Part 21 (1/2)

”Yes; I must see your s.h.i.+p, and I am ready to accompany you any time, and I want my people to see those things, as well.”

”But there are many other things that we now do with electricity. All street railways are now operated by it; many boats are run by that power; cooking is done by it, and its uses extend into almost everything that man touches,” remarked John.

”If this one branch of knowledge has improved so wonderfully within a s.p.a.ce of fifty years, the progress in other directions must be very wonderful, indeed,” he responded. ”But you have told me so much, and I hardly know how I can grasp its meaning. I suppose things here in this part of the world must appear very crude to you?”

CHAPTER XII

THE CHIEF'S FAMILY

Ephraim's wife was not crude and uncouth, like most of the native women.

It was evident from the care which she observed in the domestic arrangements, that Ephraim had a hand in shaping her course.

The food was served with considerable care, and, in some degree with the formality observed in civilized homes. John was a careful observer of customs, and he was surprised to note that all the natives patterned after the habits established by their Chief.

”I tried,” said Ephraim, in answer to John's questions, ”to better their condition, and to teach them how to prepare and eat their food, and we made vessels of pottery, which you will notice are found everywhere.

They understood the art of weaving, in a very primitive way, which I also tried to improve. Only on three occasions did we take any toll from the sea, when the wreckage came ash.o.r.e.

”Of the articles which were thus recovered, I took only a fair share, and the others were impartially distributed to the people.”

”Did you ever have any trouble with the natives, or did they ever dispute your authority?” asked John.

”Only once, many years ago. A man claiming to be the son of the Chief, gathered together a number of adherents, but my people rose against them, and killed the leaders, which I very much regretted. When I remonstrated with them for the severity of their course, they justified it by saying that I had been kind to them, and had made them better, and it was the very thing that taught me to feel that human beings, although savages, understand kind treatment. It made me a convert in my feelings against some of the white men who had treated me with such severity.”

During the day, after the packages had been removed from the s.h.i.+p the articles were taken from the packages and arranged in Ephraim's home.

Articles of clothing were distributed to the Chief's family, and what pleased him more than anything else, were the cooking utensils, all of the newest ware, and in great variety, some of which were curiosities to him.

He had four children, the eldest a young man about thirty years of age, who had a family of three children; the next, a strong, active native, about twenty-five; a medium-sized young woman, almost white, of about twenty, and the youngest a lad of seventeen, who was quickly attracted to the boys.

These, together with their mother, undertook the task of distributing the gifts to the people. Articles of adornment were, of course, the most enticing to the natives, and John had antic.i.p.ated this feeling in the selection of the gifts.

After the feast of the good things, John broached the subject next to his heart, and that was to explore the island, and particularly the caves. In referring to the matter he said:

”I recognize that whatever treasure we may find in them belongs to you, and you are ent.i.tled to them.”

”But they are of no use to us,” he responded. ”I am not wise in the ways of the world, but I am sure that great wealth, in the way of gold and silver, would not make my people happy. I agree with you that employment, and trying to teach people to help and care for each other, is much more likely to make them happy, and besides, the treasures which you refer to could not be used by them to any advantage.”

”You have spoken wisely,” answered John, ”nevertheless, we have no need of the riches which we may find. My search is for a different sort of wealth.”

”I do not understand what could be of more advantage, or repay you better than gold and silver.”

”It is believed that many of these places contain the records of people who have lived here thousands of years ago. All over the world hidden treasures of that kind have been found, some of them which go to show that men lived on the earth hundreds of thousands of years.”

”You are much wiser than I am, and understand the reason for making such a search, but I do not see why that would be of any use to know those things.”

”A great man once said, 'Know thyself,' and another remarked, that the 'proper study of mankind is man.' To ascertain the origin of humanity, how man lived and acted, what were his motives and desires, his beliefs and his aspirations, and to know how he has improved, are interesting questions to me.”

He mused at this statement for a long time, and then quietly said: ”That may be so; it may make us greater and better men, and it may be gratifying to have that knowledge, but I have now arrived at that time of life where things appear differently from the way I used to look at them. Every year I begin to think less of myself, and more of those about me.