270 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
' C 
CHAP. X. 
Former diseases in the islands comparatively few and mild—Priests the 
general physicians—Native practice of physic—Its intimate connexion 
with sorcery—Gods of the healing art—The tuabu, or broken back- 
insanity—Native warm-bath—Oculists—Surgery—Setting a broken 
neck and back—The operation of trepan—Native remedies superseded 
by European medicine—Need of a more abundant supply—Former 
cruelty towards the sick—Parricide—Present treatment of invalids 
—Visits to Maeva—Native fisheries—Prohibitions—Enclosures—Sal¬ 
mon and other nets—Use of the spear—Various kinds of hooks and 
lines—The vaa tira — Fishing by torch-light — Instance of native 
honesty.—Death of Messrs. Tessier 2ind Bicknell—Dying charge to the 
people—Missionary responsibility. 
The diseases formerly prevailing among the South Sea 
Islanders were comparatively few; those from which they 
now suffer are principally pulmonary, intermittent, and 
cutaneous. The most fatal are, according to their 
account, of recent origin. While idolaters, they were 
accustomed to consider every bodily affliction as the 
result of the anger of their gods; and the priest was a 
more important personage, in time of sickness, than the 
physician. Native practitioners who were almost 
invariably priests or sorcerers, were accustomed to apply 
such healing remedies as the islands afforded ; and an 
invocation to some spirit or god attended the administra¬ 
tion of every medicine. Tama, Taaroatuihono, Eteate, 
and Rearea, were the principal gods of physic and sur¬ 
gery. The former, in particular, was invoked for the 
cure of fractures and bruises. 
