Husband and Wife
THE trader accustomed to the manners of Eastern Polynesia has a lesson to learn among the Gilberts. The RIDI is but a spare attire1; as late as thirty years back the women went naked until marriage; within ten years the custom lingered; and these facts, above all when heard in description, conveyed a very false idea of the manners of the group. A very intelligent missionary2 described it (in its former state) as a ‘Paradise of naked women’ for the resident whites. It was at least a platonic3 Paradise, where Lothario ventured at his peril4. Since 1860, fourteen whites have perished on a single island, all for the same cause, all found where they had no business, and speared by some indignant father of a family; the figure was given me by one of their contemporaries who had been more prudent5 and survived. The strange persistence6 of these fourteen martyrs7 might seem to point to monomania or a series of romantic passions; gin is the more likely key. The poor buzzards sat alone in their houses by an open case; they drank; their brain was fired; they stumbled towards the nearest houses on chance; and the dart8 went through their liver. In place of a Paradise the trader found an archipelago of fierce husbands and of virtuous9 women. ‘Of course if you wish to make love to them, it’s the same as anywhere else,’ observed a trader innocently; but he and his companions rarely so choose.
The trader must be credited with a virtue10: he often makes a kind and loyal husband. Some of the worst beachcombers in the Pacific, some of the last of the old school, have fallen in my path, and some of them were admirable to their native wives, and one made a despairing widower11. The position of a trader’s wife in the Gilberts is, besides, unusually enviable. She shares the immunities12 of her husband. Curfew in Butaritari sounds for her in vain. Long after the bell is rung and the great island ladies are confined for the night to their own roof, this chartered libertine13 may scamper14 and giggle15 through the deserted16 streets or go down to bathe in the dark. The resources of the store are at her hand; she goes arrayed like a queen, and feasts delicately everyday upon tinned meats. And she who was perhaps of no regard or station among natives sits with captains, and is entertained on board of schooners17. Five of these privileged dames18 were some time our neighbours. Four were handsome skittish20 lasses, gamesome like children, and like children liable to fits of pouting21. They wore dresses by day, but there was a tendency after dark to strip these lendings and to career and squall about the compound in the aboriginal22 RIDI. Games of cards were continually played, with shells for counters; their course was much marred23 by cheating; and the end of a round (above all if a man was of the party) resolved itself into a scrimmage for the counters. The fifth was a matron. It was a picture to see her sail to church on a Sunday, a parasol in hand, a nursemaid following, and the baby buried in a trade hat and armed with a patent feeding-bottle. The service was enlivened by her continual supervision24 and correction of the maid. It was impossible not to fancy the baby was a doll, and the church some European playroom. All these women were legitimately25 married. It is true that the certificate of one, when she proudly showed it, proved to run thus, that she was ‘married for one night,’ and her gracious partner was at liberty to ‘send her to hell’ the next morning; but she was none the wiser or the worse for the dastardly trick. Another, I heard, was married on a work of mine in a pirated edition; it answered the purpose as well as a Hall Bible. Notwithstanding all these allurements27 of social distinction, rare food and raiment, a comparative vacation from toil28, and legitimate26 marriage contracted on a pirated edition, the trader must sometimes seek long before he can be mated. While I was in the group one had been eight months on the quest, and he was still a bachelor.
Within strictly29 native society the old laws and practices were harsh, but not without a certain stamp of high-mindedness. Stealthy adultery was punished with death; open elopement was properly considered virtue in comparison, and compounded for a fine in land. The male adulterer alone seems to have been punished. It is correct manners for a jealous man to hang himself; a jealous woman has a different remedy — she bites her rival. Ten or twenty years ago it was a capital offence to raise a woman’s RIDI; to this day it is still punished with a heavy fine; and the garment itself is still symbolically30 sacred. Suppose a piece of land to be disputed in Butaritari, the claimant who shall first hang a RIDI on the tapu-post has gained his cause, since no one can remove or touch it but himself.
The RIDI was the badge not of the woman but the wife, the mark not of her sex but of her station. It was the collar on the slave’s neck, the brand on merchandise. The adulterous woman seems to have been spared; were the husband offended, it would be a poor consolation31 to send his draught32 cattle to the shambles33. Karaiti, to this day, calls his eight wives ‘his horses,’ some trader having explained to him the employment of these animals on farms; and Nanteitei hired out his wives to do mason-work. Husbands, at least when of high rank, had the power of life and death; even whites seem to have possessed34 it; and their wives, when they had transgressed35 beyond forgiveness, made haste to pronounce the formula of deprecation — I KANA KIM. This form of words had so much virtue that a condemned36 criminal repeating it on a particular day to the king who had condemned him, must be instantly released. It is an offer of abasement37, and, strangely enough, the reverse — the imitation — is a common vulgar insult in Great Britain to this day. I give a scene between a trader and his Gilbert Island wife, as it was told me by the husband, now one of the oldest residents, but then a freshman38 in the group.
