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experimental designs upon the furniture； was but the common
inheritance of human youth。 But you may perhaps like to know that
the lean flushed man in bed； who interested you so little； was in a
state of mind extremely mingled and unpleasant： harassed with work
which he thought he was not doing well； troubled with difficulties
to which you will in time succeed； and yet looking forward to no
less a matter than a voyage to the South Seas and the visitation of
savage and desert islands。 …Your father's friend；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO HENRY JAMES
MANASQUAN （AHEM！）； NEW JERSEY； MAY 28TH； 1888。
MY DEAR JAMES； … With what a torrent it has come at last！ Up to
now； what I like best is the first number of a LONDON LIFE。 You
have never done anything better； and I don't know if perhaps you
have ever done anything so good as the girl's outburst： tip…top。
I have been preaching your later works in your native land。 I had
to present the Beltraffio volume to Low； and it has brought him to
his knees； he was AMAZED at the first part of Georgina's Reasons；
although （like me） not so well satisfied with Part II。 It is
annoying to find the American public as stupid as the English； but
they will waken up in time： I wonder what they will think of TWO
NATIONS？ 。 。
This； dear James； is a valedictory。 On June 15th the schooner
yacht CASCO will （weather and a jealous providence permitting）
steam through the Golden Gates for Honolulu； Tahiti； the Galapagos；
Guayaquil； and … I hope NOT the bottom of the Pacific。 It will
contain your obedient 'umble servant and party。 It seems too good
to be true； and is a very good way of getting through the green…
sickness of maturity which； with all its accompanying ills； is now
declaring itself in my mind and life。 They tell me it is not so
severe as that of youth； if I （and the CASCO） are spared； I shall
tell you more exactly； as I am one of the few people in the world
who do not forget their own lives。
Good…bye； then； my dear fellow； and please write us a word； we
expect to have three mails in the next two months： Honolulu；
Tahiti； and Guayaquil。 But letters will be forwarded from
Scribner's； if you hear nothing more definite directly。 In 3
（three） days I leave for San Francisco。 … Ever yours most
cordially；
R。 L。 S。
CHAPTER X … PACIFIC VOYAGES； JUNE 1888…NOVEMBER 1890
TO SIDNEY COLVIN
YACHT 'CASCO；' ANAHO BAY； NUKAHIVA； MARQUESAS ISLANDS ＇JULY 1888＇。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … From this somewhat （ahem） out of the way place； I
write to say how d'ye do。 It is all a swindle： I chose these
isles as having the most beastly population； and they are far
better； and far more civilised than we。 I know one old chief Ko…o…
amua； a great cannibal in his day； who ate his enemies even as he
walked home from killing 'em； and he is a perfect gentleman and
exceedingly amiable and simple…minded： no fool； though。
The climate is delightful； and the harbour where we lie one of the
loveliest spots imaginable。 Yesterday evening we had near a score
natives on board； lovely parties。 We have a native god； very rare
now。 Very rare and equally absurd to view。
This sort of work is not favourable to correspondence： it takes me
all the little strength I have to go about and see； and then come
home and note； the strangeness around us。 I shouldn't wonder if
there came trouble here some day； all the same。 I could name a
nation that is not beloved in certain islands … and it does not
know it！ Strange： like ourselves； perhaps； in India！ Love to all
and much to yourself。
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO CHARLES BAXTER
YACHT 'CASCO；' AT SEA； NEAR THE PAUMOTUS； 7 A。M。； SEPTEMBER 6TH；
1888； WITH A DREADFUL PEN。
MY DEAR CHARLES； … Last night as I lay under my blanket in the
cockpit； courting sleep； I had a comic seizure。 There was nothing
visible but the southern stars； and the steersman there out by the
binnacle lamp； we were all looking forward to a most deplorable
landfall on the morrow； praying God we should fetch a tuft of palms
which are to indicate the Dangerous Archipelago； the night was as
warm as milk； and all of a sudden I had a vision of … Drummond
Street。 It came on me like a flash of lightning： I simply
returned thither； and into the past。 And when I remember all I
hoped and feared as I pickled about Rutherford's in the rain and
the east wind； how I feared I should make a mere shipwreck； and yet
timidly hoped not； how I feared I should never have a friend； far
less a wife； and yet passionately hoped I might； how I hoped （if I
did not take to drink） I should possibly write one little book；
etc。 etc。 And then now … what a change！ I feel somehow as if I
should like the incident set upon a brass plate at the corner of
that dreary thoroughfare for all students to read； poor devils；
when their hearts are down。 And I felt I must write one word to
you。 Excuse me if I write little： when I am at sea； it gives me a
headache； when I am in port； I have my diary crying 'Give； give。'
I shall have a fine book of travels； I feel sure； and will tell you
more of the South Seas after very few months than any other writer
has done … except Herman Melville perhaps； who is a howling cheese。
Good luck to you； God bless you。 … Your affectionate friend；
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO SIDNEY COLVIN
FAKARAVA； LOW ARCHIPELAGO； SEPTEMBER 21ST； 1888。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … Only a word。 Get out your big atlas； and imagine
a straight line from San Francisco to Anaho； the N。E。 corner of
Nukahiva； one of the Marquesas Islands； imagine three weeks there：
imagine a day's sail on August 12th round the eastern end of the
island to Tai…o…hae； the capital； imagine us there till August
22nd： imagine us skirt the east side of Ua…pu … perhaps Rona…Poa
on your atlas … and through the Bondelais straits to Taaka…uku in
Hiva…Oa； where we arrive on the 23rd； imagine us there until
September 4th； when we sailed for Fakarava； which we reached on the
9th； after a very difficult and dangerous passage among these
isles。 Tuesday； we shall leave for Taiti； where I shall knock off
and do some necessary work ashore。 It looks pretty bald in the
atlas； not in fact； nor I trust in the 130 odd pages of diary which
I have just been looking up for these dates： the interest； indeed；
has been INCREDIBLE： I did not dream there were such places or
such races。 My health has stood me splendidly； I am in for hours
wading over the knees for shells； I have been five hours on
horseback： I have been up pretty near all night waiting to see
where the CASCO would go ashore； and with my diary all ready …
simply the most entertaining night of my life。 Withal I still have
colds； I have one now； and feel pretty sick too； but not as at
home： instead of being in bed； for instance； I am at this moment
sitting snuffling and writing in an undershirt and trousers； and as
for colour； hands； arms； feet； legs； and face； I am browner than
the berry： only my trunk and the aristocratic spot on which I sit
retain the vile whiteness of the north。
Please give my news and kind love to Henley； Henry James； and any
whom you see of well…wishers。 Accept from me the very best of my
affection： and believe me ever yours；
THE OLD MAN VIRULENT。
TAITI； OCTOBER 7TH； 1888。
Never having found a chance to send this off； I may add more of my
news。 My cold took a very bad turn； and I am pretty much out of
sorts at this particular； living in a little bare one…twentieth…
furnished house； surrounded by mangoes； etc。 All the rest are
well； and I mean to be soon。 But these Taiti colds are very severe
and； to children； often fatal； so they were not the thing for me。
Yesterday the