AlittleapartinthemainavenueofRotoava，inalowhutofleavesthatopenedonasmallenclosure，likeapigstyonapen，anoldmandweltsolitarywithhisagedwife。Perhapstheyweretoooldtomigratewiththeothers；perhapstheyweretoopoor，andhadnopossessionstodispute。Atleasttheyhadremainedbehind；anditthusbefellthattheywereinvitedtomyfeast。Idaresayitwasquiteapieceofpoliticsinthepigstywhethertocomeornottocome，andthehusbandlongswitheredbetweencuriosityandage，tillcuriosityconquered，andtheycame，andinthemidstofthatlastmerrymakingdeathtappedhimontheshoulder。Forsomedays，whentheskywasbrightandthewindcool，hismatwouldbespreadinthemainhighwayofthevillage，andhewastobeseenlyingthereinert，amerehandfulofaman，hiswifeinertlyseatedbyhishead。Theyseemedtohaveoutgrownalikeourneedsandfaculties；theyneitherspokenorlistened；theysufferedustopasswithoutaglance；thewifedidnotfan，sheseemednottoattenduponherhusband，andthetwopoorantiquessatjuxtaposedunderthehighcanopyofpalms，thehumantragedyreducedtoitsbareelements，asightbeyondpathos，stirringathrillofcuriosity。Andyettherewasonetouchofthepathetichauntedme：
thatsomuchyouthandexpectationshouldhaveruninthesestarvedveins，andthemanshouldhavesquanderedallhisleesoflifeonapleasureparty。
Onthemorningof17thSeptemberthesuffererdied，and，timepressing，hewasburiedthesamedayatfour。ThecemeteryliestoseawardbehindGovernmentHouse；brokencoral，likesomuchroad-
metal，formsthesurface；afewwoodencrosses，afewinconsiderableuprightstones，designategraves；amortaredwall，highenoughtoleanon，ringsitabout；aclusteringshrubsurroundsitwithpaleleaves。Herewasthegravedugthatmorning，doubtlessbyuneasydiggers，tothesoundofthenighseaandthecriesofsea-birds；meanwhilethedeadmanwaitedinhishouse，andthewidowandanotheragedwomanleanedonthefencebeforethedoor，nospeechupontheirlips，nospeculationintheireyes。
Sharpatthehourtheprocessionwasinmarch，thecoffinwrappedinwhiteandcarriedbyfourbearers；mournersbehind-notmany，fornotmanyremainedinRotoava，andnotmanyinblack，forthesewerepoor；themeninstrawhats，whitecoats，andbluetrousersorthegorgeousparti-colouredpariu，theTahitiankilt；thewomen，withafewexceptions，brightlyhabited。Farintherearcamethewidow，painfullycarryingthedeadman’smat；acreatureagedbeyondhumanity，tothelikenessofsomemissinglink。
ThedeadmanhadbeenaMormon；buttheMormonclergymanwasgonewiththeresttowrangleoverboundariesintheadjacentisle，andalaymantookhisoffice。Standingattheheadoftheopengrave，inawhitecoatandbluepariu，hisTahitianBibleinhishandandoneeyeboundwitharedhandkerchief，hereadsolemnlythatchapterinJobwhichhasbeenreadandheardoverthebonesofsomanyofourfathers，andwithagoodvoiceoffereduptwoprayers。
Thewindandthesurfboreaburthen。Bythecemeterygateamotherincrimsonsuckledaninfantrolledinblue。Inthemidstthewidowsatuponthegroundandpolishedoneofthecoffin-
stretcherswithapieceofcoral；alittlelatershehadturnedherbacktothegraveandwasplayingwithaleaf。Didsheunderstand?
