- end_line
- 7330
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:15.153Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 7283
- text
- left twisting over the palisade, in the most grotesque manner, and thus
made a pleasant shade. The branches of this curious tree afforded low
perches, upon which the natives frequently squatted, after the fashion
of their race, and smoked and gossiped by the hour.
We had a good breakfast of fish—speared by the natives, before sunrise,
on the reef—pudding of Indian turnip, fried bananas, and roasted
bread-fruit.
During the repast, our new friends were quite sociable and
communicative. It seems that, like nearly all uneducated foreigners,
residing in Polynesia, they had, some time previous, deserted from a
ship; and, having heard a good deal about the money to be made by
raising supplies for whaling-vessels, they determined upon embarking in
the business. Strolling about, with this intention, they, at last, came
to Martair; and, thinking the soil would suit, set themselves to work.
They began by finding out the owner of the particular spot coveted, and
then making a “tayo” of him.
He turned out to be Tonoi, the chief of the fishermen: who, one day,
when exhilarated with brandy, tore his meagre tappa from his loins, and
gave me to know that he was allied by blood with Pomaree herself; and
that his mother came from the illustrious race of pontiffs, who, in old
times, swayed their bamboo crosier over all the pagans of Imeeo. A
regal, and right reverend lineage! But, at the time I speak of, the
dusky noble was in decayed circumstances, and, therefore, by no means
unwilling to alienate a few useless acres. As an equivalent, he
received from the strangers two or three rheumatic old muskets, several
red woollen shirts, and a promise to be provided for in his old age: he
was always to find a home with the planters.
Desirous of living on the cosy footing of a father-in-law, he frankly
offered his two daughters for wives; but as such, they were politely
declined; the adventurers, though not averse to courting, being
unwilling to entangle themselves in a matrimonial alliance, however
splendid in point of family.
Tonoi’s men, the fishermen of the grove, were a sad set. Secluded, in a
great measure, from the ministrations of the missionaries, they gave
themselves up to all manner of lazy wickedness. Strolling among the
trees of a morning, you came upon them napping on the shady side of a
canoe hauled up among the bushes; lying on a tree smoking; or, more
frequently still, gambling with pebbles; though, a little tobacco
excepted, what they gambled for at their outlandish games, it would be
hard to tell. Other idle diversions they had also, in which they seemed
to take great delight. As for fishing, it employed but a small part of
their time. Upon the whole, they were a merry, indigent, godless race.
- title
- Chunk 4