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diff --git a/old/1900.txt b/old/1900.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f81e501 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/1900.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11582 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Typee, by Herman Melville + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Typee + A Romance of the South Sea + +Author: Herman Melville + +Commentator: Arthur Stedman + +Posting Date: November 20, 2008 [EBook #1900] +Release Date: September 1999 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TYPEE *** + + + + +Produced by Dianne Bean + + + + + +TYPEE + +A ROMANCE OF THE SOUTH SEAS + + +By Herman Melville + + + + +PREFACE + +MORE than three years have elapsed since the occurrence of the events +recorded in this volume. The interval, with the exception of the last +few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing about on +the wide ocean. Sailors are the only class of men who now-a-days see +anything like stirring adventure; and many things which to fire-side +people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as common-place as a +jacket out at elbows. Yet, notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors +with all sorts of curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the +following pages have often served, when 'spun as a yarn,' not only to +relieve the weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the +warmest sympathies of the author's shipmates. He has been, therefore, +led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those who +are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure. + +In his account of the singular and interesting people among whom he was +thrown, it will be observed that he chiefly treats of their more obvious +peculiarities; and, in describing their customs, refrains in most cases +from entering into explanations concerning their origin and purposes. +As writers of travels among barbarous communities are generally very +diffuse on these subjects, he deems it right to advert to what may be +considered a culpable omission. No one can be more sensible than the +author of his deficiencies in this and many other respects; but when the +very peculiar circumstances in which he was placed are understood, he +feels assured that all these omissions will be excused. + +In very many published narratives no little degree of attention is +bestowed upon dates; but as the author lost all knowledge of the days of +the week, during the occurrence of the scenes herein related, he hopes +that the reader will charitably pass over his shortcomings in this +particular. + +In the Polynesian words used in this volume,--except in those cases +where the spelling has been previously determined by others,--that form +of orthography has been employed, which might be supposed most easily +to convey their sound to a stranger. In several works descriptive of the +islands in the Pacific, many of the most beautiful combinations of +vocal sounds have been altogether lost to the ear of the reader by an +over-attention to the ordinary rules of spelling. + +There are a few passages in the ensuing chapters which may be thought +to bear rather hard upon a reverend order of men, the account of whose +proceedings in different quarters of the globe--transmitted to us +through their own hands--very generally, and often very deservedly, +receives high commendation. Such passages will be found, however, to +be based upon facts admitting of no contradiction, and which have come +immediately under the writer's cognizance. The conclusions deduced from +these facts are unavoidable, and in stating them the author has been +influenced by no feeling of animosity, either to the individuals +themselves, or to that glorious cause which has not always been served +by the proceedings of some of its advocates. + +The great interest with which the important events lately occurring +at the Sandwich, Marquesas, and Society Islands, have been regarded in +America and England, and indeed throughout the world, will, he trusts, +justify a few otherwise unwarrantable digressions. + +There are some things related in the narrative which will be sure to +appear strange, or perhaps entirely incomprehensible, to the reader; +but they cannot appear more so to him than they did to the author at the +time. He has stated such matters just as they occurred, and leaves every +one to form his own opinion concerning them; trusting that his anxious +desire to speak the unvarnished truth will gain for him the confidence +of his readers. 1846. + + + + +INTRODUCTION TO THE EDITION OF 1892 + +By Arthur Stedman + +OF the trinity of American authors whose births made the year 1819 a +notable one in our literary history,--Lowell, Whitman, and Melville,--it +is interesting to observe that the two latter were both descended, on +the fathers' and mothers' sides respectively, from have families of +British New England and Dutch New York extraction. Whitman and Van +Velsor, Melville and Gansevoort, were the several combinations which +produced these men; and it is easy to trace in the life and character +of each author the qualities derived from his joint ancestry. Here, +however, the resemblance ceases, for Whitman's forebears, while worthy +country people of good descent, were not prominent in public or private +life. Melville, on the other hand, was of distinctly patrician birth, +his paternal and maternal grandfathers having been leading characters in +the Revolutionary War; their descendants still maintaining a dignified +social position. + +Allan Melville, great-grandfather of Herman Melville, removed from +Scotland to America in 1748, and established himself as a merchant +in Boston. His son, Major Thomas Melville, was a leader in the famous +'Boston Tea Party' of 1773 and afterwards became an officer in the +Continental Army. He is reported to have been a Conservative in all +matters except his opposition to unjust taxation, and he wore the +old-fashioned cocked hat and knee-breeches until his death, in 1832, +thus becoming the original of Doctor Holmes's poem, 'The Last Leaf'. +Major Melville's son Allan, the father of Herman, was an importing +merchant,--first in Boston, and later in New York. He was a man of much +culture, and was an extensive traveller for his time. He married Maria +Gansevoort, daughter of General Peter Gansevoort, best known as 'the +hero of Fort Stanwix.' This fort was situated on the present site of +Rome, N.Y.; and there Gansevoort, with a small body of men, held in +check reinforcements on their way to join Burgoyne, until the disastrous +ending of the latter's campaign of 1777 was insured. The Gansevoorts, it +should be said, were at that time and subsequently residents of Albany, +N.Y. + +Herman Melville was born in New York on August 1,1819, and received +his early education in that city. There he imbibed his first love of +adventure, listening, as he says in 'Redburn,' while his father 'of +winter evenings, by the well-remembered sea-coal fire in old Greenwich +Street, used to tell my brother and me of the monstrous waves at sea, +mountain high, of the masts bending like twigs, and all about Havre +and Liverpool.' The death of his father in reduced circumstances +necessitated the removal of his mother and the family of eight brothers +and sisters to the village of Lansingburg, on the Hudson River. There +Herman remained until 1835, when he attended the Albany Classical School +for some months. Dr. Charles E. West, the well-known Brooklyn educator, +was then in charge of the school, and remembers the lad's deftness in +English composition, and his struggles with mathematics. + +The following year was passed at Pittsfield, Mass., where he engaged in +work on his uncle's farm, long known as the 'Van Schaack place.' This +uncle was Thomas Melville, president of the Berkshire Agricultural +Society, and a successful gentleman farmer. + +Herman's roving disposition, and a desire to support himself +independently of family assistance, soon led him to ship as cabin boy +in a New York vessel bound for Liverpool. He made the voyage, visited +London, and returned in the same ship. 'Redburn: His First Voyage,' +published in 1849, is partly founded on the experiences of this trip, +which was undertaken with the full consent of his relatives, and which +seems to have satisfied his nautical ambition for a time. As told in the +book, Melville met with more than the usual hardships of a sailor-boy's +first venture. It does not seem difficult in 'Redburn' to separate the +author's actual experiences from those invented by him, this being the +case in some of his other writings. + +A good part of the succeeding three years, from 1837 to 1840, was +occupied with school-teaching. While so engaged at Greenbush, now +East Albany, N.Y., he received the munificent salary of 'six dollars +a quarter and board.' He taught for one term at Pittsfield, Mass., +'boarding around' with the families of his pupils, in true American +fashion, and easily suppressing, on one memorable occasion, the efforts +of his larger scholars to inaugurate a rebellion by physical force. + +I fancy that it was the reading of Richard Henry Dana's 'Two Years +Before the Mast' which revived the spirit of adventure in Melville's +breast. That book was published in 1840, and was at once talked of +everywhere. Melville must have read it at the time, mindful of his +own experience as a sailor. At any rate, he once more signed a ship's +articles, and on January 1, 1841, sailed from New Bedford harbour in the +whaler Acushnet, bound for the Pacific Ocean and the sperm fishery. +He has left very little direct information as to the events of this +eighteen months' cruise, although his whaling romance, 'Moby Dick; or, +the Whale,' probably gives many pictures of life on board the Acushnet. +In the present volume he confines himself to a general account of +the captain's bad treatment of the crew, and of his non-fulfilment of +agreements. Under these considerations, Melville decided to abandon the +vessel on reaching the Marquesas Islands; and the narrative of 'Typee' +begins at this point. However, he always recognised the immense +influence the voyage had had upon his career, and in regard to its +results has said in 'Moby Dick,'-- + +'If I shall ever deserve any real repute in that small but high hushed +world which I might not be unreasonably ambitious of; if hereafter I +shall do anything that on the whole a man might rather have done than to +have left undone... then here I prospectively ascribe all the honour +and the glory to whaling; for a whale-ship was my Yale College and my +Harvard.' + +The record, then, of Melville's escape from the Dolly, otherwise the +Acushnet, the sojourn of his companion Toby and himself in the Typee +Valley on the island of Nukuheva, Toby's mysterious disappearance, and +Melville's own escape, is fully given in the succeeding pages; and rash +indeed would he be who would enter into a descriptive contest with these +inimitable pictures of aboriginal life in the 'Happy Valley.' So great +an interest has always centred in the character of Toby, whose actual +existence has been questioned, that I am glad to be able to declare him +an authentic personage, by name Richard T. Greene. He was enabled to +discover himself again to Mr. Melville