HOW THE FIRST LETTER WAS WRITTEN

  ONostearlytimewasahi.HewasnotaJuteoranAngle,orevenaDravidian,whichhemightwellhavebeeBeloved,butnevermindwhy.Herimitive,andhelivedcavilyinaCave,andheworeveryfewclothes,andhecouldntreadandhecouldntwriteandhedidntwantto,andexceptwhenhewashungryhewasquitehappy.HisegumaiBopsulai,andthatmeans,Man-who-does-not-put-his-foot-forward-in-a-hurry;butwe,OBestBeloved,willcallhimTegumai,forshort.AndhiswifeseshumaiTewindrow,andthatmeans,Lady-who-asks-a-very-many-questions;butwe,OBestBeloved,willcallherTeshumai,forshort.Andhislittlegirl-daughtersaffimaiMetallumai,andthatmeans,Small-person-without-any-manners-who-ought-to-be-spanked;butImgoingtocallherTaffy.AegumaiBopsulaisBestBelovedandherownMummysBestBeloved,andshewasnotspankedhalfasmuchaswasgoodforher;andtheywereallthreeveryhappy.AssoonasTaffycouldrunaboutshewenteverywherewithherDaddyTegumai,andsometimestheywouldnotehometotheCavetilltheywerehungry,aeshumaiTewindrowwouldsay,Whereintheworldhaveyoutwobeento,togetsoshogdirty?Really,myTegumai,youreerthanmyTaffy.

  Nowattendandlisten!

  OegumaiBopsulaiwentdownthroughthebeaver-stotheWagairivertospearcarp-fishfordinner,andTaffywenttoo.Tegumaisspearwasmadeofwoodwithsharksteethattheend,andbeforehehadcaughtanyfishatallheactallybrokeitacrossbyjabbingitdowntoohardoomoftheriver.Theyweremilesandmilesfromhome(ofcoursetheyhadtheirlunchwiththeminalittlebag),andTegumaihadfottentaraspears.

  Heresaprettykettleoffish!saidTegumai.Itwilltakemehalfthedaytomendthis.

  Theresyblackspearathome,saidTaffy.LetmerunbacktotheCaveandaskMummytogiveitme.

  Itstoofarforyourlittlefatlegs,saidTegumai.Besides,youmightfallintothebeaver-sandbedrowned.Wemustmakethebestofabadjob.Hesatdownandtookoutalittleleathermendy-bag,fullofreindeer-sinewsandstripsofleather,andlumpsofbees-waxandresin,aomendthespear.

  Taffysatdowntoo,withhertoesierandherinherhand,andthoughtveryhard.Thenshesaid--Isay,Daddy,itsanawfulnuisayouandIdontknorite,isntit?Ifwedidwecouldsendamessageforthenewspear.

  Taffy,saidTegumai,howofteoldyounottouseslang?"Awful"isntaprettyword,butitcouldbeavenienowyoumentionit,ifwecouldwritehome.

  JustthenaStranger-mancamealongtheriver,buthebelooafartribe,theTewaras,andhedidnotuandonewordofTegumaislanguage.HestoodonthebankandsmiledatTaffy,becausehehadalittlegirl-daughterOfhisownathome.Tegumaidrewahankofdeer-sinewsfromhismendy-bagaomendhisspear.

  ehere,saidTaffy.DoyouknowwheremyMummylives?Aranger-mansaidUm!being,asyouknow,aTewara.

  Silly!saidTaffy,aampedherfoot,becauseshesawashoalcarpgoinguptheriverjustwhenherDaddycouldntusehisspear.

  Dontbrown-ups,saidTegumai,sobusywithhisspear-mendingthathedidnotturnround.

  Iarent,saidTaffy.IonlywanthimtodowhatIwanthimtodo,auand.

  Thendontbotherme,saidTegumai,aonpullingandstrainingatthedeer-sinewswithhismouthfulloflooseends.

  TheStranger-man--ageewarahewas--satdownonthegrass,andTaffyshowedhimwhatherDaddywasdoing.TheStranger-manthought,thisisaverywonderfulchild.Shestampsherfootatmeandshemakesfaces.ShemustbethedaughterofthatnobleChiefwhoissogreatthathewonttakeanynotie.Sohesmiledmorepolitelythanever.

  Now,saidTaffy,IwantyoutogotomyMummy,becauseysarelohanmine,andyouwontfallintothebeaver-s,andaskforDaddysotherspear--theohthebladlethathangsoverourfireplace.

  TheStranger-man(andhewasaTewara)thought,Thisisavery,verywonderfulchild.Shewavesherarmsandsheshoutsatme,butIdontuandawordofwhatshesays.ButifIdontdowhatshewants,IgreatlyfearthatthathaughtyChief,Man-who-turns-his-ba-callers,willbeangry.Hegotupandtwistedabigflatpieceofbarkoffabirch-treeandgaveittoTaffy.Hedidthis,BestBeloved,toshowthathisheartwasaswhiteasthebirch-barkandthathemeantnoharm;butTaffydidntquiteuand.

