182 
Wild Life in Southern Seas. 
journey to Safata, I set out for Apia—a three 
hours’ walk. Inquiring for the doctor at the 
American Consulate, I found a note for me 
saying that he and Lieutenant D-had re¬ 
turned to the ship to report that Apia was too 
unhealthy just then for her to make a stay at ; 
also that he would apply for a few days’ leave, 
and expected to return in the evening. Leaving 
Gafalua and his followers at the native village 
of Matautu, I returned to my own ship, and 
gathered together a few extra traps for the 
journey. As I was pulled ashore the boat 
had to pass under the stern of a large Sydney 
trading brig, whose captain hailed me, and asked 
me to come aboard. With him were his wife 
and daughter, who were making a visit to Samoa 
after an absence of some years, and, curiously 
enough, that very morning they had been dis¬ 
cussing means of going to Safata to spend a few 
days there with the resident missionary, who 
was an old friend. To sail round in a cutter 
would mean at least a two days’ voyage and 
a vast amount of discomfort. 
“Why not come with us?” I suggested. 
“We can leave this evening, sleep at Magiagi ” 
(a village a few miles from Apia), “ start early 
