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The Travels of Hildebrand Bowman, Esquire, into Carnovirria, Taupiniera, Olfactaria, and Auditante, in New-Zealand; in the Island of Bonhommica, and in the Powerful Kingdom of Luxo-Volupto, on the Great Southern Continent

Chap. III

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Chap. III.

Arrives in Olfactaria. Is adopted by that nation. Marries. Irruption of the Carnovirrians. Conclusion of that war. The Author elected a chief of the 3d, 2d, and 1st, orders. His ammunition exhausted and he in fear of being degraded, from his want of practice with their weapons, as well as of a nose; gets the command of a large canoe, going to Auditante to exchange their skins. Arrives at Seripante.

Before my descent into the flat country, I had loaded my fusee with ball, but with a resolution of not using it but on the utmost necessity; intending to run all risks for the mending of my condition; as my way of life for some time past was page 79become intolerably irksome. The design I formed, was to apply to the first human creature, I met with, in an open fearless manner as if in a civilised country, to tell them my situation, and desire their friendship. I hoped the Otaheite language which I had acquired in a tolerable degree, both by conversing with the natives of that and the other islands when there, and with Omai, on board the Adventure, would enable me to put it in execution; as many of the natives of New Zealand understood it, from the affinity it had with their own.

I entered then boldly into the woods, and looked out for their habitations. It was not long before a village (as it may be called) appeared; consisting of ten or twelve huts.

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Going into one of the largest of them, I found four of the natives lying on the ground, who seemed surprised at seeing me. I spoke to them in the Otaheite language with seeming unconcern, that I had belonged to a large canoe, which came from the farthest part of the world, and by a misfortune which happened to a smaller one on that coast, had been left behind. The oldest of the men answered me in their own language (which I understood) that I was welcome, and might depend on the friendship of the Olfactarian nation. He then invited me to lie down by them, and said, we have seen men like you in a large canoe on this coast many moons ago; they were our good friends, and traded honestly with us. His description answered so page 81exactly with the Endeavour that I assured him they were my countrymen; and he that commanded the large canoe then, had been lately on the coast with two much larger ones; in one of which I had been. I now recollected that I had some beads, nails, and other trade in my pockets, and taking them out, made an offer of some to each of the Olfactarians, (as they called themselves) beginning with the eldest who had conversed with me. They all received my presents with seeming pleasure, but especially the nails. I was now asked if I was hungry, and chose to eat; and having answered in the affirmative, a young man was desired to call one of the women, to bring me some venison and set it before me which she did, in a more decent page 82manner than I expected. My appetite was good, which no doubt helped me to relish the food; for I never remember to have eat any thing with so much pleasure. After that, the same elderly man (whose name I afterwards learned was Uncomia, and one of their chiefs) said, that I had mentioned a misfortune, which had happened to a small canoe, desiring to know what it was. Upon this I gave him a circumstantial account of the whole affair, and of what had happened to me since, describing as well as I could Charlotte Sound, where the Adventure lay. When I had done speaking, he said, the nation who had used us so cruelly, was the Carnovirrians, who were their mortal enemies, and if I stayed long with them, I might have page 83an opportunity of being revenged. I answered him, that the religion professed in my country, forbid the revenging of injuries; but seeing he did not approve such tenets, I added with spirit, But did not forbid us assisting our friends in a just war; and that therefore he might depend on me, to the last drop of my blood. This had the effect I desired; and he said, Young man your behaviour pleases me; you are at a vast distance from your own country, and perhaps may never have an opportunity of returning to it; I have some influence with the Olfactarians, and if you have no objection, will propose your adoption among us; when I shall always look upon you with the same affection, as I do on Ulopeia there present, who I desire you will embrace and love.

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After having embraced his son, I told him his offer was so friendly, that provided I might think as I pleased in religious matters, and be excused from ornamenting my face in their manner, I warmly embraced it, and should always look on him as a father. In these indifferent points, he said, he durst venture to say the nation would dispense with me. This was not a resolution of mine taken up on the sudden, without having been thought of before, in case such a proposal should be made to me. In my circumstances what could I do better? It gave me some weight with the people I was to live with; and my refusal might have had disagreeable consequences. I lay at his house, and next day he introduced me to all the warriors of the village, who page 85received me graciously, and promised to promote my adoption. In a week after, an assembly of the nation was held, when I was unanimously admitted an Olfactarian, by the name of Bowmania, with the abovementioned reservations. I was now dressed like my new countrymen, which, to say the truth, was very convenient for me; my shoes being in very bad condition, my single shirt almost rotten on my back; and the rest of my clothes, with lying so long rough, almost quite wore out.

