Місяць і гріш

Chapter LII

           Upthemountainwerewild-orangetrees,andnowandthenAtawouldgowithtwoorthreewomenfromthevillageandreturnladenwiththegreen,sweet,lusciousfruit.Thenthecocoa-nutswouldberipeforpicking,andhercousins(likeallthenatives,Atahadahostofrelatives)wouldswarmupthetreesandthrowdownthebigripenuts.Theysplitthemopenandputtheminthesuntodry.Thentheycutoutthecopraandputitintosacks,andthewomenwouldcarryitdowntothetraderatthevillagebythelagoon,andhewouldgiveinexchangeforitriceandsoapandtinnedmeatandalittlemoney.Sometimestherewouldbeafeastintheneighbourhood,andapigwouldbekilled.Thentheywouldgoandeatthemselvessick,anddance,andsinghymns.

           Butthehousewasalongwayfromthevillage,andtheTahitiansarelazy.Theylovetotravelandtheylovetogossip,buttheydonotcaretowalk,andforweeksatatimeStricklandandAtalivedalone.Hepaintedandheread,andintheevening,whenitwasdark,theysattogetherontheverandah,smokingandlookingatthenight.ThenAtahadababy,andtheoldwomanwhocameuptohelpherthroughhertroublestayedon.Presentlythegranddaughteroftheoldwomancametostaywithher,andthenayouthappeared—noonequiteknewwherefromortowhomhebelonged—buthesettleddownwiththeminahappy-go-luckyway,andtheyalllivedtogether.

           

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Roboto Lora
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