TheambassadorwhoaccompaniedusonourreturntoButaritarifoundhimretiredtoasmallislandonthereef，inahuffwiththeOldMen，atiffwiththetraders，andmorefearofinsurrectionathomethanappetiteforwarsabroad。Theplenipotentiaryhadbeenplacedundermyprotection；andwesolemnlysalutedwhenwemet。Heprovedanexcellentfisherman，andcaughtbonitoovertheship’sside。Hepulledagoodoar，andmadehimselfusefulforawholefieryafternoon，towingthebecalmedEQUATORoffMariki。Hewenttohispostanddidnogood。Hereturnedhomeagain，havingdonenoharm。OSISICOMNES！
　　CHAPTERVI-THEKINGOFAPEMAMA：DEVIL-WORK
　　THEoceanbeachofApemamawasourdailyresort。Thecoastisbrokenbyshallowbays。Thereefisdetached，elevated，andincludesalagoonaboutknee-deep，theunrestfulspending-basinofthesurf。Thebeachisnowoffinesand，nowofbrokencoral。Thetrendofthecoastbeingconvex，scarceaquarterofamileofitistobeseenatonce；thelandbeingsolow，thehorizonappearswithinastone-cast；andthenarrowprospectenhancesthesenseofprivacy。Manavoidstheplace-evenhisfootprintsareuncommon；
　　butagreatnumberofbirdshoverandpipetherefishing，andleavecrookedtracksuponthesand。Apartfromthese，theonlysoundandIwasgoingtosaytheonlysociety，isthatofthebreakersonthereef。
　　Oneachprojectionofthecoast，thebankofcoralclinkersimmediatelyabovethebeachhasbeenlevelled，andapillarbuilt，perhapsbreast-high。Thesearenotsepulchral；allthedeadbeingburiedontheinhabitedsideoftheisland，closetomen’shouses，andwhatisworsetotheirwells。Iwastoldtheyweretoprotecttheisleagainstinroadsfromthesea-divineordiabolicalmartellos，probablysacredtoTaburik，GodofThunder。
　　ThebayimmediatelyoppositeEquatorTown，whichwecalledFuBay，inhonourofourcook，wasthusfortifiedoneitherhorn。Itwaswellshelteredbythereef，theenclosedwaterclearandtranquil，theenclosingbeachcurvedlikeahorseshoe，andbothsteepandbroad。Thepathdebouchedaboutthemidstofthere-entrantangle，thewoodsstoppingsomedistanceinland。Infront，betweenthefringeofthewoodandthecrownofthebeach，therehadbeendesignedaregularfigure，likethecourtforsomenewvarietyoftennis，withbordersofroundstonesimbedded，andpointedattheangleswithlowposts，likewiseofstone。Thiswastheking’sPrayPlace。Whenheprayed，whatheprayedfor，andtowhomheaddressedhissupplicationsIcouldneverlearn。Thegroundwastapu。
　　Intheangle，bythemouthofthepath，stoodadesertedmaniap’。
　　Nearbytherehadbeenahousebeforeourcoming，whichwasnowtransportedandfiguredforthemomentinEquatorTown。Ithadbeen，anditwouldbeagainwhenwedeparted，theresidenceoftheguardianandwizardofthespot-Tamaiti。Here，inthisloneplace，withinsoundofthesea，hehadhisdwellinganduncannyduties。Icannotcalltomindanothercaseofamanlivingontheoceansideofanyopenatoll；andTamaitimusthavehadstrongnerves，thegreaterconfidenceinhisownspells，or，whatI
　　believetobethetruth，anenviablescepticism。WhetherTamaitihadanyguardianshipofthePrayPlaceIneverheard。Buthisownparticularchapelstoodfartherbackinthefringeofthewood。Itwasatreeofrespectablegrowth。AroundittherewasdrawnacircleofstoneslikethosethatenclosedthePrayPlace；infront，facingtowardsthesea，astoneofamuchgreatersize，andsomewhathollowed，likeapiscina，stoodcloseagainstthetrunk；
　　infrontofthatagainaconicalpileofgravel。InthehollowofwhatIhavecalledthepiscinathoughitprovedtobeamagicseatlayanofferingofgreencocoa-nuts；andwhenyoulookedupyoufoundtheboughsofthetreetobeladenwithstrangefruit：
　　palm-brancheselaboratelyplaited，andbeautifulmodelsofcanoes，finishedandriggedtotheleastdetail。Thewholehadtheappearanceofamid-summerandsylvanChristmas-treeALFRESCO。
　　YetwewerealreadywellenoughacquaintedintheGilbertstorecogniseit，atthefirstsight，forapieceofwizardry，or，astheysayinthegroup，ofDevil-work。
　　Theplaitedpalmswerewhatwerecognised。WehadseenthembeforeonApaiang，themostchristianisedofalltheseislands；whereexcellentMr。Binghamlivedandlabouredandhasleftgoldenmemories；whencealltheeducationinthenorthernGilbertstracesitsdescent；andwherewewereboardedbylittlenativeSunday-
