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the fifth chapter of my History； fifty…nine pages in one
month； which （you will allow me to say） is a devil of a large
order； it means at least 177 pages of writing； 89；000 words！
and hours going to and fro among my notes。 However； this is
the way it has to be done； the job must be done fast； or it
is of no use。 And it is a curious yarn。 Honestly； I think
people should be amused and convinced； if they could be at
the pains to look at such a damned outlandish piece of
machinery； which of course they won't。 And much I care。
When I was filling baskets all Saturday； in my dull mulish
way； perhaps the slowest worker there； surely the most
particular； and the only one that never looked up or knocked
off； I could not but think I should have been sent on
exhibition as an example to young literary men。 Here is how
to learn to write； might be the motto。 You should have seen
us； the verandah was like an Irish bog； our hands and faces
were bedaubed with soil； and Faauma was supposed to have
struck the right note when she remarked （A PROPOS of
nothing）； 'Too much ELEELE （soil） for me！' The cacao （you
must understand） has to be planted at first in baskets of
plaited cocoa…leaf。 From four to ten natives were plaiting
these in the wood…shed。 Four boys were digging up soil and
bringing it by the boxful to the verandah。 Lloyd and I and
Belle； and sometimes S。 （who came to bear a hand）； were
filling the baskets； removing stones and lumps of clay；
Austin and Faauma carried them when full to Fanny； who
planted a seed in each； and then set them； packed close； in
the corners of the verandah。 From twelve on Friday till five
P。M。 on Saturday we planted the first 1500； and more than 700
of a second lot。 You cannot dream how filthy we were； and we
were all properly tired。 They are all at it again to…day；
bar Belle and me； not required； and glad to be out of it。
The Chief Justice has not yet replied； and I have news that
he received my letter。 What a man！
I have gone crazy over Bourget's SENSATIONS D'ITALIE； hence
the enclosed dedications； a mere cry of gratitude for the
best fun I've had over a new book this ever so！
CHAPTER XIV
TUESDAY； DEC。 1891。
SIR； … I have the honour to report further explorations of
the course of the river Vaea； with accompanying sketch plan。
The party under my command consisted of one horse； and was
extremely insubordinate and mutinous； owing to not being used
to go into the bush； and being half…broken anyway … and that
the wrong half。 The route indicated for my party was up the
bed of the so…called river Vaea； which I accordingly followed
to a distance of perhaps two or three furlongs eastward from
the house of Vailima； where the stream being quite dry； the
bush thick； and the ground very difficult； I decided to leave
the main body of the force under my command tied to a tree；
and push on myself with the point of the advance guard；
consisting of one man。 The valley had become very narrow and
airless； foliage close shut above； dry bed of the stream much
excavated； so that I passed under fallen trees without
stooping。 Suddenly it turned sharply to the north； at right
angles to its former direction； I heard living water； and
came in view of a tall face of rock and the stream spraying
down it； it might have been climbed； but it would have been
dangerous； and I had to make my way up the steep earth banks；
where there is nowhere any footing for man； only fallen
trees； which made the rounds of my ladder。 I was near the
top of this climb； which was very hot and steep； and the
pulses were buzzing all over my body； when I made sure there
was one external sound in my ears； and paused to listen。 No
mistake； a sound of a mill…wheel thundering； I thought； close
by； yet below me； a huge mill…wheel； yet not going steadily；
but with a SCHOTTISCHE movement； and at each fresh impetus
shaking the mountain。 There； where I was； I just put down
the sound to the mystery of the bush； where no sound now
surprises me … and any sound alarms； I only thought it would
give Jack a fine fright； down where he stood tied to a tree
by himself； and he was badly enough scared when I left him。
The good folks at home identified it； it was a sharp
earthquake。
At the top of the climb I made my way again to the water…
course； it is here running steady and pretty full； strange
these intermittencies … and just a little below the main
stream is quite dry； and all the original brook has gone down
some lava gallery of the mountain … and just a little further
below； it begins picking up from the left hand in little
boggy tributaries； and in the inside of a hundred yards has
grown a brook again。 The general course of the brook was； I
guess； S。E。； the valley still very deep and whelmed in wood。
It seemed a swindle to have made so sheer a climb and still
find yourself at the bottom of a well。 But gradually the
thing seemed to shallow； the trees to seem poorer and
smaller； I could see more and more of the silver sprinkles of
sky among the foliage； instead of the sombre piling up of
tree behind tree。 And here I had two scares … first； away up
on my right hand I heard a bull low； I think it was a bull
from the quality of the low； which was singularly songful and
beautiful； the bulls belong to me； but how did I know that
the bull was aware of that？ and my advance guard not being at
all properly armed； we advanced with great precaution until I
was satisfied that I was passing eastward of the enemy。 It
was during this period that a pool of the river suddenly
boiled up in my face in a little fountain。 It was in a very
dreary； marshy part among dilapidated trees that you see
through holes in the trunks of； and if any kind of beast or
elf or devil had come out of that sudden silver ebullition； I
declare I do not think I should have been surprised。 It was
perhaps a thing as curious … a fish； with which these head
waters of the stream are alive。 They are some of them as
long as my finger； should be easily caught in these shallows；
and some day I'll have a dish of them。
Very soon after I came to where the stream collects in
another banana swamp； with the bananas bearing well。 Beyond；
the course is again quite dry； it mounts with a sharp turn a
very steep face of the mountain； and then stops abruptly at
the lip of a plateau； I suppose the top of Vaea mountain：
plainly no more springs here … there was no smallest furrow
of a watercourse beyond … and my task might be said to be
accomplished。 But such is the animated spirit in the service
that the whole advance guard expressed a sentiment of
disappointment that an exploration； so far successfully
conducted； should come to a stop in the most promising view
of fresh successes。 And though unprovided either with
compass or cutlass； it was determined to push some way along
the plateau； marking our direction by the laborious process
of bending down； sitting upon； and thus breaking the wild
cocoanut trees。 This was the less regretted by all from a
delightful discovery made of a huge banyan growing here in
the bush； with flying…buttressed flying buttresses； and huge
arcs of trunk hanging high overhead and trailing down new
complications of root。 I climbed some way up what seemed the
original beginning； it was easier to climb than a ship's
rigging； even rattled； everywhere there was foot…hold and
hand…hold。 It was judged wise to return and rally the main
body； who had now been left alone for perhaps forty minutes
in the bush。
The return was effected in good order； but unhappily I only
arrived （like so many other explorers） to find my main body
or rear…guard in a condition of mutiny； the work； it is to be
supposed； of terror。 It is right I should tell you the Vaea
has a bad name； an AITU FAFINE … female devil of the woods …
succubus … haunting it； and doubtless Jack had heard of her；
perhaps； during my absence； saw her； lucky Jack！ Anyway； he
was neither to hold nor to bind； and finally； after nearly
smashing me by accident； and from mere scare and
insubordination several times； deliberately set in to kill
me； but poor Jack！ the tree he selected for that purpose was
a banana！ I jumped off and gave him the heavy end of my whip
over the buttocks！ Then I took and talked in his ear in
various voices； you should have heard my alto … it was a
dreadful； devilish note … I KNEW Jack KNEW it was an AITU。
Then I mounted him again； and he carried me fairly steadily。
He'll learn yet。 He has to learn to trust absolutely to his
rider； till he does； the risk is always great in thick bush；
where a fellow must try different passages； and put back and
forward； and pick his way by hair's…breadths。
The expedit