There he lay, upon a mat, on the ground, which was the only
floor of the oven, with no medicine, no comforts, and no one to care
for, or help him, but a few Kanakas, who were willing enough, but
could do nothing. The sight of him made me sick, and faint. Poor
fellow! During the four months that I lived upon the beach, we were
continually together, both in work, and in our excursions in the
woods, and upon the water. I really felt a strong affection for him,
and preferred him to any of my own countrymen there; and I believe
there was nothing which he would not have done for me. When I came
into the oven he looked at me, held out his hand, and said, in a low
voice, but with a delightful smile, "Aloha, Aikane! Aloha nui!" I
comforted him as well as I could, and promised to ask the captain to
help him from the medicine-chest, and told him I had no doubt the
captain would do what he could for him, as he had worked in our employ
for several years, both on shore and aboard our vessels on the
coast. I went aboard and turned into my hammock, but I could not
sleep.
Thinking, from my education, that I must have some knowledge of
medicine, the Kanakas had insisted upon my examining him carefully;
and it was not a sight to be forgotten.
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