midity, the permeating fragrance, the sensuous warmth, and the surprising beauty bursting at intervals upon the enraptured vision, that nourishes the voluptuous element in our nature" (
ITD
181-82).
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Stoddard could fully indulge
his
voluptuous element only when he was beyond the watchful eyes of his relatives on the estate. No doubt he found his way into the rose garden for chats with the better-looking officers, but if he wanted to sleep with the savages, he would have to go where they were. So he traveled up the coast of Maui to Lahaina and then on to the islands of Oahu and Molokai. Usually on horseback, sometimes with a guide, and other times alone, Stoddard had the wondrous experiences he described to Walt Whitman on 2 March 1869. Still chagrined that Whitman had never bothered to acknowledge his
Poems,
Stoddard began with a disarming plea:
|
 | | May I quote you a couplet from your Leaves of Grass? "Stranger! if you, passing, meet me, and desire to speak to me, why should you not speak to me? And why should I not speak to you?"
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| | I am the stranger who, passing, desires to speak to you. Once before I have done so offering you a few feeble verses. I don't wonder you did not reply to them. Now my voice is stronger. I askwhy will you not speak to me?
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To prove his kinship with Whitman, Stoddard then described his
modus operandi
for finding superb young men:
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| | So fortunate as to be traveling in these very interesting Islands I have done wonders in my intercourse with these natives. For the first time I act as my nature prompts me. It would not answer in America, as a general principle,not even in California, where men are tolerably bold. This is my mode of life.
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| | At dusk I reach some villagea few grass huts by the sea or in some valley. The native villagers gather about me, for strangers are not common in these parts. I observe them closely. Superb looking, many of them. Fine heads, glorious eyes that question, observe and then trust or distrust with an infallible instinct. Proud, defiant lips, a matchless physique, grace and freedom in every motion.
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| | I mark one, a lad of eighteen or twenty years, who is regarding me. I call him to me, ask his name, giving mine in return. He speaks it over and over, manipulating my body unconsciously, as it were, with bountiful and unconstrained love. I go to his grass house, eat with him his simple food, sleep with him upon his mats, and at night sometimes waken to find him
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