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set them digging； then turned my attention to the path。 I
could not go into my bush path for two reasons： 1st； sore
hands； 2nd； had on my trousers and good shoes。 Lucky it was。
Right in the wild lime hedge which cuts athwart us just
homeward of the garden； I found a great bed of kuikui …
sensitive plant … our deadliest enemy。 A fool brought it to
this island in a pot； and used to lecture and sentimentalise
over the tender thing。 The tender thing has now taken charge
of this island； and men fight it； with torn hands； for bread
and life。 A singular； insidious thing； shrinking and biting
like a weasel； clutching by its roots as a limpet clutches to
a rock。 As I fought him； I bettered some verses in my poem；
the WOODMAN； the only thought I gave to letters。 Though the
kuikui was thick； there was but a small patch of it； and when
I was done I attacked the wild lime； and had a hand…to…hand
skirmish with its spines and elastic suckers。 All this time；
close by； in the cleared space of the garden； Lafaele and
Mauga were digging。 Suddenly quoth Lafaele； 'Somebody he
sing out。' … 'Somebody he sing out？ All right。 I go。' And
I went and found they had been whistling and 'singing out'
for long； but the fold of the hill and the uncleared bush
shuts in the garden so that no one heard； and I was late for
dinner； and Fanny's headache was cross； and when the meal was
over； we had to cut up a pineapple which was going bad； to
make jelly of； and the next time you have a handful of broken
blood…blisters； apply pine…apple juice； and you will give me
news of it； and I request a specimen of your hand of write
five minutes after … the historic moment when I tackled this
history。 My day so far。
Fanny was to have rested。 Blessed Paul began making a duck…
house； she let him be； the duck…house fell down； and she had
to set her hand to it。 He was then to make a drinking…place
for the pigs； she let him be again … he made a stair by which
the pigs will probably escape this evening； and she was near
weeping。 Impossible to blame the indefatigable fellow；
energy is too rare and goodwill too noble a thing to
discourage； but it's trying when she wants a rest。 Then she
had to cook the dinner； then； of course … like a fool and a
woman … must wait dinner for me； and make a flurry of
herself。 Her day so far。 CETERA ADHUC DESUNT。
FRIDAY … I THINK。
I have been too tired to add to this chronicle； which will at
any rate give you some guess of our employment。 All goes
well； the kuikui … （think of this mispronunciation having
actually infected me to the extent of misspelling！ tuitui is
the word by rights） … the tuitui is all out of the paddock …
a fenced park between the house and boundary； Peni's men
start to…day on the road； the garden is part burned； part
dug； and Henry； at the head of a troop of underpaid
assistants； is hard at work clearing。 The part clearing you
will see from the map； from the house run down to the stream
side； up the stream nearly as high as the garden； then back
to the star which I have just added to the map。
My long； silent contests in the forest have had a strange
effect on me。 The unconcealed vitality of these vegetables；
their exuberant number and strength； the attempts … I can use
no other word … of lianas to enwrap and capture the intruder；
the awful silence； the knowledge that all my efforts are only
like the performance of an actor； the thing of a moment； and
the wood will silently and swiftly heal them up with fresh
effervescence； the cunning sense of the tuitui； suffering
itself to be touched with wind…swayed grasses and not minding
… but let the grass be moved by a man； and it shuts up； the
whole silent battle； murder； and slow death of the contending
forest； weigh upon the imagination。 My poem the WOODMAN
stands； but I have taken refuge in a new story； which just
shot through me like a bullet in one of my moments of awe；
alone in that tragic jungle：…
THE HIGH WOODS OF ULUFANUA。
1。 A South Sea Bridal。
2。 Under the Ban。
3。 Savao and Faavao。
4。 Cries in the High Wood。
5。 Rumour full of Tongues。
6。 The Hour of Peril。
7。 The Day of Vengeance。
It is very strange； very extravagant； I daresay； but it's
varied； and picturesque； and has a pretty love affair； and
ends well。 Ulufanua is a lovely Samoan word； ulu=grove；