Godknows。Theofficiantpausedamoment，stooped，andgatheredandthrewreverentlyonthecoffinahandfulofrattlingcoral。
Dusttodust：butthegrainsofthisdustweregrosslikecherries，andthetruedustthatwastofollowsatnearby，stillcoheringasbyamiracleinthetragicsemblanceofafemaleape。
Sofar，Mormonornot，itwasaChristianfuneral。Thewell-knownpassagehadbeenreadfromJob，theprayershadbeenrehearsed，thegravewasfilled，themournersstraggledhomeward。Withalittlecoarsergrainofcoveringearth，alittleneareroutcryofthesea，astrongerglareofsunlightontherudeenclosure，andsomeincongruouscoloursofattire，thewell-rememberedformhadbeenobserved。
Byrightsitshouldhavebeenotherwise。Thematshouldhavebeenburiedwithitsowner；but，thefamilybeingpoor，itwasthriftilyreservedforafreshservice。Thewidowshouldhaveflungherselfuponthegraveandraisedthevoiceofofficialgrief，theneighbourshavechimedin，andthenarrowislerungforaspacewithlamentation。Butthewidowwasold；perhapsshehadforgotten，perhapsneverunderstood，andsheplayedlikeachildwithleavesandcoffin-stretchers。Inallwaysmyguestwasburiedwithmaimedrites。StrangetothinkthathislastconsciouspleasurewastheCASCOandmyfeast；strangetothinkthathehadlimpedthere，anoldchild，lookingforsomenewgood。Andthegoodthing，rest，hadbeenallottedhim。
Butthoughthewidowhadneglectedmuch，therewasonepartshemustnotutterlyneglect。Shecameawaywiththedispersingfuneral；butthedeadman’smatwasleftbehinduponthegrave，andIlearnedthatbysetofsunshemustreturntosleepthere。Thisvigilisimperative。FromsundowntilltherisingofthemorningstarthePaumotuanmustholdhiswatchabovetheashesofhiskindred。Manyfriends，ifthedeadhavebeenamanofmark，willkeepthewatcherscompany；theywillbewellsuppliedwithcoveringsagainsttheweather；Ibelievetheybringfood，andtheriteisperseveredinfortwoweeks。Ourpoorsurvivor，if，indeed，sheproperlysurvived，hadlittletocover，andfewtositwithher；onthenightofthefuneralastrongsquallchasedherfromherplaceofwatch；fordaystheweatherhelduncertainandoutrageous；anderesevennightswereupshehaddesisted，andreturnedtosleepinherlowroof。Thatsheshouldbeatthepainsofreturningforsoshortavisittoasolitaryhouse，thatthisbordererofthegraveshouldfearalittlewindandawetblanket，filledmeatthetimewithmusings。Icouldnotsayshewasindifferent；shewassofarbeyondmeinexperiencethatthecourtofmycriticismwaivedjurisdiction；butIforgedexcuses，tellingmyselfshehadperhapslittletolament，perhapssufferedmuch，perhapsunderstoodnothing。Andlo！inthewholeaffairtherewasnoquestionwhetheroftendernessorpiety，andthesturdyreturnofthisoldremnantwasamarkeitherofuncommonsenseorofuncommonfortitude。
Yetonethinghadoccurredthatpartlysetmeonthetrail。Ihavesaidthefuneralpassedmuchasathome。Butwhenallwasover，whenweweretroopingindecentsilencefromthegraveyardgateanddownthepathtothesettlement，asuddeninbreakofadifferentspiritstartledandperhapsdismayedus。Twopeoplewalkednotfarapartinourprocession：myfriendMr。Donat-Donat-Rimarau：
’Donatthemuch-handed’-actingVice-Resident，presentrulerofthearchipelago，byfarthemanofchiefimportanceonthescene，butknownbesidesforoneofanunshakablegoodtemper；andacertaincomely，strappingyoungPaumotuanwoman，thecomeliestontheisle，notletushopethebravestorthemostpolite。Ofasudden，ereyetthegravesilenceofthefuneralwasbroken，shemadealeapattheResident，withpointedfinger，shriekedafewwords，andfellbackagainwithalaughter，notanaturalmirth。
’Whatdidshesaytoyou?’Iasked。’ShedidnotspeaktoME，’
