story of Miss
Large--a cast-iron teetotaller--going to the public-house for a bottle
of brandy.)

The doctors were not there when I arrived; but presently it was observed
that one of the men was going cold. He was a magnificent Samoan, very
dark, with a noble aquiline countenance, like an Arab, I suppose, and
was surrounded by seven people, fondling his limbs as he lay: he was
shot through both lungs. And an orderly was sent to the town for the
(German naval) doctors, who were dining there. Meantime I found an
errand of my own. Both Clarke and Miss Large expressed a wish to have
the public hall, of which I am chairman, and I set off down town, and
woke people out of their beds, and got a committee together, and (with a
great deal of difficulty from one man, whom we finally overwhelmed) got
the public hall for them. Bar the one man, the committee was splendid,
and agreed in a moment to share the expense if the shareholders object.
Back to the hospital about 11.30; found the German doctors there. Two
men were going now, one that was shot in the bowels--he was dying rather
hard, in a gloomy stupor of pain and laudanum, silent, with contorted
face. The chief, shot through the lungs, was lying on one side, awaiting
the last angel; his family held his hands and legs: they were all
speechless, only one woman suddenly clasped his knee, and "keened" for
the inside of five seconds, and fell silent again. Went home, and to bed
about two A.M. What actually passed seems undiscoverable; but the
Mataafas were surely driven back out of Vaitele; that is a blow to them,
and the resistance was far greater than had been anticipated--which is a
blow to the Laupepas. All seems to indicate a long and bloody war.

Frank's house in Mulinuu was likewise filled with wounded; many dead
bodies were brought in; I hear with certainty of five, wrapped in mats;
and a pastor goes to-morrow to the field to bring others. The Laupepas
brought in eleven heads to Mulinuu, and to the great horror and
consternation of the native mind, one proved to be a girl, and was
identified as that of a Taupou--or Maid of the Village--from Savaii. I
hear this morning, with great relief, that it has been returned to
Malie, wrapped in the most costly silk handkerchiefs, and with an
apologetic embassy. This could easily happen. The girl was of course
attending on her father with ammunition, and got shot; her hair was cut
short to make her father's war head-dress--even as ou