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well there； and awaiting events。
For Bickley these soon began to happen in the shape of an
ever…increasing stream of patients。 The population of the island
was considerable； anything between five and ten thousand； so far
as we could judge； and among these of course there were a number
of sick。 Ophthalmia； for instance； was a prevalent disease； as
were the growths such as Marama had suffered from； to say nothing
of surgical cases and those resulting from accident or from
nervous ailments。 With all of these Bickley was called upon to
deal； which he did with remarkable success by help of his books
on Tropical Diseases and his ample supplies of medical
necessaries。
At first he enjoyed it very much； but when we had been
established in the house for about three weeks he remarked； after
putting in a solid ten hours of work； that for all the holiday he
was getting he might as well be back at his old practice； with
the difference that there he was earning several thousands a
year。 Just then a poor woman arrived with a baby in convulsions
to whose necessities he was obliged to sacrifice his supper；
after which came a man who had fallen from a palm tree and broken
his leg。
Nor did I escape； since having somehow or other established a
reputation for wisdom； as soon as I had mastered sufficient of
the language； every kind of knotty case was laid before me for
decision。 In short； I became a sort of Chief Justicenot an easy
office as it involved the acquirement of the native law which was
intricate and peculiar； especially in matrimonial cases。
At these oppressive activities Bastin looked on with a gloomy
eye。
〃You fellows seem very busy；〃 he said one evening； 〃but I can
find nothing to do。 They don't seem to want me； and merely to set
a good example by drinking water or tea while you swallow whisky
and their palm wine； or whatever it is； is very negative kind of
work； especially as I am getting tired of planting things in the
garden and playing policeman round the wreck which nobody goes
near。 Even Tommy is better off； for at least he can bark and hunt
rats。〃
〃You see；〃 said Bickley； 〃we are following our trades。
Arbuthnot is a lawyer and acts as a judge。 I am a surgeon and I
may add a generala very generalpractitioner and work at
medicine in an enormous and much…neglected practice。 Therefore；
you； being a clergyman； should go and do likewise。 There are some
ten thousand people here； but I do not observe that as yet you
have converted a； single one。〃
Thus spoke Bickley in a light and unguarded moment with his
usual object of what is known as 〃getting a rise〃 out of Bastin。
Little did he guess what he was doing。
Bastin thought a while ponderously； then said：
〃It is very strange from what peculiar sources Providence
sometimes sends inspirations。 If wisdom flows from babes and
sucklings； why should it not do so from the well of agnostics and
mockers？〃
〃There is no reason which I can see；〃 scoffed Bickley； 〃except
that as a rule wells do not flow。〃
〃Your jest is ill…timed and I may add foolish；〃 continued
Bastin。 〃What I was about to add was that you have given me an
idea； as it was no doubt intended that you should do。 I will；
metaphorically speaking； gird up my loins and try to bear the
light into all this heathen blackness。〃
〃Then it is one of the first you ever had； old fellow。 But
what's the need of girding up your loins in this hot climate？〃
inquired Bickley with innocence。 〃Pyjamas and that white and
green umbrella of yours would do just as well。〃
Bastin vouchsafed no reply and sat for the rest of that evening
plunged in deep thought。
On the following morning he approached Marama and asked his
leave to teach the people about the gods。 The chief readily
granted this； thinking； I believe； that he alluded to ourselves；
and orders were issued accordingly。 They were to the effect that
Bastin was to be allowed to go everywhere unmolested and to talk
to whom he would about what he would； to which all must listen
with respect。
Thus he began his missionary career in Orofena； working at it；
good and earnest man that he was； in a way that excited even the
admiration of Bickley。 He started a school for children；。 which
was held under a fine； spreading tree。 These listened well； and
being of exceedingly quick intellect soon began to pick up the
elements of knowledge。 But when he tried to persuade them to
clothe their little naked bodies his failure was complete；
although after much supplication some of the bigger girls did
arrive with a chaplet of flowers膔ound their necks！
Also he preached to the adults； and here again was very
successful in a way； especially after he became more familiar
with the language。 They listened； to a certain extent they
understood； they argued and put to poor Bastin the most awful
questions such as the whole Bench of Bishops could not have
answered。 Still he did answer them somehow； and they politely
accepted his interpretation of their theological riddles。 I
observed that he got on best when he was telling them stories out
of the Old Testament； such as the account of the creation of the
world and of human beings； also of the Deluge； etc。 Indeed one of
their elders saidYes； this was quite true。 They had heard it
all before from their fathers； and that once the Deluge had taken
place round Orofena； swallowing up great countries； but sparing
them because they were so good。
Bastin； surprised； asked them who had caused the deluge。 They
replied； Oro which was the name of their god； Oro who dwelt
yonder on the mountain in the lake； and whose representation they
worshipped in idols。 He said that God dwelt in Heaven； to which
they replied with calm certainty：
〃No； no； he dwells on the mountain in the lake；〃 which was why
they never dared to approach that mountain。
Indeed it was only by giving the name Oro to the Divinity and
admitting that He might dwell in the mountain as well as
everywhere else； that Bastin was able to make progress。 Having
conceded this； not without scruples； however； he did make
considerable progress； so much； in fact； that I perceived that
the priests of Oro were beginning to grow very jealous of him and
of his increasing authority with the people。 Bastin was naturally
triumphant； and even exclaimed exultingly that within a year he
would have half of the population baptised。
〃Within a year； my dear fellow；〃 said Bickley； 〃you will have
your throat cut as a sacrifice； and probably ours also。 It is a
pity； too； as within that time I should have stamped out
ophthalmia and some other diseases in the island。〃
Here； leaving Bastin and his good work aside for a while； I
will say a little about the country。 From information which I
gathered on some journeys that I made and by inquiries from the
chief Marama； who had become devoted to us； I found that Orofena
was quite a large place。 In shape the island was circular； a
broad band of territory surrounding the great lake of which I
have spoken； that in its turn surrounded a smaller island from
which rose the mountain top。 No other land was known to be near
the shores of Orofena； which had never been visited by anyone
except the strangers a hundred years ago or so； who were
sacrificed and eaten。 Most of the island was covered with forest
which the inhabitants lacked the energy； and indeed had no tools；
to fell。 They were an extremely lazy people and would only
cultivate enough bananas and other food to satisfy their
immediate needs。 In truth they lived mostly upon breadfruit and
other products of the wild trees。
Thus it came about that in years of scarcity through drought or
climatic causes； which prevented the forest trees from bearing；
they suffered very much from hunger。 In such years hundreds of
them would perish and the remainder resorted to the dreadful
expedient of cannibalism。 Sometimes； too； the shoals of fish
avoided their shores； reducing them to great misery。 Their only
domestic animal was the pig which roamed about half wild and in
no great numbers； for they had never taken the trouble to breed
it in captivity。 Their resources； therefore； were limited； which
accounted for the comparative smallness of the population；
further reduced as it was by a wicked habit of infanticide
practised in order to lighten the burden of bringing up children。
They had no traditions as to how they reached this land； their
belief being that they had always been there but that their
forefathers were much greater than they。 They were poetical； and
sang songs in a language which themselves they could not
understand； they said that it was the tongue their forefathers
had spoken。 Also they had several strange customs of which they
did not know the origin。 My own opinion； which Bickley shared；
was that they were in fact a shrunken and deteriorated remnant of
som