Lost in the Bush, A KEW ZEALANDER'S ADVENTURE IN SAMOA.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 21, 19 July 1900, Page 3

Lost in the Bush, A KEW ZEALANDER'S ADVENTURE IN SAMOA.

(Conclusion.)

Starting down again at 3.15, I decided to xnako for the coast and reach a aii^ion station six miles or co from my present home. I know nay woik was out out to get there before rlaik, as I reckoned I was six miles from the mission station. D&rknsss oomos on here almost nnmcdiataly the - sun sots, and tli«a I should have | nothing to steer by, so it meant walk- i ing ill I knew how. Reaching the i bottom I spied a coeoanut palui, a gigantic one, about 80ft high. I had | three tries to chmb it, but no, I could not get up. I tried tha Samoan trick of t\ing the feet and walking up as the n&tivos do, but, of course, wifchoxit; success, .and I had to start ioff again disappointed. How I longad for a dunk from one of those cool-looking nuts 1 Well, I struck off through the forest again. Ik was getting on for five o'clock now, and the Bun sinking in tho \Test. Pushing on raj way for all I was worth, to my great joy I came suddenly on a beaten track, but oh, for a drink ! At six o'clock it ww dflxk, but I had reached ft banana plantation. Tha bananas were all green and unfit to cat, still I knew j that vary soon I Bhould oonie to eonae cocoanufc trees, and then 1 The first respectably small one (about 40ft) I manogfld to climb, dead boat as I vr&3 and pulled off three big nuts. Every muscle in my body was trembUng with the long strain, I fait my strength going, but had tho presence of mind to grasp both hands together with my arms around tha trunk of tho tree and jmsb fclid down, I lay on the ground unable to move for cramp ; my hands were pretty much burnt and skinned sliding down tho tree. After a while I found two ef tha nuts and managed to get the husks off. They wero quite green, so I cut. a ,hble in tho shells with my pockeVknife and drank the milk of both^in all about three pints. I now fate much better and ats tha whiio of tho nuts. That was the J only food I had eaten since sov&n a.m. | I utirtad off again following ilia track ; as well us I oould in the darkness. By the parfect waj in which the plantations wera kept J know I was near a mission station. With what joy I heard the sound of ft native wooden bell, and knew that^at last I had -rsachosl a village. I soon cams to tho boundai'j fenca, and a faw minutes r/alk brought me to tho first fall. "Talofft" oiuno the welcome sound from tho rerandah. This word iB the Samoan greeting, and means "My love to you." '• Talofa," I replied and then camo the trouble. I did nob know enough Sainonn to conversa, but had enough to convey that fact to the natiYee, and managed to make them understand I wished to get to the •nissionary's house and one of them took ma there. I had kept the diroction so well that I was them only a quarter of a mile below tha mission station. This was pretty good, coni pidering I had never been in the I mountain or bush in that locality i before. Giving nia a good nighfc greeting, thd kindly old Samoan left mi at th.j missionary's door. I« was now sevan o'clock. I knocked, and heard tho missionary exeiaim, "Halloa, who's this knocking I" Then ho came out. I had just had enough, and was jeady to drop. I coiald not stand steady or walk. My tongue was cleaving to my mouth, so parched and dry I felt. My clothes were wet through, with perspiration, and I was beginning to feel Gold. So wet r/ere my clothes that I could wring the water out of my shirs. I believe the missionary and his family for the moment thought I was drunk, but it only needed tha word that I had been lost in tbe bush to explain all. Tho missionary took me to the bathroom and helped to fix me up, brought me saltzer and lemon to drink, and lent me a fresh rig out. And then the tea ! I never ate so heartily in my lifo. I wa*v ungry. I told iay friends the experiences of the day. Nothing could exceed their sympathy and kindness. I omitted to mention that when I got into the tha^bath, I felt a8 if I had every bit of skin oft. To tell" the truth I was oither bruised or skinless ia pretty well ev«ry part of ray body. They would not let ru* think of going home that night, no I slept at the station, and rode home next morning on the missionary's horse. Of course, I waa chaffed about the way Lspem Sunday, exploring, etc. Mr L arrived homo a few minutes before I did, and Tfaß glad to sec me I can tell you. He said his wife had worried a good deal about mft, but he told hsr I would be alright as a New Zealand boy would know enough about thebtishf to make for the tea. He toldriftemy: boy Uelesi. as soon as he thought I "was

lost made tracks afij^f me, buVbglng a Gilbeit Iwland native and not a Sturtoan - he got losi too, and Ropati, the other boy wo had on tho mountain, went after him, and found him. Uelasi had followed m© right into the hollow where' ll went as.ii ay, and aftar that could not find any trace of me and was unable to find his way baok again. Next day I happened to go to my room, while Uelesi was cleaning h out. Ho said something ia Saaioan to me. '•What doe 3 that mean, Uel6si?" I asked. A puzzled look came over his faco. "Aw, ow, wo lovea you, yest'day, master." Poor Ujlesi, he wa in an awful stats about me. Ha wp.3 sura I would be eaten by th© cannibals. Tbsss ara " black boys " or Solomon Islanders, who have run tiway fruin the German plantations, and havo taken to the bysh. Theie are some rather nasty talos about these fellows. Some were caught a few years ago and hanged. There woro indications that they had probably rssortad to cannibalism. Uelesi said ho would havo felt " not bo much fright, if you take gun." During the whole time I was out, I nerer forget in Whoso proteotion I was, and afc least twice, when in extreme ne«d, had remarkable answers to prayer. How- ' dT«r, it i8 all over now, and I have had an experience I would nok sell and would not willingly go through again for any earthly good.