edge has improved so wonderfully within a
space of fifty years, the progress in other directions must be very
wonderful, indeed," he responded. "But you have told me so much, and I
hardly know how I can grasp its meaning. I suppose things here in this
part of the world must appear very crude to you?"

CHAPTER XII

THE CHIEF'S FAMILY

Ephraim's wife was not crude and uncouth, like most of the native women.
It was evident from the care which she observed in the domestic
arrangements, that Ephraim had a hand in shaping her course.

The food was served with considerable care, and, in some degree with the
formality observed in civilized homes. John was a careful observer of
customs, and he was surprised to note that all the natives patterned
after the habits established by their Chief.

"I tried," said Ephraim, in answer to John's questions, "to better their
condition, and to teach them how to prepare and eat their food, and we
made vessels of pottery, which you will notice are found everywhere.
They understood the art of weaving, in a very primitive way, which I
also tried to improve. Only on three occasions did we take any toll from
the sea, when the wreckage came ashore.

"Of the articles which were thus recovered, I took only a fair share,
and the others were impartially distributed to the people."

"Did you ever have any trouble with the natives, or did they ever
dispute your authority?" asked John.

"Only once, many years ago. A man claiming to be the son of the Chief,
gathered together a number of adherents, but my people rose against
them, and killed the leaders, which I very much regretted. When I
remonstrated with them for the severity of their course, they justified
it by saying that I had been kind to them, and had made them better, and
it was the very thing that taught me to feel that human beings, although
savages, understand kind treatment. It made me a convert in my feelings
against some of the white men who had treated me with such severity."

During the day, after the packages had been removed from the ship the
articles were taken from the packages and arranged in Ephraim's home.
Articles of clothing were distributed to the Chief's family, and what
pleased him more than anything else, were the cooking utensils, all of
the newest ware, and in great variety, some of which were curiosities to
him.

He had four children, the eldest a young man about thirty years of age,
who had a family of t