1C4 DISEASES. 



and joints to localize the pain, and in striking the affected part 

 with the same leaf. On one occasion this man was himself laid up 

 with a large abscess in the buttock, which he attempted to cure by 

 tying a strip of the leaf around the thigh and by placing another 

 for a few moments over tlie seat of the abscess. He would not let 

 me do much for him ; and from absorption of the purulent matter 

 into the blood, a number of abscesses began to form in other parts 

 of the body which brought him into a serious hectic condition. 

 The poor fellow's cries of " Agai " " Agai," corresponding to our 

 exclamations of pain, made me feel acutely for him ; but he placed 

 little faith in our offices, his great desire, as intimated by his 

 frequent cries of " Fell " (Fire), was to be placed beside a large wood 

 fire. He was sent on shcre and given in charge of his wife on our 

 arrival off Treasury, When I landed to see him a few hours after, 

 I found him with his wish at last gratified ; there he lay beside a 

 roasting fire, the very last condition that seemed likely to promote 

 his recovery. However he slowly regained his health, and I did 

 what I could for him in buying sago and other articles of food from 

 his own people who were not very ready with their supplies for the 

 sick man. 



This brings me to the subject of the indifference often displayed 

 towards the sick and invahds. The natives view these things in a 

 very matter-of-fact way. On more than one occasion when in the 

 house of sickness, the son or the brother of the sick man has 

 remarked to me, in the coolest manner, " Him too much sick. I 

 think by-and-by finish ; " and it is astonishing to hear of the manner 

 in which they allow the sick to shift for themselves. In the islands 

 of Bougainville Straits the very aged, who are unable to get about 

 or to be of any service to themselves, are placed in a house in which 

 they are left alone although supplied with food ; and there they 

 remain until they die. Two old and decrepit men, who were both 

 fast hastening to their ends, being the subjects of chronic lung 

 affections, were placed together in a house in Treasury where they 

 were supplied with food but rarely if ever visited. They were 

 placed there to die as^he relations informed us ; and there they 

 remained day after day until the end arrived. Mr. Stephens told 

 me that in his island of Ugi, if a cocoa-nut is placed by the side of 

 the sick man, his friends consider they have done all in their power. 

 No attempt.is made to alleviate pain, or to soothe by companionship 

 the tedious hours of the sick. He lies deserted on his roughly 



