Identifier: sandwichislandno01bate (find matches)
Title: Sandwich island notes
Year: 1854 (1850s)
Authors: Bates, George Washington
Subjects:
Publisher: New York, Harper
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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=ToIs77vC-BAtWlr NATIVE FEMALE—MODE OF SITTING. I sat smoking a cigar. Just before me sat a young woman,nude to the waist, and covered with a syphilitic eruption.Her hair was hanging down her back in tangled and filthy 284 SANDWICH ISLAND NOTES. masses. In that condition she was feeding her child from Natures Nile. And that infant, from the crown of itshead to the soles of its feet—for it was quite nude—was cov-ered, like its mother, with a disgusting cutaneous disease. Ilooked another way, and several parties were performing com-ic acts which should never be performed only behind the thickcurtain of night. But my presence and the light of day hadnot the least influence on their motives and actions, for theycompleted what they so unceremoniously begun—amid theshouts of the by-standers.
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NATIVE MAN—MODE OF SITTING. There were indications that these unseemly performanceshad not come to a close, and I was resolved on seeing all Icould of native morality. Three of the younger womenplaced themselves in a state of nature, and commenced danc-ing the hula hula* to the music of a native flute and drum.Their intricate gyrations I can not attempt to describe, for Ipossess not the talent of a dancing-master, nor could any formof written language assume a sufficient modesty to attempt a * The licentious dance. TEST OF NATIVE CHARACTER. 285 description of that scene. Its results, however, were to excitethe animal passions to the highest degree beyond endurance.In the midst of this excitement, a danseuse advanced towardme, and before I could repel the movement, she had taken aseat on my shoulders, precisely as a horseman would mounthis saddle. What else occurred in that domicile I know not.With me it was the last act in the drama, for I moved thewoman from her posture, rose to my

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