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- 5573
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:15.149Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 5510
- text
- The islanders are much like the rest of the world; and the news of our
good fortune brought us troops of “tayos,” or friends, eager to form an
alliance after the national custom, and do our slightest bidding.
The really curious way in which all the Polynesians are in the habit of
making bosom friends at the shortest possible notice is deserving of
remark. Although, among a people like the Tahitians, vitiated as they
are by sophisticating influences, this custom has in most cases
degenerated into a mere mercenary relation, it nevertheless had its
origin in a fine, and in some instances, heroic sentiment, formerly
entertained by their fathers.
In the annals of the island are examples of extravagant friendships,
unsurpassed by the story of Damon and Pythias: in truth, much more
wonderful; for, notwithstanding the devotion—even of life in some
cases—to which they led, they were frequently entertained at first
sight for some stranger from another island.
Filled with love and admiration for the first whites who came among
them, the Polynesians could not testify the warmth of their emotions
more strongly than by instantaneously making their abrupt proffer of
friendship. Hence, in old voyages we read of chiefs coming off from the
shore in their canoes, and going through with strange antics,
expressive of the desire. In the same way, their inferiors accosted the
seamen; and thus the practice has continued in some islands down to the
present day.
There is a small place, not many days’ sail from Tahiti, and seldom
visited by shipping, where the vessel touched to which I then happened
to belong.
Of course, among the simple-hearted natives, We had a friend all round.
Mine was Poky, a handsome youth, who never could do enough for me.
Every morning at sunrise, his canoe came alongside loaded with fruits
of all kinds; upon being emptied, it was secured by a line to the
bowsprit, under which it lay all day long, ready at any time to carry
its owner ashore on an errand.
Seeing him so indefatigable, I told Poky one day that I was a virtuoso
in shells and curiosities of all kinds. That was enough; away he
paddled for the head of the bay, and I never saw him again for
twenty-four hours. The next morning, his canoe came gliding slowly
along the shore with the full-leaved bough of a tree for a sail. For
the purpose of keeping the things dry, he had also built a sort of
platform just behind the prow, railed in with green wicker-work; and
here was a heap of yellow bananas and cowree shells; young cocoa-nuts
and antlers of red coral; two or three pieces of carved wood; a little
pocket-idol, black as jet, and rolls of printed tappa.
We were given a holiday; and upon going ashore, Poky, of course, was my
companion and guide. For this, no mortal could be better qualified; his
native country was not large, and he knew every inch of it. Gallanting
me about, everyone was stopped and ceremoniously introduced to Poky’s
“tayo karhowree nuee” or his particular white friend.
He showed me all the lions; but more than all, he took me to see a
charming lioness—a young damsel—the daughter of a chief—the reputation
of whose charms had spread to the neighbouring islands, and even
brought suitors therefrom. Among these was Tooboi, the heir of
Tamatory, King of Eaiatair, one of the Society Isles. The girl was
certainly fair to look upon. Many heavens were in her sunny eyes; and
the outline of that arm of hers, peeping forth from a capricious tappa
robe, was the very curve of beauty.
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