rt, their
character," Forster concludes, "is as amiable as that of any
nation that ever came unimproved out of the hands of Nature," and
he remarks that, as was felt by the South Sea peoples generally,
"whenever we came to this happy island we could evidently
perceive the opulence and happiness of its inhabitants." It is
noteworthy also, that, notwithstanding the high importance which
the Tahitians attached to the erotic side of life, they were not
deficient in regard for chastity. When Cook, who visited Tahiti
many times, was among "this benevolent humane" people, he noted
their esteem for chastity, and found that not only were betrothed
girls strictly guarded before marriage, but that men also who had
refrained from sexual intercourse for some time before marriage
were believed to pass at death immediately into the abode of the
blessed. "Their behavior, on all occasions, seems to indicate a
great openness and generosity of disposition. I never saw them,
in any misfortune, labor under the appearance of anxiety, after
the critical moment was past. Neither does care ever seem to
wrinkle their brow. On the contrary, even the approach of death
does not appear to alter their usual vivacity" (_Third Voyage of
Discovery_, 1776-1780). Turnbull visited Tahiti at a later period
(_A Voyage Round the World in 1800_, etc., pp. 374-5), but while
finding all sorts of vices among them, he is yet compelled to
admit their virtues: "Their manner of addressing strangers, from
the king to the meanest subject, is courteous and affable in the
extreme.... They certainly live amongst each other in more
harmony than is usual amongst Europeans. During the whole time I
was amongst them I never saw such a thing as a battle.... I never
remember to have seen an Otaheitean out of temper. They jest upon
each other with greater freedom than the Europeans, but these
jests are never taken in ill part.... With regard to food, it is,
I believe, an invariable law in Otaheite that whatever is
possessed by one is common to all." Thus we see that even among a
people who are commonly referred to as the supreme example of a
nation given up to uncontrolled licentiousness, the claims of
chastity were admitted, and many other virtues vigorously
flourished. The Tahitians were brave, hospitable,
self-controlled, courteous