through the publication of the +present volume, and their acquaintance was renewed, lasting for quite +a long period. I have seen his portrait,--a rare old daguerrotype,--and +some of his letters to our author. One of his children was named for the +latter, but Mr. Melville lost trace of him in recent years. + +With the author's rescue from what Dr. T. M. Coan has styled his +'anxious paradise,' 'Typee' ends, and its sequel, 'Omoo,' begins. Here, +again, it seems wisest to leave the remaining adventures in the South +Seas to the reader's own discovery, simply stating that, after a sojourn +at the Society Islands, Melville shipped for Honolulu. There he remained +for four months, employed as a clerk. He joined the crew of the American +frigate United States, which reached Boston, stopping on the way at one +of the Peruvian ports, in October of 1844. Once more was a narrative +of his experiences to be preserved in 'White Jacket; or, the World in +a Man-of-War.' Thus, of Melville's four most important books, three, +'Typee,' 'Omoo,' and 'White-Jacket,' are directly auto biographical, +and 'Moby Dick' is partially so; while the less important 'Redburn' is +between the two classes in this respect. Melville's other prose works, +as will be shown, were, with some exceptions, unsuccessful efforts at +creative romance. + +Whether our author entered on his whaling adventures in the South Seas +with a determination to make them available for literary purposes, may +never be certainly known. There was no such elaborate announcement or +advance preparation as in some later cases. I am inclined to believe +that the literary prospect was an after-thought, and that this insured +a freshness and enthusiasm of style not otherwise to be attained. +Returning to his mother's home at Lansingburg, Melville soon began the +writing of 'Typee,' which was completed by the autumn of 1845. Shortly +after this his older brother, Gansevoort Melville, sailed for England +as secretary of legation to Ambassador McLane, and the manuscript was +intrusted to Gansevoort for submission to John Murray. Its immediate +acceptance and publication followed in 1846. 'Typee' was dedicated to +Chief Justice Lemuel Shaw of Massachusetts, an old friendship between +the author's family and that of Justice Shaw having been renewed about +this time. Mr. Melville became engaged to Miss Elizabeth Shaw, the only +daughter of the Chief Justice, and their marriage followed on August 4, +1847, in Boston. + +The wanderings of our nautical Othello were thus brought to a +conclusion. Mr. and Mrs. Melville resided in New York City until 1850, +when they purchased a farmhouse at Pittsfield, their farm adjoining that +formerly owned by Mr. Melville's uncle, which had been inherited by the +latter's son. The new place was named 'Arrow Head,' from the numerous +Indian antiquities found in the neighbourhood. The house was so situated +as to command an uninterrupted view of Greylock Mountain and the +adjacent hills. Here Melville remained for thirteen years, occupied +with his writing, and managing his farm. An article in Putnam's Monthly +entitled 'I and My Chimney,' another called 'October Mountain,' and the +introduction to the 'Piazza Tales,' present faithful pictures of Arrow +Head and its surroundings. In a letter to Nathaniel Hawthorne, given +in 'Nathaniel Hawthorne and His Wife,' his daily life is set forth. The +letter is dated June 1, 1851. + +'Since you have been here I have been building some shanties of houses +(connected with the old one), and likewise some shanties of chapters and +essays. I have been ploughing and sowing and raising and printing and +praying, and now begin to come out upon a less bristling time, and to +enjoy the calm prospect of things from a fair piazza at the north of the +old farmhouse here. Not entirely yet, though, am I without something to +be urgent with. The 'Whale' is only half through the press; for, wearied +with the long delays of the printers, and disgusted with the heat +and dust of the Babylonish brick-kiln of New York, I came back to the +country to feel the grass, and end the book reclining on it, if I may.' + +Mr. Hawthorne, who was then living in the red cottage at Lenox, had +a week at Arrow Head with his daughter Una the previous spring. It is +recorded that the friends 'spent most of the time in the barn, bathing +in the early spring sunshine, which streamed through the open doors, +and talking philosophy.' According to Mr. J. E. A. Smith's volume on the +Berkshire Hills, these gentlemen, both reserved in nature, though near +neighbours and often in the same company, were inclined to be shy of +each other, partly, perhaps, through the knowledge that Melville had +written a very appreciative review of 'Mosses from an Old Manse' for the +New York Literary World, edited by their mutual friends, the Duyckincks. +'But one day,' writes Mr. Smith, 'it chanced that when they were out on +a picnic excursion, the two were compelled by a thundershower to take +shelter in a narrow recess of the rocks of Monument Mountain. Two hours +of this enforced intercourse settled the matter. They learned so much +of each other's character,... that the most intimate friendship for +the future was inevitable.' A passage in Hawthorne's 'Wonder Book' +is noteworthy as describing the number of literary neighbours in +Berkshire:-- + +'For my part, I wish I had Pegasus here at this moment,' said the +student. 'I would mount him forthwith, and gallop about the country +within a circumference of a few miles, making literary calls on my +brother authors. Dr. Dewey would be within ray reach, at the foot of +the Taconic. In Stockbridge, yonder, is Mr. James [G. P. R. James], +conspicuous to all the world on his mountain-pile of history and +romance. Longfellow, I believe, is not yet at the Oxbow, else the winged +horse would neigh at him. But here in Lenox I should find our most +truthful novelist [Miss Sedgwick], who has made the scenery and life +of Berkshire all her own. On the hither side of Pittsfield sits Herman +Melville, shaping out the gigantic conception of his 'White Whale,' +while the gigantic shadow of Greylock looms upon him from his study +window. Another bound of my flying steed would bring me to the door of +Holmes, whom I mention last, because Pegasus would certainly unseat me +the next minute, and claim the poet as his rider.' + +While at Pittsfield, Mr. Melville was induced to enter the lecture +field. From 1857 to 1860 he filled many engagements in the lyceums, +chiefly speaking of his adventures in the South Seas. He lectured +in cities as widely apart as Montreal, Chicago, Baltimore, and San +Francisco, sailing to the last-named place in 1860, by way of Cape +Horn, on the Meteor, commanded, by his younger brother, Captain Thomas +Melville, afterward governor of the 'Sailor's Snug Harbor' at Staten +Island, N.Y. Besides his voyage to San Francisco, he had, in 1849 and +1856, visited England, the Continent, and the Holy Land, partly to +superintend the publication of English editions of his works, and partly +for recreation. + +A pronounced feature of Melville's character was his unwillingness to +speak of himself, his adventures, or his writings in conversation. He +was, however, able to overcome this reluctance on the lecture platform. +Our author's tendency to philosophical discussion is strikingly set +forth in a letter from Dr. Titus Munson Coan to the latter's mother, +written while a student at Williams College over thirty years ago, +and fortunately preserved by her. Dr. Coan enjoyed the friendship and +confidence of Mr. Melville during most of his residence in New York. The +letter reads:-- + +'I have made my first literary pilgrimage, a call upon Herman Melville, +the renowned author of 'Typee,' etc. He lives in a spacious farmhouse +about two miles from Pittsfield, a weary walk through the dust. But it +as well repaid. I introduced myself as a Hawaiian-American, and soon +found myself in full tide of talk, or rather of monologue. But he would +not repeat the experiences of which I had been reading with rapture in +his books. In vain I sought to hear of Typee and those paradise islands, +but he preferred to pour forth his philosophy and his theories of +life. The shade of Aristotle arose like a cold mist between myself and +Fayaway. We have quite enough of deep philosophy at Williams College, +and I confess I was disappointed in this trend of the talk. But what +a talk it was! Melville is transformed from a Marquesan to a gypsy +student, the gypsy element still remaining strong within him. And this +contradiction gives him the air of one who has suffered from opposition, +both literary and social. With his liberal views, he is apparently +considered by the good people of Pittsfield as little better than a +cannibal or a 'beach-comber.' His attitude seemed to me something like +that of Ishmael; but perhaps I judged hastily. I managed to draw him out +very freely on everything but the Marquesas Islands, and when I left him +he was in full tide of discourse on all things sacred and profane. But +he seems to put away the objective side of his life, and to shut himself +up in this cold north as a cloistered thinker.' + +I have been told by Dr. Coan that his father, the Rev. Titus Coan, of +the Hawaiian Islands, personally visited the Marquesas group, found +the Typee Valley, and verified in all respects the statements made +in 'Typee.' It is known that Mr. Melville from early manhood indulged +deeply in philosophical studies, and his fondness for discussing such +matters is pointed out by Hawthorne also, in the 'English Note Books.' +This habit increased as he advanced in years, if possible. + +The chief event of the residence in Pittsfield was the completion and +publication of 'Moby Dick; or, the Whale,' in 1851. How many young men +have been drawn to sea by this book is a question of interest. Meeting +with Mr. Charles Henry Webb ('John Paul') the day after Mr. Melville's +death, I asked him if he were not familiar with that author's writings. +He replied that 'Moby Dick' was responsible for his three years of life +before the mast when a lad, and added that while 'gamming' on board +another vessel he had once fallen in with a member of the boat's crew +which rescued Melville from his friendly imprisonment among the Typees. + +While at Pittsfield, besides his own family, Mr. Melville's mother +and sisters resided with him. As his four children grew up he found +it necessary to obtain for them better facilities for study than the +village school afforded; and so, several years after, the household was +broken up, and he removed with his wife and children to the New York +house that was afterwards his home. This house belonged to his brother +Allan, and was exchanged for the estate at Pittsfield. In December, +1866, he was appointed by Mr. H. A. Smyth, a former travelling companion +in Europe, a district officer in the New York Custom House. He held the +position until 1886, preferring it to in-door clerical work, and then +resigned, the duties becoming too arduous for his failing strength. + +In addition to his philosophical studies, Mr. Melville was much +interested in all matters relating to the fine arts, and devoted most of +his leisure hours to the two subjects. A notable collection of etchings +and engravings from the old masters was gradually made by him, those +from Claude's paintings being a specialty. After he retired from the +Custom House, his tall, stalwart figure could be seen almost daily +tramping through the Fort George district or Central Park, his roving +inclination leading him to obtain as much out-door life as possible. +His evenings were spent at home with his books, his pictures, and his +family, and usually with them alone; for, in spite of the melodramatic +declarations of various English gentlemen, Melville's seclusion in his +latter years, and in fact throughout his life, was a matter of personal +choice. More and more, as he grew older, he avoided every action on his +part, and on the part of his family, that might tend to keep his name +and writings before the public. A few friends felt at liberty to visit +the recluse, and were kindly welcomed, but he himself sought no one. His +favorite companions were his grandchildren, with whom he delighted to +pass his time, and his devoted wife, who was a constant assistant and +adviser in his literary work, chiefly done at this period for his +own amusement. To her he addressed his last little poem, the touching +'Return of the Sire de Nesle.' Various efforts were made by the New York +literary colony to draw him from his retirement, but without success. +It has been suggested that he might have accepted a magazine editorship, +but this is doubtful, as he could not bear business details or routine +work of any sort. His brother Allan was a New York lawyer, and until his +death, in 1872, managed Melville's affairs with ability, particularly +the literary accounts. + +During these later years he took great pleasure in a friendly +correspondence with Mr. W. Clark Russell. Mr. Russell had taken many +occasions to mention Melville's sea-tales, his interest in them, and his +indebtedness to them. The latter felt impelled to write Mr. Russell in +regard to one of his newly published novels, and received in answer the +following letter: + +July 21, 1886. + +MY DEAR Mr. MELVILLE, Your letter has given me a very great and singular +pleasure. Your delightful books carry the imagination into a maritime +period so remote that, often as you have been in my mind, I could +never satisfy myself that you were still amongst the living. I am glad, +indeed, to learn from Mr. Toft that you are still hale and hearty, and I +do most heartily wish you many years yet of health and vigour. + +Your books I have in the American edition. I have 'Typee, 'Omoo,' +'Redburn,' and that noble piece 'Moby Dick.' These are all I have been +able to obtain. There have been many editions of your works in this +country, particularly the lovely South Sea sketches; but the editions +are not equal to those of the American publishers. Your reputation here +is very great. It is hard to meet a man whose opinion as a reader is +worth leaving who does not speak of your works in such terms as he +might hesitate to employ, with all his patriotism, toward many renowned +English writers. + +Dana is, indeed, great. There is nothing in literature more remarkable +than the impression produced by Dana's portraiture of the homely inner +life of a little brig's forecastle. + +I beg that you will accept my thanks for the kindly spirit in which you +have read my books. I wish it were in my power to cross the Atlantic, +for you assuredly would be the first whom it would be my happiness to +visit. + +The condition of my right hand obliges me to dictate this to my son; +but painful as it is to me to hold a pen, I cannot suffer this letter +to reach the hands of a man of so admirable genitis as Herman Melville +without begging him to believe me to be, with my own hand, his most +respectful and hearty admirer, W. Clark Russell. + +It should be noted here that Melville's increased reputation in England +at the period of this letter was chiefly owing to a series of articles +on his work written by Mr. Russell. I am sorry to say that few English +papers made more than a passing reference to Melville's death. The +American press discussed his life and work in numerous and lengthy +reviews. At the same time, there always has been a steady sale of his +books in England, and some of them never have been out of print in that +country since the publication of 'Typee.' One result of this friendship +between the two authors was the dedication of new volumes to each other +in highly complimentary terms--Mr. Melville's 'John Marr and Other +Sailors,' of which twenty-five copies only were printed, on the one +hand, and Mr. Russell's 'An Ocean Tragedy,' on the other, of which many +thousand have been printed, not to mention unnumbered pirated copies. + +Beside Hawthorne, Mr. Richard Henry Stoddard, of American writers, +specially knew and appreciated Herman Melville. Mr. Stoddard was +connected with the New York dock department at the time of Mr. +Melville's appointment to a custom-house position, and they at once +became acquainted. For a good many years, during the period in which +our author remained in seclusion, much that appeared in print in America +concerning Melville came from the pen of Mr. Stoddard. Nevertheless, +the sailor author's presence in New York was well known to the literary +guild. He was invited to join in all new movements, but as often felt +obliged to excuse himself from doing so. The present writer lived for +some time within a short distance of his house, but found no opportunity +to meet him until it became necessary to obtain his portrait for an +anthology in course of publication. The interview was brief, and the +interviewer could not help feeling although treated with pleasant +courtesy, that more important matters were in hand than the perpetuation +of a romancer's countenance to future generations; but a friendly family +acquaintance grew up from the incident, and will remain an abiding +memory. + +Mr. Melville died at his home in New York City early on the morning of +September 28, 1891. His serious illness had lasted a number of +months, so that the end came as a release. True to his ruling passion, +philosophy had claimed him to the last, a set of Schopenhauer's works +receiving his attention when able to study; but this was varied with +readings in the 'Mermaid Series' of old plays, in which he took much +pleasure. His library, in addition to numerous works on philosophy and +the fine arts, was composed of standard books of all classes, including, +of course, a proportion of nautical literature. Especially interesting +are fifteen or twenty first editions of Hawthorne's books inscribed to +Mr. and Mrs. Melville by the author and his wife. + +The immediate acceptance of 'Typee' by John Murray was followed by an +arrangement with the London agent of an American publisher, for its +simultaneous publication in the United States. I understand that Murray +did not then publish fiction. At any rate, the book was accepted by him +on the assurance of Gansevoort Melville that it contained nothing not +actually experienced by his brother. Murray brought it out early in +1846, in his Colonial and Home Library, as 'A Narrative of a Four +Months' Residence among the Natives of a Valley of the Marquesas +Islands; or, a Peep at Polynesian Life,' or, more briefly, 'Melville's +Marquesas Islands.' It was issued in America with the author's own +title, 'Typee,' and in the outward shape of a work of fiction. Mr. +Melville found himself famous at once. Many discussions were carried on +as to the genuineness of the author's name and the reality of the events +portrayed, but English and American critics alike recognised the book's +importance as a contribution to literature. + +Melville, in a letter to Hawthorne, speaks of himself as having no +development at all until his twenty-fifth year, the time of his return +from the Pacific; but surely the process of development must have been +well advanced to permit of so virile and artistic a creation as 'Typee.' +While the narrative does not always run smoothly, yet the style for the +most part is graceful and alluring, so that we pass from one scene of +Pacific enchantment to another quite oblivious of the vast amount of +descriptive detail which is being poured out upon us. It is the varying +fortune of the hero which engrosses our attention. We follow his +adventures with breathless interest, or luxuriate with him in the leafy +bowers of the 'Happy Valley,' surrounded by joyous children of nature. +When all is ended, we then for the first time realise that we know these +people and their ways as if we too had dwelt among them. + +I do not believe that 'Typee' will ever lose its position as a classic +of American Literature. The pioneer in South Sea romance--for +the mechanical descriptions of earlier voyagers are not worthy of +comparison--this book has as yet met with no superior, even in French +literature; nor has it met with a rival in any other language than the +French. The character of 'Fayaway,' and, no less, William S. Mayo's +'Kaloolah,' the enchanting dreams of many a youthful heart, will retain +their charm; and this in spite of endless variations by modern explorers +in the same domain. A faint type of both characters may be found in the +Surinam Yarico of Captain John Gabriel Stedman, whose 'Narrative of a +Five Years' Expedition' appeared in 1796. + +'Typee,' as written, contained passages reflecting with considerable +severity on the methods pursued by missionaries in the South Seas. The +manuscript was printed in a complete form in England, and created much +discussion on this account, Melville being accused of bitterness; but he +asserted his lack of prejudice. The passages referred to were omitted in +the first and all subsequent American editions. They have been restored +in the present issue, which is complete save for a few paragraphs +excluded by written direction of the author. I have, with the consent +of his family, changed the long and cumbersome sub-title of the book, +calling it a 'Real-Romance of the South Seas,' as best expressing its +nature. + +The success of his first volume encouraged Melville to proceed in his +work, and 'Omoo,' the sequel to 'Typee,' appeared in England and America +in 1847. Here we leave, for the most part, the dreamy pictures of island +life, and find ourselves sharing the extremely realistic discomforts of +a Sydney whaler in the early forties. The rebellious crew's experiences +in the Society Islands are quite as realistic as events on board ship +and very entertaining, while the whimsical character, Dr. Long Ghost, +next to Captain Ahab in 'Moby Dick,' is Melville's most striking +delineation. The errors of the South Sea missions are pointed out with +even more force than in 'Typee,' and it is a fact that both these books +have ever since been of the greatest value to outgoing missionaries on +account of the exact information contained in them with respect to the +islanders. + +Melville's power in describing and investing with romance scenes and +incidents witnessed and participated in by himself, and his frequent +failure of success as an inventor of characters and situations, were +early pointed out by his critics. More recently Mr. Henry S. Salt +has drawn the same distinction very carefully in an excellent article +contributed to the Scottish Art Review. In a prefatory note to 'Mardi' +(1849), Melville declares that, as his former books have been received +as romance instead of reality, he will now try his hand at pure fiction. +'Mardi' may be called a splendid failure. It must have been soon after +the completion of 'Omoo' that Melville began to study the writings of +Sir Thomas Browne. Heretofore our author's style was rough in places, +but marvellously simple and direct. 