_Honolulu_, 10_th_ _May_ 1889.
MY DEAR CHARLES,—I am appalled to gather from your last just to hand that
you have felt so much concern about the letter. Pray dismiss it from
your mind. But I think you scarce appreciate how disagreeable it is to
have your private affairs and private unguarded expressions getting into
print. It would soon sicken any one of writing letters. I have no doubt
that letter was very wisely selected, but it just shows how things crop
up. There was a raging jealousy between the two yachts; our captain was
nearly in a fight over it. However, no more; and whatever you think, my
dear fellow, do not suppose me angry with you or —; although I was
_annoyed at the circumstance_—a very different thing. But it is
difficult to conduct life by letter, and I continually feel I may be
drifting into some matter of offence, in which my heart takes no part.
I must now turn to a point of business. This new cruise of ours is
somewhat venturesome; and I think it needful to warn you not to be in a
hurry to suppose us dead. In these ill-charted seas, it is quite on the
cards we might be cast on some unvisited, or very rarely visited, island;
that there we might lie for a long time, even years, unheard of; and yet
turn up smiling at the hinder end. So do not let me be ‘rowpit’ till you
get some certainty we have gone to Davie Jones in a squall, or graced the
feast of some barbarian in the character of Long Pig.
I have just been a week away alone on the lee coast of Hawaii, the only
white creature in many miles, riding five and a half hours one day,
living with a native, seeing four lepers shipped off to Molokai, hearing
native causes, and giving my opinion as _amicus curiæ_ as to the
interpretation of a statute in English; a lovely week among God’s best—at
least God’s sweetest works—Polynesians. It has bettered me greatly. If
I could only stay there the time that remains, I could get my work done
and be happy; but the care of my family keeps me in vile Honolulu, where
I am always out of sorts, amidst heat and cold and cesspools and beastly
_haoles_. {152} What is a haole? You are one; and so, I am sorry to
say, am I. After so long a dose of whites, it was a blessing to get
among Polynesians again even for a week.
Well, Charles, there are waur haoles than yoursel’, I’ll say that for ye;
and trust before I sail I shall get another letter with more about
yourself.—Ever your affectionate friend