Illingzvorth — Barly references to Haivadian entomology 5 



sects, taken during the voyage, were described later in separate papers, of 

 which the most important are his "Entomographien" (8). 



A missionary, James Montgomery, states that the boat used by his party 

 swarmed with cockroaches at the time of its arrival in Hawaii (1822) 

 (15, Vol. I, p. 365). In describing a gathering at a mission service, he 

 says (15, Vol. I, p. 417), "... members of the royal family had 

 servants in attendance with fly-flaps and fans of peacock's feathers to 

 cool their faces and drive away the troublesome insects." He says also 

 (15, Vol. I, p. 434): 



There are no mosquitoes here; neither are there any bugs. When the latter 

 are brought on shore in bedding or packages from shipboard, they presently die; 

 the climate of the Society Islands is equally fatal to them. Flies are very numerous 

 and annoying, . . . The few spiders, moths and dragon flies which we have 

 seen, much resemble those of the South Sea Islands. 



In referring to the table manners of the natives, Montgomery (Vol. I, 



p. 472) writes: 



When a common fly was found drowned in their messes, they seemed at once 

 to grow sick and turn away their faces with no equivocal expression of utter 

 loathing. Flies, indeed, may be said to be an abomination with these savages — 

 probably from some superstitious prejudice, for vermin far more disgusting are 

 greedily picked by them from their own bodies — nay, from the very dogs — and 

 devoured. 



Gilbert F. Mathison, an English traveler, also retnarked upon the 

 troublesome house flies. In speaking of the chiefs in their home life 

 (9, p. 365), he says he found "some asleep, some fanning away the flies 

 . . . " He further states that the queen at the mission service "was 

 attended by several female servants, carrying fly-fans" (9, p. 378). When 

 dining with the natives, he notes (9. p. 401), "One brushed away 

 the flies . . ." 



C. S. Stewart, a London missionary who spent several years in the 

 islands, also made reference (11, p. 153) to these annoying insects, de- 

 scribing the natives as "eating poe surrounded by swarms of flies . . ." 

 Further, in referring to the unsanitary conditions and skin diseases of the 

 people, he remarked the prevalence of head-lice, saying: 



Dozens may, at any time, be seen sporting among the decorated locks of 

 ignoble heads ; while, not infrequently, a privileged few wend their way through 

 the garlands of princes of the blood, or trimuphantly mount the coronets of majesty 

 itself. 



As to the servants of the chiefs and the common people, we think ourselves 

 fortunate indeed, if, after a call of a few minutes, we do not find living testimonies 

 of their visit, on our mats and floors, and even on our clothes and persons ! The 

 bare relation of the fact, without the experience of it, is sufficiently shocking. But 

 the half is not told ; and, I scarce dare let the truth, here, run to its climax. The 

 lower classes not only suffer their heads and tapas to harbour these vermin ; but 

 they openly and unblushingly eat them! Yet so fastidious are they in point of 

 cleanliness, than an emetic could scarce be more efficaciously administered than to 

 cause them to eat from a dish in which a fly had been drowned ! So much for 

 the force of custom, and the power of habit ! 



