第6章

"Whatnonsense，"ejaculatedBastin，"therearenosuchthings。"

"Shutup，"Isaid，"wemustusesimileshere，"towhichhereplied：

"Idon’tlikesimilesthattamperwiththetruth。"

"RememberNeptuneandAeolus，"Isuggested，andhelapsedintoconsiderationofthepoint。

"Weknewthatyouwerecoming，"saidMarama。"Ourdoctorstoldusallaboutyouamoonago。Butwewishthatyouwouldcomemoregently，asyounearlywashedawayourcountry。"

AfterlookingatmeBickleyreplied：

"Howthankfulshouldyoubethatinourkindnesswehavesparedyou。"

"Whatdoyoucometodo？"inquiredMaramaagain。AftertheusualformulaofconsultingmeBickleyanswered：

"Wecometotakethatmountain（hemeantlump）offyourneckandmakeyoubeautiful；alsotocureallthesicknessamongyourpeople。"

"AndIcome，"brokeinBastin，"togiveyounewhearts。"

Theseannouncementsevidentlycausedgreatexcitement。AfterconsultationMaramaanswered：

"Wedonotwantnewheartsastheoldonesaregood，butwewishtoberidoflumpsandsicknesses。Ifyoucandothiswewillmakeyougodsandworshipyouandgiveyoumanywives。"

（HereBastinhelduphishandsinhorror。）"Whenwillyoubegintotakeawaythelumps？"

"To—morrow，"saidBickley。"Butlearnthatifyoutrytoharmuswewillbringanotherwavewhichwilldrownallyourcountry。"

Nobodyseemedtodoubtourcapacitiesinthisdirection，butoneinquiringspiritinawickercratedidaskhowitcameaboutthatifwecontrolledtheoceanwehadarrivedinhalfacanoeinsteadofawholeone。

Bickleyrepliedtotheeffectthatitwasbecausethegodsalwaystravelledinhalf—canoestoshowtheirhighernature，whichseemedtosatisfyeveryone。Thenweannouncedthatwehadseenenoughofthemforthatdayandwouldretiretothink。

Meanwhileweshouldbeobligediftheywouldbuildusahouseandkeepussuppliedwithwhateverfoodtheyhad。

"Dothegodseat？"askedthescepticagain。

"Thatfellowisaconfoundedradical，"IwhisperedtoBickley。

"TellhimthattheydowhentheycometoOrofena。"

Hedidso，whereonthechiefsaid：

"Wouldthegodslikeaniceyounggirlcooked？"

AtthispointBastinretireddownthepath，realisingthathehadtodowithcannibals。Wesaidthatwepreferredtolookatthegirlsaliveandwouldmeetthemagainto—morrowmorning，whenwehopedthatthehousewouldbeready。

SoourfirstinterviewwiththeinhabitantsofOrofenacametoanend，onwhichwecongratulatedourselves。

OnreachingtheremainsoftheStaroftheSouthwesettoworktotakestockofwhatwaslefttous。Fortunatelyitprovedtobeaverygreatdeal。AsIthinkImentioned，allthepassengerpartoftheyachtlayforwardofthebridge，justinfrontofwhichthevesselhadbeenbrokenintwo，almostascleanlyasthoughshewereseveredbyagiganticknife。Furtherourstoreswereforwardandpracticallyeverythingelsethatbelongedtous，evendowntoBickley’sinstrumentsandmedicinesandBastin’sreligiousworks，tosaynothingofagreatquantityoftinnedfoodandgroceries。Lastlyonthedeckabovethesaloonhadstoodtwolargelifeboats。Althoughthesewereamplysecuredatthecommencementofthegaleoneofthem，thatontheportside，wassmashedtosmithers；probablysomesparhadfallenuponit。Thestarboardboat，however，remainedintactandsofaraswecouldjudge，seaworthy，althoughthebulwarkswerebrokenbythewaves。