'Mardi' is burdened with an +over-rich diction, which Melville never entirely outgrew. The scene +of this romance, which opens well, is laid in the South Seas, but +everything soon becomes overdrawn and fantastical, and the thread of the +story loses itself in a mystical allegory. + +'Redburn,' already mentioned, succeeded 'Mardi' in the same year, and +was a partial return to the author's earlier style. In 'White-Jacket; +or, the World in a Man-of-War' (1850), Melville almost regained it. This +book has no equal as a picture of life aboard a sailing man-of-war, the +lights and shadows of naval existence being well contrasted. + +With 'Moby Dick; or, the Whale' (1851), Melville reached the topmost +notch of his fame. The book represents, to a certain extent, the +conflict between the author's earlier and later methods of composition, +but the gigantic conception of the 'White Whale,' as Hawthorne expressed +it, permeates the whole work, and lifts it bodily into the highest +domain of romance. 'Moby Dick' contains an immense amount of information +concerning the habits of the whale and the methods of its capture, but +this is characteristically introduced in a way not to interfere with +the narrative. The chapter entitled 'Stubb Kills a Whale' ranks with the +choicest examples of descriptive literature. + +'Moby Dick' appeared, and Melville enjoyed to the full the enhanced +reputation it brought him. He did not, however, take warning from +'Mardi,' but allowed himself to plunge more deeply into the sea of +philosophy and fantasy. + +'Pierre; or, the Ambiguities' (1852) was published, and there ensued +a long series of hostile criticisms, ending with a severe, though +impartial, article by Fitz-James O'Brien in Putnam's Monthly. About the +same time the whole stock of the author's books was destroyed by fire, +keeping them out of print at a critical moment; and public interest, +which until then had been on the increase, gradually began to diminish. + +After this Mr. Melville contributed several short stories to Putnam's +Monthly and Harper's Magazine. Those in the former periodical were +collected in a volume as Piazza Tales (1856); and of these 'Benito +Cereno' and 'The Bell Tower' are equal to his best previous efforts. + +'Israel Potter: His Fifty Years of Exile' (1855), first printed as a +serial in Putnam's, is an historical romance of the American Revolution, +based on the hero's own account of his adventures, as given in a little +volume picked up by Mr. Melville at a book-stall. The story is well +told, but the book is hardly worthy of the author of 'Typee.' 'The +Confidence Man' (1857), his last serious effort in prose fiction, does +not seem to require criticism. + +Mr. Melville's pen had rested for nearly ten years, when it was again +taken up to celebrate the events of the Civil War. 'Battle Pieces and +Aspects of the War' appeared in 1866. Most of these poems originated, +according to the author, in an impulse imparted by the fall of Richmond; +but they have as subjects all the chief incidents of the struggle. The +best of them are 'The Stone Fleet,' 'In the Prison Pen,' 'The College +Colonel,' 'The March to the Sea,' 'Running the Batteries,' and 'Sheridan +at Cedar Creek.' Some of these had a wide circulation in the press, and +were preserved in various anthologies. 'Clarel, a Poem and Pilgrimage +in the Holy Land' (1876), is a long mystical poem requiring, as some one +has said, a dictionary, a cyclopaedia, and a copy of the Bible for its +elucidation. In the two privately printed volumes, the arrangement of +which occupied Mr. Melville during his last illness, there are several +fine lyrics. The titles of these books are, 'John Marr and Other +Sailors' (1888), and 'Timoleon' (1891). + +There is no question that Mr. Melville's absorption in philosophical +studies was quite as responsible as the failure of his later books for +his cessation from literary productiveness. That he sometimes realised +the situation will be seen by a passage in 'Moby Dick':-- + +'Didn't I tell you so?' said Flask. 'Yes, you'll soon see this right +whale's head hoisted up opposite that parmacetti's.' + +'In good time Flask's saying proved true. As before, the Pequod steeply +leaned over towards the sperm whale's head, now, by the counterpoise of +both heads, she regained her own keel, though sorely strained, you may +well believe. So, when on one side you hoist in Locke's head, you go +over that way; but now, on the other side, hoist in Kant's and you +come back again; but in very poor plight. Thus, some minds forever keep +trimming boat. Oh, ye foolish! throw all these thunderheads overboard, +and then you will float right and light.' + +Mr. Melville would have been more than mortal if he had been indifferent +to his loss of popularity. Yet he seemed contented to preserve an +entirely independent attitude, and to trust to the verdict of the +future. The smallest amount of activity would have kept him before the +public; but his reserve would not permit this. That reinstatement of his +reputation cannot be doubted. + +In the editing of this reissue of 'Melville's Works,' I have been +much indebted to the scholarly aid of Dr. Titus Munson Coan, whose +familiarity with the languages of the Pacific has enabled me to +harmonise the spelling of foreign words in 'Typee' and 'Omoo,' though +without changing the phonetic method of printing adopted by Mr. +Melville. Dr. Coan has also been most helpful with suggestions in other +directions. Finally, the delicate fancy of La Fargehas supplemented the +immortal pen-portrait of the Typee maiden with a speaking impersonation +of her beauty. + +New York, June, 1892. + + + + +TYPEE + + + +CHAPTER ONE + +THE SEA--LONGINGS FOR SHORE--A LAND-SICK SHIP--DESTINATION OF THE +VOYAGERS--THE MARQUESAS--ADVENTURE OF A MISSIONARY'S WIFE AMONG THE +SAVAGES--CHARACTERISTIC ANECDOTE OF THE QUEEN OF NUKUHEVA + +Six months at sea! Yes, reader, as I live, six months out of sight of +land; cruising after the sperm-whale beneath the scorching sun of the +Line, and tossed on the billows of the wide-rolling Pacific--the sky +above, the sea around, and nothing else! Weeks and weeks ago our fresh +provisions were all exhausted. There is not a sweet potato left; not a +single yam. Those glorious bunches of bananas, which once decorated +our stern and quarter-deck, have, alas, disappeared! and the delicious +oranges which hung suspended from our tops and stays--they, too, are +gone! Yes, they are all departed, and there is nothing left us but +salt-horse and sea-biscuit. Oh! ye state-room sailors, who make so +much ado about a fourteen-days' passage across the Atlantic; who so +pathetically relate the privations and hardships of the sea, where, +after a day of breakfasting, lunching, dining off five courses, +chatting, playing whist, and drinking champagne-punch, it was your hard +lot to be shut up in little cabinets of mahogany and maple, and sleep +for ten hours, with nothing to disturb you but 'those good-for-nothing +tars, shouting and tramping overhead',--what would ye say to our six +months out of sight of land? + +Oh! for a refreshing glimpse of one blade of grass--for a snuff at the +fragrance of a handful of the loamy earth! Is there nothing fresh around +us? Is there no green thing to be seen? Yes, the inside of our bulwarks +is painted green; but what a vile and sickly hue it is, as if nothing +bearing even the semblance of verdure could flourish this weary way from +land. Even the bark that once clung to the wood we use for fuel has been +gnawed off and devoured by the captain's pig; and so long ago, too, that +the pig himself has in turn been devoured. + +There is but one solitary tenant in the chicken-coop, once a gay and +dapper young cock, bearing him so bravely among the coy hens. + +But look at him now; there he stands, moping all the day long on that +everlasting one leg of his. He turns with disgust from the mouldy corn +before him, and the brackish water in his little trough. He mourns no +doubt his lost companions, literally snatched from him one by one, and +never seen again. But his days of mourning will be few for Mungo, our +black cook, told me yesterday that the word had at last gone forth, and +poor Pedro's fate was sealed. His attenuated body will be laid out upon +the captain's table next Sunday, and long before night will be buried +with all the usual ceremonies beneath that worthy individual's vest. Who +would believe that there could be any one so cruel as to long for the +decapitation of the luckless Pedro; yet the sailors pray every minute, +selfish fellows, that the miserable fowl may be brought to his end. They +say the captain will never point the ship for the land so long as he +has in anticipation a mess of fresh meat. This unhappy bird can alone +furnish it; and when he is once devoured, the captain will come to his +senses. I wish thee no harm, Pedro; but as thou art doomed, sooner or +later, to meet the fate of all thy race; and if putting a period to +thy existence is to be the signal for our deliverance, why--truth to +speak--I wish thy throat cut this very moment; for, oh! how I wish to +see the living earth again! The old ship herself longs to look out upon +the land from her hawse-holes once more, and Jack Lewis said right the +other day when the captain found fault with his steering. + +'Why d'ye see, Captain Vangs,' says bold Jack, 'I'm as good a helmsman +as ever put hand to spoke; but none of us can steer the old lady now. We +can't keep her full and bye, sir; watch her ever so close, she will fall +off and then, sir, when I put the helm down so gently, and try like to +coax her to the work, she won't take it kindly, but will fall round off +again; and it's all because she knows the land is under the lee, sir, +and she won't go any more to windward.' Aye, and why should she, Jack? +didn't every one of her stout timbers grow on shore, and hasn't she +sensibilities; as well as we? + +Poor old ship! Her very looks denote her desires! how deplorably she +appears! The paint on her sides, burnt up by the scorching sun, is +puffed out and cracked. See the weeds she trails along with her, and +what an unsightly bunch of those horrid barnacles has formed about her +stern-piece; and every time she rises on a sea, she shows her copper +torn away, or hanging in jagged strips. + +Poor old ship! I say again: for six months she has been rolling and +pitching about, never for one moment at rest. But courage, old lass, I +hope to see thee soon within a biscuit's toss of the merry land, riding +snugly at anchor in some green cove, and sheltered from the boisterous +winds. + + . . . . . . + +'Hurra, my lads! It's a settled thing; next week we shape our course to +the Marquesas!' The Marquesas! What strange visions of outlandish things +does the very name spirit up! Naked houris--cannibal banquets--groves +of cocoanut--coral reefs--tattooed chiefs--and bamboo temples; sunny +valleys planted with bread-fruit-trees--carved canoes dancing on +the flashing blue waters--savage woodlands guarded by horrible +idols--HEATHENISH RITES AND HUMAN SACRIFICES. + +Such