Lindigo, the White Woman/Chapter 15
CHAPTER XV.
PAMUL THE MAORI GIRL.
The part of New Zealand on which Charlie Stuart had been cast away had seldom been visited by Europeans, the coast being too wild to admit of any vessel approaching it.
The tribe by which it was inhabited were very warlike, and headed by a powerful chief named Tomato, the father of two sons and one daughter (Pamul), who had so bravely rescued the castaway from drowning, and from the patvo-patvo (clubs) of the father and brothers.
Another and more influential chief named Honi Hiki, held great sway over the others, whose lands adjoined Tomato's, and who had intercourse with the whites for a long time, consequently he had become somewhat conversant with civilized customs.
This shrewd and cunning chief, viewed with jealousy the rapid progress of civilization, the footing the Pakehas were gaining among his countrymen, and the valuable lands which they became possessed of in exchange for trifling articles of commerce. He therefore entered into a secret league with many other powerful chiefs, whose minds he endeavoured to corrupt in order to drive the white people into the sea, and thus regain possession of the land.
Being gifted with a good address, coupled with skill and judgment in warlike matters, having also firearms and ammunition distributed freely among his tribe, he soon gained the co-operation of several neighbouring chiefs.
Tomato had been for some time a rival chief, and was often at war with him, but being anxious to ally himself with such a powerful chief, who would so ably promote his plans, Honi Hiki endeavoured to bring him also in the league, and for this purpose he proposed for the hand of Pamul, the old chief's daughter, who was considered the greatest beauty among his countrywomen.
It was on this account that he was now a visitor at Tomato's, and was the person who appeared so anxious for the death of Charlie at the cave.
On revealing his intentions to Tomato, and laying his plans before him for the extermination of the Pakehas, whom he described as being a race of robbers, Honi Hiki became the accepted of Pamul, although she was adverse to the match, knowing well the wily chiefs disposition. However, she knew it was no use objecting, as she would be compelled to submit to parental authority. Being a great favourite of her father's, she obtained permission to put off the nuptials for a few days, which was some relief to her.
It was on the morning appointed for her marriage that she sought the solitude of her bathing place (which was held sacred) to give vent to her despair for the sacrifice she was on the eve of making, by becoming the bride of the man she hated. In the midst of her lamentations, while praying that some young warrior would come and take her away to some distant isle, her quick eye caught the castaway clinging to the boat, and calling out for aid.
Under the influence of her romantic inspiration, she plunged into the sea, and swam to the rescue. With great expertness she soon arrived at the spot where Charlie sank, and immediately dived and brought him to the surface.
It was now that her judgment and powers of swimming were put to the test, for although the drowning man could breath, he was too much exhausted to assist himself, and it was not until her slaves came to her assistance that she succeeded in saving him.
That evening, on the plea of indisposition, which was not feigned, she craved for three days more, which was granted to her by her father.
The experienced and quick eye of Honi Hiki, however, detected a change in the manner and looks of his intended bride; and, by bribing the simplest of her maids, he became possessed of the whole secret, notwithstanding the restrictions Pamul enforced on her slaves to the contrary.
The wily chief became greatly alarmed at this revelation, not only for fear of losing Pamul, whom he really loved, but also the consequence which might follow from the alliance of the white man with the powerful chief Tomato, who, he feared, might be allured by their fascinating promises and gaudy presents. He, therefore in a subtle and cunning speech, broke the subject to Tomato and his sons, saying that the white man with the cunning and treachery of his race, sneaked like a shark into Pamul's sacred retreat to deceive her, and then gain possession of their land. This statement aroused the rage of Tomato, when they all rushed to the cave for the purpose of dispatching the intruder at once, and thus save their country as well as Pamul. They were not, however, prepared for the affecting devotion which she displayed towards the stranger. She became a bold advocate of the defenceless, whom she declared to be a helpless castaway on their shore, and ridiculed their actions, particularly her father and brothers, for taking a mean advantage of an inoffensive creature, who deserved their hospitality instead of their rage.
When Honi Hiki heard this unexpected and forcible appeal, and saw the effect it had produced on her father and brothers, he became more enraged than ever lest his plans should fail, and sneeringly exclaimed—"Tomato is a woman when he listens to the ravings of his daughter, who foolishly pleads for the life of a Pakeha."
At these words, Pamul sprung up and declared that the white man had never shown the slightest disrespect towards her, and said that if he was a fair specimen of the pakehas, whom the calumniator described as a race of robbers, she believed that that character was more applicable to Honi Hiki than to them; and sooner than become his (Honi Hiki's) bride, she would suffer the most terrible death to which she could be put. On hearing this, Honi Hiki left the cave vowing vengeance on Tomato and his new allies, the pakehas.