"There’ssomethingwecangetawayinifnecessary，"Isaid。

"Whereto？"remarkedBastin。"Wedon’tknowwhereweareorifthereisanyotherlandwithinathousandmiles。IthinkwehadbetterstophereasProvidenceseemstohaveintended，especiallywhenthereissomuchworktomyhand。"

"Becareful，"answeredBickley，"thattheworktoyourhanddoesnotendinthecuttingofallourthroats。Itisanawkwardthinginterferingwiththereligionofsavages，andIbelievethattheseuntutoredchildrenofNaturesometimeseatmissionaries。"

"Yes，Ihaveheardthat，"saidBastin；"theybakethemfirstastheydopigs。ButIdon’tknowthattheywouldcaretoeatme，"

andheglancedathisbonylimbs，"especiallywhenyouaremuchplumper。Anyhowonecan’tstopforariskofthatsort。"

Deigningnoreply，Bickleywalkedawaytofetchsomefinefishwhichhadbeenwashedupbythetidalwaveandwerestillflappingaboutinalittlepoolofsaltwater。Thenwetookcounselastohowtomakethebestofourcircumstances，andasaresultsettoworktotidyupthesaloonandcabins，whichwasnotdifficultaswhatremainedoftheshiplayonanevenkeel。

Alsowegotoutsomenecessarystores，includingparaffinfortheswinginglampswithwhichtheshipwasfittedincaseofaccidenttotheelectriclight，candles，andthegunswehadbroughtwithussothattheymightbehandyintheeventofattack。Thisdone，bytheaidofthetoolsthatwereinthestorerooms，Bickley，whowasanexcellentcarpenter，repairedthesaloondoor，allthatwasnecessarytokeepusprivate，asthebulkheadstillremained。

"Now，"hesaidtriumphantlywhenhehadfinishedandgotthelockandboltstoworktohissatisfaction，"wecanstandasiegeifneeded，forastheshipisironbuilttheycan’tevenburnusoutandthatteakdoorwouldtakesomeforcing。Alsowecanshoreitup。"

"Howaboutsomethingtoeat？Iwantmytea，"saidBastin。

"Then，myreverendfriend，"repliedBickley，"takeacoupleofthefirebucketsandfetchsomewaterfromthestream。Alsocollectdriftwoodofwhichthereisplentyabout，cleanthosefishandgrillthemoverthesaloonstove。"

"I’lltry，"saidBastin，"butIneverdidanycookingbefore。"

"No，"repliedBickley，"onsecondthoughtsIwillseetothatmyself，butyoucangetthefishready。"

So，withdueprecautions，BastinandIfetchedwaterfromthestreamwhichwefoundflowedovertheedgeofthecliffquitecloseathandintoabeautifulcoralbasinthatmighthavebeendesignedforabathofthenymphs。Indeedoneatatime，whiletheotherwatched，weundressedandplungedintoit，andneverwasatubmorewelcomethanafterourlongdaysoftempest。ThenwereturnedtofindthatBickleyhadalreadysetthetableandwasengagedinfryingthefishveryskilfullyonthesaloonstove，whichprovedtobewelladaptedtothepurpose。Hewascross，however，whenhefoundthatwehadbathedandthatitwasnowtoolateforhimtodolikewise。

WhilehewascleaninghimselfaswellashecouldinhiscabinbasinandBastinwasboilingwaterfortea，suddenlyIrememberedtheletterfromtheDanishmateJacobsen。ConcludingthatitmightnowbeopenedaswehadcertainlypartedwithmostoftheStaroftheSouthforthelasttime，Ireadit。Itwasasfollows：

"Thereason，honouredSir，thatIamleavingtheshipisthatonthenightItoreupthepaper，thespiritcontrollingtheplanchettewrotethesewords：’AfterleavingSamoatheStaroftheSouthwillbewreckedinahurricaneandeverybodyonboarddrownedexceptA。B。andB。Getoutofher！Getoutofher！Don’tbeafool，Jacob，unlessyouwanttocomeoverhereatonce。Takeouradviceandgetoutofherandyouwilllivetobeold。——

