Omoo: Adventures in the South Seas

by Herman Melville

  The largest one of all, quite a bottle indeed, and having a sort ofburnt brandy odour, was labelled--"For Daniel, drink freely, anduntil relieved." This Black Dan proceeded to do; and would have madean end of it at once, had not the bottle, after a hard struggle, beensnatched from his hands, and passed round, like a jovial decanter.The old tar had complained of the effects of an immoderate eating offruit.

  Upon calling the following morning, our physician found his preciousrow of patients reclining behind the stocks, and doing "as well ascould be expected."

  But the pills and powders were found to have been perfectly inactive:probably because none had been taken. To make them efficacious, itwas suggested that, for the future, a bottle of Pisco should be sentalong with them. According to Flash Jack's notions, unmitigatedmedical compounds were but dry stuff at the best, and neededsomething good to wash them down.

  Thus far, our own M.D., Doctor Long Ghost, after starting the frolic,had taken no further part in it; but on the physician's third visit,he took him to one side, and had a private confabulation. What itwas, exactly, we could not tell; but from certain illustrative signsand gestures, I fancied that he was describing the symptoms of somemysterious disorganization of the vitals, which must have come onwithin the hour. Assisted by his familiarity with medical terms, heseemed to produce a marked impression. At last, Johnson went his way,promising aloud that he would send Long Ghost what he desired.

  When the medicine boy came along the following morning, the doctor wasthe first to accost him, walking off with a small purple vial. Thistime, there was little else in the basket but a case-bottle of theburnt brandy cordial, which, after much debate, was finally disposedof by someone pouring the contents, little by little, into the half ofa cocoa-nut shell, and so giving all who desired a glass. No furthermedicinal cheer remaining, the men dispersed.

  An hour or two passed, when Flash Jack directed attention to my longfriend, who, since the medicine boy left, had not been noticed tillnow. With eyes closed, he was lying behind the stocks, and Jack waslifting his arm and letting it fall as if life were extinct. Onrunning up with the rest, I at once connected the phenomenon with themysterious vial. Searching his pocket, I found it, and holding it up,it proved to be laudanum. Flash Jack, snatching it from my hand in arapture, quickly informed all present what it was; and with muchglee, proposed a nap for the company. Some of them not comprehendinghim exactly, the apparently defunct Long Ghost--who lay so still thatI a little suspected the genuineness of his sleep--was rolled about asan illustration of the virtues of the vial's contents. The ideatickled everybody mightily; and throwing themselves down, the magicdraught was passed from hand to hand. Thinking that, as a matter ofcourse, they must at once become insensible, each man, upon takinghis sip, fell back, and closed his eyes.

  There was little fear of the result, since the narcotic was equallydistributed. But, curious to see how it would operate, I raisedmyself gently after a while, and looked around. It was about noon,and perfectly still; and as we all daily took the siesta, I was notmuch surprised to find everyone quiet. Still, in one or two instances,I thought I detected a little peeping.

  Presently, I heard a footstep, and saw Doctor Johnson approaching.

  And perplexed enough did he look at the sight of his prostrate file ofpatients, plunged, apparently, in such unaccountable slumbers.

  "Daniel," he cried, at last, punching in the side with his cane theindividual thus designated--"Daniel, my good fellow, get up! do youhear?"

  But Black Dan was immovable; and he poked the next sleeper.

  "Joseph, Joseph! come, wake up! it's me, Doctor Johnson."

  But Jingling Joe, with mouth open, and eyes shut, was not to bestarted.

  "Bless my soul!" he exclaimed, with uplifted hands and cane, "what'sgot into 'em? I say, men"--he shouted, running up and down--"come tolife, men! what under the sun's the matter with you?" and he struckthe stocks, and bawled with increased vigour.

  At last he paused, folded his hands over the head of his cane, andsteadfastly gazed upon us. The notes of the nasal orchestra wererising and falling upon his ear, and a new idea suggested itself.

  "Yes, yes; the rascals must have been getting boozy. Well, it's noneof my business--I'll be off;" and off he went.

