It happened thus. There was a Marquesan in the train of Pomaree who officiated as nurse to her children. According to the Tahitian custom, the royal youngsters are carried about until it requires no small degree of strength to stand up under them. But Marbonna was just the man for this—large and muscular, well made as a statue, and with an arm like a degenerate2 Tahitian's thigh3.
Embarking4 at his native island as a sailor on board of a French whaler, he afterward5 ran away from the ship at Tahiti; where, being seen and admired by Pomaree, he had been prevailed upon to enlist6 in her service.
Often, when visiting the grounds, we saw him walking about in the shade, carrying two handsome boys, who encircled his neck with their arms. Marbonna's face, tattooed7 as it was in the ornate style of his tribe, was as good as a picture-book to these young Pomarees. They delighted to trace with their fingers the outlines of the strange shapes there delineated.
The first time my eyes lighted upon the Marquesan, I knew his country in a moment; and hailing him in his own language, he turned round, surprised that a person so speaking should be a stranger. He proved to be a native of Tior, a glen of Nukuheva. I had visited the place more than once; and so, on the island of Imeeo, we met like old friends.
In my frequent conversations with him over the bamboo picket8, I found this islander a philosopher of nature—a wild heathen, moralizing upon the vices9 and follies10 of the Christian11 court of Tahiti—a savage12, scorning the degeneracy of the people among whom fortune had thrown him.
I was amazed at the national feelings of the man. No European, when abroad, could speak of his country with more pride than Marbonna. He assured me, again and again, that so soon as he had obtained sufficient money to purchase twenty muskets13, and as many bags of powder, he was going to return to a place with which Imeeo was not worthy14 to be compared.
It was Marbonna who, after one or two unsuccessful attempts, at last brought about our admission into the queen's grounds. Through a considerable crowd he conducted us along the pier15 to where an old man was sitting, to whom he introduced us as a couple of "karhowrees" of his acquaintance, anxious to see the sights of the palace. The venerable chamberlain stared at us, and shook his head: the doctor, thinking he wanted a fee, placed a plug of tobacco in his hand. This was ingratiating, and we were permitted to pass on. Upon the point of entering one of the houses, Marbonna's name was shouted in half-a-dozen different directions, and he was obliged to withdraw.
Thus left at the very threshold to shift for ourselves, my companion's assurance stood us in good stead. He stalked right in, and I followed. The place was full of women, who, instead of exhibiting the surprise we expected, accosted16 us as cordially as if we had called to take our Souchong with them by express invitation. In the first place, nothing would do but we must each devour17 a calabash of "poee," and several roasted bananas. Pipes were then lighted, and a brisk conversation ensued.
These ladies of the court, if not very polished, were surprisingly free and easy in their manners; quite as much so as King Charles's beauties. There was one of them—an arch little miss, who could converse18 with us pretty fluently—to whom we strove to make ourselves particularly agreeable, with the view of engaging her services as cicerone.
As such, she turned out to be everything we could desire. No one disputing her will, every place was entered without ceremony, curtains brushed aside, mats lifted, and each nook and corner explored. Whether the little damsel carried her mistress' signet, that everything opened to her thus, I know not; but Marbonna himself, the bearer of infants, could not have been half so serviceable.
Among other houses which we visited, was one of large size and fine exterior19; the special residence of a European—formerly the mate of a merchant vessel,—who had done himself the honour of marrying into the Pomaree family. The lady he wedded20 being a near kinswoman of the queen, he became a permanent member of her majesty21's household. This adventurer rose late, dressed theatrically22 in calico and trinkets, assumed a dictatorial23 tone in conversation, and was evidently upon excellent terms with himself.
We found him reclining on a mat, smoking a reed-pipe of tobacco, in the midst of an admiring circle of chiefs and ladies. He must have noticed our approach; but instead of rising and offering civilities, he went on talking and smoking, without even condescending24 to look at us.
"His Highness feels his 'poee,'" carelessly observed the doctor. The rest of the company gave us the ordinary salutation, our guide announcing us beforehand.
In answer to our earnest requests to see the queen, we were now conducted to an edifice25, by far the most spacious26, in the inclosure. It was at least one hundred and fifty feet in length, very wide, with low eaves, and an exceedingly steep roof of pandannas leaves. There were neither doors nor windows—nothing along the sides but the slight posts supporting the rafters. Between these posts, curtains of fine matting and tappa were rustling27, all round; some of them were festooned, or partly withdrawn28, so as to admit light and air, and afford a glimpse now and then of what was going on within.
Pushing aside one of the screens, we entered. The apartment was one immense hall; the long and lofty ridge-pole fluttering with fringed matting and tassels29, full forty feet from the ground. Lounges of mats, piled one upon another, extended on either side: while here and there were slight screens, forming as many recesses30, where groups of natives—all females—were reclining at their evening meal.
