g their replies--the Natives are all
inveterate talkers! To me the day was utterly wearisome; but it had one
redeeming feature,--their rage found vent in hours of palaver, instead
of blows and blood. It ended in peace. The Heathen were amazed at the
number of Jehovah's friends; and they pledged themselves henceforth to
leave the Worship alone, and that every one who pleased might come to it
unmolested. For this, worn out and weary, we returned, praising the
Lord.

CHAPTER LXVI.
THE SINKING OF THE WELL.

BUT I must here record the story of the Sinking of the Well, which broke
the back of Heathenism on Aniwa. Being a flat coral island, with no
hills to attract the clouds, rain is scarce there as compared with the
adjoining mountainous islands; and even when it does fall heavily, with
tropical profusion, it disappears, as said before, through the light
soil and porous rock, and drains itself directly into the sea. The rainy
season is from December to April, and then the disease most
characteristic of all these regions is apt to prevail, viz., fever and
ague.

At certain seasons, the Natives drink very unwholesome water; and,
indeed, the best water they had at any time for drinking purposes was
from the precious cocoanut, a kind of Apple of Paradise for all these
Southern Isles! They also cultivate the sugar-cane very extensively, and
in great variety; and they chew it, when we would fly to water for
thirst; so it is to them both food and drink. The black fellow carries
with him to the field, when he goes off for a day's work, four or five
sticks of sugar-cane, and puts in his time comfortably enough on these.
Besides, the sea being their universal bathing-place, in which they
swattle like fish, and little water, almost none, being required for
cooking purposes, and none whatever for washing clothes, the lack of
fresh-springing water was not the dreadful trial to them that it would
be to us. Yet they appreciate and rejoice in it immensely too; though
the water of the green cocoanut is refreshing, and in appearance, taste,
and color not unlike lemonade--one nut filling a tumbler; and though
when mothers die they feed the babies on it and on the soft white pith,
and they flourish on the same, yet the Natives themselves show their
delight in preferring, when they can get it, the water from the well.

Aniwa, having therefore no permanent supply of fresh water, in spring or
stream or lake, and my own household also suff