■ 146 
A SITE OBTAINED. 
very liberal presents to the old men of Ritabel, 
they were at last cajoled into allowing a site 
just within the tide -mark, and close by the 
stockade, on condition that they were not to 
be troubled with the building of it ; then only, 
on the ninth day after our arrival, was our house 
commenced. During the ten days until it was 
finished we mingled much with the natives, 
who were constant onlookers, and were at last 
tempted by rewards to give some help, but 
their efforts -were very desultory. It may seem 
a light matter to land on a savage island and 
install one's self; but as I re-read my journal I 
recall vividly the vexation of the delay, and the 
constant restraint of our feelings lest we should 
irritate the natives — for our progress during our 
whole stay depended on the amicability of our 
first relations with them. It was then I first 
saw H.'s patience and tact displayed, when he 
was chafing sorely at the waste of precious time 
until he could commence the work he came 
to do. 
On the nineteenth day after our arrival we 
were settled in our dwelling. It is raised a few 
feet from the ground (for at high tide the waves 
wash right under it), and contains two apart- 
ments, — a sleeping chamber, w T hich is also writ- 
