Louis Becke

“ I tell thee I know some of the customs of the papalagi—the white foreigners. Much wisdom have ye in many things; but again I tell thee, O friend of my sons, that in some other things the people of thy nation—ay, of all white nations, they be as the beasts of the forest—the wild goat and pig—without reason and without shame. ”

“ Then the white woman wept, and arose and spoke to the man for a long while. And she came back to Suni, and said: ‘What thou hast told me was in my own heart three years ago; yet, because it is the custom of my people, I married this man, who is the son of my father’s brother. But now I shall go away.’ Then the white man came out and beat Suni with a stick. But yet was his sister, whom he called his wife, eaten up with shame, and when a ship came they went away, and we saw her not again. For about two years we heard no more of our white man, till he returned and said the woman was dead. ”

“ And he has filled my ears with the bad and shameless customs of the papalagi. Tah! I say again thy women have not the shame of ours. The heat of desire devoureth chastity even in those of one blood!”
“In what do they offend, O my mother?”
“Aue! Life is short; and, behold, this piece of siapo [1] is for a wedding present, and I must hurry; but yet put down thy gun and bag, and we shall smoke awhile, and thou shalt feel shame while I tell of one of the papalagi customs—the marrying of brother and sister!” ”