  No sooner was he out of sight, than nearly all started to their feet,and a hearty laugh ensued.

  Like myself, most of them had been watching the event from under a slyeyelid. By this time, too, Doctor Long Ghost was as wide awake asanybody. What were his reasons for taking laudanum,--if, indeed, hetook any whatever,--is best known to himself; and, as it is neithermine nor the reader's business, we will say no more about it.

  CHAPTER XXXVI.

  WE ARE CARRIED BEFORE THE CONSUL AND CAPTAIN

  WE HAD been inmates of the Calabooza Beretanee about two weeks, when,one morning, Captain Bob, coming from the bath, in a state of utternudity, brought into the building an armful of old tappa, and beganto dress to go out.

  The operation was quite simple. The tappa--of the coarsest kind--wasin one long, heavy piece; and, fastening one end to a column ofHabiscus wood supporting the Calabooza, he went off a few paces, andputting the other about his waist, wound himself right up to thepost. This unique costume, in rotundity something like a farthingale,added immensely to his large hulk; so much so that he fairly waddledin his gait. But he was only adhering to the fashion of his fathers;for, in the olden time, the "Kihee," or big girdle, was quite themode for both sexes. Bob, despising recent innovations, still clungto it. He was a gentleman of the old school--one of the last of theKihees.

  He now told us that he had orders to take us before the consul.Nothing loth, we formed in procession; and, with the old man at ourhead, sighing and labouring like an engine, and flanked by a guard ofsome twenty natives, we started for the village.

  Arrived at the consular office, we found Wilson there, and four orfive Europeans, seated in a row facing us; probably with the view ofpresenting as judicial an appearance as possible.

  On one side was a couch, where Captain Guy reclined. He lookedconvalescent; and, as we found out, intended soon to go aboard hisship. He said nothing, but left everything to the consul.

  The latter now rose, and, drawing forth a paper from a large roll tiedwith red tape, commenced reading aloud.

  It purported to be, "the affidavit of John Jennin, first officer ofthe British Colonial Barque Julia; Guy, Master;" and proved to be along statement of matters, from the time of leaving Sydney, down toour arrival in the harbour. Though artfully drawn up so as to bearhard against every one of us, it was pretty correct in the de-.tails; excepting that it was wholly silent as to the manifoldderelictions of the mate himself--a fact which imparted unusualsignificance to the concluding sentence, "And furthermore, thisdeponent sayeth not."

  No comments were made, although we all looked round for the mate tosee whether it was possible that he could have authorized this use ofhis name. But he was not present.

  The next document produced was the deposition of the captain himself.As on all other occasions, however, he had very little to say forhimself, and it was soon set aside.

  The third affidavit was that of the seamen remaining aboard thevessel, including the traitor Bungs, who, it seemed, had turnedship's evidence. It was an atrocious piece of exaggeration, frombeginning to end; and those who signed it could not have known whatthey were about. Certainly Wymontoo did not, though his mark wasthere. In vain the consul commanded silence during the reading of thispaper; comments were shouted out upon every paragraph.

  The affidavits read, Wilson, who, all the while, looked as stiff as apoker, solemnly drew forth the ship's articles from their tin case.This document was a discoloured, musty, bilious-looking affair, andhard to read. When finished, the consul held it up; and, pointing tothe marks of the ship's company, at the bottom, asked us, one by one,whether we acknowledged the same for our own.

  "What's the use of asking that?" said Black Dan; "Captain Guy thereknows as we
ll as we they are."

  "Silence, sir!" said Wilson, who, intending to produce a suitableimpression by this ridiculous parade, was not a little mortified bythe old sailor's bluntness.

  A pause of a few moments now ensued; during which the bench of judgescommuned with Captain Guy, in a low tone, and the sailors canvassedthe motives of the consul in having the affidavits taken.

  The general idea seemed to be that it was done with a view of"bouncing," or frightening us into submission. Such proved to be thecase; for Wilson, rising to his feet again, addressed us asfollows:--

  "You see, men, that every preparation has been made to send you toSydney for trial. The Rosa (a small Australian schooner, lying inthe harbour) will sail for that place in the course of ten days, atfarthest. The Julia sails on a cruise this day week. Do you stillrefuse duty?"

