The Stevenson Plate At Tautira, Tahiti.
THIS plate was not pre sented by Robert Louis Stevenson (as stated by your Tahiti correspon dent in November), but by his mother, who accompan ied him on his health-seek ing trip to the South Seas in 1888-1889.
During their stay at Tau tira Mrs. Stevenson attend ed a Communion service in the native church. The wine was in two black beer-bottles, the cups were of very common earthen ware, and the bread was baked bread-fruit. Writing to her sister, who was then residing in Scotland, Mrs.
Stevenson said: “The service, apart from these things, was all that one could wish”.
On her return to Scotland she had a set of suitably-engraved silver Communion vessels made, and sent them to the na tive pastor at Tautira. Each article is
marked underneath: “Given by Mrs.
Thomas Stevenson, Edinburgh”.
The vessels are still in regular use, and the present native pastor is always pleased to show them to European visit
ors.