As we advanced, these various parties ceased their buzzing, and in explanation of our appearance among them, listened to a few cabalistic words from our guide.
The whole scene was a strange one; but what most excited our surprise was the incongruous assemblage of the most costly31 objects from all quarters of the globe. Cheek by jowl, they lay beside the rudest native articles, without the slightest attempt at order. Superb writing-desks of rosewood, inlaid with silver and mother-of-pearl; decanters and goblets32 of cut glass; embossed volumes of plates; gilded33 candelabra; sets of globes and mathematical instruments; the finest porcelain34; richly-mounted sabres and fowling-pieces; laced hats and sumptuous35 garments of all sorts, with numerous other matters of European manufacture, were strewn about among greasy36 calabashes half-filled with "poee," rolls of old tappa and matting, paddles and fish-spears, and the ordinary furniture of a Tahitian dwelling37.
All the articles first mentioned were, doubtless, presents from foreign powers. They were more or less injured: the fowling-pieces and swords were rusted38; the finest woods were scratched; and a folio volume of Hogarth lay open, with a cocoa-nut shell of some musty preparation capsized among the miscellaneous furniture of the Rake's apartment, where that inconsiderate young gentleman is being measured for a coat.
While we were amusing ourselves in this museum of curiosities, our conductor plucked us by the sleeve, and whispered, "Pomaree! Pomaree! armai kow kow."
"She is coming to sup, then," said the doctor, staring in the direction indicated. "What say you, Paul, suppose we step up?" Just then a curtain near by lifted, and from a private building a few yards distant the queen entered, unattended.
She wore a loose gown of blue silk, with two rich shawls, one red and the other yellow, tied about her neck. Her royal majesty was barefooted.
She was about the ordinary size, rather matronly; her features not very handsome; her mouth, voluptuous39; but there was a care-worn expression in her face, probably attributable to her late misfortunes. From her appearance, one would judge her about forty; but she is not so old.
As the queen approached one of the recesses, her attendants hurried up, escorted her in, and smoothed the mats on which she at last reclined. Two girls soon appeared, carrying their mistress' repast; and then, surrounded by cut-glass and porcelain, and jars of sweetmeats and confections, Pomaree Vahinee I., the titular40 Queen of Tahiti, ate fish and "poee" out of her native calabashes, disdaining41 either knife or spoon.
"Come on," whispered Long Ghost, "let's have an audience at once;" and he was on the point of introducing himself, when our guide, quite alarmed, held him back and implored42 silence. The other natives also interfered43, and, as he was pressing forward, raised such an outcry that Pomaree lifted her eyes and saw us for the first.
She seemed surprised and offended, and, issuing an order in a commanding tone to several of her women, waved us out of the house. Summary as the dismissal was, court etiquette44, no doubt, required our compliance45. We withdrew; making a profound inclination46 as we disappeared behind the tappa arras.
We departed the ground without seeing Marbonna; and previous to vaulting47 over the picket, feed our pretty guide after a fashion of our own. Looking round a few moments after, we saw the damsel escorted back by two men, who seemed to have been sent after her. I trust she received nothing more than a reprimand.
The next day Po-Po informed us that strict orders had been issued to admit no strangers within the palace precincts.
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1
hegira
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| n.逃亡 | |
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degenerate
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| v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者 | |
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3
thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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4
embarking
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| 乘船( embark的现在分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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enlist
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| vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍 | |
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7
tattooed
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| v.刺青，文身( tattoo的过去式和过去分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击 | |
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picket
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| n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫 | |
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9
vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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follies
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| 罪恶，时事讽刺剧； 愚蠢，蠢笨，愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) | |
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11
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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12
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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13
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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14
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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16
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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theatrically
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| adv.戏剧化地 | |
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dictatorial
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| adj. 独裁的，专断的 | |
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24
condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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25
edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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29
tassels
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| n.穗( tassel的名词复数 )；流苏状物；（植物的）穗；玉蜀黍的穗状雄花v.抽穗， （玉米）长穗须( tassel的第三人称单数 )；使抽穗， （为了使作物茁壮生长）摘去穗状雄花；用流苏装饰 | |
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30
recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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31
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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32
goblets
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| n.高脚酒杯( goblet的名词复数 ) | |
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33
gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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34
porcelain
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| n.瓷；adj.瓷的，瓷制的 | |
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35
sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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36
greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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37
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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38
rusted
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| v.（使）生锈( rust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
voluptuous
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| adj.肉欲的，骄奢淫逸的 | |
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40
titular
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| adj.名义上的，有名无实的；n.只有名义（或头衔）的人 | |
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41
disdaining
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| 鄙视( disdain的现在分词 )； 不屑于做，不愿意做 | |
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42
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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44
etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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45
compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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46
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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47
vaulting
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| n.（天花板或屋顶的）拱形结构 | |
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