SKOLL。"

"Sir，IamnotacowardbutIknowthatthiswillhappen，forthatspiritwhichsignsitselfSkollnevertellsalie。IdidtrytogivethecaptainahinttostopatApia，buthehadbeendrinkingandopenlycursedmeandcalledmeasneakingcheat。SoIamgoingtorunaway，ofwhichIamverymuchashamed。ButIdonotwishtobedrownedyetasthereisagirlwhomIwanttomarry，andmymotherIsupport。YouwillbesafeandIhopeyouwillnotthinktoobadlyofme。——JACOBJACOBSEN。

"P。S。——Itisanawfulthingtoknowthefuture。Nevertrytolearnthat。"

IgavethislettertoBastinandBickleytoreadandaskedthemwhattheythoughtofit。

"Coincidence，"saidBickley。"Themanisaweak—mindedidiotandheardinSamoathattheyexpectedahurricane。"

"Ithink，"chimedinBastin，"thatthedevilknowshowtolookafterhisownatanyrateforalittlewhile。Idaresayitwouldhavebeenmuchbetterforhimtobedrowned。"

"Atleastheisadeserterandfailedinhisduty。Ineverwishtohearofhimagain，"Isaid。

AsamatteroffactIneverhave。ButtheincidentremainsquiteunexplainedeitherbyBickleyorBastin。

ChapterVII

TheOrofenansToourshamewehadaverypleasantsupperthatnightoffthegrilledfish，whichwasexcellent，andsometinnedmeat。Isaytoourshame，inasense，foronourcompanionsthesharksweresuppingandbyrightsweshouldhavebeensunkinwoe。Isupposethatthesenseofourownescapeintoxicatedus。Also，notwithstandinghisjoviality，noneofushadcaredmuchforthecaptain，andhispolicyhadbeentokeepussomewhatapartfromthecrew，ofwhomthereforeweknewbutlittle。ItistruethatBastinheldservicesonSundays，forsuchaswouldattend，andBickleyhaddoctoredafewofthemforminorailments，butthere，exceptforalittlecasualconversation，ourintercoursebeganandended。

Nowthesadfactisthatitishardtobeoverwhelmedwithgriefforthosewithwhomwearenotintimate。Wewereverysorryandthatisallthatcanbesaid，exceptthatBastin，beingHighChurch，announcedinamatter—of—factwaythathemeanttoputupsomepetitionsforthewelfareoftheirsouls。TothisBickleyretortedthatfromwhathehadseenoftheirbodieshewassuretheyneededthem。

Yes，itwasapleasantsupper，notmadelesssobyabottleofchampagnewhichBickleyandIshared。Bastinstucktohistea，notbecausehedidnotlikechampagne，butbecause，asheexplained，havingnowcomeincontactwiththeheathenitwouldneverdoforhimtosetthemanexampleintheuseofspirituousliquors。

"Howevermuchwemaydiffer，Bastin，Irespectyouforthatsentiment，"commentedBickley。

"Idon’tknowwhyyoushould，"answeredBastin；"butifso，youmightfollowmyexample。"

Thatnightwesleptlikelogs，trustingtoourteakdoorwhichwebarricaded，andtoTommy，whowasamostexcellentwatch—dog，toguardusagainstsurprise。Atanyratewetooktherisk。Asamatteroffact，nothinghappened，thoughbeforedawnTommydidgrowlagooddeal，forIheardhim，butashesankintoslumberagainonmybed，Ididnotgetup。InthemorningIfoundfromfreshfootprintsthattwoorthreemenhadbeenprowlingabouttheship，thoughatalittledistance。

