thoughaship’sdeckistheplacetoenjoythem。OwhatAWFULscenery，fromaship’sdeck，inthetropics！PeopletalkabouttheAlps，butthecloudsofthetradewindarealoneforsublimity。
Nowtotryandtellyouwhathasbeenhappening。Thestateoftheseislands，andofMataafaandLaupepaMalietoa’sAMBOhadbeenmuchonmymind。IwenttothepriestsandsentamessagetoMataafa，atatimewhenitwassupposedhewasabouttoact。Hedidnotact，delayingintruenativestyle，andIdeterminedIshouldgotovisithim。Ihavebeenverygoodnottogosooner；tolivewithinafewmilesofarebelcamp，tobeanovelist，tohaveallmyfamilyforcingmetogo，andtorefrainallthesemonths，countsforvirtue。Buthearingthatseveralpeoplehadgoneandthegovernmentdonenothingtopunishthem，andhavinganerrandtherewhichwasenoughtojustifymyselfinmyowneyes，I
halfdeterminedtogo，andspokeofitwiththehalf-castepriest。AndhereconfounditupcameLaupepaandhisguardstocallonme；wekepthimtolunch，andtheoldgentlemanwasverygoodandamiable。HeaskedmewhyIhadnotbeentoseehim？Iremindedhimalawhadbeenmade，andtoldhimIwasnotasmallboytogoandaskleaveoftheconsuls，andperhapsberefused。HetoldmetopaynoattentiontothelawbutcomewhenIwould，andbeggedmetonameadaytolunch。ThenextdayIthinkitwasearlyinthemorning，amanappeared；hehadmetalbuttonslikeapoliceman-buthewasnoneofourApiaforce；hewasarebelpoliceman，andhadbeenallnightcomingroundinlandthroughtheforestfromMalie。HebroughtaletteraddressedILAUASUSUGATohisExcellencyMISIMEA。Mr。Thingumbob。
Soasnottocompromiseme。IcanreadSamoannow，thoughnotspeakit。ItwastoaskmeforlastWednesday。Mydifficultywasgreat；Ihadnomanherewhowasfit，orwhowouldhavecaredtowriteforme；andIhadtopostponethevisit。SoIgaveuphalf-a-daywithagroan，wentdowntothepriests，arrangedforMondayweektogotoMalie，andnamedThursdayasmydaytolunchwithLaupepa。IwassharplyillonWednesday，mailday。ButonThursdayIhadtotraildownandgothroughthedrearybusinessofafeast，intheKing’swretchedshanty，fullinviewofthePresident’sfinenewhouse；itmademyheartburn。
ThisgavememychancetoarrangeaprivateinterviewwiththeKing，andIdecidedtoaskMr。Whitmee，oneofourmissionaries，tobemyinterpreter。OnFriday，beingtoomuchexhaustedtogodown，Ibeggedhimtocomeup。Hedid，ItoldhimtheheadsofwhatImeanttosay；andhenotonlyconsented，butsaid，ifwegotonwellwiththeKing，hewouldevenproceedwithmetoMalie。Yesterday，inconsequence，IrodedowntoW。’shousebyeightinthemorning；waitedtillten；receivedamessagethattheKingwasstoppedbyameetingwiththePresidentandFAIPULE；madeanotherengagementforsevenatnight；cameup；wentdown；