Some of my readers will no doubt wonder, that no notice is yet taken of my fusee, by these savages, or at least not mentioned by me; but he will be pleased to recollect, that they were not quite strangers to fire-arms. They had now however an oppor-page 86tunity of examining one, more narrowly than ever they had before; and I gave them all the intelligence concerning every part of it, that I could. As savages who live upon hunting and fishing, subsist in a manner from hand to mouth; it was soon necessary for them to recruit their stock of provisions; and as I proposed accompanying them, they desired that my fusee might be my only weapon, as they wanted to see what advantage it had over theirs. This I readily complied with for this once, but told them, as my ammunition was not in abundance, it was necessary to be sparing of it, that a sufficient reserve might be made for the more essential services of war. This was acquiesced in, and in future huntings, I was to use the bow and page 87spear in their manner; after having learned the use of them by repeated exercise. Ulopeia and I were become intimate friends; at first, gratitude to my benefactor, made me shew him a greater attachment than any other warrior; but, upon knowing him better, I found him worthy of my warmest affection; having a generosity and humanity uncommon to savages. For two days before we were to set out on our hunting, he snuffed up the powder of an herb, which occasioned a discharge from his nose, and desired me to do the same: I complied, but not without asking him for what purpose it was used. He replied, to quicken my smelling faculty, that the scent of the animals we were to destroy, might be more strongly impressed on our noses. This surprised page 88me greatly; what, thought I! have these people the faculty of hounds or pointers? If they have, it is very convenient, as I see none of these animals in this country, and believe it would not be an easy matter for them to procure a breed.

When we set out, we kept together for some time, and it much surprised and diverted me, to see them snuffing up the scent from the ground; but soon after, every one went off in full cry, after the track they had fixed on, like a pack of beagles; and we saw no more of them till night, when we met at the general rendezvous. Ulopeia did not hunt that day, but kept with me, to observe the effects of my gun; and to conduct me to the rendezvous. Fortunately I was very successful, page 89exerting myself, that my new friends and countrymen might not refuse me their esteem; I did not miss a shot. Six deer and four foxes were killed by me alone; besides many birds which were shot while they were flying; which Ulopeia chiefly admired, as being uncommon with their weapons. We were obliged to leave the greatest part of our dead game, at certain stations appointed for that purpose; and repaired to the rendezvous, where all the hunters collected themselves. The whole conversation turned on the different success of each particular, and mine was allowed to be far superior to any other. A deer and some of the birds which I had shot, were dressed for our suppers, when, after eating heartily, we all went to sleep round a great fire, till day-light next morn-page 90ing. The ammunition which I had allotted for this experiment being all spent, the rest of the time we were out, I attended and observed my friend Ulopeia. It was really wonderful to see how he pursued the scent, with an undeviating certainty and persevering ardour till he destroyed the animal with his weapons. I often tried if my nose could discover any thing particular to me, but was always disappointed. I therefore concluded, that theirs must either be strengthened by constant use, or formed differently from the rest of mankind. We continued out on this hunting occupation (for it is to them of the greatest consequence) for ten days; and having got a sufficient stock of provisions, returned home; giving ourselves no trouble about our game; that was left to the women, who page 91came daily to the places appointed in the woods for leaving it; and with great labour carried it home to the villages. Indeed, that part of the species is very hardly treated by these people; they are looked upon as infinitely inferior in their nature to the men; and though of a size and strength less fit for laborious offices, all the drudgeries of life fall to their share; in short, they are used like perfect slaves. This may be seen in their appearance; they have a languid tameness in their looks, which shows they expect no court paid to them by the other sex, but that their lot is implicitly to serve and obey.

A life of perfect idleness succeeded our hunting; lying asleep on the ground, or conversing with one another, and sometimes dancing, filled page 92up our time; but the women were never suffered to join in our recreations. One day Uncomia proposed to me that I should take a wife; your constitution must certainly require one, said he, so young as you are; and she will be of great use in serving and waiting on you. My reply was, that marriage was a very serious affair; and that an engagement for life should not be entered into, without a mutual affection, and a prudence of character in the female. —Whilst I was going on, he burst out a laughing; and said, What is all this you are talking of? you are making marriage a very serious thing indeed; but we love freedom too well to be so shackled. With us it is the loosest knot possible; a man takes the woman who best pleases him, to page 93live with him while she continues so to do; and when that no longer is the case, he turns her off and takes another. They are true to one another while together; and when they part, the woman is not liked the worse for having been another's.

