1835. 



HAKSH USAGE OF INFIllM. 



551 



unkind, and utterly inattentive to the old and infirm : — they 

 were yet worse : they scrupled not to destroy their aged or sick, 

 yes, even their parents, if disabled by age or by sickness.* 



Mr. Wilson assured me that in former times, when a person 

 had lingered in sickness, they would carry him to the water- 

 side, under pretence of bathing him, dig a hole, and bury him 

 alive I Thus they ended the life of a young man who had 

 been servant to Mr. Wilson, imtil he sickened, and, by the 

 natives, was supposed to be dying. Mr. Wilson tried all he 

 could do, in the way of medical assistance, and had hopes of 

 his recovery, when he suddenly disappeared : and not until a 

 long time afterwards could he ascertain the horrid cruelty of 

 which the natives had been guilty ! 



That they do not even now pay that attention to infirm old 

 age which, in our estimation, is a sacred duty, may be in- 

 ferred from the following anecdote. Mr. Stokes rambled into 

 a secluded spot near Matavai, where, surrounded by old 

 trees, stood a small and tottering hut. On a filthy worn-out 

 mat, lay a venerable looking old man, hardly covered by a 

 ragged cloth. His only friend, an aged hobbling dog, limped 

 to his side as if hoping that his example would excite some one 

 to show compassion to the old man, his master. 



The helpless state of this poor sufferer, whose legs were 

 swollen by elephantiasis to an unwieldy bulk, and his utter 

 destitution, induced Mr. Stokes to make immediate inquiries, 

 and endeavour to get him relieved from some of his misery. 

 It was ascertained that a daughter and son-in-law were 

 usually living with him, but the new 'manua'' had engrossed 

 their attention, and the poor father had been left to the care 

 of his faithful though helpless dog ! 



At Matavai the memory of the captain of H.M.S. ' Racoon,' 

 known as the ' long captain,' also as ' Tapane matapo,' or 

 ' Captain blind eye,' is still cherished. The conduct of both 

 him and the officers of the Racoon, seems to have highly de- 

 lighted all classes. How pleasant it is to hear a countryman, 



* From enquiries made among the missionaries and natives, I con-- 

 vinced myself of this startlina: fact. 



