ItwasapicturetoseehersailtochurchonaSunday，aparasolinhand，anursemaidfollowing，andthebabyburiedinatradehatandarmedwithapatentfeeding-bottle。Theservicewasenlivenedbyhercontinualsupervisionandcorrectionofthemaid。Itwasimpossiblenottofancythebabywasadoll，andthechurchsomeEuropeanplayroom。Allthesewomenwerelegitimatelymarried。Itistruethatthecertificateofone，whensheproudlyshowedit，provedtorunthus，thatshewas’marriedforonenight，’andhergraciouspartnerwasatlibertyto’sendhertohell’thenextmorning；butshewasnonethewiserortheworseforthedastardlytrick。Another，Iheard，wasmarriedonaworkofmineinapiratededition；itansweredthepurposeaswellasaHallBible。
　　Notwithstandingalltheseallurementsofsocialdistinction，rarefoodandraiment，acomparativevacationfromtoil，andlegitimatemarriagecontractedonapiratededition，thetradermustsometimesseeklongbeforehecanbemated。WhileIwasinthegrouponehadbeeneightmonthsonthequest，andhewasstillabachelor。
　　Withinstrictlynativesocietytheoldlawsandpracticeswereharsh，butnotwithoutacertainstampofhigh-mindedness。
　　Stealthyadulterywaspunishedwithdeath；openelopementwasproperlyconsideredvirtueincomparison，andcompoundedforafineinland。Themaleadultereraloneseemstohavebeenpunished。Itiscorrectmannersforajealousmantohanghimself；ajealouswomanhasadifferentremedy-shebitesherrival。Tenortwentyyearsagoitwasacapitaloffencetoraiseawoman’sRIDI；tothisdayitisstillpunishedwithaheavyfine；andthegarmentitselfisstillsymbolicallysacred。SupposeapieceoflandtobedisputedinButaritari，theclaimantwhoshallfirsthangaRIDIonthetapu-posthasgainedhiscause，sincenoonecanremoveortouchitbuthimself。
　　TheRIDIwasthebadgenotofthewomanbutthewife，themarknotofhersexbutofherstation。Itwasthecollarontheslave’sneck，thebrandonmerchandise。Theadulterouswomanseemstohavebeenspared；werethehusbandoffended，itwouldbeapoorconsolationtosendhisdraughtcattletotheshambles。Karaiti，tothisday，callshiseightwives’hishorses，’sometraderhavingexplainedtohimtheemploymentoftheseanimalsonfarms；andNanteiteihiredouthiswivestodomason-work。Husbands，atleastwhenofhighrank，hadthepoweroflifeanddeath；evenwhitesseemtohavepossessedit；andtheirwives，whentheyhadtransgressedbeyondforgiveness，madehastetopronouncetheformulaofdeprecation-IKANAKIM。Thisformofwordshadsomuchvirtuethatacondemnedcriminalrepeatingitonaparticulardaytothekingwhohadcondemnedhim，mustbeinstantlyreleased。
　　Itisanofferofabasement，and，strangelyenough，thereverse-
　　theimitation-isacommonvulgarinsultinGreatBritaintothisday。IgiveascenebetweenatraderandhisGilbertIslandwife，asitwastoldmebythehusband，nowoneoftheoldestresidents，butthenafreshmaninthegroup。
　　’Goandlightafire，’saidthetrader，’andwhenIhavebroughtthisoilIwillcooksomefish。’Thewomangruntedathim，islandfashion。’Iamnotapigthatyoushouldgruntatme，’saidhe。
　　’Iknowyouarenotapig，’saidthewoman，’neitheramIyourslave。’
　　’Tobesureyouarenotmyslave，andifyoudonotcaretostopwithme，youhadbettergohometoyourpeople，’saidhe。’Butinthemeantimegoandlightthefire；andwhenIhavebroughtthisoilIwillcooksomefish。’
　　Shewentasiftoobey；andpresentlywhenthetraderlookedshehadbuiltafiresobigthatthecook-housewascatchinginflames。
　　’IKANAKIM！’shecried，asshesawhimcoming；buthereckednot，andhitherwithacooking-pot。Thelegpiercedherskull，bloodspouted，itwasthoughtshewasadeadwoman，andthenativessurroundedthehouseinamenacingexpectation。Anotherwhitewaspresent，amanofolderexperience。’Youwillhaveusbothkilledifyougoonlikethis，’hecried。’ShehadsaidIKANAKIM！’IfshehadnotsaidIKANAKIMhemighthavestruckherwithacaldron。Itwasnottheblowthatmadethecrime，butthedisregardofanacceptedformula。