  Oh!saidshe.NowIsee!YouwantmyMummysliving-address?

  OfcourseItwrite,butIdrawpicturesifIveanythingsharptoscratchwith.Pleaselehesharkstoothoffyournecklace.

  TheStranger-man(andhewasaTewara)didntsayanything,SoTaffyputupherlittlehandandpulledatthebeautifulbeadandseedandshark-toothnecklaceroundhisneck.

  TheStranger-man(andhewasaTewara)thought,Thisisavery,very,verywonderfulchild.Thesharkstoothonmynecklaceisamagicsharkstooth,andIwasalwaystoldthatifanybodytoucheditwithoutmyleavetheywouldimmediatelyswelluporburst,butthischilddoesntswelluporburst,andthatimportantChief,Man-who-attends-strictly-to-his-business,whohasakenanynotieatall,doesobeafraidthatshewillswelluporburst.Ihadbetterbemorepolite.

  SohegaveTaffythesharkstooth,andshelaydownflatoummywithherlegsintheair,likesomepeopleonthedrawing-roomfloorwhentheywanttodrawpictures,andshesaid,NowIlldrawyousomebeautifulpictures!Youlookovermyshoulder,butyoumustntjoggle.FirstIlldrawDaddyfishing.

  Itisntverylikehim;butMummywillknow,becauseIvedrawnhisspearallbroken.Well,nowIlldrawtheotherspearthathewants,theblack-handledspear.ItlooksasifitwasstiginDaddysback,butthatsbecausethesharkstoothslippedandthispieceofbarkisntbigenough.ThatsthespearIwantyoutofetch;soIlldraictureofmemyselfsplainingtoyou.MyhairdoesntstanduplikeIvedrawn,butitseasiertodrawthatway.NowIlldrawyou.Ithinkyoureverynicereally,butItmakeyouprettyiure,soyoumustntbefended.Areyoufended?

  TheStranger-man(andhewasaTewara)smiled.Hethought,Theremustbeabigbattlegoingtobefoughtsomewhere,andthisextraordinarychild,whotakesmymagicsharkstoothbutwhodoesnotswelluporburst,istelliocallallthegreatChiefstribetohelphim.HeisagreatChief,orhewouldhavenoticedme.

  Look,saidTaffy,drawingveryhardandratherscratchily,nowIvedrawnyou,ahespearthatDaddywantsintoyourhand,justtoremindyouthatyouretit.NowIllshowyouhowtofindmyMummysliving-address.Yougoalongtillyouetotwotrees(thosearetrees),andthenyougooverahill(thatsahill),andthenyoueintoabeaver-sallfullofbeavers.Ihaventputinallthebeavers,becauseItdrawbeavers,butIvedrawntheirheads,andthatsallyoullseeofthemwhenyoucrossthes.Mindyoudontfallin!

  ThenourCaveisjustbeyondthebeaver-s.Itisntashighasthehillsreally,butItdrawthingsverysmall.ThatsmyMummyoutside.Sheisbeautiful.SheisthemostbeautifullestMummythereeverwas,butshewontbefendedwhensheseesIvedrawnhersoplain.ShellbepleasedofmebecauseIdraw.

  Now,incaseyet,IvedrawnthespearthatDaddywantsoutsideourCave.Itsinsidereally,butyoushowthepicturetomyMummyandshellgiveityou.Ivemadeherholdingupherhands,becauseIknowshellbesopleasedtoseeyou.Isntitabeautifulpicture?Anddoyouquiteuand,orshallIsplainagain?

  TheStranger-man(andhewasaTewara)lookedatthepictureandnoddedveryhard.Hesaidtohimself,IfIdohisgreatChiefstribetohelphim,hewillbeslainbyhisenemieswhoareinguponallsideswithspears.NowIseewhythegreatChiefpretetonoticeme!Hefearedthathisenemieswerehidinginthebushesandwouldseehim.Thereforeheturomehisbadletthewiseandwonderfulchilddrawtheterriblepictureshowingmehisdifficulties.Iwillawayahelpforhimfromhistribe.HedidnotevenaskTaffytheroad,butracedoffintothebusheslikethewind,withthebirch-barkinhishand,andTaffysatdownmostpleased.

  NowthisisthepicturethatTaffyhaddrawnforhim!

  Whathaveyoubeendoing,Taffy?saidTegumai.Hehadmendedhisspearandwascarefullywavingittoandfro.

  Itsalittleberaofmyown,Daddydear,saidTaffy.

  Ifyouwontaskmequestions,youllknowallaboutitinalittletime,andyoullbesurprised.Youdontknowhowsurprisedyoullbe,Daddy!Promiseyoullbesurprised.