Weroseearly，andtakingthenecessaryprecautions，bathedinthepool。Thenwebreakfasted，andhavingfilledeveryavailablereceptaclewithwater，whichtookusalongtimeastheseincludedalargetankthatsuppliedthebath，sothatwemighthaveatleastaweek’ssupplyincaseofsiege，wewentondeckanddebatedwhatweshoulddo。Intheendwedeterminedtostopwherewewereandawaitevents，because，asIpointedout，itwasnecessarythatweshoulddiscoverwhetherthesenativeswerehostileorfriendly。Intheformereventwecouldholdourownontheship，whereasawayfromitwemustbeoverwhelmed；inthelattertherewasalwaystimetomoveinland。

Aboutteno’clockwhenwewereseatedonstoolssmoking，withourgunsbyourside——forhere，owingtotheoverhangingcliffinwhichitwillberememberedtheprowoftheshipwasburied，wecouldnotbereachedbymissilesthrownfromabove——wesawnumbersoftheislandersadvancinguponusalongthebeachoneitherside。Theywereprecededasbeforebywomenwhoborefoodonplattersandinbaskets。Thesepeople，alltalkingexcitedlyandlaughingaftertheirfashion，stoppedatadistance，sowetooknonoticeofthem。PresentlyMarama，cladinhisfeathercloak，andagainaccompaniedbypriestsormedicine—men，appearedwalkingdownthepathonthecliffface，and，standingbelow，madesalutationsandenteredintoaconversationwithusofwhichIgivethesubstance——thatis，sofaraswecouldunderstandit。

Hereproachedusfornothavingcometohimasheexpectedwewoulddo。Werepliedthatwepreferredtoremainwherewewereuntilweweresureofourgreetingandaskedhimwhatwastheposition。Heexplainedthatonlyoncebefore，inthetimeofhisgrandfather，hadanypeoplereachedtheirshores，alsoduringagreatstormaswehaddone。Theyweredark—skinnedmenlikethemselves，threeofthem，butwhencetheycamewasneverknown，sincetheywereatonceseizedandsacrificedtothegodOro，whichwastherightthingtodoinsuchacase。

Weaskedwhetherhewouldconsideritrighttosacrificeus。Hereplied：

Certainly，unlessweweretoostrong，beinggodsourselves，orunlessanarrangementcouldbeconcluded。Weasked——whatarrangement？Herepliedthatwemustmakethemgifts；alsothatwemustdowhatwehadpromisedandcurehim——thechief——ofthediseasewhichhadtormentedhimforyears。Inthateventeverythingwouldbeatourdisposalandwe，withallourbelongings，shouldbecometaboo，holy，nottobetouched。Nonewouldattempttoharmus，nothingshouldbestolenunderpenaltyofdeath。

Weaskedhimtocomeuponthedeckwithonlyonecompanionthathissicknessmightbeascertained，andaftermuchhesitationheconsentedtodoso。Bickleymadeanexaminationofthegrowthandannouncedthathebelieveditcouldberemovedwithperfectsafetyastheattachmenttotheneckwasveryslight，butofcoursetherewasalwaysarisk。Thiswasexplainedtohimwithdifficulty，andmuchtalkfollowedbetweenhimandhisfollowerswhogatheredonthebeachbeneaththeship。Theyseemedadversetotheexperiment，tillMammagrewfuriouswiththemandatlastburstintotearssayingthathecouldnolongerdragthisterribleburdenaboutwithhim，andhetouchedthegrowth。Hewouldratherdie。Thentheygaveway。

IwilltelltherestasshortlyasIcan。

Ahideouswoodenidolwasbroughtonboard，wrappedinleavesandfeathers，anduponitthechiefandhisheadpeoplesworesafetytouswhetherhelivedordied，makingustheguestsoftheirland。Therewere，however，twoprovisosmade，orassuchweunderstoodthem。Theseseemedtobethatweshouldoffernoinsultorinjurytotheirgod，andsecondly，thatweshouldnotsetfootontheislandinthelake。Itwasnottillafterwardsthatitoccurredtomethatthismustrefertothemountaintopwhichappearedintheinlandsheetofwater。Tothosestipulationswemadenoanswer。Indeed，theOrofenansdidallthetalking。Finally，theyratifiedtheiroathsbyamanwho，I

suppose，wasaheadpriest，cuttinghisarmandrubbingthebloodfromitonthelipsoftheidol；alsouponthoseofthechief。I

shouldaddthatBastinhadretiredassoonashesawthatfalsegodappear，ofwhichIwasglad，sinceIfeltsurethathewouldmakeascene。