With a heart relieved from apprehension, Charlie followed Tomato and his children, and after ascending the cliffs by an intricate and narrow path, soon gained the native village, which was situated in a romantic spot on the banks of a beautiful lake, from which ran a river navigable by canoes, and which emptied itself into the ocean.
Through the assistance of Pamul, Charlie was able to give a more accurate account of his shipwreck, the valuable cargo on board, and the probability of yet saving some portion of it, as the weather had become quite calm. Tomato immediately ordered all the available canoes to be manned, and started for the scene of the wreck.
Charlie accompanied Tomato and his sons in the principal and leading canoe, and upon rounding the rock great was his joy at seeing the ship dry and unbroken. On going on board they found also that the cargo was uninjured.
He felt that he could now recompense Tomato for the mercy that had been extended towards him, and reward the noble Pamul for her heroic conduct in saving his life at the imminent peril of her own.
All the cargo and every valuable were taken safely to the village. When this was completed, they broke the hull up, and conveyed that also to the village.
The whole of the cargo was carefully stored by orders of Tomato for Charlie, but who was afterwards prevailed upon to take a large piece of land in exchange.
The chief and his tribe considered that they had by far the best of the bargain, as the principal portion of the cargo consisted of fire-arms and ammunition, which they were deficient of, owing to which he had suffered many defeats in engagements with Honi Hiki. Charlie then commenced a course of instruction in the use of the weapons, with which every able-bodied man was supplied; they then enrolled themselves under Charlie's command. Honi Hiki, true to his threat, invaded their district but suffered such a defeat that he never annoyed them after.
A year had passed, during which time the tribe made rapid progress in civilization through the exertions of Charlie, who gave information to them upon any subject which would tend to their happiness. The only sorrow which weighed upon their minds, and in which Charlie shared to a great extent, was the indisposition of Pamul. This great change in her health was noticed by Charlie while holding a conversation with her, which he did at the suggestion of her father, the subject upon which Charlie was speaking to her, was her stern and steady refusal to accept the hand of Honi Hiki; a match which had been approved of by her father, and which promised great advantages to her father and the whole tribe. In reply to Charlie's questions, and having listened attentively to all his remarks, Pamul hung down her head for a while, when Charlie observed large tears coursing down her cheeks; then, as if determined to check them, she wiped them away with her hand, raised her eyes to his, and said:—
"Do the white women always marry those whom their parents recommend?"
"In some cases they do, and they frequently turn out good matches," replied Charlie.
"And would you now, marry a woman you did not like?" she inquired.
"Certainly not," replied her companion unhesitatingly.
"Oh! then, you consider females an inferior sex, and are to obey you like slaves," she continued.
Charlie, who was not prepared for this, turned his eyes towards the sea, which would now have been rolling over his remains were it not for a female, and that his questioner. A gush of heartfelt thankfulness and generous acknowledgement took possession of him, and seizing her hand with enthusiasm, he said:—
"My brave and noble Pamul, far be it from me to hold your sex in such estimation; were it not for you, yonder billows would now have been rolling over me; such kindness and devotion I could hardly have expected from my own countryman, much less a female—save one."
"Ah! there is one then," cried Pamul, eagerly catching the last words, which were not intended for her ear, and which was uttered in a lower key.
"Yes, there is one," resumed Charlie with more than usual agitation; "but, although that one might have the wish, I doubt whether she would be able to accomplish such a feat, not being a swimmer like you Pamul."
"And she must indeed be faithful to you," replied Pamul, with an anxious and inquisitive expression; "is she a mother or a sister?"
"Neither," replied Charlie; "but far dearer, and we are under a solemn vow to be faithful to each other while we live."
Pamul heaved a deep sigh, turned her face towards the sea, and said mournfully, "She must, indeed, be beautiful, and possessing all the fine qualities you have so often described to me, with which your country-women are blessed, and which you wished me to imitate; would that I were able to do so to please you." Then, looking at her hands, she continued dispondingly, "But, ah! what a fool I am, she is of a different colour to me."
Charlie, who was greatly affected at this touching remark, replied, encouragingly, "The difference of colour, Pamul, has nothing to do with the nobleness and uprightness of the mind, and there beats as many good hearts under a dark skin as under a fair one."
"Now, since you think so much of the small favor I have extended towards you," (resumed Pamul, somewhat soothed,) "by preserving your life, I must ask you one favor in return; that is, never to breathe a word on this subject again, as I am resolved to remain single; and, further, I will ask you to use your influence with my father, and beg of him not to force me."
Charlie could not refuse this earnest appeal, which was made with such candour, and promised never to mention the subject again.
A visible change from this time took place in Pamul, and a lingering illness seized her. She resolutely avoided all company and amusement, and even shunned her former instructor, Charlie.
All her friends and relations became greatly alarmed at the change in her; her appearance soon became emaciated by the ravages of disease, which appeared to be decline.
