3 °° 
Wild Life in Southern Seas. 
one to eat it for him. If they are cross, they 
will tell him that gluttony is the curse of all 
white men, and suggest that if he cannot find 
time to attend to his business he had better 
give up trading altogether. 
So the day goes on, till darkness brings an 
end to the noise and work, and the wearied 
white man, with hands and face smothered in 
greasy copra dust, goes back to his dwelling- 
room for a prefunctory wash and to eat a 
hurried meal. He has given out, say, five 
hundred I.O.U.’s, ranging in value from 50c. 
to 20 dol. each, and many of the holders of these 
are people from distant villages who must be 
paid that night, as they want to get back. 
So, lighting some lamps, he opens the store 
again. Already there is a swarm of people 
waiting. The first I.O.U. is handed in by a 
v/oman. He looks at it—400 lb. at 2c. per lb. 
—8 dol. 
“ What do you want for this ? ” he asks. 
“ Six fathoms of ie vala vala (muslin).” 
“ Yes ; go on,” and he ticks off 1 dol. 50c. 
“ Salu piko (a poll comb).” 
“ Yes,” and he marks down 25c. 
“ Fagu Maskala (a bottle of musk).” 
