“Trowsis”

‘'THE matter of the nether undergar -1 ments of the native ladies—consisting, so one is informed, of a lava-lava, more ■or less adequately made fast with a round turn and a couple of half hitches of bagging twine—appeared to the Mem sahib to require revision.

Quoth she:—“You know, nice little ■undies would be much more the thing.

I think I’ll give Nina a pair of mine.

I'm sure she would appreciate them, and then the idea will be sure to take on with the other women.”

Now, Nina, being our sort of char oum-washlady—without portfolio, as it were—was fairly well known to me; and, therefore, considering her large propor tions as compared with small Memsahib, it seemed to me that, when their new owner came to be fitted into those un dies, something would just have to happen. Whether it would be that the undies would give, or whether some of Nina’s more ample curves would be forced to shift anchorage, was a moot point.

Anyway, it was none of my business.

Besides, when one considered with what astounding dexterity the local New Hebrides native could handle a corkscrew when occasion offered, it seemed only reasonable to suppose that they could, with like facility, handle a shoe-horn- The garment was duly presented and •explained and, apparently, gave satisfac tion. Not that that was much to go by: the gift horse is not looked in the mouth in these islands—at least, whilst the •donor is about. And so home, doubtless to try ’em on.

Presently, sounds as of strife, also of woe and lamentation, from the nearby village, wherein abode Nina and her old man. Memsahib, being a sympathetic small person, must needs investigate.

Soon she returned —much flushed and most indignant.

“When I got to that beastly village,” said she, “there was Nina in her hut, ab solutely naked and crying and quite in consolable. She had evidently been beaten. All the other women were cry ing, too. Outside, squatted beside a log, was that wretched old man of hers, bush knife in hand, hacking away at the re maining shreds of the undies I had given to Nina. He was muttering to himself: Trowsis? My word! Me me savvy givem you trowsis, you (sanguinary lady bullock) you’!”

Marooned.

The Right Hon. Earl Beauchamp, P.C., arrived in Tahiti by the Messageries steamer Ville de Verdun on July 26, and proceeded immediately to the Punaavia district, where he has .taken the Murnau establishment for a time. His Grace, who is accompanied by his secretary, Mr.

Smyth, expects to remain in Tahiti for two months, after which he will join the Union Co.’s steamer for Australia.

Miss Esther Williams, 8.A., of the Methodist Missionary Society, arrived on a brief visit to Australia by the Mari posa on August 12. She is in charge of the girls’ school at Lautoka, Fiji.