were the strangely jumbled anticipations that haunted me during our +passage from the cruising ground. I felt an irresistible curiosity to +see those islands which the olden voyagers had so glowingly described. + +The group for which we were now steering (although among the earliest of +European discoveries in the South Seas, having been first visited in +the year 1595) still continues to be tenanted by beings as strange +and barbarous as ever. The missionaries sent on a heavenly errand, had +sailed by their lovely shores, and had abandoned them to their idols of +wood and stone. How interesting the circumstances under which they were +discovered! In the watery path of Mendanna, cruising in quest of some +region of gold, these isles had sprung up like a scene of enchantment, +and for a moment the Spaniard believed his bright dream was realized. + +In honour of the Marquess de Mendoza, then viceroy of Peru--under whose +auspices the navigator sailed--he bestowed upon them the name which +denoted the rank of his patron, and gave to the world on his return +a vague and magnificent account of their beauty. But these islands, +undisturbed for years, relapsed into their previous obscurity; and it is +only recently that anything has been known concerning them. Once in the +course of a half century, to be sure, some adventurous rover would break +in upon their peaceful repose, and astonished at the unusual scene, +would be almost tempted to claim the merit of a new discovery. + +Of this interesting group, but little account has ever been given, if +we except the slight mention made of them in the sketches of South-Sea +voyages. Cook, in his repeated circumnavigations of the globe, barely +touched at their shores; and all that we know about them is from a few +general narratives. + +Among these, there are two that claim particular notice. Porter's +'Journal of the Cruise of the U.S. frigate Essex, in the Pacific, +during the late War', is said to contain some interesting particulars +concerning the islanders. This is a work, however, which I have never +happened to meet with; and Stewart, the chaplain of the American sloop +of war Vincennes, has likewise devoted a portion of his book, entitled +'A Visit to the South Seas', to the same subject. + +Within the last few, years American and English vessels engaged in the +extensive whale fisheries of the Pacific have occasionally, when short +of provisions, put into the commodious harbour which there is in one of +the islands; but a fear of the natives, founded on the recollection of +the dreadful fate which many white men have received at their hands, has +deterred their crews from intermixing with the population sufficiently +to gain any insight into their peculiar customs and manners. + +The Protestant Missions appear to have despaired of reclaiming these +islands from heathenism. The usage they have in every case received from +the natives has been such as to intimidate the boldest of their number. +Ellis, in his 'Polynesian Researches', gives some interesting accounts +of the abortive attempts made by the ''Tahiti Mission'' to establish a +branch Mission upon certain islands of the group. A short time before +my visit to the Marquesas, a somewhat amusing incident took place in +connection with these efforts, which I cannot avoid relating. + +An intrepid missionary, undaunted by the ill-success that had attended +all previous endeavours to conciliate the savages, and believing much +in the efficacy of female influence, introduced among them his young and +beautiful wife, the first white woman who had ever visited their shores. +The islanders at first gazed in mute admiration at so unusual a prodigy, +and seemed inclined to regard it as some new divinity. But after a short +time, becoming familiar with its charming aspect, and jealous of the +folds which encircled its form, they sought to pierce the sacred veil +of calico in which it was enshrined, and in the gratification of their +curiosity so far overstepped the limits of good breeding, as deeply +to offend the lady's sense of decorum. Her sex once ascertained, their +idolatry was changed into contempt and there was no end to the contumely +showered upon her by the savages, who were exasperated at the deception +which they conceived had been practised upon them. To the horror of +her affectionate spouse, she was stripped of her garments, and given to +understand that she could no longer carry on her deceits with impunity. +The gentle dame was not sufficiently evangelical to endure this, and, +fearful of further improprieties, she forced her husband to relinquish +his undertaking, and together they returned to Tahiti. + +Not thus shy of exhibiting her charms was the Island Queen herself, the +beauteous wife of Movianna, the king of Nukuheva. Between two and three +years after the adventures recorded in this volume, I chanced, while +aboard of a man-of-war to touch at these islands. The French had +then held possession of the Marquesas some time, and already prided +themselves upon the beneficial effects of their jurisdiction, as +discernible in the deportment of the natives. To be sure, in one of +their efforts at reform they had slaughtered about a hundred and fifty +of them at Whitihoo--but let that pass. At the time I mention, the +French squadron was rendezvousing in the bay of Nukuheva, and during an +interview between one of their captains and our worthy Commodore, it +was suggested by the former, that we, as the flag-ship of the American +squadron, should receive, in state, a visit from the royal pair. The +French officer likewise represented, with evident satisfaction, that +under their tuition the king and queen had imbibed proper notions of +their elevated station, and on all ceremonious occasions conducted +themselves with suitable dignity. Accordingly, preparations were made to +give their majesties a reception on board in a style corresponding with +their rank. + +One bright afternoon, a gig, gaily bedizened with streamers, was +observed to shove off from the side of one of the French frigates, and +pull directly for our gangway. In the stern sheets reclined Mowanna and +his consort. As they approached, we paid them all the honours due to +royalty;--manning our yards, firing a salute, and making a prodigious +hubbub. + +They ascended the accommodation ladder, were greeted by the Commodore, +hat in hand, and passing along the quarter-deck, the marine guard +presented arms, while the band struck up 'The King of the Cannibal +Islands'. So far all went well. The French officers grimaced and smiled +in exceedingly high spirits, wonderfully pleased with the discreet +manner in which these distinguished personages behaved themselves. + +Their appearance was certainly calculated to produce an effect. His +majesty was arrayed in a magnificent military uniform, stiff with gold +lace and embroidery, while his shaven crown was concealed by a huge +chapeau bras, waving with ostrich plumes. There was one slight blemish, +however, in his appearance. A broad patch of tattooing stretched +completely across his face, in a line with his eyes, making him look as +if he wore a huge pair of goggles; and royalty in goggles suggested some +ludicrous ideas. But it was in the adornment of the fair person of his +dark-complexioned spouse that the tailors of the fleet had evinced the +gaiety of their national taste. She was habited in a gaudy tissue of +scarlet cloth, trimmed with yellow silk, which, descending a little +below the knees, exposed to view her bare legs, embellished with spiral +tattooing, and somewhat resembling two miniature Trajan's columns. Upon +her head was a fanciful turban of purple velvet, figured with silver +sprigs, and surmounted by a tuft of variegated feathers. + +The ship's company, crowding into the gangway to view the sight, soon +arrested her majesty's attention. She singled out from their number an +old salt, whose bare arms and feet, and exposed breast, were covered +with as many inscriptions in India ink as the lid of an Egyptian +sarcophagus. Notwithstanding all the sly hints and remonstrances of the +French officers, she immediately approached the man, and pulling further +open the bosom of his duck frock, and rolling up the leg of his wide +trousers, she gazed with admiration at the bright blue and vermilion +pricking thus disclosed to view. She hung over the fellow, caressing +him, and expressing her delight in a variety of wild exclamations and +gestures. The embarrassment of the polite Gauls at such an unlooked-for +occurrence may be easily imagined, but picture their consternation, when +all at once the royal lady, eager to display the hieroglyphics on her +own sweet form, bent forward for a moment, and turning sharply round, +threw up the skirt of her mantle and revealed a sight from which the +aghast Frenchmen retreated precipitately, and tumbling into their boats, +fled the scene of so shocking a catastrophe. + + + +CHAPTER TWO + +PASSAGE FROM THE CRUISING GROUND TO THE MARQUESAS--SLEEPY TIMES ABOARD +SHIP--SOUTH SEA SCENERY--LAND HO--THE FRENCH SQUADRON DISCOVERED AT +ANCHOR IN THE BAY OF NUKUHEVA--STRANGE PILOT--ESCORT OF CANOES--A +FLOTILLA OF COCOANUTS--SWIMMING VISITORS--THE DOLLY BOARDED BY +THEM--STATE OF AFFAIRS THAT ENSUE + +I CAN never forget the eighteen or twenty days during which the light +trade-winds were silently sweeping us towards the islands. In pursuit of +the sperm whale, we had been cruising on the line some twenty degrees +to the westward of the Gallipagos; and all that we had to do, when our +course was determined on, was to square in the yards and keep the vessel +before the breeze, and then the good ship and the steady gale did the +rest between them. The man at the wheel never vexed the old lady with +any superfluous steering, but comfortably adjusting his limbs at the +tiller, would doze away by the hour. True to her work, the Dolly headed +to her course, and like one of those characters who always do best when +let alone, she jogged on her way like a veteran old sea-pacer as she +was. + +What a delightful, lazy, languid time we had whilst we were thus gliding +along! There was nothing to be done; a circumstance that happily +suited our disinclination to do anything. We abandoned the fore-peak +altogether, and spreading an awning over the forecastle, slept, ate, +and lounged under it the live-long day. Every one seemed to be under the +influence of some narcotic. Even the officers aft, whose duty required +them never to be seated while keeping a deck watch, vainly endeavoured +to keep on their pins; and were obliged invariably to compromise the +matter by leaning up against the bulwarks, and gazing abstractedly over +the side. Reading was out of the question; take a book in your hand, and +you were asleep in an instant. + +Although I could not avoid yielding in a great measure to the general +languor, still at times I contrived to shake off the spell, and to +appreciate the beauty of the scene around me. The sky presented a +clear expanse of the most delicate blue, except along the skirts of the +horizon, where you might see a thin drapery of pale clouds which never +varied their form or colour. The long, measured, dirge-like well of +the Pacific came rolling along, with its surface broken by little tiny +waves, sparkling in the sunshine. Every now and then a shoal of flying +fish, scared from the water under