Some years after, the good people of England began to send missionaries to the islands. They were well received, and among their converts was King Pomare.
Now neither King Pomare nor any of his subjects had ever seen a horse, and as they were curious to know something about an animal which the English people described as so noble and willing and useful, it was finally decided that one should be sent him as a present. So among the cargo of a vessel sent to Tahiti from New South Wales was a splendid horse, with a silky coat and flowing mane and tail, for King Pomare.
It was originally intended that the horse should be taken ashore from the vessel in which he had made his voyage, in a large canoe which had been sent alongside for the purpose, but the slings in which he was fastened gave way as he was being lowered, and the poor animal fell into the sea. He at once struck boldly out for the land; but the natives no sooner saw him than they plunged into the waves and swam after him like a shoal of porpoises; they seized his tail and his mane, and nearly pulled him under. The King shouted and the Captain screamed at them in vain, while the terrified horse struggled as hard as he could. As soon as he reached the land the crowd there fled for their lives in every direction, climbing rocks and trees, and hiding behind bushes. One by one, however, they returned when they saw a sailor slip a halter around the creature's neck and lead him along.
Next morning, in the presence of a great number of admiring natives, the Captain put a saddle on the horse, and rode him up and down before the King's tent. As he cantered, galloped, and trotted, obedient to the rein, the people shouted and danced, crying Buaa-hora-fenna and Buaa-afai-taata (land-running pig, and man-carrying pig).
PARLOR MAGIC.
THE MYSTERIOUS BOX.
The use of this box is as follows: Hand the box round for examination, and allow a marked dime to be put into it. Let one of the company lock the box and keep the key, and also tie a string round it lengthways and crossways, lay it on the table, touch it with your wand, and command the dime to vanish and pass into a tumbler, hat, etc. Tell the person who locked the box to open it and see if he can find the dime within, when, to the astonishment of all, it will be found to have vanished from the box, and be found in the place you indicated.
The secret of this box is as follows: The bottom is divided into three or four panels, one of the end ones of which is on a swivel exactly in the centre, and fixed in its place by a nail at each side, the box being put together with driving nails. The nails being all alike, there is no likelihood of the secret being discovered. The trick is performed as follows: When the box has been tied and locked, hold the box on a slope to the swivel end, slip out the two nails just far enough to allow the panel to move, push up one end, and the dime will fall out at the other into your hand. Shut the slide, and put the nails into their places again, lay the box down on the table, go for your magic wand, and take that opportunity of putting the dime into the hat or elsewhere.