716
to lie around and gossip, to smoke, to
sit and "moon" over the industry, the greatness,
and the monuments of his ancestors, the
degeneracy and decadence of his race, perhaps, and
his own utter and ineradicable worthlessness
individually. Natural covetousness and desire
for the possession of lucre may tempt him to
serve the white man for a time, but he soon tires
of his work, which speedily becomes irksome to
him. And while he may exert himself a trifle
occasionally, in the way of fishing, or in the
cultivation of an 8 by 10 patch of sugar cane,
taro, and sweet potato, it is only as a matter of
necessity, to keep body and soul together, and he
infinitely prefers idleness and the enjoyment of
his dolce farniente.
Intoxicating drinks of any description, even kava,
so common in the islands to the westward, are
unknown to these people, and neither do Mr.
Salmon, or the other foreign residents, keep any
liquors in their possession. While, therefore, it
is true that here, as elsewhere among uncivilized
peoples, contact with the European has been
attended by their gradual extinction, it can not
be said that all the usual factors obtain in this
instance, since neither the venereal poison nor
intoxicants exist on the island. Consequently,
these can not be assigned as causes of the
decadence of the Rapa Nuiis. Deportation, forced
and voluntary, smallpox, and customs, elsewhere
mentioned in this paper, will explain their
gradual extinction, in part, at least, while the
fact remains that their seemingly inevitable
destiny was vastly accelerated when the white man
set foot upon their mysterious, mid-ocean island.
The rite of circumcision, so common in the other
islands, is unknown here, nor does their language
possess an equivalent word.
As may be inferred from the preponderance of the
male over the female portion of the community the
latter are in demand, and the supply not being
equal to it, the women are a source of great
solicitude; much consideration is shown them;
they are fairly well taken care of, and are
treated, generally, with kindness, not to say
affection. Polygamy, under the circumstances, does
not, of course, exist and celibacy, it may be
said, only from necessity, since there are not
enough females.
While it can not be truthfully claimed that
polyandry, in the strict acceptation of the term,
obtains among them, they have a custom which very
nearly approaches that practice, as will appear
presently.
At the present day the ceremonies of the church,
measurably at least, govern their marriages;
nevertheless the ancient custom still prevails, to
a considerable extent, and in a few words it is
this: When a boy arrives at the age of, say 12
years, his father looks about him for a suitable
life-companion, of the opposite sex, for the young
hopeful. Having discovered one to his liking the
father proceeds to interview the parents of the
damsel, who is perhaps of the same age, or more
likely younger than her prospective lord, declares
his intentions matrimonial and negotiations are
then entered into. After a due amount of haggling
as to the value of the girl, during which the
parents of the
716