Коралловый остров

Chapter 24

           IthoughtitluckyforBillindeedforallofusthatthenativeyouth’sbackhappenedtobeturnedatthetime,forIamcertainthatifthepoorsavageshadcometoknowthatwehadsorudelyhandledtheirgodweshouldhavehadtofightourwaybacktotheship.AsweretracedourstepsIquestionedmycompanionfurtheronthissubject.

           "Howcomesit,Bill,thatthemothersallowsuchadreadfulthingtobedone?"

           "Allowit?themothersdoit!Itseemstomethatthere’snothingtoofiendishordiabolicalforthesepeopletodo.Why,insomeoftheislandstheyhaveaninstitutioncalledtheAreoi,andthepersonsconnectedwiththatbodyarereadyforanywickednessthatmortalmancandevise.Infact,theystickatnothing;andoneo’theircustomsistomurdertheirinfantsthemomenttheyareborn.Themothersagreetoit,andthefathersdoit.Andthemildestwaystheyhaveofmurderingthemisbystickingthemthroughthebodywithsharpsplintersofbamboo,stranglingthemwiththeirthumbs,orburyingthemaliveandstampingthemtodeathwhileunderthesod."

           Ifeltsickatheartwhilemycompanionrecitedthesehorrors.

           "Butit’sacuriousfact,"hecontinuedafterapause,duringwhichwewalkedinsilencetowardsthespotwherewehadleftourcomrades"it’sacuriousfactthatwhereverthemissionariesgetafootin’allthesethingscometoanendatonce,an’thesavagestaketodoin’eachothergoodandsingin’psalms,justlikeMethodists."

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