Do You Know
p. 50 · Read in the full issue
About
Young Mutton Birds?
DOES any reader know anything about the customs observed in pre-Euro pean Polynesia in relation to the young of the mutton bird?
Mr. John Paterson, of Paterson Labor atories, c/o C. J, S. Purdy, 1 Bond Street, Sydney, who has developed important in dustries based on mutton bird oil, is seeking the information. Mr. Paterson says that the ancient Polynesians had so high a regard for the young of the mutton bird that when the young birds were found in the mountains of Tahiti by the wild-pig hunters, the birds were, on pain of death, reserved for the tables of the kings. Mr. Paterson said he read this in an old book in the US Consulate in Papeete in recent years; but the US Con sulate is now closed, and its books gone, and he cannot remember the name of the book.
Mr. Paterson says he has been told that the Polynesians in their long, open boat voyages protected their skins against the sun by rubbing in mutton bird oil. Does anyone know anything about these things?
If so, write to Mr. Paterson, please.