Theoperationtookplacethatafternoonandontheship，forwhenonceMaramahadmadeuphismindtotrustushedidsoverythoroughly。Itwasperformedondeckinthepresenceofanawedmultitudewhowatchedfromtheshore，andwhentheysawBickleyappearinacleannightshirtandwashhishands，utteredagroanofwonder。Evidentlytheyconsidereditamagicalandreligiousceremony；indeedeverafterwardstheycalledBickleytheGreatPriest，orsometimestheGreatHealerinlaterdays。ThiswasagrievancetoBastinwhoconsideredthathehadbeenrobbedofhispropertitle，especiallywhenhelearnedthatamongthemselveshewasonlyknownas"theBellower，"becauseoftheloudvoiceinwhichheaddressedthem。NordidBickleyparticularlyappreciatethecompliment。

Withmyhelpheadministeredthechloroform，whichwasdoneundershelterofasailforfearlestthepeopleshouldthinkthatweweresmotheringtheirchief。Thentheoperationwentontoasatisfactoryconclusion。Iomitthedetails，butanelectricbatteryandared—hotwirecameintoplay。

"There，"saidBickleytriumphantlywhenhehadfinishedtyingthevesselsandmadeeverythingneatandtidywithbandages，"I

wasafraidhemightbleedtodeath，butIdon’tthinkthereisanyfearofthatnow，forIhavemadearealjobofit。"Thenadvancingwiththehorridtumourinhishandsheshoweditintriumphtothecrowdbeneath，whogroanedagainandthrewthemselvesontotheirfaces。DoubtlessnowitisthemostsacredrelicofOrofena。

WhenMaramacameoutoftheanesthetic，Bickleygavehimsomethingwhichsenthimtosleepfortwelvehours，duringallwhichtimehispeoplewaitedbeneath。Thiswasourdangerousperiod，forourdifficultywastopersuadethemthathewasnotdead，althoughBickleyhadassuredthemthathewouldsleepforatimewhilethemagicworked。Still，Iwasverygladwhenhewokeuponthefollowingmorning，andtwoorthreeofhisleadingmencouldseethathewasalive。Therestwaslengthybutsimple，consistingmerelyinkeepinghimquietandonasuitabledietuntiltherewasnofearofthewoundopening。Weachieveditsomehowwiththehelpofanintelligentnativewomanwho，I

suppose，wasoneofhiswives，andfivedayslaterwereenabledtopresenthimhealed，thoughrathertottery，tohisaffectionatesubjects。

Itwasagreatscene，whichmaybeimagined。Theyborehimawayinalitterwiththenativewomantowatchhimandanothertocarrytherelicpreservedinabasket，andustheyacclaimedasgods。ThenceforwardwehadnothingtofearinOrofena——exceptBastin，thoughthiswedidnotknowatthetime。

Allthiswhilewehadbeenlivingonourshipandgrowingveryboredthere，althoughweemployedtheemptyhoursinconversationwithselectednatives，therebyimprovingourknowledgeofthelanguage。Bickleyhadthebestofit，sincealreadypatientsbegantoarrivewhichoccupiedhim。OneofthefirstwasthatmanwhomTommyhadbitten。Hewascarriedtousinanalmostcomatosestate，sufferingapparentlyfromthesymptomsofsnakepoisoning。