The children are the father's care, or rather that of the nation; for if their father should die, they are not the less taken care of. You see, continued he, there is nothing formidable in it; and as we think it every man's duty to raise children for the state, I would advise you to it. Examine the women that are not engaged, and whichever of them pleases you best, you may have; with us they have no liberty of refusing.

After weighing this affair with some attention, it appeared to me, page 94that, as I had voluntarily entered into this society, I ought to fulfil the duties of it; especially as there was nothing burthensome in them. I then examined the women who were unengaged, with more attention than I had hitherto done, and fixed on one called Tauropa, as being the least disagreeable in my eyes. This being known, a hut was prepared for us; and my friends presented me with the few necessaries I wanted for house-keeping; so that without further ceremony I took her home. My choice was so fortunate, that I never had occasion to repent, or change; for though not handsome to my European taste, she was very good tempered and obedient; two qualifications much more material in that state. She had also another excellent quality, in common with all the wo-page 95men of that country; which was cleanliness, both in her own person, and every thing about the house. In this, they certainly far excel our English women, and perhaps all Europeans (if the Dutch be not excepted, amongst whom I never was). What I conceived to be the reason of it, was the very acute sense of smelling, with which the men were endued.

Though I daily applied close to my exercises, of shooting with a bow and arrow at a mark, brandishing my spear, and handling the Patapatoo with dexterity, a great deal of spare time lay upon my hands. This was usually spent in conversation with my friends, or the other warriors; the to-picks of which, generally turned on the customs and manners of my country; page 96or inquiries concerning particulars relating to theirs, of which I was not yet well informed. Sometimes religion was spoke of, and I learned, that their adoration was paid to the sun and moon; but without any images of them in their houses (as they had these luminaries themselves so often in view), or sacrifices offered at their altars. I took some pains to persuade them to turn their worship, from the creature to the creator; and endeavoured to explain to them, the mysteries of the Christian Religion, but could not possibly make them understand me.

Their answers and objections were sometimes so shrewd, that it might be looked on, as impiety in me to relate them; and therefore I shall only say, that they often puzzled me page 97(who am indeed no deep divine) to answer them.

I had taken notice, that the Olfactarians had some coarse woollen cloths for their winter dress (though I have seen none of this sort in London amongst the curiosities brought from thence), and it came into my thoughts one day, to ask where they got the wool; as I saw no sheep in the country. The answer made me was, that part of the sea-coast was in their teritories; and the inhabitants next it were fishermen as well as huntsmen. That there were many large canoes belonging to the nation, which held between twenty and thirty men upon occasion: two or three of these were sent twice a year loaded with deer, foxes, and other skins, to a country about a week's page 98sail from thence, where they exchanged them for wool; and the skins of a large animal which these people had, of which they made soles for their shoes. I cannot help owning, that though my situation was far from disagreeable at that time, yet this account caused a longing in me, to see a people, who I thought must be more civilised than those with whom I at present lived.

While we were thus passing our time in sloth and idleness, (for a savage's life is always in extremes), a great alarm was spread over all the nation, that fix large canoes full of Carnovirrians, had made a descent in the country, under the command of their famous chief Tearabolo, and were carrying destruction wherever they came. Every one now ran to page 99arms, the war dance was seen in every village, and my benefactor Ucomia cried out, Now the time is come, when you may have your revenge of those men-eaters who devoured your countrymen. I replied, That I was now a member of another nation which was attacked, and whom it was my duty to defend, at the hazard of my life. He then said to me, What would your countrymen do in our present situation? I answered, It was impossible to say that, as different men judged differently; and one man better than another, according as he had sense and judgment. But what is your opinion said he, of the conduct we should hold in driving them out of our country? Not to drive them out at all, rejoined I. What do you mean; page 100let me understand you?— Give me leave first to ask you a question or two?—As many as you please. My first then is, said I, If your nation can follow the scent of men, and distinguish your friends from your foes, as well as they do that of deer and other game?—His answer being in the affirmative:—My second then is, If your enemies are endued with the same powers?—He replied, They were not.

