Identifier: robertlouissteven00crus (find matches)
Title: Robert Louis Stevenson
Year: 1915 (1910s)
Authors: Cruse, Amy, 1870-1951
Subjects: Stevenson, Robert Louis, 1850-1894
Publisher: London : George G. Harrap
Contributing Library: University of Connecticut Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation

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Text Appearing Before Image:
n almost every particular of a
quite different character. The group lies near the
Equator, and consists of sixteen low islands, of
coral formation, thickly populated, and at that time
almost every island was governed by an independent
king. The inhabitants are darker and shorter than
the races living in the high islands, as well as
more energetic and more ferocious.
During May and June preparations for the cruise
were going on. A trading schooner, the Equator,
was chartered, and stores were laid in. Experience
had taught the Stevensons what was most needed
in the regions to which they were going, and besides
provisions for the voyage they carried with them
a magic lantern, an American hand organ, cigars,
tobacco, fish-hooks, combs, turkey-red calicoe, a
fiddle and a guitar for the benefit of the natives.
Stevenson's mother had decided not to accompany
them on this cruise and had returned to Scotland.
The rest of the party, including Ah Fu, set sail on
June 24th, 1889, while King Kalakana stood on the
128
Text Appearing After Image:

Father Damien 128
From a drawing by Edward Clifford
Photo Hollyer

America and the South Seas

shore waving his hand in farewell, and his band of
native musicians sent sad parting strains over the
water. As soon as the Equator was well away from
Honolulu Stevenson's health began to improve.
He felt more and more strongly that the life that
would give him the greatest amount of health and
happiness was a life on the sea. But the expenses
were very heavy, and to meet them it was necessary
that some new work should at once be begun. Very
soon after they left Honolulu a chance incident sug-
gested an idea for a story. This was talked over by
Stevenson and his stepson, and they set to work
to write the book together, intending to complete
it as quickly as possible and send it to a publisher
from Samoa, which was in direct communication
with London.
The schooner arrived without accident at Butari-
tari, on the island of Great Makin. The stretch of
land by the shore was crowded with brown-roofed
houses ; and the King's palace, with its roof of
corrugated iron, shone out in splendour on one side.

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