the bows, would leap into the air, +and fall the next moment like a shower of silver into the sea. Then you +would see the superb albicore, with his glittering sides, sailing aloft, +and often describing an arc in his descent, disappear on the surface of +the water. Far off, the lofty jet of the whale might be seen, and nearer +at hand the prowling shark, that villainous footpad of the seas, would +come skulking along, and, at a wary distance, regard us with his evil +eye. At times, some shapeless monster of the deep, floating on the +surface, would, as we approached, sink slowly into the blue waters, and +fade away from the sight. But the most impressive feature of the +scene was the almost unbroken silence that reigned over sky and water. +Scarcely a sound could be heard but the occasional breathing of the +grampus, and the rippling at the cut-water. + +As we drew nearer the land, I hailed with delight the appearance of +innumerable sea-fowl. Screaming and whirling in spiral tracks, they +would accompany the vessel, and at times alight on our yards and +stays. That piratical-looking fellow, appropriately named the +man-of-war's-hawk, with his blood-red bill and raven plumage, would +come sweeping round us in gradually diminishing circles, till you +could distinctly mark the strange flashings of his eye; and then, as if +satisfied with his observation, would sail up into the air and disappear +from the view. Soon, other evidences of our vicinity to the land were +apparent, and it was not long before the glad announcement of its being +in sight was heard from aloft,--given with that peculiar prolongation of +sound that a sailor loves--'Land ho!' + +The captain, darting on deck from the cabin, bawled lustily for his +spy-glass; the mate in still louder accents hailed the masthead with a +tremendous 'where-away?' The black cook thrust his woolly head from the +galley, and Boatswain, the dog, leaped up between the knight-heads, and +barked most furiously. Land ho! Aye, there it was. A hardly perceptible +blue irregular outline, indicating the bold contour of the lofty heights +of Nukuheva. + +This island, although generally called one of the Marquesas, is by some +navigators considered as forming one of a distinct cluster, comprising +the islands of Ruhooka, Ropo, and Nukuheva; upon which three the +appellation of the Washington Group has been bestowed. They form a +triangle, and lie within the parallels of 8 degrees 38" and 9 degrees +32" South latitude and 139 degrees 20" and 140 degrees 10" West +longitude from Greenwich. With how little propriety they are to be +regarded as forming a separate group will be at once apparent, when +it is considered that they lie in the immediate vicinity of the other +islands, that is to say, less than a degree to the northwest of them; +that their inhabitants speak the Marquesan dialect, and that their laws, +religion, and general customs are identical. The only reason why they +were ever thus arbitrarily distinguished may be attributed to the +singular fact, that their existence was altogether unknown to the world +until the year 1791, when they were discovered by Captain Ingraham, of +Boston, Massachusetts, nearly two centuries after the discovery of the +adjacent islands by the agent of the Spanish Viceroy. Notwithstanding +this, I shall follow the example of most voyagers, and treat of them as +forming part and parcel of Marquesas. + +Nukuheva is the most important of these islands, being the only one +at which ships are much in the habit of touching, and is celebrated as +being the place where the adventurous Captain Porter refitted his ships +during the late war between England and the United States, and whence he +sallied out upon the large whaling fleet then sailing under the enemy's +flag in the surrounding seas. This island is about twenty miles in +length and nearly as many in breadth. It has three good harbours on its +coast; the largest and best of which is called by the people living +in its vicinity 'Taiohae', and by Captain Porter was denominated +Massachusetts Bay. Among the adverse tribes dwelling about the shores of +the other bays, and by all voyagers, it is generally known by the name +bestowed upon the island itself--Nukuheva. Its inhabitants have become +somewhat corrupted, owing to their recent commerce with Europeans, but +so far as regards their peculiar customs and general mode of life, they +retain their original primitive character, remaining very nearly in the +same state of nature in which they were first beheld by white men. The +hostile clans, residing in the more remote sections of the island, and +very seldom holding any communication with foreigners, are in every +respect unchanged from their earliest known condition. + +In the bay of Nukuheva was the anchorage we desired to reach. We had +perceived the loom of the mountains about sunset; so that after running +all night with a very light breeze, we found ourselves close in with +the island the next morning, but as the bay we sought lay on its farther +side, we were obliged to sail some distance along the shore, catching, +as we proceeded, short glimpses of blooming valleys, deep glens, +waterfalls, and waving groves hidden here and there by projecting and +rocky headlands, every moment opening to the view some new and startling +scene of beauty. + +Those who for the first time visit the South Sea, generally are +surprised at the appearance of the islands when beheld from the sea. +From the vague accounts we sometimes have of their beauty, many people +are apt to picture to themselves enamelled and softly swelling plains, +shaded over with delicious groves, and watered by purling brooks, and +the entire country but little elevated above the surrounding ocean. The +reality is very different; bold rock-bound coasts, with the surf beating +high against the lofty cliffs, and broken here and there into deep +inlets, which open to the view thickly-wooded valleys, separated by the +spurs of mountains clothed with tufted grass, and sweeping down towards +the sea from an elevated and furrowed interior, form the principal +features of these islands. + +Towards noon we drew abreast the entrance go the harbour, and at last +we slowly swept by the intervening promontory, and entered the bay of +Nukuheva. No description can do justice to its beauty; but that beauty +was lost to me then, and I saw nothing but the tri-coloured flag of +France trailing over the stern of six vessels, whose black hulls and +bristling broadsides proclaimed their warlike character. There they +were, floating in that lovely bay, the green eminences of the shore +looking down so tranquilly upon them, as if rebuking the sternness of +their aspect. To my eye nothing could be more out of keeping than the +presence of these vessels; but we soon learnt what brought them +there. The whole group of islands had just been taken possession of +by Rear-Admiral Du Petit Thouars, in the name of the invincible French +nation. + +This item of information was imparted to us by a most extraordinary +individual, a genuine South-Sea vagabond, who came alongside of us in +a whale-boat as soon as we entered the bay, and, by the aid of some +benevolent persons at the gangway, was assisted on board, for our +visitor was in that interesting stage of intoxication when a man is +amiable and helpless. Although he was utterly unable to stand erect or +to navigate his body across the deck, he still magnanimously proffered +his services to pilot the ship to a good and secure anchorage. Our +captain, however, rather distrusted his ability in this respect, and +refused to recognize his claim to the character he assumed; but +our gentleman was determined to play his part, for, by dint of much +scrambling, he succeeded in getting into the weather-quarter boat, +where he steadied himself by holding on to a shroud, and then commenced +issuing his commands with amazing volubility and very peculiar gestures. +Of course no one obeyed his orders; but as it was impossible to quiet +him, we swept by the ships of the squadron with this strange fellow +performing his antics in full view of all the French officers. + +We afterwards learned that our eccentric friend had been a lieutenant in +the English navy; but having disgraced his flag by some criminal conduct +in one of the principal ports on the main, he had deserted his ship, +and spent many years wandering among the islands of the Pacific, until +accidentally being at Nukuheva when the French took possession of +the place, he had been appointed pilot of the harbour by the newly +constituted authorities. + +As we slowly advanced up the bay, numerous canoes pushed off from the +surrounding shores, and we were soon in the midst of quite a flotilla +of them, their savage occupants struggling to get aboard of us, and +jostling one another in their ineffectual attempts. Occasionally the +projecting out-riggers of their slight shallops running foul of one +another, would become entangled beneath the water, threatening to +capsize the canoes, when a scene of confusion would ensue that baffles +description. Such strange outcries and passionate gesticulations I never +certainly heard or saw before. You would have thought the islanders were +on the point of flying at each other's throats, whereas they were only +amicably engaged in disentangling their boats. + +Scattered here and there among the canoes might be seen numbers of +cocoanuts floating closely together in circular groups, and bobbing up +and down with every wave. By some inexplicable means these cocoanuts +were all steadily approaching towards the ship. As I leaned curiously +over the side, endeavouring to solve their mysterious movements, one +mass far in advance of the rest attracted my attention. In its centre +was something I could take for nothing else than a cocoanut, but which +I certainly considered one of the most extraordinary specimens of the +fruit I had ever seen. It kept twirling and dancing about among the rest +in the most singular manner, and as it drew nearer I thought it bore a +remarkable resemblance to the brown shaven skull of one of the savages. +Presently it betrayed a pair of eyes, and soon I became aware that what +I had supposed to have been one of the fruit was nothing else than the +head of an islander, who had adopted this singular method of bringing +his produce to market. The cocoanuts were all attached to one another +by strips of the husk, partly torn from the shell and rudely fastened +together. Their proprietor inserting his head into the midst of them, +impelled his necklace of cocoanuts through the water by striking out +beneath the surface with his feet. + +I was somewhat astonished to perceive that among the number of natives +that surrounded us, not a single female was to be seen. At that time I +was ignorant of the fact that by the operation of the 'taboo' the use of +canoes in all parts of the island is rigorously prohibited to the entire +sex, for whom it is death even to be seen entering one when hauled on +shore; consequently, whenever a Marquesan lady voyages by water, she +puts in requisition the paddles of her own fair body. + +We had approached within a mile and a half perhaps of this foot of +the bay, when some of the islanders, who by this time had managed to +scramble aboard of us at the risk of swamping their canoes, directed our +attention to a singular commotion