t llAP. and hearty supper, heard many little anecdotes of the place, and
“ ■ derived much amusement from the singularity of the inquiries of our
Dec.
182.5.
hosts. One regret only intruded itself upon the general conviviality,
which we did not fail to mention, namely, that there was so wide a
distinction between the sexes. This was the remains of a custom
very common among the South-sea Islands, which in some places is
carried to such an extent, that it imposes death upon the woman who
shall eat in the presence of her husband ; and though the distinction
between man and wife is not here carried to that extent, it is still
sufficiently observed to exclude all the women from table, if there
happens to be a deficiency of seats. In Pitcairn’s Island, they have
settled ideas of right and wrong, to which they obstinately adhere;
and, fortunately, they have imbibed them generally from the best
source.
In the instance in question, they have, however, certainly erred;
but of this they could not be persuaded, nor did they, I believe, thank
us for our interference. Their argument was, that man was made
first, and ought, consequently, on all occasions, to be served first—a
conclusion which deprived us of the company of the women at table,
during the whole of our stay at the island. Far from considering themselves
neglected, they very good-naturedly chatted with us behind our
seats, and flapped away the flies, and by a gentle tap, accidentally or
playfully delivered, reminded us occasionally of the honour that was
done us. The conclusion of our meal was the signal for the women and
children to prepare their own, to whom we resigned our seats, and
strolled out to enjoy the freshness of the night. It was late by the time
the women had finished, and we were not sorry when we were shown
to the beds prepared for us. The mattress was composed of palm-
leaves. covered with native cloth ; the sheets were of the same material;
and we knew, by the crackling of them, that they were quite new from the
loom, or beater. The whole arrangement was extremely comfortable,
and highly inviting to repose, which the freshness of the apartment,
rendered cool by a free circulation of air through its sides, enabled us to
enjoy without any annoyance from heat or insects. One interruption
only disturbed our first sleep; it was the pleasing melody of the evening
hymn, which, after the lights were put out, was chaunted by the whole CHAP.
family in the middle of the room. In the morning also we were awoke
by their morning hymn, and family devotion. As we were much tired, Dec.
and the sun’s rays had not yet found their way through the broad
opening of the apartment, we composed ourselves to rest again; and
on awaking found that all the natives were gone to their several occupations,—
the men to offer what assistance they could to our boats in
landing, carrying burthens for the seamen, or to gather what fruits were
in season. Some of the women had taken our linen to wash; those
whose turn it was to cook for the day were preparing the oven, the
pig, and the yams; and we could hear, by the distant reiterated strokes
of the beater *, that others were engaged in the manufacture of cloth.
By our bedside had already been placed some ripe fruits; and our hats
were crowned with chaplets of the fresh blossom of the nono, or flower-
tree {morinda citrifolia), which the women had gathered in the freshness
of the morning dew. On looking round the apartment, though it
contained several beds, we found no partition, curtain, or screens; they
had not yet been considered necessary. So far, indeed, from concealment
being thought of, when we were about to get up, the women,
anxious to show their attention, assembled to wish us a good morning,
and to inquire in what way they could best contribute to our comforts,
and to present us with some little gift, which the produce of the
island afforded. Many persons would have felt awkward at rising and
dressing before so many pretty black-eyed damsels assembled in the
centre of a spacious room; but by a little habit we overcame this embarrassment
; and found the benefit of tlieir services in fetching water as
we required it, and substituting clean linen for such as we pulled off.
It must be remembered, that with these people, as with the other
islanders of the South Seas, the custom has generally been to go naked,
the maro with the men excepted, and with the women the petticoat,
or kilt, with a loose covering over the bust, which, indeed, in Pitcairn’s
Island, they are always careful to conceal; consequently, an exposure
to that extent carried with it no feeUng whatever of indelicacy ; or, I
* T 'h is is a n in s t r u m e n t u s e d fo r th e m a n u f a c tu r e o f th e ir c lo th .
i i ’