  We did.

  Hereupon the consul and captain exchanged glances; and the latterlooked bitterly disappointed.

  Presently I noticed Guy's eye upon me; and, for the first time, hespoke, and told me to come near. I stepped forward.

  "Was it not you that was taken off the island?"

  "It was."

  "It was you then who owe your life to my humanity. Yet this is thegratitude of a sailor, Mr. Wilson!"

  "Not so, sir." And I at once gave him to understand that I wasperfectly acquainted with his motives in sending a boat into the bay;his crew was reduced, and he merely wished to procure the sailor whomhe expected to find there. The ship was the means of my deliverance,and no thanks to the benevolence of its captain.

  Doctor Long Ghost also had a word to say. In two masterly sentences hesummed up Captain Guy's character, to the complete satisfaction ofevery seaman present.

  Matters were now growing serious; especially as the sailors becameriotous, and talked about taking the consul and the captain back tothe Calabooza with them.

  The other judges fidgeted, and loudly commanded silence. It was atlength restored; when Wilson, for the last time addressing us, saidsomething more about the Rose and Sydney, and concluded by remindingus that a week would elapse ere the Julia sailed.

  Leaving these hints to operate for themselves, he dismissed the party,ordering Captain Bob and his friends to escort us back whence wecame.

  CHAPTER XXXVII.

  THE FRENCH PRIESTS PAY THEIR RESPECTS

  A DAY or two after the events just related, we were lounging in theCalabooza Beretanee, when we were honoured by a visit from three ofthe French Priests; and as about the only notice ever taken of us bythe English missionaries was their leaving their cards for us, in theshape of a package of tracts, we could not help thinking that theFrenchmen, in making a personal call, were at least much better bred.

  By this time they had settled themselves down quite near ourhabitation. A pleasant little stroll down the Broom Road, and arustic cross peeped through the trees; and soon you came to ascharming a place as one would wish to see: a soft knoll, planted withold breadfruit trees; in front, a savannah, sloping to a grove ofpalms, and, between these, glimpses of blue, sunny waves.

  On the summit of the knoll was a rude chapel, of bamboos; quite small,and surmounted by the cross. Between the canes, at nightfall, thenatives stole peeps at a small portable altar; a crucifix tocorrespond, and gilded candlesticks and censers. Their curiositycarried them no further; nothing could induce them to worship there.Such queer ideas as they entertained of the hated strangers. Massesand chants were nothing more than evil spells. As for the prieststhemselves, they were no better than diabolical sorcerers; like thosewho, in old times, terrified their fathers.

  Close by the chapel was a range of native houses; rented from a chief,and handsomely furnished. Here lived the priests; and verycomfortably, too. They looked sanctimonious enough abroad; but thatwent for nothing; since, at home, in their retreat, they were a clubof Friar Tucks; holding priestly wassail over many a good cup of redbrandy, and rising late in the morning.

  Pity it was they couldn't marry--pity for the ladies of the island, Imean, and the cause of morality; for what business had theecclesiastical old bachelors with such a set of trim little nativehandmaidens? These damsels were their first converts; and devotedones they were.

  The priests, as I have said before, were accounted necromancers: theappearance of two of our three visitors might have justified theconceit.

  They were little, dried-up Frenchmen, in long, straight gowns of blackcloth, and unsightly three-cornered hats--so preposterously big that,in putting them on, the reverend fathers seemed to extinguishthemselves.

  Their companion was dressed differently. He wore a sort of yellow,flannel morning gown, and a broad-brimmed Manilla hat. Large andportly, he was also hale and fifty; with a complexion like anautumnal leaf--handsome blue eyes--fine teeth, and a racy Milesianbrogue. In short, he was an Irishman; Father Murphy, by name; and, assuch, pretty well known, and very thoroughly disliked, throughout allthe Protestant missionary settlements in Polynesia. In early youth,he had been sent to a religious seminary in France; and, takingorders there, had but once or twice afterwards revisited his nativeland.