　　Polygamy，theparticularsacrednessofwives，theirsemi-servilestate，theirseclusioninkings’harems，eventheirprivilegeofbiting，allwouldseemtoindicateaMohammedansocietyandtheopinionofthesoullessnessofwoman。Andnotsointheleast。Itisamereappearance。Afteryouhavestudiedtheseextremesinonehouse，youmaygotothenextandfindallreversed，thewomanthemistress，themanonlythefirstofherthralls。Theauthorityisnotwiththehusbandassuch，northewifeassuch。Itresidesinthechieforthechief-woman；inhimorherwhohasinheritedthelandsoftheclan，andstandstotheclansmanintheplaceofparent，exactingtheirservice，answerablefortheirfines。Thereisbuttheonesourceofpowerandtheonegroundofdignity-
　　rank。Thekingmarriedachief-woman；shebecamehismenial，andmustworkwithherhandsonMessrs。Wightman’spier。Thekingdivorcedher；sheregainedatonceherformerstateandpower。ShemarriedtheHawaiiansailor，andbeholdthemanisherflunkeyandcanbeshownthedooratpleasure。Nay，andsuchlow-bornlordsareevencorrectedphysically，and，likegrownbutdutifulchildren，mustendurethediscipline。
　　Wewereintimateinonesuchhousehold，thatofNeiTakautiandNanTok’；Iputtheladyfirstofnecessity。Duringoneweekoffool’sparadise，Mrs。Stevensonhadgonealonetothesea-sideoftheislandaftershells。Iamverysuretheproceedingwasunsafe；andshesoonperceivedamanandwomanwatchingher。Dowhatshewould，herguardiansheldhersteadilyinview；andwhentheafternoonbegantofall，andtheythoughtshehadstayedlongenough，tookherincharge，andbysignsandbrokenEnglishorderedherhome。Onthewaytheladydrewfromherearring-holeaclaypipe，thehusbandlightedit，anditwashandedtomyunfortunatewife，whoknewnothowtorefusetheincommodiousfavour；andwhentheywereallcometoourhouse，thepairsatdownbesideheronthefloor，andimprovedtheoccasionwithprayer。Fromthatdaytheywereourfamilyfriends；bringingthriceadaythebeautifulislandgarlandsofwhiteflowers，visitingusanyevening，andfrequentlycarryingusdowntotheirownmaniap’inreturn，thewomanleadingMrs。Stevensonbythehandlikeonechildwithanother。
　　NanTok’，thehusband，wasyoung，extremelyhandsome，ofthemostapprovedgoodhumour，andsufferinginhisprecariousstationfromsuppressedhighspirits。NeiTakauti，thewife，wasgettingold；
　　hergrownsonbyaformermarriagehadjusthangedhimselfbeforehismother’seyesindespairatawell-meritedrebuke。Perhapsshehadneverbeenbeautiful，butherfacewasfullofcharacter，hereyeofsombrefire。Shewasahighchief-woman，butbyastrangeexceptionforapersonofherrank，wassmall，spare，andsinewy，withleansmallhandsandcordedneck。Herfulldressofaneveningwasinvariablyawhitechemise-andforadornment，greenleavesorsometimeswhiteblossomsstuckinherhairandthrustthroughherhugeearring-holes。Thehusbandonthecontrarychangedtoviewlikeakaleidoscope。WhateverprettythingmywifemighthavegiventoNeiTakauti-astringofbeads，aribbon，apieceofbrightfabric-appearedthenexteveningonthepersonofNanTok’。Itwasplainhewasaclothes-horse；thatheworelivery；that，inaword，hewashiswife’swife。Theyreversedthepartsindeed，downtotheleastparticular；itwasthehusbandwhoshowedhimselftheministeringangelinthehourofpain，whilethewifedisplayedtheapathyandheartlessnessoftheproverbialman。
　　WhenNeiTakautihadaheadacheNanTok’wasfullofattentionandconcern。Whenthehusbandhadacoldandarackingtoothachethewifeheedednot，excepttojeer。Itisalwaysthewoman’sparttofillandlightthepipe；NeiTakautihandedhersinsilencetotheweddedpage；butshecarrieditherself，asthoughthepagewerenotentirelytrusted。Thusshekeptthemoney，butitwashewhorantheerrands，anxiouslysedulous。Acloudonherfacedimmedinstantlyhisbeaminglooks；onanearlyvisittotheirmaniap’mywifesawhehadcausetobewary。NanTok’hadafriendwithhim，agiddyyoungthing，ofhisownageandsex；andtheyhadworkedthemselvesintothatstageofjocularitywhenconsequencesaretoooftendisregarded。NeiTakautimentionedherownname。InstantlyNanTok’helduptwofingers，hisfrienddidlikewise，bothinanecstasyofslyness。Itwasplaintheladyhadtwonames；andfromthenatureoftheirmerriment，andthewraththatgatheredonherbrow，theremustbesomethingticklishinthesecond。Thehusbandpronouncedit；awell-directedcocoa-nutfromthehandofhiswifecaughthimonthesideofthehead，andthevoicesandthemirthoftheseindiscreetyounggentlemenceasedfortheday。
