We Were Told That Four Of The Natives
Were Gone Away With Her, Whose Names Were Debedebea, Paoodou, Tanadooee,
And Opahiah.
At this time, we conjectured this was a French ship, but, on
our arrival at the Cape of Good
Hope, we learnt she was a Spaniard, which
had been sent out from America.[1] The Otaheiteans complained of a disease
communicated to them by the people in this ship, which they said affected
the head, throat, and stomach, and at length killed them. They seemed to
dread it much, and were continually enquiring if we had it. This ship they
distinguished by the name of Pahai no Pep-pe (ship of Peppe), and
called the disease Apa no Pep-pe, just as they call the venereal
disease Apa no Pretane (English disease), though they, to a man, say
it was brought to the isle by M. de Bougainville; but I have already
observed that they thought M. de Bougainville came from Pretane, as
well as every other ship which has touched at the isle.
Were it not for this assertion of the natives, and none of Captain Wallis's
people being affected with the venereal disease, either while they were at
Otaheite, or after they left it, I should have concluded that long before
these islanders were visited by Europeans, this or some disease which is
near akin to it, had existed amongst them. For I have heard them speak of
people dying of a disorder which we interpreted to be the pox before that
period.
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