I tell thee I know
some of the customs of the PAPALAGI (the white foreigners). Much wisdom
have ye in many things; but again I tell thee, O friend of my sons,
that in some other things the people of thy nation--ay, of all white
nations, they be as the beasts of the forest--the wild goat and
pig--without reason and without shame. TAH! Has not my eldest son, Tui
Fau, whom the white men call Bob, lived for seven years in Sini
(Sydney), when he returned from those places by New Guinea, where he
was diver? And he has filled my ears with the bad and shameless customs
of the PAPALAGI. ISA! I say again thy women have not the shame of ours.
The heat of desire devoureth chastity even in those of one blood!"

"In what do they offend, O my mother?"

"AUE! Life is short; and, behold, this piece of SIAPO [The tappa cloth of
the South Seas, made from the bark of the paper mulberry.] is for
a wedding present, and I must hurry; but yet put down thy gun and
bag, and we shall smoke awhile, and thou shalt feel shame while I tell
of one of the PAPALAGI customs--the marrying of brother and sister!"

"Nay, mother," said the White Man, "not brother and sister, but only
cousins."

"ISA! [an expression of contempt]" and the big widow spat scornfully on
the ground, "those are words--words. It is the same; the same is the
blood, the same is the bone. Even in our heathen days we pointed the
finger at one who looked with the eye of love on the daughter of his
father's brother or sister--for such did we let his blood out upon the
sand. And I, old Lagisiva, have seen a white man brought to shame through
this wickedness!"

"Tell me," said the White Man.

* * * * *

"He was a FOMA'I (doctor), and rich, and came here because he desired
to see strange places, and was weary of his life in the land of the
PAPALAGI. So he remained with us, and hunted the wild boar with our
young men, and became strong and hardy, and like unto one of our
people. And then, because he was for ever restless, he sailed away once
and returned in a small ship, and brought back trade and built a store
and a fine house to dwell in. The chief of this town gave him, for
friendship, a piece of land over there by the Vai-ta-milo, and thus did
he become a still greater man. His store was full of rich goods, and he
kept many servants, and at night-time his house was as a blaze of fire,
for the young men and women would go there and sing and dance, and he
had many lovers amongst o