I need to apologize. I almost always read every single post. But not this week. For a variety of mundane reasons, I just couldn’t get it done. Nothing earthshaking or life-threatening. I promise to do better this week!
Polynesia was first discovered in 1595 when Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira found the Marquesas Islands. The Dutch, (during the Golden Age of Dutch exploration and discovery (ca. 1590s–1720s), were the first non-natives to undisputedly explore and chart coastlines of Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, and Easter Island. (Wikipedia). That’s part of the history. Now for the story:
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“Kapitein Janssen, this is the most beautiful part of the world I have ever seen!”
“Ja, Bram. It is. I could live here for the rest of my life!”
“Even the people are–well—it’s hard to describe such beauty!”
“Indeed, Bram. But we must not take advantage of their friendliness.”
“You will have to keep the men on board, Sir.”
“I cannot. They need to get fresh water; they need to hunt to fill our hold for the voyage home.”
“But. . .”
“Bram, I am Kapitein. I can perform the marriage ceremony. I suspect there will be many.”
Just Writing! 
I’d like to think it was all civilised and weddings took place that the natives were not forced into, but I fear it did not happen that way for many.
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And I’m sure many of those sailors have wives waiting for them at home.
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And after the marriages will come the rape
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Oh, but the bigamist married her, so then it’s not rape, right? RIGHT??
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That’s horrific. Moreso because it comes with a wink and a smile. Well done.
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Love ’em and leave ’em. I hope the Captain warned the brides that the Company anticipated a crew mortality rate of 50% during those long sailing jaunts.
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And let’s not even talk about syphilis!
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I would love to think that the sailors were cool. But, let’s be honest…
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Exactly.
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I suspect there will be a very superficial taking of vows before the ship sets sail, never to be seen again.
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Maybe a big group wedding? And who knows–maybe on or two of those sailors will decided to stay on that island paradise.
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This does not bode well, I’m sure there was carnage everywhere the first sailors set foot.
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Sadly, history shows you are right.
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Dear Linda,
Marriages? I’m sure that’s what the sailors had in mind. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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At least they’re doing it “correctly”. I’m not sure it was always so civilised between sailors and friendly natives.
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Sometimes the sailors enslaved the people they found. Other times, the natives ate them.
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The final line makes it sound almost normal. What followed would have been an all too different story.
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History is a fascinating story and always seems to be written by the victors. Hard to say what these vows meant respectful unions or legal rape… How did they even communicate? A question that always baffles me.
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A wife in every port came to mind.
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Wink wink nudge nudge hint hiint hubba hubba. Unfortunately that’s such a common version of the boys.will.be.boys rule
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I’m not sure I understand what you’re aiming at here.
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They were trying to chase, completely inappropriately,after the women
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Yes. Okay, I just wasn’t sure what your perspective was. But you’re right on the money. 🙂
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The grand history of the great exploration (and exploitation) of the world in a nutshell. Powerful little tale, Linda.
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Thanks, Varad.
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