  Father Murphy marched up to us briskly; and the first words he utteredwere, to ask whether there were any of his countrymen among us.There were two of them; one, a lad of sixteen--a bright, curly-headedrascal--and, being a young Irishman, of course, his name was Pat. Theother was an ugly, and rather melancholy-looking scamp; one M'Gee,whose prospects in life had been blasted by a prematuretransportation to Sydney. This was the report, at least, though itmight have been scandal.

  In most of my shipmates were some redeeming qualities; but aboutM'Gee, there was nothing of the kind; and forced to consort with him,I could not help regretting, a thousand times, that the gallows hadbeen so tardy. As if impelled, against her will, to send him into theworld, Nature had done all she could to insure his being taken forwhat he was. About the eyes there was no mistaking him; with avillainous cast in one, they seemed suspicious of each other.

  Glancing away from him at once, the bluff priest rested his gaze onthe good-humoured face of Pat, who, with a pleasant roguishness, was"twigging" the enormous hats (or "Hytee Belteezers," as land beaversare called by sailors), from under which, like a couple of snails,peeped the two little Frenchmen.

  Pat and the priest were both from the same town in Meath; and, whenthis was found out, there was no end to the questions of the latter.To him, Pat seemed a letter from home, and said a hundred times asmuch.

  After a long talk between these two, and a little broken English fromthe Frenchmen, our visitors took leave; but Father Murphy had hardlygone a dozen rods when back he came, inquiring whether we were inwant of anything.

  "Yes," cried one, "something to eat." Upon this he promised to send ussome fresh wheat bread, of his own baking; a great luxury in Tahiti.

  We all felicitated Pat upon picking up such a friend, and told him hisfortune was made.

  The next morning, a French servant of the priest's made his appearancewith a small bundle of clothing for our young Hibernian; and thepromised bread for the party. Pat being out at the knees and elbows,and, like the rest of us, not full inside, the present was acceptableall round.

  In the afternoon, Father Murphy himself came along; and, in additionto his previous gifts, gave Pat a good deal of advice: said he wassorry to see him in limbo, and that he would have a talk with theconsul about having him set free.

  We saw nothing more of him for two or three days; at the end of whichtime he paid us another call, telling Pat that Wilson was inexorable,having refused to set him at liberty, unless to go aboard the ship.This, the priest now besought him to do forthwith; and so escape thepunishment which, it seems, Wilson had been hinting at to hisintercessor. Pat, however, was staunch against entreaties; and, withall the ardour of a sophomorean sailor, protested his intention tohold out to the last. With none of the meekness of a good little boyabout him, the blunt youngster stormed away at such a rate that itwas hard to pacify him; and the priest said no more.


  How it came to pass--whether from Murphy's speaking to the consul, orotherwise, we could not tell--but the next day, Pat was sent for byWilson, and being escorted to the village by our good old keeper,three days elapsed before he returned.

  Bent upon reclaiming him, they had taken him on board the ship;feasted him in the cabin; and, finding that of no avail, down theythrust him into the hold, in double irons, and on bread and water.All would not do; and so he was sent back to the Calabooza. Boy thathe was, they must have counted upon his being more susceptible todiscipline than the rest.

  The interest felt in Pat's welfare, by his benevolent countryman, wasvery serviceable to the rest of us; especially as we all turnedCatholics, and went to mass every morning, much to Captain Bob'sconsternation. Upon finding it out, he threatened to keep us in thestocks if we did not desist. He went no farther than this, though;and so, every few days, we strolled down to the priest's residence,and had a mouthful to eat, and something generous to drink. Inparticular, Dr. Long Ghost and myself became huge favourites withPat's friend; and many a time he regaled us from a quaint-lookingtravelling case for spirits, stowed away in one corner of hisdwelling. It held four square flasks, which, somehow or other, alwayscontained just enough to need emptying. In truth, the fine oldIrishman was a rosy fellow in canonicals. His countenance and hissoul were always in a glow. It may be ungenerous to reveal hisfailings, but he often talked thick, and sometimes was perceptiblyeccentric in his gait.