  Verywell,saidTegumai,aonfishing.

  TheStranger-man--didyouknowhewasaTewara?--hurriedawaywiththepictureandranforsomemiles,tillquitebyacthefoundTeshumaiTewindrowatthedoorofherCave,talkingtosomeotherhicladieswhohadeintoaPrimitivelunch.

  TaffywasverylikeTeshumai,especiallyabouttheupperpartofthefadtheeyes,sotheStranger-man--alureTewara--smiledpolitelyandhaeshumaithebirch-bark.Hehadrunhard,sothathepanted,andhislegswerescratchedwithbrambles,buthestilltriedtobepolite.

  AssoonasTeshumaisawthepictureshescreamedlikeanythingaheStranger-maherhicladiesatonockedhimdownandsatonhiminalonglineofsix,whileTeshumaipulledhishair.

  ItsasplainasthehisStranger-mansface,shesaid.HehasstuckmyTegumaiallfullofspears,andfrightenedpoorTaffysothatherhairstandsallonend;andnottentwiththat,hebringsmeahorridpictureofhowitwasdone.

  Look!Sheshowedthepicturetoallthehicladiessittingpatientlyoranger-man.HereismyTegumaiwithhisarmbroken;hereisaspearstigintohisback;hereisamanearreadytothrow;hereisanothermanthroearfromaCave,andhereareawholepackofpeople(theywereTaffysbeaversreally,buttheydidlookratherlikepeople)ingupbehindTegumai.Isntitshog!

  Mostshog!saidthehicladies,andtheyfilledtheStranger-manshairwithmud(atwhichhewassurprised),andtheybeatupontheReverberatingTribalDrums,andcalledtogetherallthechiefsoftheTribeofTegumai,withtheirHetmansandDolmans,allNeguses,Woons,andAkhoondsoftheanisation,inadditiontotheWarlocks,Angekoks,Juju-men,Bonzes,a,whodecidedthatbeforetheychoppedtheStranger-mansheadoffheshouldinstantlyleadthemdowntotheriverandshowthemwherehehadhiddenpoorTaffy.

  BythistimetheStranger-man(inspiteofbeingaTewara)wasreallyaheyhadfilledhishairquitesolidwithmud;theyhadrolledhimupanddownonknobbypebbles;theyhadsatuponhiminalonglineofsix;theyhadthumpedhimandbumpedhimtillhecouldhardlybreathe;andthoughhedidnotuandtheirlanguage,hewasalmostsurethatthehehicladiescalledhimwerenotladylike.However,hesaidnothingtillalltheTribeofTegumaiwereassembled,andthehembacktothebankoftheWagairiver,aheyfoundTaffymakingdaisy-s,andTegumaicarefullyspearingsmallcarpwithhismendedspear.

  Well,youhavebeenquick!saidTaffy.Butwhydidysomanypeople?Daddydear,thisismysurprise.Areyousurprised,Daddy?

  Very,saidTegumai;butithasruinedallmyfishingfortheday.Why,thewholedear,kind,nice,,quietTribeishere,Taffy.

  Andsotheywere.FirstofallwalkedTeshumaiTewindrowandthehicladies,tightlyholdingontotheStranger-man,whosehairwasfullofmud(althoughhewasaTewara).BehindthemcametheHeadChief,theVice-Chief,theDeputyandAssistantChiefs(allarmedtotheupperteeth),theHetmansandHeadsofHundreds,PlatoffswiththeirPlatoons,andDolmanswiththeirDetats;Woons,Neguses,andAkhoondsrankingintherear(stillarmedtotheteeth).BehindthemwastheTribeinhierarchicalorder,fromownersoffourcaves(oneforeachseason),aprivatereindeer-run,andtwosalmon-leaps,tofeudalandprognathousVilleins,semi-entitledtohalfabearskinofwinternights,sevenyardsfromthefire,andadscriptserfs,holdingthereversionofascrapedmarrow-boneunderheriot(Arentthosebeautifulwords,BestBeloved?).Theywereallthere,prangandshouting,andtheyfrightenedeveryfishfortwentymiles,andTegumaithaheminafluidhicoration.

  ThenTeshumaiTewindrowrandownandkissedandhuggedTaffyverymudeed;buttheHeadChiefoftheTribeofTegumaitookTegumaibythetop-khersandshookhimseverely.

  Explain!Explain!Explain!criedalltheTribeofTegumai.

  Goodnesssakesalive!saidTegumai.Letgoofmytop-knot.

  tamanbreakhiscarp-spearwithoutthewholetrysidedesdingonhim?Youreaveryinterferingpeople.

  IdontbelieveyouvebroughtmyDaddysblack-handledspearafterall,saidTaffy.Andwhatareyoudoingtomyranger-man?