One afternoon Charlie met her. She was then in the dress she had the first day he saw her, and, on his enquiring anxiously as to her health, she feebly awswered, with a forced smile, that "she would soon be well," and proposed a walk to their old favourite spot.
Charlie was delighted at the proposition, as this was the first occasion on which she had spoken to him since their last visit to that place.
On their way he felt sorry that he had consented to take such a walk, which appeared too much for her strength, but he could not prevail upon her to return.
They at length arrived at the spot, and having seated themselves, gazed around on the familiar scenery, and when she had regained sufficient strength, Pamul, looking earnestly into his face, said, "I am glad to be able once more to visit this place, as I think it a befitting spot, and free from interruption, having something weighty on my mind for some time, and which I wish to communicate to you before I die, for feel that my time in this world is very short." During a short pause, for she appeared too weak to say more, Charlie endeavoured to cheer her. He told her that her health might again return, and then they would be enabled to resume their walks, and spend many happy days on the same spot. Pamul, however, interrupted him by giving a mournful motion of the head, and saying, "Never again in this life, whatever happiness may be store for me in that other world which you have taught me to look to, there is none in this, for my hours are numbered. I know that you, as well as my anxious relatives, have been uneasy and ignorant of the cause of my complaint. I thought that even you would never know it, and that the secret would go with me to the grave. However, my illness has caused me to throw off such foolish thoughts, as I consider, by confessing it to you, I may be doing what I can to prevent any unpleasantness on my decease. You will remember, the last time we visited this spot, that you confessed your love to one of your countrywomen. Little did you think that that admission would be the foundation of an illness and sorrow that would soon carry me to the grave. Had I known earlier of such a circumstance, I might have smothered my foolish hopes and grief; but, alas, it was then too late. I was ignorant that the hopeless flame which your first appearance struggling feebly in the water enkindled in my heart, had taken such a deep root, and which all earthly powers were unable to extinguish. Poor simpleton as I then was, I did not think of the insurmountable barrier which exists between our races. Your kindness, partiality, and interest in instructing me was stored up in my bosom, and added to my passion, until the fatal chasm which separates the white race from the coloured yawned before me."
Charlie was so much moved at this disclosure that he could not restrain his tears, when Pamul again checked him, and added—"Do not be moved; it was no fault of yours; all the attention and interest you took in me, and which led to my hopeless misery, were only the outpourings of a benevolent mind. The ignorance and barbarity of our race raised your pity, which was extended with such liberality towards me in return for the services I had rendered you. Hence the cause of the trouble you have taken in instructing me, and to some extent modelling my mind, and opening that mind as to the realities of a future state, a state to which I am now hastening. And although your generosity would perhaps humble itself to that extent to take me as your wife, I would never consent were I as hale and happy as formerly; for, thanks to you, I now understand the nature of a solemn promise or vow."
Pamul here described Bella's looks with such minuteness that Charlie was greatly surprised; but she soon explained all by telling him that on the morning she saved him from drowning, and while he was insensible on the beach, she uncovered his bosom to admit the rays of the sun in order to warm him; she saw something which hung by a ribbon around his neck, and upon her opening it she saw it contained the portrait of a female. Not believing then that any living creature could be so beautiful, she thought it was a relic or talisman which would save him from from drowning, until the day on which he told her of his vow, when she detected him drawing it from his bosom and placing it to his lips.
"Yes!" continued Pamul, "the least motion or change in your countenance was observed by me, and your simplest wishes were law to me, and found an echo in my heart; and you may tell your beautiful intended that however great her devotion and love for you, it never did or will exceed that of Pamul, the Maori girl."
She now gave her reason for making this touching confession, for which she could not find courage for a long time—that lest her relations should guess or discover the cause of her disease and seek revenge on Charlie after her death, she advised him to dispose of his land to some of his countrymen who were living a little distance off, for which they would give him a large sum of money, and then to leave New Zealand for ever; and lastly as a favor, she asked him, when she was no more, to bury her remains near the place they were then sitting.
The approaching evening warned them to return home, and on leaving the spot Pamul cast a lingering look around as if bidding a last adieu to scenes where she passed so many hours; then leaning on her companion's arm they retraced their steps slowly.
That night about twelve they were aroused by the mournful intelligence being brought them that the invalid was much worse, and wished to see them all. Her father, brothers, and Charlie, were just in time to receive her final adieu, and the noble Pamul breathed her last amidst the lamentations of her friends and relations.
Charlie was much affected by her loss, and strictly complied with her last wishes by interring her remains in her chosen resting place. The bereavement caused him also to follow her directions in the disposal of his land, which he succeeded in doing; he sold it to some British settlers who were flocking to that colony, and shortly afterwards took his passage in a vessel bound to Sydney, bidding farewell to the land of the Maories for ever.