AfterwarditturnedoutthatheconceivedTommytobeadivinebutmostvenomouslizardthatcouldmakeaveryhorriblenoise，andbegantosufferasonemightdofromthebiteofsuchacreature。NothingthatBickleycoulddowasenoughtosavehimandultimatelyhediedinconvulsions，acircumstancethatenormouslyenhancedTommy’sreputation。Totellthetruth，wetookadvantageofittoexplainthatTommywasinfactasupernaturalanimal，asortoftamedemonwhichonlyharmedpeoplewhohadmalevolentintentionstowardsthoseheservedorwhotriedtostealanyoftheirpossessionsortointrudeuponthematinconvenienthours，especiallyinthedark。Soterriblewashe，indeed，thateventheskilloftheGreatPriest，i。e。，Bickley，couldnotavailtosaveanywhomoncehehadbitteninhisrage。Eventobebarkedatbyhimwasdangerousandconveyedacursethatmightlastforgenerations。

AllthiswesetoutwhenBastinwasnotthere。Hehadwanderedoff，ashesaid，tolookforshells，butasweknew，topractisereligiousorationsinthePolynesiantonguewiththewavesforaudience，asDemosthenesissaidtohavedonetoperfecthimselfasapoliticalorator。PersonallyIadmitthatIreliedmoreontheterrorsofTommytosafeguardusfromtheftandothertroublesthanIdiduponthoseofthenativetabooandthepriestlyoaths。

Theendofitallwasthatweleftourship，havingpadlockedupthedoor（thepadlock，weexplained，wasamagicalinstrumentthatbitworsethanTommy），andmovedinlandinakindoftriumphalprocession，priestsandsingersgoingbefore（theOrofenanssangextremelywell）andminstrelsfollowingafterplayinguponinstrumentslikeflutes，whilebehindcamethebearerscarryingsuchgoodsasweneeded。Theytookustoabeautifulplaceinagroveofpalmsonaridgewheregrewmanybreadfruittrees，thatcommandedaviewoftheoceanupononesideandofthelakewiththestrangebrownmountaintopontheother。Hereinthemidstofthenativegardenswefoundthatafinehousehadbeenbuiltforusofakindofmudbrickandthatchedwithpalmleaves，surroundedbyafencedcourtyardofbeatenearthandhavingwideoverhangingverandahs；averycomfortableplaceindeedinthatdeliciousclimate。Initwetookupourabode，visitingtheshipoccasionallytoseethatallwaswellthere，andawaitingevents。

ForBickleythesesoonbegantohappenintheshapeofanever—increasingstreamofpatients。Thepopulationoftheislandwasconsiderable，anythingbetweenfiveandtenthousand，sofaraswecouldjudge，andamongtheseofcoursetherewereanumberofsick。Ophthalmia，forinstance，wasaprevalentdisease，aswerethegrowthssuchasMaramahadsufferedfrom，tosaynothingofsurgicalcasesandthoseresultingfromaccidentorfromnervousailments。WithalloftheseBickleywascalledupontodeal，whichhedidwithremarkablesuccessbyhelpofhisbooksonTropicalDiseasesandhisamplesuppliesofmedicalnecessaries。

Atfirstheenjoyeditverymuch，butwhenwehadbeenestablishedinthehouseforaboutthreeweeksheremarked，afterputtinginasolidtenhoursofwork，thatforalltheholidayhewasgettinghemightaswellbebackathisoldpractice，withthedifferencethattherehewasearningseveralthousandsayear。Justthenapoorwomanarrivedwithababyinconvulsionstowhosenecessitieshewasobligedtosacrificehissupper，afterwhichcameamanwhohadfallenfromapalmtreeandbrokenhisleg。

NordidIescape，sincehavingsomehoworotherestablishedareputationforwisdom，assoonasIhadmasteredsufficientofthelanguage，everykindofknottycasewaslaidbeforemefordecision。Inshort，IbecameasortofChiefJustice——notaneasyofficeasitinvolvedtheacquirementofthenativelawwhichwasintricateandpeculiar，especiallyinmatrimonialcases。