in the water ahead of the vessel. At +first I imagined it to be produced by a shoal of fish sporting on the +surface, but our savage friends assured us that it was caused by a shoal +of 'whinhenies' (young girls), who in this manner were coming off from +the shore to welcome is. As they drew nearer, and I watched the rising +and sinking of their forms, and beheld the uplifted right arm bearing +above the water the girdle of tappa, and their long dark hair trailing +beside them as they swam, I almost fancied they could be nothing else +than so many mermaids--and very like mermaids they behaved too. + +We were still some distance from the beach, and under slow headway, +when we sailed right into the midst of these swimming nymphs, and they +boarded us at every quarter; many seizing hold of the chain-plates and +springing into the chains; others, at the peril of being run over by +the vessel in her course, catching at the bob-stays, and wreathing their +slender forms about the ropes, hung suspended in the air. All of them +at length succeeded in getting up the ship's side, where they clung +dripping with the brine and glowing from the bath, their jet-black +tresses streaming over their shoulders, and half enveloping their +otherwise naked forms. There they hung, sparkling with savage vivacity, +laughing gaily at one another, and chattering away with infinite glee. +Nor were they idle the while, for each one performed the simple offices +of the toilette for the other. Their luxuriant locks, wound up and +twisted into the smallest possible compass, were freed from the briny +element; the whole person carefully dried, and from a little round +shell that passed from hand to hand, anointed with a fragrant oil: their +adornments were completed by passing a few loose folds of white tappa, +in a modest cincture, around the waist. Thus arrayed they no longer +hesitated, but flung themselves lightly over the bulwarks, and were +quickly frolicking about the decks. Many of them went forward, perching +upon the headrails or running out upon the bowsprit, while others seated +themselves upon the taffrail, or reclined at full length upon the boats. +What a sight for us bachelor sailors! How avoid so dire a temptation? +For who could think of tumbling these artless creatures overboard, when +they had swum miles to welcome us? + +Their appearance perfectly amazed me; their extreme youth, the +light clear brown of their complexions, their delicate features, and +inexpressibly graceful figures, their softly moulded limbs, and free +unstudied action, seemed as strange as beautiful. + +The Dolly was fairly captured; and never I will say was vessel carried +before by such a dashing and irresistible party of boarders! The ship +taken, we could not do otherwise than yield ourselves prisoners, and for +the whole period that she remained in the bay, the Dolly, as well as her +crew, were completely in the hands of the mermaids. + +In the evening after we had come to an anchor the deck was illuminated +with lanterns, and this picturesque band of sylphs, tricked out with +flowers, and dressed in robes of variegated tappa, got up a ball in +great style. These females are passionately fond of dancing, and in the +wild grace and spirit of the style excel everything I have ever seen. +The varied dances of the Marquesan girls are beautiful in the extreme, +but there is an abandoned voluptuousness in their character which I dare +not attempt to describe. + + + +CHAPTER THREE + +SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LATE OPERATIONS OF THE FRENCH AT THE +MARQUESAS--PRUDENT CONDUCT OF THE ADMIRAL--SENSATION PRODUCED BY +THE ARRIVAL OF THE STRANGERS--THE FIRST HORSE SEEN BY THE +ISLANDERS--REFLECTIONS--MISERABLE SUBTERFUGE OF THE FRENCH--DIGRESSION +CONCERNING TAHITI--SEIZURE OF THE ISLAND BY THE ADMIRAL--SPIRITED +CONDUCT OF AN ENGLISH LADY + +IT was in the summer of 1842 that we arrived at the islands; the French +had then held possession of them for several weeks. During this time +they had visited some of the principal places in the group, and had +disembarked at various points about five hundred troops. These were +employed in constructing works of defence, and otherwise providing +against the attacks of the natives, who at any moment might be expected +to break out in open hostility. The islanders looked upon the people who +made this cavalier appropriation of their shores with mingled feelings +of fear and detestation. They cordially hated them; but the impulses +of their resentment were neutralized by their dread of the floating +batteries, which lay with their fatal tubes ostentatiously pointed, +not at fortifications and redoubts, but at a handful of bamboo sheds, +sheltered in a grove of cocoanuts! A valiant warrior doubtless, but +a prudent one too, was this same Rear-Admiral Du Petit Thouars. Four +heavy, doublebanked frigates and three corvettes to frighten a parcel of +naked heathen into subjection! Sixty-eight pounders to demolish huts of +cocoanut boughs, and Congreve rockets to set on fire a few canoe sheds! + +At Nukuheva, there were about one hundred soldiers ashore. They were +encamped in tents, constructed of the old sails and spare spars of +the squadron, within the limits of a redoubt mounted with a few +nine-pounders, and surrounded with a fosse. Every other day, these +troops were marched out in martial array, to a level piece of ground +in the vicinity, and there for hours went through all sorts of military +evolutions, surrounded by flocks of the natives, who looked on with +savage admiration at the show, and as savage a hatred of the actors. +A regiment of the Old Guard, reviewed on a summer's day in the Champs +Elysees, could not have made a more critically correct appearance. The +officers' regimentals, resplendent with gold lace and embroidery as if +purposely calculated to dazzle the islanders, looked as if just unpacked +from their Parisian cases. + +The sensation produced by the presence of the strangers had not in the +least subsided at the period of our arrival at the islands. The natives +still flocked in numbers about the encampment, and watched with the +liveliest curiosity everything that was going forward. A blacksmith's +forge, which had been set up in the shelter of a grove near the beach, +attracted so great a crowd, that it required the utmost efforts of the +sentries posted around to keep the inquisitive multitude at a sufficient +distance to allow the workmen to ply their vocation. But nothing gained +so large a share of admiration as a horse, which had been brought from +Valparaiso by the Achille, one of the vessels of the squadron. The +animal, a remarkably fine one, had been taken ashore, and stabled in a +hut of cocoanut boughs within the fortified enclosure. Occasionally it +was brought out, and, being gaily caparisoned, was ridden by one of the +officers at full speed over the hard sand beach. This performance was +sure to be hailed with loud plaudits, and the 'puarkee nuee' (big hog) +was unanimously pronounced by the islanders to be the most extraordinary +specimen of zoology that had ever come under their observation. + +The expedition for the occupation of the Marquesas had sailed from Brest +in the spring of 1842, and the secret of its destination was solely in +the possession of its commander. No wonder that those who contemplated +such a signal infraction of the rights of humanity should have sought to +veil the enormity from the eyes of the world. And yet, notwithstanding +their iniquitous conduct in this and in other matters, the French +have ever plumed themselves upon being the most humane and polished of +nations. A high degree of refinement, however, does not seem to subdue +our wicked propensities so much after all; and were civilization itself +to be estimated by some of its results, it would seem perhaps better for +what we call the barbarous part of the world to remain unchanged. + +One example of the shameless subterfuges under which the French stand +prepared to defend whatever cruelties they may hereafter think fit to +commit in bringing the Marquesan natives into subjection is well worthy +of being recorded. On some flimsy pretext or other Mowanna, the king of +Nukuheva, whom the invaders by extravagant presents had cajoled over to +their interests, and moved about like a mere puppet, has been set up +as the rightful sovereign of the entire island--the alleged ruler by +prescription of various clans, who for ages perhaps have treated with +each other as separate nations. To reinstate this much-injured prince in +the assumed dignities of his ancestors, the disinterested strangers have +come all the way from France: they are determined that his title shall +be acknowledged. If any tribe shall refuse to recognize the authority +of the French, by bowing down to the laced chapeau of Mowanna, let them +abide the consequences of their obstinacy. Under cover of a similar +pretence, have the outrages and massacres at Tahiti the beautiful, the +queen of the South Seas, been perpetrated. + +On this buccaneering expedition, Rear Admiral Du Petit Thouars, leaving +the rest of his squadron at the Marquesas,--which had then been occupied +by his forces about five months--set sail for the doomed island in +the Reine Blanche frigate. On his arrival, as an indemnity for alleged +insults offered to the flag of his country, he demanded some twenty +or thirty thousand dollars to be placed in his hands forthwith, and in +default of payment, threatened to land and take possession of the place. + +The frigate, immediately upon coming to an anchor, got springs on her +cables, and with her guns cast loose and her men at their quarters, lay +in the circular basin of Papeete, with her broadside bearing upon the +devoted town; while her numerous cutters, hauled in order alongside, +were ready to effect a landing, under cover of her batteries. She +maintained this belligerent attitude for several days, during which time +a series of informal negotiations were pending, and wide alarm spread +over the island. Many of the Tahitians were at first disposed to resort +to arms, and drive the invaders from their shores; but more pacific and +feebler counsels ultimately prevailed. The unfortunate queen Pomare, +incapable of averting the impending calamity, terrified at the arrogance +of the insolent Frenchman, and driven at last to despair, fled by night +in a canoe to Emio. + +During the continuance of the panic there occurred an instance of +feminine heroism that I cannot omit to record. + +In the grounds of the famous missionary consul, Pritchard, then absent +in London, the consular flag of Britain waved as usual during the day, +from a lofty staff planted within a few yards of the beach, and in full +view of the frigate. One morning an officer, at the head of a party +of men, presented himself at the verandah of Mr Pritchard's house, and +inquired in broken English for the lady his wife. The matron soon made +her appearance; and the polite Frenchman, making one of his best bows, +and playing gracefully with the aiguillettes that danced upon his +breast, proceeded in courteous accents to deliver his mission. 'The +admiral desired the flag to be hauled down--hoped it would be perfectly +agreeable--and his men stood ready to perform the duty.' 