[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]

256 WITH NATIVES IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC

doors, planks, beams and trade goods. It was .a
pitiful sight to see the handsome ship bending over
like a fallen warrior, while the company’s old yacht
had weathered the cyclone quite safely.

During the work of refloating the boat, Mr. Ch.
was taken very ill with fever, and I nursed him for
some days; he was somewhat better by Christmas
Eve, and we had the satisfaction of bringing the
saved launch back to the station. He was visibly
relieved, and his good humour was agreeably felt by
his boys as well as by his employés, to whom he sent
a goodly quantity of liquor to celebrate the occasion.
We sat down to a festive dinner and tried to realize
that this was Christmas; but it was so different from
Christmas at home, that it was rather hard. At our
feet lay the wide bay, turquoise blue, edged with
white surf; in the distance rose the wonderful sil-
houette of Mota Lava Island; white clouds travelled
across the sky, and a gentle breeze rustled in the
palms of the forest. The peaceful picture showed no
trace of the fury with which the elements had fought
so few days ago.

Tired with his exertions, Mr. Ch. withdrew early,
and I soon followed; but we were both aroused by
the barking of the dogs, followed by the pad of bare
feet on the veranda, whispering and coughing, and
then by a song from rough and untrained throats.
The singers were natives of a Christian village some ‘
miles away, who came to sing Christmas hymns in a
strange, rough language, discordant and yet impres-
sive. When they had finished the director went out