As that is the case, said I, to prevent continual attacks of a similar kind, from so inhuman a people; those now in our country should be utterly destroyed. And the way to effect that, in my opinion, is to cut off their retreat. In the first place then, march a strong party to the seaside, where their canoes are lying, page 101and burn them; and after leaving a sufficient body to prevent others from landing; hunt them down like any other game, till they are utterly destroyed. In doing this, you will have infinite advantages, from your superiority of numbers, and the excellency of your noses. He relished my advice, and said, he would propose it in the council of their chiefs. But Bowmania, said he, do not fear that I should take the honour of it to myself; depend upon it they shall know its author, and your zeal for the service of our country. My advice was taken, and gained me considerable reputation, for I was immediately elected, by unanimous consent, a chief of the third order; and went second in command to put the first part of it in execution, page 102the burning the canoes. Tlulapeia commanded this detachment, and as he was my very good friend, we had no disagreement in the execution of our orders. What made our success the more easy and certain was, they had left them but slenderly guarded, not expecting so bold a stroke. We surprised the guard,— took them prisoners, and with all expedition set the vessels in a blaze. What gave us great satisfaction on the execution of this small exploit was, that two others full of men were within two leagues of the coast, coming to join their friends; but seeing the canoes in a flame, first stopped to consult what they should do, and soon after changed their course and returned. Tlulapeia with a sufficient force remained on the page 103sea-coast, to watch the enemy's motions by water, according to his orders; and I with the remainder marched back to the head-quarters to give an account of our success; and to receive farther commands. My account of our success gave great satisfaction to the generality of the nation; though there were not wanting some, who were of opinion, that their retreat should not in this manner have been cut off; as it would make them more desperate and furious, and consequently the war more bloody. I was now raised, by universal consent, to be a chief of the second order, and had the command of forty men.

The whole fighting men of the nation being now in arms, they were divided into large parties, under dif-page 104ferent leaders; and each had a separate district allotted him, in which he was to act offensively against the enemy. But they were permitted, in cases of necessity, to go into a neighbouring one, either to avoid the enemy, if too powerful for them, or to assist their friends. As I had a great ambition to be opposed to that formidable chief Tearabola, I requested that no particular district should be allotted me; but that I might be at liberty to pursue him wherever I pleased. This was easily granted me, as he was become very formidable to the nation in general. We marched then into the woods in large divisions, and were not to subdivide, till our noses informed us that the enemy had first done so. To describe every skirmish which happened in page 105the woods, small parties against small parties, and man to man, in the course of a war of above three weeks continuance (if it were possible), would be tedious. Suffice it to say, that in them the greater part of the enemy were killed or taken prisoners; not without the loss of many brave men on our side. At last Tearabola, with only twenty-five of his men, were hemmed in on every side; when a dreadful battle began. He and his brave followers, like so many tigers surrounded by a multitude of huntsmen, turned upon their enemies with all the fierceness of these animals. To escape they saw was impossible, and to yield, unbecoming their courage; the only thing they had then left, was to sell their lives as dear as they could. Teara-page 106bola did not that day bely the character he had so long acquired, of invincible courage. My dear friend Ulopeia fell by his spear; and his father, my great benefactor, was obliged to retire from the combat, by a wound in his leg. My resentment was heightened by these accidents; I presented my piece loaded with my last charge of powder and ball, and took such good aim, or was so fortunate as to pierce Tearabolo's heart; whose furious soul left his body with a convulsive spring.

His followers seeing him fall, were daunted; and being worn out with their long defence, made but feeble efforts, and were soon all cut in pieces. Thus having the honour of some share in the termination of this war, I was raised to the dignity of Chief page 107of the first order. But my satisfaction on this occasion was greatly lessened, by my dear friend's death, and his father's wound. The thorough revenge of my dear countrymen, however (notwithstanding what religion might inculcate), was certainly not altogether indifferent to me on this occasion. Though from some words which fell from Uncomia, I believed the Olfactarians were not cannibals; yet I never could prevail on myself to ask the question; thinking it better to continue in uncertainty, than learn an unpleasing truth: but now I had many opportunities of being convinced they were not; as graves were dug, and their enemies buried in them. But though they spared their dead enemies, they had no mercy on those page 108who fell into their hands alive. To enumerate the various tortures they were put to, before they were slain; and the fortitude seemingly more than human, with which they were snpported; would only shock the reader's humanity, and shall therefore be passed over.