fanua=land； grove…land … 'the tops of the high trees。'
Savao； 'sacred to the wood；' and Faavao； 'wood…ways；' are the
names of two of the characters； Ulufanua the name of the
supposed island。
I am very tired； and rest off to…day from all but letters。
Fanny is quite done up； she could not sleep last night；
something it seemed like asthma … I trust not。 I suppose
Lloyd will be about； so you can give him the benefit of this
long scrawl。 Never say that I CAN'T write a letter； say that
I don't。 … Yours ever； my dearest fellow；
R。 L。 S。
LATER ON FRIDAY。
The guid wife had bread to bake； and she baked it in a pan；
O！ But between whiles she was down with me weeding sensitive
in the paddock。 The men have but now passed over it； I was
round in that very place to see the weeding was done
thoroughly； and already the reptile springs behind our heels。
Tuitui is a truly strange beast； and gives food for thought。
I am nearly sure … I cannot yet be quite； I mean to
experiment； when I am less on the hot chase of the beast …
that； even at the instant he shrivels up his leaves； he
strikes his prickles downward so as to catch the uprooting
finger； instinctive； say the gabies； but so is man's impulse
to strike out。 One thing that takes and holds me is to see
the strange variation in the propagation of alarm among these
rooted beasts； at times it spreads to a radius （I speak by
the guess of the eye） of five or six inches； at times only
one individual plant appears frightened at a time。 We tried
how long it took one to recover； 'tis a sanguine creature； it
is all abroad again before （I guess again） two minutes。 It
is odd how difficult in this world it is to be armed。 The
double armour of this plant betrays it。 In a thick tuft；
where the leaves disappear； I thrust in my hand； and the bite
of the thorns betrays the topmost stem。 In the open again；
and when I hesitate if it be clover； a touch on the leaves；
and its fine sense and retractile action betrays its identity
at once。 Yet it has one gift incomparable。 Rome had virtue
and knowledge； Rome perished。 The sensitive plant has
indigestible seeds … so they say … and it will flourish for
ever。 I give my advice thus to a young plant … have a strong
root； a weak stem； and an indigestible seed； so you will
outlast the eternal city； and your progeny will clothe
mountains； and the irascible planter will blaspheme in vain。
The weak point of tuitui is that its stem is strong。
SUPPLEMENTARY PAGE。
Here beginneth the third lesson； which is not from the
planter but from a less estimable character； the writer of
books。
I want you to understand about this South Sea Book。 The job
is immense； I stagger under material。 I have seen the first
big TACHE。 It was necessary to see the smaller ones； the
letters were at my hand for the purpose； but I was not going
to lose this experience； and； instead of writing mere
letters； have poured out a lot of stuff for the book。 How
this works and fits； time is to show。 But I believe； in
time； I shall get the whole thing in form。 Now； up to date；
that is all my design； and I beg to warn you till we have the
whole （or much） of the stuff together； you can hardly judge …
and I can hardly judge。 Such a mass of stuff is to be
handled； if possible without repetition … so much foreign
matter to be introduced … if possible with perspicuity … and；
as much as can be； a spirit of narrative to be preserved。
You will find that come stronger as I proceed； and get the
explanations worked through。 Problems of style are （as yet）
dirt under my feet； my problem is architectural； creative …
to get this stuff jointed and moving。 If I can do that； I
will trouble you for style； anybody might write it； and it
would be splendid； well…engineered； the masses right； the
blooming thing travelling … twig？
This I wanted you to understand； for lots of the stuff sent
home is； I imagine； rot … and slovenly rot … and some of it
pompous rot； and I want you to understand it's a LAY…IN。
Soon； if the tide of poeshie continues； I'll send you a whole
lot to damn。 You never said thank…you for the handsome
tribute addressed to you from Apemama； such is the gratitude
of the world to the God…sent poick。 Well； well：… 'Vex not
thou the poick's mind； With thy coriaceous ingratitude； The
P。 will be to your faults more t