Old Samoan Days. 
1 8 1 
Another hour passed, and then there came 
a rush of excited children along the narrow, 
shady path that led into the village from the 
northward. “ Gafalua is coming,” they cried 
pantingly, “ and with him there are two officers 
from the ship — a little, dark-faced man with 
a black moustache, and a big, fat man.” 
I ran out to meet them, and in a few minutes 
was shaking hands both with Dr. T-from 
the warship, and my native friend, the chief. 
The doctor, who was in uniform, was bound for 
Apia, in company with Lieutenant D-, to 
make inquiries concerning the outbreak of sick¬ 
ness there, the commander of the corvette not 
liking to take the ship to Apia until he had 
satisfied himself that there was no risk in so 
doing. The doctor agreed to meet me in Apia 
on the following day, and, if possible, join 
Gafalua and myself in a mountain excursion 
to the other side of the island, where we were 
to remain for a couple of days at the village 
of Safata. 
Early next morning, accompanied by Gafalua, 
his son and daughter, and four or five young 
men and women carrying cooked food for the 
