OF THE SOUTH SEAS 455 



truth about religion and government, about war and 

 business, is justified. Their words were: 



"We picture those places to ourselves in a certain 

 manner, and for the preservation of our holy religion, 

 and the safety of society, there must not be any one 

 who can say they are otherwise." 



It was noon when Brooke and I — Tetuanui having 

 gone to instruct his gang — plunged into the sea in front 

 of the chefferie, and laughed in the joy of the sweet 

 hour. He had written lines of beauty that interpreted 

 our humor : 



Tau here, Mamua, 



Crown the hair, and come awaj ! 



Hear the calling of the moon, 



And the whispering scents that stray 



About the idle warm lagoon. 



Hasten, hand in human hand, 



Down the dark, the flowered way, 



Along the whiteness of the sand, 



And in the water's soft caress 



Wash the mind of foolishness, 



Mamua, until the day. 



Spend the glittering moonlight there, 



Pursuing down the soundless deep 



Limbs that gleam and shadowy hair; 



Or floating lazy, half-asleep. 



Dive and double and follow after. 



Snare in flowers, and kiss, and call, 



With lips that fade, and human laughter 



And faces individual ! 



Well this side of Paradise! ... 



There 's little comfort in the wise. 



