Washum legs belong that fellow white…man'
was the command。 So at last I ran down my son of a gun in
the hotel； sober； and with no story to tell； penitent； I
think。 Home； by buggy and my poor feet； up three miles of
root； boulder； gravel and liquid mud； slipping back at every
step。
SUNDAY； SEPT。 4TH。
Hope you will be able to read a word of the last； no joke
writing by a bad lantern with a groggy hand and your glasses
mislaid。 Not that the hand is not better； as you see by the
absence of the amanuensis hitherto。 Mail came Friday； and a
communication from yourself much more decent than usual； for
which I thank you。 Glad the WRECKER should so hum； but Lord；
what fools these mortals be！
So far yesterday； the citation being wrung from me by
remembrance of many reviews。 I have now received all FALESA；
and my admiration for that tale rises； I believe it is in
some ways my best work； I am pretty sure； at least； I have
never done anything better than Wiltshire。
MONDAY； 13TH SEPTEMBER 1892。
On Wednesday the Spinsters of Apia gave a ball to a select
crowd。 Fanny； Belle； Lloyd and I rode down； met Haggard by
the way and joined company with him。 Dinner with Haggard；
and thence to the ball。 The Chief Justice appeared； it was
immediately remarked； and whispered from one to another； that
he and I