He Embarked With Me In The Resolution, When She Was Fitted Out
For Another Voyage, Loaded With Presents From His Several Friends, And Full
Of Gratitude For The Kind Reception And Treatment He Had Experienced Among
Us.
[1] "On the walk to Oree's house, Dr Sparrman and I saw great numbers
of hogs, dogs, and fowls.
The last roamed about at pleasure through
the woods, and roosted on fruit-trees; the hogs were likewise allowed
to run about, but received regular portions of food, which were
commonly distributed by old women. We observed one of them, in
particular, feeding a little pig with the same fermented bread-fruit
paste, called mahei; she held the pig with one hand, and offered it
a tough pork's skin, but as soon as it opened the mouth to snap at it,
she contrived to throw in a handful of the same paste, which the
little animal would not take without this stratagem. The dogs, in
spite of their stupidity, were in high favour with all the women, who
could not have nursed them with a more ridiculous affection, if they
had really been ladies of fashion in Europe. We were witnesses of a
remarkable instance of kindness, when we saw a middle-aged woman,
whose breasts were full of milk, offering them to a little puppy,
which had been trained up to suck them. We were so much surprised at
this sight, that we could not help expressing our dislike of it; but
she smiled at our observation, and added, that she suffered little
pigs to do the same service. Upon enquiry, however, we found that she
had lost her child, and did her the justice amongst ourselves to
acknowledge, that this expedient was very innocent, and formerly
practised in Europe." - G.F.
He might have added, and still is. It is quite usual in this country
to use puppies in order to draw the breasts, when distended with milk,
from the want or inability of a child to suck them. But it is,
perhaps, quite erroneous to ascribe the practice to affection or
kindness, in either Europe or Otaheite. - E.
[2] "The people of this island appeared to be so exactly like the
Taheitians, that we could perceive no difference, nor could we by any
means verify that assertion of former navigators, that the women of
this island were in general fairer, and more handsome; but this may
vary according to circumstances. They were, however, not so
troublesome in begging for beads and other presents, nor so forward to
bestow their favours on the new comers, though at our landing and
putting off, some of the common sort frequently performed an indecent
ceremony, which is described in the accounts of former voyages, but
without any of the preparatory circumstances which Ooratooa practised.
We had likewise much less reason to extol the hospitality of the
inhabitants, their general behaviour being rather more indifferent,
and the Taheitian custom of reciprocal presents almost entirely
unknown. On our walks, we were unmolested, (Mr F. relates also the
assault of Dr Sparrman) but their conduct was bolder and more
unconcerned than that of the Taheitians, and the explosion, as well as
the effects of our fowling-pieces, did not strike them with fear and
astonishment.
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