ing; lastly (of saddle horses) Luna--not the Latin _moon_, the
Hawaiian _overseer_, but it's pronounced the same--a pretty little mare
too, but scarce at all broken, a bad bucker, and has to be ridden with a
stock-whip and be brought back with her rump criss-crossed like a clan
tartan; the two cart horses, now only used with pack-saddles; two cows,
one in the straw (I trust) to-morrow, a third cow, the Jersey--whose
milk and temper are alike subjects of admiration--she gives good
exercise to the farming saunterer, and refreshes him on his return with
cream; two calves, a bull, and a cow; God knows how many ducks and
chickens, and for a wager not even God knows how many cats; twelve
horses, seven horses, five kine: is not this Babylon the Great which I
have builded? Call it _Subpriorsford_.

Two nights ago the club had its first meeting; only twelve were present,
but it went very well. I was not there, I had ridden down the night
before after dinner on my endless business, took a cup of tea in the
mission like an ass, then took a cup of coffee like a fool at Haggard's,
then fell into a discussion with the American Consul.... I went to bed
at Haggard's, came suddenly broad awake, and lay sleepless the live
night. It felt chill, I had only a sheet, and had to make a light and
range the house for a cover--I found one in the hall, a macintosh. So
back to my sleepless bed, and to lie there till dawn. In the morning I
had a longish ride to take in a day of a blinding, staggering sun, and
got home by eleven, our luncheon hour, with my head rather swimmy; the
only time I have _feared_ the sun since I was in Samoa. However, I got
no harm, but did not go to the club, lay off, lazied, played the pipe,
and read a novel by James Payn--sometimes quite interesting, and in one
place really very funny with the quaint humour of the man. Much
interested the other day. As I rode past a house, I saw where a Samoan
had written a word on a board, and there was an [inverted A], perfectly
formed, but upside down. You never saw such a thing in Europe; but it is
as common as dirt in Polynesia. Men's names are tattooed on the forearm;
it is common to find a subverted letter tattooed there. Here is a
tempting problem for psychologists.

I am now on terms again with the German consulate, I know not for how
long; not, of course, with the President, which I find a relief; still,
with the Chief Justice and the English consul. For Haggard, I have a
genu