AttheseoppressiveactivitiesBastinlookedonwithagloomyeye。

"Youfellowsseemverybusy，"hesaidoneevening；"butIcanfindnothingtodo。Theydon’tseemtowantme，andmerelytosetagoodexamplebydrinkingwaterorteawhileyouswallowwhiskyandtheirpalmwine，orwhateveritis，isverynegativekindofwork，especiallyasIamgettingtiredofplantingthingsinthegardenandplayingpolicemanroundthewreckwhichnobodygoesnear。EvenTommyisbetteroff，foratleasthecanbarkandhuntrats。"

"Yousee，"saidBickley，"wearefollowingourtrades。

Arbuthnotisalawyerandactsasajudge。IamasurgeonandI

mayaddageneral——averygeneral——practitionerandworkatmedicineinanenormousandmuch—neglectedpractice。Therefore，you，beingaclergyman，shouldgoanddolikewise。Therearesometenthousandpeoplehere，butIdonotobservethatasyetyouhaveconverteda，singleone。"

ThusspokeBickleyinalightandunguardedmomentwithhisusualobjectofwhatisknownas"gettingarise"outofBastin。

Littledidheguesswhathewasdoing。

Bastinthoughtawhileponderously，thensaid：

"ItisverystrangefromwhatpeculiarsourcesProvidencesometimessendsinspirations。Ifwisdomflowsfrombabesandsucklings，whyshoulditnotdosofromthewellofagnosticsandmockers？"

"ThereisnoreasonwhichIcansee，"scoffedBickley，"exceptthatasarulewellsdonotflow。"

"Yourjestisill—timedandImayaddfoolish，"continuedBastin。"WhatIwasabouttoaddwasthatyouhavegivenmeanidea，asitwasnodoubtintendedthatyoushoulddo。Iwill，metaphoricallyspeaking，girdupmyloinsandtrytobearthelightintoallthisheathenblackness。"

"Thenitisoneofthefirstyoueverhad，oldfellow。Butwhat’stheneedofgirdingupyourloinsinthishotclimate？"

inquiredBickleywithinnocence。"Pyjamasandthatwhiteandgreenumbrellaofyourswoulddojustaswell。"

Bastinvouchsafednoreplyandsatfortherestofthateveningplungedindeepthought。

OnthefollowingmorningheapproachedMaramaandaskedhisleavetoteachthepeopleaboutthegods。Thechiefreadilygrantedthis，thinking，Ibelieve，thathealludedtoourselves，andorderswereissuedaccordingly。TheyweretotheeffectthatBastinwastobeallowedtogoeverywhereunmolestedandtotalktowhomhewouldaboutwhathewould，towhichallmustlistenwithrespect。

ThushebeganhismissionarycareerinOrofena，workingatit，goodandearnestmanthathewas，inawaythatexcitedeventheadmirationofBickley。Hestartedaschoolforchildren，。whichwasheldunderafine，spreadingtree。Theselistenedwell，andbeingofexceedinglyquickintellectsoonbegantopickuptheelementsofknowledge。Butwhenhetriedtopersuadethemtoclothetheirlittlenakedbodieshisfailurewascomplete，althoughaftermuchsupplicationsomeofthebiggergirlsdidarrivewithachapletofflowers膔oundtheirnecks！

Alsohepreachedtotheadults，andhereagainwasverysuccessfulinaway，especiallyafterhebecamemorefamiliarwiththelanguage。Theylistened；toacertainextenttheyunderstood；theyarguedandputtopoorBastinthemostawfulquestionssuchasthewholeBenchofBishopscouldnothaveanswered。Stillhedidanswerthemsomehow，andtheypolitelyacceptedhisinterpretationoftheirtheologicalriddles。I

observedthathegotonbestwhenhewastellingthemstoriesoutoftheOldTestament，suchastheaccountofthecreationoftheworldandofhumanbeings，alsooftheDeluge，etc。Indeedoneoftheirelderssaid——Yes，thiswasquitetrue。Theyhadhearditallbeforefromtheirfathers，andthatoncetheDelugehadtakenplaceroundOrofena，swallowingupgreatcountries，butsparingthembecausetheyweresogood。