robust and
well made, and of the most extraordinary aspect. His head was carefully
shaven with the exception of two circular spots, about the size of a
dollar, near the top of the cranium, where the hair, permitted to grow of
an amazing length, was twisted up in two prominent knots, that gave him
the appearance of being decorated with a pair of horns. His beard, plucked
out by the root from every other part of his face, was suffered to droop
in hairy pendants, two of which garnished his upper lip, and an equal
number hung from the extremity of his chin.
Kory-Kory, with the view of improving the handiwork of nature, and perhaps
prompted by a desire to add to the engaging expression of his countenance,
had seen fit to embellish his face with three broad longitudinal stripes
of tattooing, which, like those country roads that go straight forward in
defiance of all obstacles, crossed his nasal organ, descended into the
hollow of his eyes, and even skirted the borders of his mouth. Each
completely spanned his physiognomy; one extending in a line with his eyes,
another crossing the face in the vicinity of the nose, and the third
sweeping along his lips from ear to ear. His countenance thus triply
hooped, as it were, with tattooing, always reminded me of those unhappy
wretches whom I have sometimes observed gazing out sentimentally from
behind the grated bars of a prison window; whilst the entire body of my
savage valet, covered all over with representations of birds and fishes,
and a variety of most unaccountable-looking creatures, suggested to me the
idea of a pictorial museum of natural history, or an illustrated copy of
Goldsmith's _Animated Nature_.
But it seems really heartless in me to write thus of the poor islander,
when I owe perhaps to his unremitting attentions the very existence I now
enjoy. Kory-Kory, I mean thee no harm in what I say in regard to thy
outward adornings; but they were a little curious to my unaccustomed
sight, and therefore I dilate upon them. But to underrate or forget thy
faithful services is something I could never be guilty of, even in the
giddiest moment of my life.
The father of my attached follower was a native of gigantic frame, and had
once possessed prodigious physical powers; but the lofty form was now
yielding to the inroads of time, though the hand of disease seemed never
to have been laid upon the aged warrior. Marheyo--for such was his
name--appeared to have retired from all act
|