saidDonat，ashadeperturbed；’shespoketotheghostofthedeadman。’Andthepurportofherspeechwasthis：’Seethere！Donatwillbeafinefeastforyouto-night。’
’M。Donatcalleditajest，’Iwroteatthetimeinmydiary。’Itseemedtomemoreinthenatureofaterrifiedconjuration，asthoughshewoulddiverttheghost’sattentionfromherself。A
cannibalracemaywellhavecannibalphantoms。’Theguessesofthetravellerappearforedoomedtobeerroneous；yetintheseIwaspreciselyright。Thewomanhadstoodbyinterroratthefuneral，beingtheninadreadspot，thegraveyard。Shelookedoninterrortothecomingnight，withthatogre，anewspirit，loosedupontheisle。AndthewordsshehadcriedinDonat’sfacewereindeedaterrifiedconjuration，baselytoshieldherself，baselytodedicateanotherinherstead。Onethingistobesaidinherexcuse。
DoubtlessshepartlychoseDonatbecausehewasamanofgreatgood-nature，butpartly，too，becausehewasamanofthehalf-
caste。ForIbelieveallnativesregardwhitebloodasakindoftalismanagainstthepowersofhell。InnootherwaycantheyexplaintheunpunishedrecklessnessofEuropeans。
CHAPTERVI-GRAVEYARDSTORIES
WITHmysuperstitiousfriend，theislander，IfearIamnotwhollyfrank，oftenleadingthewaywithstoriesofmyown，andbeingalwaysagraveandsometimesanexcitedhearer。Butthedeceitisscarcemortal，sinceIamaspleasedtohearashetotell，aspleasedwiththestoryashewiththebelief；and，besides，itisentirelyneedful。Foritisscarcepossibletoexaggeratetheextentandempireofhissuperstitions；theymouldhislife，theycolourhisthinking；andwhenhedoesnotspeaktomeofghosts，andgods，anddevils，heisplayingthedissemblerandtalkingonlywithhislips。Withthoughtssodifferent，onemustindulgetheother；andIwouldratherthatIshouldindulgehissuperstitionthanhemyincredulity。Ofonething，besides，Imaybesure：LetmeindulgeitasIplease，Ishallnothearthewhole；forheisalreadyonhisguardwithme，andtheamountoftheloreisboundless。
Iwillgivebutafewinstancesatrandom，chieflyfrommyowndoorstepinUpolu，duringthepastmonthOctober1890。Oneofmyworkmenwassenttheotherdaytothebananapatch，theretodig；
thisisahollowofthemountain，buriedinwoods，outofallsightandcryofmankind；andlongbeforeduskLafaelewasbackagainbesidethecook-housewithembarrassedlooks；hedarednotlongerstayalone，hewasafraidof’spiritsinthebush。’Itseemsthesearethesoulsoftheunburieddead，hauntingwheretheyfell，andwearingwoodlandshapesofpig，orbird，orinsect；thebushisfullofthem，theyseemtoeatnothing，slaysolitarywanderersapparentlyinspite，andattimes，inhumanform，godowntovillagesandconsortwiththeinhabitantsundetected。SomuchI
learnedadayorsoafter，walkinginthebushwithaveryintelligentyouth，anative。Itwasalittlebeforenoon；agreydayandsqually；andperhapsIhadspokenlightly。Adarksquallburstonthesideofthemountain；thewoodsshookandcried；thedeadleavesrosefromthegroundinclouds，likebutterflies；andmycompanioncamesuddenlytoafullstop。Hewasafraid，hesaid，ofthetreesfalling；butassoonasIhadchangedthesubjectofourtalkheproceededwithalacrity。AdayortwobeforeamessengercameupthemountainfromApiawithaletter；Iwasinthebush，hemustawaitmyreturn，thenwaittillIhadanswered：
andbeforeIwasdonehisvoicesoundedshrillwithterrorofthecomingnightandthelongforestroad。Thesearethecommons。
Takethechiefs。Therehasbeenagreatcomingandgoingofsignsandomensinourgroup。Oneriverrandownblood；redeelswerecapturedinanother；anunknownfishwasthrownuponthecoast，anominouswordfoundwrittenonitsscales。Sofarwemightbereadinginamonkishchronicle；nowwecomeonafreshnote，atoncemodernandPolynesian。ThegodsofUpoluandSavaii，ourtwochiefislands，contendedrecentlyatcricket。Sincethentheyareatwar。Soundsofbattleareheardtorollalongthecoast。A