  Theywerethumpinghimbytwosandthreesaillhiseyesturnedroundandround.HecouldonlygaspandpointatTaffy.

  Wherearethebadpeoplewhospearedyou,mydarling?saidTeshumaiTewindrow.

  Therewerentany,saidTegumai.Myonlyvisitorthismwasthepoorfellowthatyouaretryingtochoke.Arentyouwell,orareyouill,OTribeofTegumai?

  Hecamewithahorriblepicture,saidtheHeadChief,--apicturethatshowedyouwerefullofspears.

  Er-um-PrapsIdbettersplainthatIgavehimthatpicture,

  saidTaffy,butshedidnotfeelquitefy.

  You!saidtheTribeofTegumaialltogether.

  Small-person-with-no-manners-who-ought-to-be-spanked!You?

  Taffydear,Imafraidwereinforalittletrouble,saidherDaddy,andputhisarmroundher,soshedidntcare.

  Explain!Explain!Explain!saidtheHeadChiefoftheTribeofTegumai,andhehoppedo.

  IwaheStranger-machDaddysspear,soIdrawdedit,saidTaffy.Therewasntlotsofspears.Therewasonlyonespear.Idrawdeditthreetimestomakesure.IcouldlookingasifitstutoDaddyshead--therewasntroomonthebirch-bark;andthosethingsthatMummycalledbadpeoplearemybeavers.Idrawdedthemtoshowhimthewaythroughthes;andIdrawdedMummyatthemouthoftheCavelookingpleasedbecauseheisaranger-man,andIthinkyouarejustthestupidestpeopleintheworld,saidTaffy.Heisaveryni.Whyhaveyoufilledhishairwithmud?Washhim!

  Nobodysaidanythingatallforalongtime,tilltheHeadChieflaughed;theranger-man(whowasatleastaTewara)laughed;thenTegumailaughedtillhefelldownflatonthebank;thenalltheTribelaughedmoreandworseandlouder.TheonlypeoplewhodidnotlaughwereTeshumaiTewindrowandallthehicladies.Theywereverypolitetoalltheirhusbands,andsaidIdiot!eversooften.

  ThentheHeadChiefoftheTribeofTegumaicriedandsaidandsang,OSmall-person-with-out-any-manners-who-ought-to-be-spanked,youvehitupoiion!

  Ididntio;IonlywantedDaddysblack-handledspear,

  saidTaffy.

  Nevermind.Itisagreatiion,andsomedaymenwillcallitwriting.Atpresentitisonlypictures,and,aswehaveseento-day,picturesarenotalroperlyuood.Butatimewille,OBabeofTegumai,whenweshallmakeletters--alltwenty-sixofem,--andwhenweshallbeabletoreadaswellastowrite,andthenweshallalwayssayexactlywhatwemeanwithoutanymistakes.Letthehicladieswashthemudoutofthestrangershair.

  Ishallbegladofthat,saidTaffy,because,afterall,thoughyouvebroughteverysiherspeariribeofTegumai,youvefottenmyDaddysblack-handledspear.

  ThentheHeadChiefcriedandsaidandsang,Taffydear,theimeyouwriteapicture-letter,youdbettersendamanwhotalkuagewithit,toexplainwhatitmeans.Idontminditmyself,becauseIamaHeadChief,butitsverybadfortherestoftheTribeofTegumai,and,asyousee,itsurprisesthestranger.

  ThentheyadoptedtheStranger-man(ageewaraofTewar)intotheTribeofTegumai,becausehewasagentlemananddidnotmakeafussaboutthemudthatthehicladieshadputintohishair.Butfromthatdaytothis(andIsupposeitisallTaffysfault),veryfewlittlegirlshaveeverlikedlearningtoreadorwrite.MostofthemprefertodrawpicturesandplayaboutwiththeirDaddies--justlikeTaffy.

  THERErunsaroadbyMerrowDown--

  Agrassytrackto-dayitis

  AnhouroutofGuildfordtown,

  AbovetheriverWeyitis.

  Here,whentheyheardthehorse-bellsring,

  TheaBritonsdressedandrode

  TowatchthedarkPhoenisbring

  TheirgoodsaloernRoad.

  Andhere,orhereabouts,theymet

  Toholdtheirracialtalksandsuch--

  TobarterbeadsforWhitbyjet,

  Andtinfayshelltorquesandsuch.

  Butlongandlongbeforethattime

  (Whenbisooroamonit)DidTaffyandherDaddyclimb

  Thatdown,andhadtheirhomeonit.

  ThenbeaversbuiltinBroadstonebrook

  AndmadeaswhereBramleystands:

  AndhearsfromSherewouldeandlook

  ForTaffimaiwhereShamleystands.

  TheWey,thatTaffycalledWagai,

  Wasmorethansixtimesbiggerthen;

  AndalltheTribeofTegumai

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