　　schoolmissesincleanfrocks，withdemurefaces，andsinginghymnsastothemannerborn。
　　OurexperienceofDevil-workatApaianghadbeenasfollows：-ItchancedwewerebenightedatthehouseofCaptainTierney。MywifeandIlodgedwithaChinamansomehalfamileaway；andthitherCaptainReidandanativeboyescortedusbytorch-light。Onthewaythetorchwentout，andwetookshelterinasmallandlonelyChristianchapeltorekindleit。Stuckintheraftersofthechapelwasabranchofknottedpalm。’Whatisthat?’Iasked。’O，that’sDevil-work，’saidtheCaptain。’AndwhatisDevil-work?’I
　　inquired。’Ifyoulike，I’llshowyousomewhenwegettoJohnnie’s，’hereplied。’Johnnie’s’wasaquaintlittlehouseuponthecrestofthebeach，raisedsomethreefeetonposts，approachedbystairs；partwalled，parttrellised。Trophiesofadvertisement-
　　photographswerehungupwithinfordecoration。Therewasatableandarecess-bed，inwhichMrs。Stevensonslept；whileIcampedonthemattedfloorwithJohnnie，Mrs。Johnnie，hersister，andthedevil’sownregimentofcockroaches。Hitherwassummonedanoldwitch，wholookedtheparttohorror。Thelampwassetonthefloor；thecronesquattedonthethreshold，agreenpalm-branchinherhand，thelightstrikingfullonheragedfeaturesandpickingoutbehindher，fromtheblacknight，timorousfacesofspectators。
　　Oursorceressbeganwithachantedincantation；itwasintheoldtongue，forwhichIhadnointerpreter；buteverandagainthereranamongthecrowdoutsidethatlaughwhicheverytravellerintheislandslearnssosoontorecognise，-thelaughofterror。
　　Doubtlessthesehalf-Christianfolkwereshocked，thesehalf-
　　heathenfolkalarmed。ChenchorTaburikthusinvoked，weputourquestions；thewitchknottedtheleaves，herealeafandtherealeaf，plainlyonsomearithmeticalsystem；studiedtheresultwithgreatapparentcontentionofmind；andgavetheanswers。SidneyColvinwasinrobusthealthandgoneajourney；andweshouldhaveafairwinduponthemorrow：thatwastheresultofourconsultation，forwhichwepaidadollar。Thenextdaydawnedcloudlessandbreathless；butIthinkCaptainReidplacedasecretrelianceonthesibyl，fortheschoonerwasgotreadyforsea。Byeightthelagoonwasflawedwithlongcat’s-paws，andthepalmstossedandrustled；beforetenwewereclearofthepassageandskimmingunderallplainsail，withbubblingscuppers。Sowehadthebreeze，whichwaswellworthadollarinitself；butthebulletinaboutmyfriendinEnglandproved，somesixmonthslater，whenIgotmymail，tohavebeengroundless。PerhapsLondonliesbeyondthehorizonoftheislandgods。
　　Tembinok’，inhisfirstdealings，showedhimselfsternlyaversefromsuperstition：andhadnottheEQUATORdelayed，wemighthavelefttheislandandstillsupposedhimanagnostic。Itchancedoneday，however，thathecametoourmaniap’，andfoundMrs。Stevensoninthemidstofagameofpatience。Sheexplainedthegameaswellasshewasable，andwoundupjocularlybytellinghimthiswasherdevil-work，andifshewon，theEQUATORwouldarrivenextday。
　　Tembinok’musthavedrawnalongbreath；wewerenotsohigh-and-
　　dryafterall；heneednolongerdissemble，andheplungedatonceintoconfessions。Hemadedevil-workeveryday，hetoldus，toknowifshipswerecomingin；andthereafterbroughtusregularreportsoftheresults。Itwassurprisinghowregularlyhewaswrong；buthealwayshadanexplanationready。Therehadbeensomeschoonerintheoffingoutofview；buteithershewasnotboundforApemama，orhadchangedhercourse，orlaybecalmed。Iusedtoregardthekingwithvenerationashethuspubliclydeceivedhimself。IsawbehindhimallthefathersoftheChurch，allthephilosophersandmenofscienceofthepast；beforehim，allthosethataretocome；himselfinthemidst；thewholevisionaryseriesbowedoverthesametaskofweldingincongruities。TotheendTembinok’spokereluctantlyoftheislandgodsandtheirworship，andIlearnedbutlittle。Taburikisthegodofthunder，anddealsinwindandweather。Awhilesincetherewerewizardswhocouldcallhimdownintheformoflightning。’Mypathahetellmehesee：youthinkhelie?’Tienti-pronouncedsomethinglike’Chench，’andidentifiedbyhismajestywiththedevil-sendsandremovesbodilysickness。HeiswhistledforinthePaumotuanmanner，andissaidtoappear；butthekinghasneverseenhim。
