The Samoans were lazy, ignorant, and inclined to steal, but they had also many good qualities and so Stevenson sought to win their confidence and then teach them better ways of doing things. He worked industriously not only at his literary work, but at manual labour as far as his strength permitted. With some help he built three houses, a big barn and a road two miles long. Besides this he cleared a good deal of land and planted quantities of food. In time he had his own banana-patch, lemon trees, pineapples and cocoanuts; and he greatly enjoyed the work. He insisted upon being called a farmer and if things went wrong--as they often did--he laughed merrily and refused to be discouraged. Stevenson was never so happy as when telling stories and the Samoans were just as keen listeners as other folks. He quickly mastered the Samoan language and nightly the natives gathered around him as he told tales of adventure and described vividly places he had seen. It was the Samoans who named him “Tusitala,” which means, in their language “Teller of Tales.” His wife they called “Aolele,” or “Beautiful as a flying cloud.” He lived very much as the natives. Most of the time he went barefoot, with scanty clothing because of the heat, so that he became almost as brown as a Samoan. He bathed a great deal, sometimes wading in the water for hours and gathering shells. At other times he wandered over the island through the dense forests of fruit trees, while the tall palm trees waved overhead. In his home he followed a rigid programme. He rose early in the morning, generally early enough to see the sun rise. He did as much work during the day as his feeble health allowed. In the evening he had prayers with his family and the Samoan members of his household at eight o’clock, following which he retired and slept on a chest covered with native mats and blankets. On one occasion war broke out between two chiefs. Stevenson was unable to prevent the feud, but he did his utmost to help the sufferers. The Samoans showed their confidence in him at this time by bringing a bag full of coins, which they had saved to buy roofing for their church, and asking him to keep them until the war was over. While the war was on Stevenson visited the prisoners, did his utmost to secure for them medical aid, and helped them over the dull monotony of convalescence by telling them fascinating stories. The gratitude of the Samoans was very great. They were not naturally an industrious people, which was due no doubt in part to the warm climate; however, they decided to build a private road to Stevenson’s home, and to keep it in constant repair. They called it, “The road of Loving Hearts,” and the inscription which the chiefs drew up read as follows: “Considering the great love of Tusitala in his loving care of us in our distress in the prison, we have therefore prepared a splendid gift. It shall never be muddy, it shall endure for ever, this road that we have dug.”