A Voyage Round the World Part 13

A VOCABULARY OF THE NATIVE LANGUAGE OF FERNANDO PO.

_Etwee_, head.

_Isilla_, hair of the head.

_Lotto_, ear.

_Booyah_, mouth.

_Nokko_, eye.

_Lopappo_, eye-lashes.

_Kokalako_, chief, or head man.

_Mohoonka_, chief's wife.

_Icancunee_, little one.

_Ebeo_, boy.

_Ternapo_, mother.

_Murugudu_, eye-brows.

_Vompo and Mompo_, nose.

_Bello_ and _Wello_, tooth.

_Ezaddoo_, beard.

_Lobabbo_, tongue.

_Lobok_, arm.

_Dialla_, hand.

_Ab.o.o.booso_, wrist.

_Anne_, finger.

_Jpapo_, thigh.

_Eddo_, and _Etoko_, knee.

_Lopola_, leg.

_Inkakase_, ancle.

_Dekotto_, foot.

_Deballe_, female bosom.

_Babilla_, belly.

_Djakkee_, navel.

_Bopa_.

_Motto_.

_Djeecha_.

_Eppoo_ b.u.t.tocks.

_Elleboo_, trinket of wood, in form of a bell.

_Motoocko_, belt of sh.e.l.ls and pebbles.

_Dpibbo_, bracelet.

_Longebo_, armlet.

_Touno_, black sh.e.l.l bracelet.

_Ebebbo_, snake skin collar.

_Loppollo_, vertebrae of a snake.

_Eboote_, hat.

_Mu-u,_ bulls, or cattle.

_Me-he,_ sheep, or goats, or their flesh.

_Kohoko_, fowls, or their meat.

_Tonatchetolo_, tattoo, or marked.

_Empoo_, dog's jaw.

_Tokko_, round sh.e.l.l ornament like a b.u.t.ton.

_Epehaunah_, purse, sheep's s.c.r.o.t.u.m.

_Looka_, man.

_Daka_, woman.

_Labole_, ship.

_Labolechee_, or _Epoode_, boat.

_Wattoo_, canoe.

_Ikahaddee_, long reed, in the stern of canoes.

_Kalsokoola_, sail.

_Nossapo_, mast.

_Inkappa_, paddle.

_Bonokee_, fishing.

_Itokka_, sun.

_Tolo_, moon.

_Bockao_, eggs.

_Boka_, water.

_Mooheelya_, bar of iron.

_Pooripoodee_, cloves.

_Sokolaee_, Chili pepper.

_Epeepee_, tomatos.

_Etoka_, potatoe.

_Saly_, yams.

_Beentok_, or _Lilo_, cocoa tops.

_Topy_, or _Nakko_, palm-wine.

_Loma_, to drink.

_Looba_, or _Bata_, give.

_Taleppa_, take it away.

_Omitta_, to hold.

_Vallee_ anger.

_Atehee_, done, no more, finish, end.

_Anjoo_, come here.

_Sheerskalle_, fine, pretty.

_Boola_, or _Lilla_, or _Illee_, one.

_Epa_, or _Taba_, two.

_Buelly_, or _Twelly_, three.

_Betoh_, or _Totoh_, five.

_Beho_, ten.

_Bo_, fifteen.

_Eeckee_, twenty.

_Olaito_, thirty.

It would be superfluous to repeat the descriptions which have already, on various occasions, been given of the persons, dress, and characters of the male inhabitants of this island. The reader will have inferred, that they are generally a harmless and inoffensive race of savages: it may be added, that they are probably the most dirty people existing under the face of the sun; for, with the exception of occasional immersions in the sea, when occupied in the affairs of business, we have never known them to wash themselves. The only systematic method they appear to adopt of cleansing, as well as of dress, is to give themselves a new coating of clay and palm-oil, whenever the previous one happens to be injured. Some few individuals, indeed, appear to renew this covering as a matter of fashion; particularly one dandy chief, who frequently changed the colour of his skin, and, in consequence, became familiarly known to us by the name of Chameleon; and what is singular, this man, like our European dandies, was in the habit of scenting himself.

The transition from the male to the female s.e.x, through the intermediate species of Macaroni, is easy, if not natural; and I shall indulge my own particular feelings and partialities in entering upon that part of my observations which relates more exclusively to the fairer and softer portion of this aboriginal people. The infinite modifications of person, mind, and manners, exhibited by the s.e.x in the different grades of society throughout the world, whether formed by the influences of climate, government, or education, present a most interesting subject to the speculative observer of human nature: and to one who, from early life, both by profession and inclination, a traveller, has wandered under every temperature of our eastern hemisphere, who has studied and admired the s.e.x under every variety of character, no wonder that the contemplation of woman, as nature left her, inartificial, unsophisticated, simple, barbarous, and unadorned, should seem fraught with peculiar interest. Are there any who imagine that my loss of eye-sight must necessarily deny me the enjoyment of such contemplations?

How much more do I pity the mental darkness which could give rise to such an error, than they can pity my personal calamity! The feelings and sympathies which pervade my breast, when in the presence of an amiable and interesting female, are such as never could have been suggested by _viewing_ a mere surface of coloured clay, however shaped into beauty, or however animated by feeling and expression. The intelligence still allowed me by a beneficent Providence, is amply sufficient to apprise me of the existence of the more real--the diviner beauties of the soul; and herein are enjoyments in which I am proud to indulge. A soft and sweet voice, for instance, affords me a two-fold gratification;--it is a vehicle of delight, as operating on the appropriate nerves, and, at the same time, it suggests ideas of _visible_ beauty, which, I admit, may, by force of imagination, be carried beyond _reality_. But, supposing I am deceived, are my feelings the less intense?--and, in what consists my existence, but in those feelings? Is it otherwise with those who _see_?

If it be, I envy them not. But are those who think themselves happier, in this respect, than I am, sure, that the possession of a more exquisite sense than any they enjoy, does not, sometimes at least, compensate, or more than compensate, the curtailments to which the ordinary senses, and particularly the one of eye-sight, is liable?--and if they should think so, let them not, at least, deny me the resources I possess. I shall not, however, persist further in a description of that situation, those circ.u.mstances and those consolations, which the all-feeling comprehension of the poet hath so justly caught in one of its diviner moods of inspiration:--

And yet he neither drooped nor pined, Nor had a melancholy mind; For G.o.d took pity on the boy, And was his friend--and gave him joy Of which we nothing know.

The personal appearance of the females of Fernando Po, is by no means attractive, unless (de gustibus non est disputandum) a very ordinary face, with much of the contour of the baboon, be deemed so. Add to this the ornaments of scarification and tattooing, adopted by the s.e.x to a greater extent than by the men: and the imagination will at once be sensible how much divinity attaches to Fernandian beauty. Like the men, the women plaster the body all over with clay and palm-oil, and also in a similar manner wear the hair long, and in curls or ringlets, well stiffened with the above composition. The children of both s.e.xes, or those who have not obtained the age of p.u.b.erty, have the hair cut short, and are not permitted to use any artificial covering to the body. One trait is, perhaps, peculiar to the women of this country, and may be regarded by some as an indication of their good sense--that they have no taste for baubles, or, at all events, do not appear to desire them more than the men. With respect to articles of clothing, they are equally exempt from such inc.u.mbrances as the other s.e.x:--

Happy the climate where the beau Wears the same suit for use and show, And at a small expense your wife, If once well pink'd, is clothed for life.