　　ThedoctorstreatdiseasebytheaidofChench：eclecticTembinok’
　　atthesametimeadministering’pain-killer’fromhismedicine-
　　chest，soastogivethesuffererbothchances。’Ithinkmo’
　　betta，’observedhismajesty，withmorethanhisusualself-
　　approval。Apparentlythegodsarenotjealous，andplacidlyenjoybothshrineandpriestincommon。OnTamaiti’smedicine-tree，forinstance，themodelcanoesarehungupEXVOTOforaprosperousvoyage，andmustthereforebededicatedtoTaburik，godoftheweather；butthestoneinfrontistheplaceofsickfolkcometopacifyChench。
　　Itchanced，bygreatgoodluck，thatevenaswespokeoftheseaffairs，Ifoundmyselfthreatenedwithacold。IdonotsupposeI
　　wasevergladofacoldbefore，orshalleverbeagain；buttheopportunitytoseethesorcerersatworkwaspriceless，andI
　　calledinthefacultyofApemama。Theycameinabody，allintheirSunday’sbestandhungwithwreathsandshells，theinsigniaofthedevil-worker。TamaitiIknewalready：Terutak’Isawforthefirsttime-atall，lank，raw-boned，seriousNorth-Seafishermanturnedbrown；andtherewasathirdintheircompanywhosenameIneverheard，andwhoplayedtoTamaitithepartofFAMULUS。Tamaititookmeinhandfirst，andledme，conversingagreeably，totheshoresofFuBay。TheFAMULUSclimbedatreeforsomegreencocoa-nuts。Tamaitihimselfdisappearedawhileinthebushandreturnedwithcocotinder，dryleaves，andasprayofwaxberry。Iwasplacedonthestone，withmybacktothetreeandmyfacetowindward；betweenmeandthegravel-heaponeofthegreennutswasset；andthenTamaitihavingpreviouslybaredhisfeet，forhehadcomeincanvasshoes，whichtorturedhimjoinedmewithinthemagiccircle，hollowedoutthetopofthegravel-
　　heap，builthisfireinthebottom，andappliedamatch：itwasoneofBryantandMay’s。Theflamewasslowtocatch，andtheirreverentsorcererfilledinthetimewithtalkofforeignplaces-ofLondon，and’companies，’andhowmuchmoneytheyhad；ofSanFrancisco，andthenefariousfogs，’allthesamesmoke，’whichhadbeensonearlytheoccasionofhisdeath。Itriedvainlytoleadhimtothematterinhand。’Everybodymakemedicine，’hesaidlightly。AndwhenIaskedhimifhewerehimselfagoodpractitioner-’Nosavvy，’hereplied，morelightlystill。Atlengththeleavesburstinaflame，whichhecontinuedtofeed；athick，lightsmokeblewinmyface，andtheflamesstreamedagainstandscorchedmyclothes。Heinthemeanwhileaddressed，oraffectedtoaddress，theevilspirit，hislipsmovingfast，butwithoutsound；atthesametimehewavedintheairandtwicestruckmeonthebreastwithhisgreenspray。Sosoonastheleaveswereconsumedtheasheswereburied，thegreenspraywasimbeddedinthegravel，andtheceremonywasatanend。
　　AreaderoftheARABIANNIGHTSfeltquiteathome。Herewasthesuffumigation；herewasthemutteringwizard；herewasthedesertplacetowhichAladdinwasdecoyedbythefalseuncle。Buttheymanagethesethingsbetterinfiction。Theeffectwasmarredbythelevityofthemagician，entertaininghispatientwithsmalltalklikeanaffabledentist，andbytheincongruouspresenceofMr。Osbournewithacamera。Asformycold，itwasneitherbetternorworse。
　　IwasnowhandedovertoTerutak’，theleadingpractitionerormedicalbaronetofApemama。Hisplaceisonthelagoonsideoftheisland，hardbythepalace。Arailoflightwood，sometwofeethigh，enclosesanoblongpieceofgravelliketheking’sPrayPlace；inthemidstisagreentree；below，astonetablebearsapairofboxescoveredwithafinemat；andinfrontoftheseanofferingoffood，acocoa-nut，apieceoftaroorafish，isplaceddaily。Ontwosidestheenclosureislinedwithmaniap’s；andoneofourparty，whohadbeentheretosketch，hadremarkedadailyconcourseofpeopleandanextraordinarynumberofsickchildren；
　　forthisisinfacttheinfirmaryofApemama。Thedoctorandmyselfenteredthesacredplacealone；theboxesandthematweredisplaced；andIwasenthronedintheirsteaduponthestone，facingoncemoretotheeast。Forawhilethesorcererremainedunseenbehindme，makingpassesintheairwithabranchofpalm。