‘Go and light a fire,’ said the trader, ‘and when I have brought this oil I will cook some fish.’ The woman grunted39 at him, island fashion. ‘I am not a pig that you should grunt40 at me,’ said he.
‘I know you are not a pig,’ said the woman, ‘neither am I your slave.’
‘To be sure you are not my slave, and if you do not care to stop with me, you had better go home to your people,’ said he. ‘But in the mean time go and light the fire; and when I have brought this oil I will cook some fish.’
She went as if to obey; and presently when the trader looked she had built a fire so big that the cook-house was catching41 in flames.
‘I KANA KIM!’ she cried, as she saw him coming; but he recked not, and hit her with a cooking-pot. The leg pierced her skull43, blood spouted44, it was thought she was a dead woman, and the natives surrounded the house in a menacing expectation. Another white was present, a man of older experience. ‘You will have us both killed if you go on like this,’ he cried. ‘She had said I KANA KIM!’ If she had not said I KANA KIM he might have struck her with a caldron. It was not the blow that made the crime, but the disregard of an accepted formula.
Polygamy, the particular sacredness of wives, their semi-servile state, their seclusion45 in kings’ harems, even their privilege of biting, all would seem to indicate a Mohammedan society and the opinion of the soullessness of woman. And not so in the least. It is a mere46 appearance. After you have studied these extremes in one house, you may go to the next and find all reversed, the woman the mistress, the man only the first of her thralls47. The authority is not with the husband as such, nor the wife as such. It resides in the chief or the chief-woman; in him or her who has inherited the lands of the clan48, and stands to the clansman in the place of parent, exacting49 their service, answerable for their fines. There is but the one source of power and the one ground of dignity — rank. The king married a chief-woman; she became his menial, and must work with her hands on Messrs. Wightman’s pier42. The king divorced her; she regained50 at once her former state and power. She married the Hawaiian sailor, and behold51 the man is her flunkey and can be shown the door at pleasure. Nay52, and such low-born lords are even corrected physically53, and, like grown but dutiful children, must endure the discipline.
We were intimate in one such household, that of Nei Takauti and Nan Tok’; I put the lady first of necessity. During one week of fool’s paradise, Mrs. Stevenson had gone alone to the sea-side of the island after shells. I am very sure the proceeding54 was unsafe; and she soon perceived a man and woman watching her. Do what she would, her guardians55 held her steadily56 in view; and when the afternoon began to fall, and they thought she had stayed long enough, took her in charge, and by signs and broken English ordered her home. On the way the lady drew from her earring-hole a clay pipe, the husband lighted it, and it was handed to my unfortunate wife, who knew not how to refuse the incommodious favour; and when they were all come to our house, the pair sat down beside her on the floor, and improved the occasion with prayer. From that day they were our family friends; bringing thrice a day the beautiful island garlands of white flowers, visiting us any evening, and frequently carrying us down to their own maniap’ in return, the woman leading Mrs. Stevenson by the hand like one child with another.
Nan Tok’, the husband, was young, extremely handsome, of the most approved good humour, and suffering in his precarious57 station from suppressed high spirits. Nei Takauti, the wife, was getting old; her grown son by a former marriage had just hanged himself before his mother’s eyes in despair at a well-merited rebuke58. Perhaps she had never been beautiful, but her face was full of character, her eye of sombre fire. She was a high chief-woman, but by a strange exception for a person of her rank, was small, spare, and sinewy59, with lean small hands and corded neck. Her full dress of an evening was invariably a white chemise — and for adornment60, green leaves (or sometimes white blossoms) stuck in her hair and thrust through her huge earring-holes. The husband on the contrary changed to view like a kaleidoscope. Whatever pretty thing my wife might have given to Nei Takauti — a string of beads61, a ribbon, a piece of bright fabric62 — appeared the next evening on the person of Nan Tok’. It was plain he was a clothes-horse; that he wore livery; that, in a word, he was his wife’s wife. They reversed the parts indeed, down to the least particular; it was the husband who showed himself the ministering angel in the hour of pain, while the wife displayed the apathy63 and heartlessness of the proverbial man.
When Nei Takauti had a headache Nan Tok’ was full of attention and concern. When the husband had a cold and a racking toothache the wife heeded64 not, except to jeer65. It is always the woman’s part to fill and light the pipe; Nei Takauti handed hers in silence to the wedded66 page; but she carried it herself, as though the page were not entirely67 trusted. Thus she kept the money, but it was he who ran the errands, anxiously sedulous68. A cloud on her face dimmed instantly his beaming looks; on an early visit to their maniap’ my wife saw he had cause to be wary69. Nan Tok’ had a friend with him, a giddy young thing, of his own age and sex; and they had worked themselves into that stage of jocularity when consequences are too often disregarded. Nei Takauti mentioned her own name. Instantly Nan Tok’ held up two fingers, his friend did likewise, both in an ecstasy70 of slyness. It was plain the lady had two names; and from the nature of their merriment, and the wrath71 that gathered on her brow, there must be something ticklish72 in the second. The husband pronounced it; a well-directed cocoa-nut from the hand of his wife caught him on the side of the head, and the voices and the mirth of these indiscreet young gentlemen ceased for the day.
