274 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
whether it he of recent origin or not in Tahiti, it is^ 
very affecting to witness the numbers that have suf¬ 
fered; and we cannot but hope that as industry and civili¬ 
zation advance, and their mode of living improves, it will 
in an equal ratio disappear from among them. 
Blindness is frequently induced by the same disease as 
that which precedes the spinal curvature. The condi¬ 
tion of the blind, when suffered to live, must, under the 
reign of idolatry, have been truly lamentable—they were 
generally objects of derision and neglect, if not of wan¬ 
ton cruelty. 
Insanity prevailed in a slight degree, but individuals 
under its influence met with a very different kind of 
treatment. They were supposed to be inspired or pos¬ 
sessed by some god, whom the natives imagined had 
entered every one suffering under mental aberrations. 
On this account no control was exercised, but the highest 
respect was shewn them. They were, however, generally 
avoided, and their actions were considered as the deeds 
of the god, rather than the man. Under these circum¬ 
stances, when the poor wretch became his own destroyer, 
it was not regarded as an event to be deplored. Deaf¬ 
ness was sometimes experienced; and there are a few per¬ 
sons in the islands who can neither speak nor hear dis¬ 
tinctly. 
In their application to particular diseases, the priests 
manifested considerable acquaintance with the medicinal 
properties of the herbs, and their adaptation to the disease, 
to relieve which they were employed; but their practice 
must have been very uncertain and ineffectual, though 
they were held in high esteem by all ranks. Convul¬ 
sions being sometimes experienced, were considered 
to result from the direct power of the god. Sudden 