We returned to our habitations, where there was great rejoicings for the termination of the war; but the families who had lost their warriors kept retired, brooding over their sorrows, that they might not interrupt the general joy. My benefactor, who was one of those (and also confined with his wound), received me with tears in his eyes; saying, I had lost a true friend, but as he died in his country's service, was more to be envied than lamented. I learned page 109from him that his wound was very painful, the whole member being greatly swelled, and that he had very little hopes of recovery. I examined the part, and though unskilled in surgery, more than I had accidentally seen practised by our own surgeons on board, I was resolved to attempt his relief. I gathered some herbs, and made a fomentation and poultice, which soon eased his pain; the swelling also decreased by degrees, and the wound advanced daily towards a cure. My satisfaction on this account was more real than that for the dignities which fortune had heaped on me; for I easily perceived they were not unattended with envy. We had not been long at home, before it became necessary to go on a hunting-party, as page 110our old men, women and children, had been on very short allowance in our absence. It was mentioned before, that my last charge of ammunition was expended; I must now therefore betake myself to their weapons; at which (though I had not neglected exercising with them constantly before the war) I certainly was very inferior to the natives. Add to that, my want of a nose; and it may easily be imagined, I should make a very bad figure. But I flattered myself, that the great services I had so lately done my country, and the being unpractised in their arms, would sufficienly apologize for me. How little did I know mankind? A few brilliant actions are soon forgot, if people's memories are not frequently refreshed with page 111some of the same kind, or even of greater lustre: but a reverse, however little merited, is with great difficulty got over, and generally damns our fame irrecoverably.

The war had so destroyed and disturbed the game, that it was extremely scarce; and consequently our hunting very unsuccessful; mine was remarkably so: famine appeared unavoidable; which so chagrined mens minds, that my laurels (for want of some fresh exploit), withered daily. They even openly blamed my bold advice in the beginning of the war, as the chief cause of the misfortunes which threatened them, and I saw myself in the utmost danger of being degraded.

This country, and way of life, which hitherto had been agreeable page 112enough to me, changed at once its appearance: 1 became thoughtful and melancholy; wishing for a good opportunity of quitting it for ever. The country from which they brought the wool, then recurred to my memory: I began seriously to think of the means of putting in execution a scheme I formed of visiting it by the first ships, which would not be long before they sailed. Uncomia seeing me so much changed since our return home, kindly enquired the reason of it; when I frankly told him, that I had reason to complain of the warriors, for blaming me for an event that could not possibly have been foreseen. They also slight me, continued I, because I have not been able to acquire in a few days, the use of their arms to as page 113great perfection as they have, by the practice of their whole lives. Besides, (I still continued) nature has given them such an advantage over me in their scenting faculty, that there is no possibility of my ever equalling them as a hunter; and I should therefore be glad to serve the nation in any other capacity. That I understood some great canoes would soon sail for Auditante, to exchange their skins for wool and other commodities of that country. And I believed, as my education had been for a sea-life (which indeed had brought me into that part of the world), that I was better qualified than most others, for carrying on that traffic with the Auditantines; and should offer my services to the nation, if he approved of it. He replied, that he had no page 114objection to it, but the losing my company for so long a time; and if I was resolved on the voyage, he would use all his influence with the National Council in my favour, when it was laid before them. Accordingly very little opposition was made, and I was appointed to the command of one of the canoes. Two other chiefs of the same rank (who fortunately were my friends), were also fixed on for the other two; and in a short time we set out for our station, to superintend the loading of the skins, which were carried by the women from all the villages to Tahuta where the canoes lay. The vessels were obliged to be victualled principally with fish, on account of the scarcity of land animals; and we stowed our water in page 115jars, which the women had ingenuity enough to make. Each canoe had twelve men on board, besides three officers; which consisted of a chief of the first, second, and third orders.

Before I left our village Manuhu, I sent my wife Tewropa home to her friends till my return (which however I did not intend), and left with her a present to the nation, to keep me in their remembrance. I hope if it proves a boy, that he will make a good warrior; but am very much afraid he will have no nose, which may be a great loss to him. With my friend Uncomia, whom I principally regretted to leave; my fusee was intrusted by way of a relic, as it could be of no father use to me, for want of ammunition. And a few nails, and other European bau-page 116bles, which still remained in my possession, were distributed amongst my other friends.

On July 26th, 1774, we set sail with a fair wind; and I found these people very expert at working their canoes. The weather kept moderate, so that we had little difficulty of keeping company; and we seldom lost sight of land for any length of time. At last, on the tenth day from the time we sailed, the coast of Auditante appeared to our view; and on the eleventh we came to an anchor in the river of Seripante.