My Native Servants. 
91 
“ only some man and womans, sir, from Alofi. 
They wanted to come inside and talk to you 
about getting some servants from their town. 
And this made the Avatele people cross ; yes, 
sir, very cross. So they threw some stone at 
them.” (I must mention that Lupo always 
spoke English to white men, and to address 
him in the native tongue was a sore affront.) 
“ Oh, I see. Well, I’m very hungry ; is my 
supper ready ? And, I say, Lupo, don’t let any 
more people in to-day to talk about servants.” 
“All right, sir,” he replied somewhat uneasily. 
I heaved a contented sigh as I mounted the 
verandah steps, for the day had been one of 
toil, and I was eager to rest a little before 
supper. My little daughter was already asleep 
in a fellow trader’s house near by, worn out 
with the excitement of her novel surroundings. 
I stepped into the big sitting-room of my new 
abode, and there, sitting on the floor in solemn 
silence with their backs to the wall, were about 
fifty women. They all smiled pleasantly at me 
as I entered, and then all began to talk at once : 
each one wanted to be nurse to the tama-fafine- 
toatsi (little girl). 
“ Here, I say, Lupo, clear all these women 
