“Such trifles grow in small shellfish, which we do not open, but throw back into the sea to allow them to grow. Those which you have are dead. The life is gone from them. We know how to keep all our pearls alive by bathing them in the salt water,” he said. Then he asked. “What is on the other end of this yellow chain?”
I exhibited my watch and explained its use. He was greatly excited over this trinket, especially when I showed him the wheels and how to keep them going by winding. I thought it good policy to make him a present of the watch, which was a cheap affair, and he accepted it with evidences of joy and gave me in return a necklace of pearls worth a fortune.
When he left us he said:
“You must tell me more of your wonderful land and your wise people, for truly you are able to teach me much.”
He paused on his way out and came slowly back to us.
“Tell me how my people can be safe from your stings,” he begged.
“By keeping a long distance away from them,” I replied promptly.
“Is there no other way?”
“None, your Majesty.”
“My chief Medicine Man, Kuru, thought that if we made shields of bark, and carried them before us, the stings would not hurt.”