h our new C.J.
and the American Land Commissioner, and on the whole, and for these
disgusting steamers, a pleasant ship's company. I cannot understand why
you don't take to the Hawaii scheme. Do you understand? You cross the
Atlantic in six days, and go from 'Frisco to Honolulu in seven. Thirteen
days at sea _in all_.--I have no wish to publish _The Ebb Tide_ as a
book, let it wait. It will look well in the portfolio. I would like a
copy, of course, for that end; and to "look upon't again"--which I
scarce dare.

[_Later._]--This is disgraceful. I have done nothing; neither work nor
letters. On the Me (May) day, we had a great triumph; our Protestant
boys, instead of going with their own villages and families, went of
their own accord in the Vailima uniform; Belle made coats for them on
purpose to complete the uniform, they having bought the stuff; and they
were hailed as they marched in as the Tama-ona--the rich man's children.
This is really a score; it means that Vailima is publicly taken as a
family. Then we had my birthday feast a week late, owing to diarrhoea
on the proper occasion. The feast was laid in the Hall, and was a
singular mass of food: 15 pigs, 100 lbs. beef, 100 lbs. pork, and the
fruit and filigree in a proportion. We had sixty horse-posts driven in
the gate paddock; how many guests I cannot guess, perhaps 150. They came
between three and four and left about seven. Seumanu gave me one of his
names; and when my name was called at the ava drinking, behold, it was
_Au mai taua ma manu-vao!_ You would scarce recognise me, if you heard
me thus referred to!

Two days after, we hired a carriage in Apia, Fanny, Belle, Lloyd and I,
and drove in great style, with a native outrider, to the prison; a huge
gift of ava and tobacco under the seats. The prison is now under the
_pule_ of an Austrian, Captain Wurmbrand, a soldier of fortune in Servia
and Turkey, a charming, clever, kindly creature, who is adored "by _his_
chiefs" (as he calls them) meaning _our_ political prisoners. And we
came into the yard, walled about with tinned iron, and drank ava with
the prisoners and the captain. It may amuse you to hear how it is proper
to drink ava. When the cup is handed you, you reach your arm out
somewhat behind you, and slowly pour a libation, saying with somewhat
the manner of prayer, "_Ia taumafa e le atua. Ua matagofie le fesilafaga
nei._" "Be it (high-chief) partaken of by the God. How (high chief)
beautiful to view