My Native Servants. 
89 
me against engaging any strangers from Alofi as 
domestics. They did not want to damage any 
one’s reputation, but the Alofi folk were a bad 
lot. Certainly there were some who were honest 
—people who originally belonged to Avatele, 
and- 
I said I would not decide just then. I should 
wait till I had settled down a bit. At present, 
however, I added, old Lupo’s son, Moemoe, 
would cook for me. 
The deputation seemed annoyed, and Soseni 
said they were sorry for me. Lupo was a very 
good man, and although a Samoan, was an 
esteemed fellow-townsman and a deacon as 
well; also he had married a Niue woman, which 
was in his favour. But his sons were two 
notoriously improper young men (applause); 
their mother, while of spotless morals, was a 
confirmed cadger and a public wrangler and 
shrew. As for the daughters—well, I could 
look at their record any time in the fakafiiii's 
(judge’s) charge-book. 
I thanked the deputation for their goodwill, 
and said that while I would not decide hastily 
in reference to other servants, I quite intended 
keeping Moemoe as my cook. I had, I said, 
