The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-22
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OR,

INV ~ - " ~
y.v- Tear. on n New Bedford wha,cr. Re.
Ing tho straightforward Tale OF -
Piain tsaiiormaa.
CAPT. J. II. II. ROBINSON.
Copyright, 1892. by j. b. B. Robtn,on
CHAPTER XII.
AMONG THE KANAKAs
For several days after tho death OF our third
mate we were busy cleaning the ship. We
usually scrubbed decks at daylight and fn.
ished all necessary work before the sun was
high. Fo several hours In the middle OF the
dav wa performed no labor. on account Of tho
intense heat. and we improved tho opportunity
to lay in supply of limo Juice for use in other
laitu los. Limos are to be had Ia abundance
an each man filled every available receptacle
with limo juice. which Is certain protection
from scurvy. besides being pleasant to drink
with water as a beverage.
Ono day number Of the natives wore In tho
storage had given my Aem' an old cap
which delighted him beyond measure. al
though ~ more useless present could not have
been made. as thcy use no head covering on
the hottest days. As wo wero seated around
the STORAGE OF chests and inverted buckets.
while tho .aAiras sat cross-lc-ged on tho floor.
! performed n simple sleicht-o'-hand trick.
thinking to nmuse and mystify them.
Tho mystilcation was complete. but instead
Of deriving any amusement therefrom they
rushed on deck to n man. shouting:
"Covey-covey Too much Levil -
1t required all my powers OF persuasion to
induce them to come noar mo until at last
was forced to explain my trick to them AMI
even then they locke cd upon mo with distrust
for n long time.
On the lrst day had liberty ashore my
"nem." whose name l found was Manassas.
met me on the beach and escorted me to his
hut whore he entertained me In most hospi-
table manner. He placed before mo chicken.
eSRs.and the choicest fruits the island afforded.
and tried in every way TO testify his delight Mt
my visit AMI his desire to place his earthly
possessions ut my disposal.
It was on this occasion first saw knnaka
ascend n cocoanut tree expressed a desire
for green coooanut which in their language
is called Men," and my host deliberately
walked to the foot OF a tall tree without a limb
for ut least thirty feet. and placin. his hands
aud the soles OF his feet on either side OF the
tree walked. rather than climbed. to the top
without any apparent distress. tried It. will
only say that failed signally. to the enjoy
nent %! the natives present.
The green nuts are not harder than pump
kin. and 1t Ia only necessary to pierce the outer
fibre with any sharp substance and u most
delicious drink Is readily obtained. There are
no springs on this island and all the fresh
water Is obtained during rains. when 1t is
saved In huge hollow logs The cocoanut tree
furnishes an unfailing supply OF drink. meat,
clothes. and in fact almost everything tho M.
tives use. In spite Of the good which the mis-
sionAries are supposed to have done In these
islands. am still OF the opinion that they
would have been far better of In every way
had the white man never found Thorn. for heir
readiness to embrace our religion is much
more than counterbalanced by the facility with
which thoy adapt them selves to our vices And
only those wi.o have actually been among the
islands In the South Pacific can realize the
truth in this apparently heathenish statement,
My friend saw me admirinG tortoise shell
comb and no Immediately forced it upon me.
at the same time telling me the name "hals."
He also gave me a mat made OF cocoanut
fibres. which is "fala" in their language
felt ashamed to accept what must have taken
days to plat, even in their rude way. and
gave him my jackknife I believe he would
have risked bis life to possess such an article.
and he went through the most extraordinary
pantomime to express his gratitude.
The orange trees are scattered all over the
island and we had rare sport In using the fruit
Is bssebals. and astonishing the natives by
our skill In catching them at great distance.
Food. generally speaking. is called 'ki-ki."
which also means hungry" Anything good
IL "ls-ls." "Covey-covey signifies bad"
ton always It is "Ofa." and this answers for
oil hours OF the day and night Tho men are
slow to anger. but brave whom aroused. Their
huts are models Of nestness. and. were it not
for the universal habit OF amounting the whole
body with cocoanut oil. the same could be said
OF the occupants. The meat Of q cocoanut is
placed In bottle. laid in the sun. which speed
tly draws the oil out 1t has pleasant odor
when fresh. but soon becomes rancid and worry
offensive to European.
Nature has given them long. straight. black
hair. but even here fashion" steps In and
DEGREES It more stylish to change the natural
hue Of their tresses to something lighter. 40
sordinGiy they literally plaster their heads
with white clay. which Is strongly impreg-
hated with lime. and bleaches the hair to
dirty red. which Is considered "the thing" In
hair. When any especial gathering is to occur
the head 10 thus done up" for day or two
previous. and on the eventful day tho clay Is
thoroughly removed. The hair Is then daubed
with oil aud combed. standing out in all dlrec-
0ons IN an Immense shock. which throws tho
face into insignlncanoe as q pescock's tail
does its proud owner
With the exception OF cloth about tho
waist and falling to tho knee, clothes are un-
known. and accustomed from infancy to dis
pense with shoes. their feet are nearly as hard
As the stones over which they stride without
Inconvenience. Their canoes enable them 70
procure bountiful supply OF fish. and thev
1--we dreamy contented ite which /, il affords
them few OF tho luxurias Of civilization. ut
lesst spares them many Of its responsibilities
Ono Of our men became infatuated with nm
island belle. and the passion was mutual. IA
no could not be found. AMI without hor heln
he could never have hidden SO securely.
The women are well formed. straight az an
arrow. gentle in their manners. and no,wlth.
standing their dusky skins. many OF them
very pretty Their feet AMI hands are small.
and their teeth alone would compensate for