Ever since we arrived in the Marquesas over a month ago and have heard the baaaiing (or whatever sound it is that goats make -- sounds like a child crying actually) of the wild goats in the hills, Sam has wanted some goat meat. I have had goat before at Indian restaurants and in the Bahamas and, quite frankly, I wasn't too thrilled with it.

The locals use their dogs to hunt and kill the wild goats and wild pigs which wander the lush green mountains in French Polynesia. This morning we woke to the obvious sounds of a goat being hunted down by two dogs. The dogs finally killed the goat down by the waterside and then stayed by the goat waiting for their owner to arrive (as is the routine established long, long ago). (This may seem harsh to some, but this is how they put meat on their tables for them families.) However, the dog's owner was not at home, having gone to Taiohae Baie for the Heiva Nui festivities. We thought it a terrible shame to just let the meat go to waste, so Sam went to the village just to the west of Daniel's Bay and explained the situation.

As quick as can be, one of the young men said "Let's go" (or the equivalent thereof) and hopped into our dinghy. The young man, who is named Aho (phonetic), quickly field dressed and skinned the goat, and then, as a present, provided us with about half of the goat. In return, we gave him four beers (in French Polynesia, a can of beer at the store costs nearly $4.00) and a pound of coffee (worth $12.00 here). He was quite happy with the exchange, but wouldn't let it end. After Sam returned him to his village, he presented us with a large stalk of bananas. And that is typical of how business with the villagers is conducted.

Aho provided Sam with directions regarding how to cook it the "traditional way" (using soy sauce and oyster sauce, of all things) and I have to admit that it was actually quite good. Unlike the other times when I've had goat and the meat had a strong goat flavor, this was actually quite mild and not very gamey at all.

Maybe now Sam can FINALLY stop talking about getting a goat.