The people of Eastern Polynesia are never at a loss; their etiquette73 is absolute and plenary; in every circumstance it tells them what to do and how to do it. The Gilbertines are seemingly more free, and pay for their freedom (like ourselves) in frequent perplexity. This was often the case with the topsy-turvy couple. We had once supplied them during a visit with a pipe and tobacco; and when they had smoked and were about to leave, they found themselves confronted with a problem: should they take or leave what remained of the tobacco? The piece of plug was taken up, it was laid down again, it was handed back and forth74, and argued over, till the wife began to look haggard and the husband elderly. They ended by taking it, and I wager75 were not yet clear of the compound before they were sure they had decided76 wrong. Another time they had been given each a liberal cup of coffee, and Nan Tok’ with difficulty and disaffection made an end of his. Nei Takauti had taken some, she had no mind for more, plainly conceived it would be a breach77 of manners to set down the cup unfinished, and ordered her wedded retainer to dispose of what was left. ‘I have swallowed all I can, I cannot swallow more, it is a physical impossibility,’ he seemed to say; and his stern officer reiterated78 her commands with secret imperative79 signals. Luckless dog! but in mere humanity we came to the rescue and removed the cup.
I cannot but smile over this funny household; yet I remember the good souls with affection and respect. Their attention to ourselves was surprising. The garlands are much esteemed80, the blossoms must be sought far and wide; and though they had many retainers to call to their aid, we often saw themselves passing afield after the blossoms, and the wife engaged with her own in putting them together. It was no want of only that disregard so incident to husbands, that made Nei Takauti despise the sufferings of Nan Tok’. When my wife was unwell she proved a diligent81 and kindly82 nurse; and the pair, to the extreme embarrassment83 of the sufferer, became fixtures84 in the sick-room. This rugged85, capable, imperious old dame19, with the wild eyes, had deep and tender qualities: her pride in her young husband it seemed that she dissembled, fearing possibly to spoil him; and when she spoke86 of her dead son there came something tragic87 in her face. But I seemed to trace in the Gilbertines a virility88 of sense and sentiment which distinguishes them (like their harsh and uncouth89 language) from their brother islanders in the east.
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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platonic
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| adj.精神的；柏拉图（哲学）的 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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persistence
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| n.坚持，持续，存留 | |
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martyrs
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| n.martyr的复数形式；烈士( martyr的名词复数 )；殉道者；殉教者；乞怜者（向人诉苦以博取同情） | |
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dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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widower
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| n.鳏夫 | |
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immunities
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| 免除，豁免( immunity的名词复数 )； 免疫力 | |
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libertine
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| n.淫荡者；adj.放荡的，自由思想的 | |
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scamper
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| v.奔跑，快跑 | |
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giggle
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| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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schooners
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| n.（有两个以上桅杆的）纵帆船( schooner的名词复数 ) | |
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dames
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| n.（在英国）夫人（一种封号），夫人（爵士妻子的称号）( dame的名词复数 )；女人 | |
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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skittish
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| adj.易激动的，轻佻的 | |
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pouting
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| v.撅（嘴）( pout的现在分词 ) | |
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aboriginal
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| adj.（指动植物）土生的，原产地的，土著的 | |
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marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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legitimately
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| ad.合法地；正当地，合理地 | |
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legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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allurements
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| n.诱惑( allurement的名词复数 )；吸引；诱惑物；有诱惑力的事物 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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symbolically
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| ad.象征地，象征性地 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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shambles
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| n.混乱之处；废墟 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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transgressed
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| v.超越( transgress的过去式和过去分词 )；越过；违反；违背 | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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abasement
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| n.滥用 | |
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freshman
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| n.大学一年级学生(可兼指男女) | |
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grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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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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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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spouted
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| adj.装有嘴的v.（指液体）喷出( spout的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水 | |
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seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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thralls
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| n.奴隶( thrall的名词复数 )；奴役；奴隶制；奴隶般受支配的人 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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exacting
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| adj.苛求的，要求严格的 | |
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regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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guardians
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| 监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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adornment
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| n.装饰；装饰品 | |
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beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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fabric
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| n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织 | |
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apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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heeded
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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jeer
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| vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评 | |
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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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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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sedulous
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| adj.勤勉的，努力的 | |
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wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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ticklish
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| adj.怕痒的；问题棘手的；adv.怕痒地；n.怕痒，小心处理 | |
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etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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76
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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77
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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78
reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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80
esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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81
diligent
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| adj.勤勉的，勤奋的 | |
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82
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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83
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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84
fixtures
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| （房屋等的）固定装置( fixture的名词复数 )； 如（浴盆、抽水马桶）； 固定在某位置的人或物； （定期定点举行的）体育活动 | |
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85
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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86
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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87
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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88
virility
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| n.雄劲，丈夫气 | |
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89
uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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