　　ThepeopleofEasternPolynesiaareneverataloss；theiretiquetteisabsoluteandplenary；ineverycircumstanceittellsthemwhattodoandhowtodoit。TheGilbertinesareseeminglymorefree，andpayfortheirfreedomlikeourselvesinfrequentperplexity。Thiswasoftenthecasewiththetopsy-turvycouple。
　　Wehadoncesuppliedthemduringavisitwithapipeandtobacco；
　　andwhentheyhadsmokedandwereabouttoleave，theyfoundthemselvesconfrontedwithaproblem：shouldtheytakeorleavewhatremainedofthetobacco?Thepieceofplugwastakenup，itwaslaiddownagain，itwashandedbackandforth，andarguedover，tillthewifebegantolookhaggardandthehusbandelderly。Theyendedbytakingit，andIwagerwerenotyetclearofthecompoundbeforetheyweresuretheyhaddecidedwrong。Anothertimetheyhadbeengiveneachaliberalcupofcoffee，andNanTok’withdifficultyanddisaffectionmadeanendofhis。NeiTakautihadtakensome，shehadnomindformore，plainlyconceiveditwouldbeabreachofmannerstosetdownthecupunfinished，andorderedherweddedretainertodisposeofwhatwasleft。’IhaveswallowedallIcan，Icannotswallowmore，itisaphysicalimpossibility，’heseemedtosay；andhissternofficerreiteratedhercommandswithsecretimperativesignals。Lucklessdog！butinmerehumanitywecametotherescueandremovedthecup。
　　Icannotbutsmileoverthisfunnyhousehold；yetIrememberthegoodsoulswithaffectionandrespect。Theirattentiontoourselveswassurprising。Thegarlandsaremuchesteemed，theblossomsmustbesoughtfarandwide；andthoughtheyhadmanyretainerstocalltotheiraid，weoftensawthemselvespassingafieldaftertheblossoms，andthewifeengagedwithherowninputtingthemtogether。Itwasnowantofonlythatdisregardsoincidenttohusbands，thatmadeNeiTakautidespisethesufferingsofNanTok’。Whenmywifewasunwellsheprovedadiligentandkindlynurse；andthepair，totheextremeembarrassmentofthesufferer，becamefixturesinthesick-room。Thisrugged，capable，imperiousolddame，withthewildeyes，haddeepandtenderqualities：herprideinheryounghusbanditseemedthatshedissembled，fearingpossiblytospoilhim；andwhenshespokeofherdeadsontherecamesomethingtragicinherface。ButIseemedtotraceintheGilbertinesavirilityofsenseandsentimentwhichdistinguishesthemliketheirharshanduncouthlanguagefromtheirbrotherislandersintheeast。
　　PARTIV：THEGILBERTS-APEMAMA
　　CHAPTERI-THEKINGOFAPEMAMA：THEROYALTRADER
　　THEREisonegreatpersonageintheGilberts：Tembinok’ofApemama：solelyconspicuous，theheroofsong，thebuttofgossip。
　　Throughtherestofthegroupthekingsareslainorfallenintutelage：Tembinok’aloneremains，thelasttyrant，thelasterectvestigeofadeadsociety。Thewhitemaniseverywhereelse，buildinghishouses，drinkinghisgin，gettinginandoutoftroublewiththeweaknativegovernments。ThereisonlyonewhiteonApemama，andheonsufferance，livingfarfromcourt，andhearkeningandwatchinghisconductlikeamouseinacat’sear。
　　Throughalltheotherislandsastreamofnativevisitorscomesandgoes，travellingbyfamilies，spendingyearsonthegrandtour。
　　Apemamaaloneisleftupononeside，thetouristdreadingtoriskhimselfwithintheclutchofTembinok’。AndfearofthesameGorgonfollowsandtroublesthemathome。Maianaoncepaidhimtribute；heoncefelluponandseizedNonuti：firststepstotheempireofthearchipelago。ABritishwarshipcomingonthescene，theconquerorwasdriventodisgorge，hiscareercheckedintheoutset，hisdear-boughtarmourysunkinhisownlagoon。Buttheimpressionhadbeenmade；periodicalfearofhimstillshakestheislands；rumourdepictshimmusteringhiscanoesforafreshonfall；rumourcannamehisdestination；andTembinok’figuresinthepatrioticwar-songsoftheGilbertslikeNapoleoninthoseofourgrandfathers。
　　Wewereatsea，boundfromMarikitoNonutiandTapituea，whenthewindcamesuddenlyfairforApemama。Thecoursewasatoncechanged；allhandswereturned-totocleanship，thedecksholy-
　　stoned，allthecabinwashed，thetrade-roomoverhauled。InallourcruisingweneversawtheEQUATORsosmartasshewasmadeforTembinok’。NorwasCaptainReidaloneinthesecoquetries；for，anotherschoonerchancingtoarriveduringmystayinApemama，I