'Tell the +Pirate your master,' replied the spirited Englishwoman, pointing to +the staff, 'that if he wishes to strike these colours, he must come and +perform the act himself; I will suffer no one else to do it.' The lady +then bowed haughtily and withdrew into the house. As the discomfited +officer slowly walked away, he looked up to the flag, and perceived that +the cord by which it was elevated to its place, led from the top of the +staff, across the lawn, to an open upper window of the mansion, where +sat the lady from whom he had just parted, tranquilly engaged in +knitting. Was that flag hauled down? Mrs Pritchard thinks not; and +Rear-Admiral Du Petit Thouars is believed to be of the same opinion. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR + +STATE OF AFFAIRS ABOARD THE SHIP--CONTENTS OF HER LARDER--LENGTH OF +SOUTH SEAMEN'S VOYAGES--ACCOUNT OF A FLYING WHALE-MAN--DETERMINATION +TO LEAVE THE VESSEL--THE BAY OF NUKUHEVA--THE TYPEES--INVASION OF THEIR +VALLEY BY PORTER--REFLECTIONS--GLEN OF TIOR--INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE OLD +KING AND THE FRENCH ADMIRAL + +OUR ship had not been many days in the harbour of Nukuheva before I came +to the determination of leaving her. That my reasons for resolving to +take this step were numerous and weighty, may be inferred from the fact +that I chose rather to risk my fortunes among the savages of the island +than to endure another voyage on board the Dolly. To use the concise, +pointblank phrase of the sailors. I had made up my mind to 'run away'. +Now as a meaning is generally attached to these two words no way +flattering to the individual to whom they are applied, it behoves +me, for the sake of my own character, to offer some explanation of my +conduct. + +When I entered on board the Dolly, I signed as a matter of course the +ship's articles, thereby voluntarily engaging and legally binding +myself to serve in a certain capacity for the period of the voyage; +and, special considerations apart, I was of course bound to fulfill the +agreement. But in all contracts, if one party fail to perform his share +of the compact, is not the other virtually absolved from his liability? +Who is there who will not answer in the affirmative? + +Having settled the principle, then, let me apply it to the particular +case in question. In numberless instances had not only the implied but +the specified conditions of the articles been violated on the part of +the ship in which I served. The usage on board of her was tyrannical; +the sick had been inhumanly neglected; the provisions had been doled out +in scanty allowance; and her cruises were unreasonably protracted. The +captain was the author of the abuses; it was in vain to think that he +would either remedy them, or alter his conduct, which was arbitrary +and violent in the extreme. His prompt reply to all complaints and +remonstrances was--the butt-end of a handspike, so convincingly +administered as effectually to silence the aggrieved party. + +To whom could we apply for redress? We had left both law and equity +on the other side of the Cape; and unfortunately, with a very few +exceptions, our crew was composed of a parcel of dastardly and +meanspirited wretches, divided among themselves, and only united in +enduring without resistance the unmitigated tyranny of the captain. +It would have been mere madness for any two or three of the number, +unassisted by the rest, to attempt making a stand against his ill +usage. They would only have called down upon themselves the particular +vengeance of this 'Lord of the Plank', and subjected their shipmates to +additional hardships. + +But, after all, these things could have been endured awhile, had we +entertained the hope of being speedily delivered from them by the due +completion of the term of our servitude. But what a dismal prospect +awaited us in this quarter! The longevity of Cape Horn whaling voyages +is proverbial, frequently extending over a period of four or five years. + +Some long-haired, bare-necked youths, who, forced by the united +influences of Captain Marryatt and hard times, embark at Nantucket for +a pleasure excursion to the Pacific, and whose anxious mothers provide +them, with bottled milk for the occasion, oftentimes return very +respectable middle-aged gentlemen. + +The very preparations made for one of these expeditions are enough to +frighten one. As the vessel carries out no cargo, her hold is filled +with provisions for her own consumption. The owners, who officiate +as caterers for the voyage, supply the larder with an abundance +of dainties. Delicate morsels of beef and pork, cut on scientific +principles from every part of the animal, and of all conceivable shapes +and sizes, are carefully packed in salt, and stored away in barrels; +affording a never-ending variety in their different degrees of +toughness, and in the peculiarities of their saline properties. Choice +old water too, decanted into stout six-barrel-casks, and two pints of +which is allowed every day to each soul on board; together with ample +store of sea-bread, previously reduced to a state of petrifaction, with +a view to preserve it either from decay or consumption in the ordinary +mode, are likewise provided for the nourishment and gastronomic +enjoyment of the crew. + +But not to speak of the quality of these articles of sailors' fare, +the abundance in which they are put onboard a whaling vessel is almost +incredible. Oftentimes, when we had occasion to break out in the hold, +and I beheld the successive tiers of casks and barrels, whose contents +were all destined to be consumed in due course by the ship's company, my +heart has sunk within me. + +Although, as a general case, a ship unlucky in falling in with +whales continues to cruise after them until she has barely sufficient +provisions remaining to take her home, turning round then quietly and +making the best of her way to her friends, yet there are instances when +even this natural obstacle to the further prosecution of the voyage +is overcome by headstrong captains, who, bartering the fruits of their +hard-earned toils for a new supply of provisions in some of the ports +of Chili or Peru, begin the voyage afresh with unabated zeal and +perseverance. It is in vain that the owners write urgent letters to him +to sail for home, and for their sake to bring back the ship, since it +appears he can put nothing in her. Not he. He has registered a vow: he +will fill his vessel with good sperm oil, or failing to do so, never +again strike Yankee soundings. + +I heard of one whaler, which after many years' absence was given up for +lost. The last that had been heard of her was a shadowy report of her +having touched at some of those unstable islands in the far Pacific, +whose eccentric wanderings are carefully noted in each new edition +of the South-Sea charts. After a long interval, however, 'The +Perseverance'--for that was her name--was spoken somewhere in the +vicinity of the ends of the earth, cruising along as leisurely as ever, +her sails all bepatched and be quilted with rope-yarns, her spars fished +with old pipe staves, and her rigging knotted and spliced in every +possible direction. Her crew was composed of some twenty venerable +Greenwich-pensioner-looking old salts, who just managed to hobble about +deck. The ends of all the running ropes, with the exception of the +signal halyards and poop-down-haul, were rove through snatch-blocks, and +led to the capstan or windlass, so that not a yard was braced or a sail +set without the assistance of machinery. + +Her hull was encrusted with barnacles, which completely encased her. +Three pet sharks followed in her wake, and every day came alongside to +regale themselves from the contents of the cook's bucket, which were +pitched over to them. A vast shoal of bonetas and albicores always kept +her company. + +Such was the account I heard of this vessel and the remembrance of it +always haunted me; what eventually became of her I never learned; at +any rate: he never reached home, and I suppose she is still regularly +tacking twice in the twenty-four hours somewhere off Desolate Island, or +the Devil's-Tail Peak. + +Having said thus much touching the usual length of these voyages, when I +inform the reader that ours had as it were just commenced, we being only +fifteen months out, and even at that time hailed as a late arrival and +boarded for news, he will readily perceive that there was little to +encourage one in looking forward to the future, especially as I had +always had a presentiment that we should make an unfortunate voyage, and +our experience so far had justified the expectation. + +I may here state, and on my faith as an honest man, that though more +than three years have elapsed since I left this same identical vessel, +she still continues; in the Pacific, and but a few days since I saw +her reported in the papers as having touched at the Sandwich Islands +previous to going on the coast of Japan. + +But to return to my narrative. Placed in these circumstances then, with +no prospect of matters mending if I remained aboard the Dolly, I at once +made up my mind to leave her: to be sure it was rather an inglorious +thing to steal away privily from those at whose hands I had received +wrongs and outrages that I could not resent; but how was such a course +to be avoided when it was the only alternative left me? Having made +up my mind, I proceeded to acquire all the information I could obtain +relating to the island and its inhabitants, with a view of shaping my +plans of escape accordingly. The result of these inquiries I will now +state, in order that the ensuing narrative may be the better understood. + +The bay of Nukuheva in which we were then lying is an expanse of +water not unlike in figure the space included within the limits of a +horse-shoe. It is, perhaps, nine miles in circumference. You approach +it from the sea by a narrow entrance, flanked on each side by two small +twin islets which soar conically to the height of some five hundred +feet. From these the shore recedes on both hands, and describes a deep +semicircle. + +From the verge of the water the land rises uniformly on all sides, with +green and sloping acclivities, until from gently rolling hill-sides +and moderate elevations it insensibly swells into lofty and majestic +heights, whose blue outlines, ranged all around, close in the view. The +beautiful aspect of the shore is heightened by deep and romantic +glens, which come down to it at almost equal distances, all apparently +radiating from a common centre, and the upper extremities of which are +lost to the eye beneath the shadow of the mountains. Down each of these +little valleys flows a clear stream, here and there assuming the form +of a slender cascade, then stealing invisibly along until it bursts +upon the sight again in larger and more noisy waterfalls, and at last +demurely wanders along to the sea. + +The houses of the natives, constructed of the yellow bamboo, tastefully +twisted together in a kind of wicker-work, and thatched with the long +tapering leaves of the palmetto, are scattered irregularly along these +valleys beneath the shady branches of the cocoanut trees. + +Nothing can exceed the imposing scenery of this bay. Viewed from our +ship as she lay at anchor in the middle of the harbour, it presented the +appearance of a vast natural amphitheatre in decay, and overgrown with +vines, the deep glens that furrowed it's sides appearing like enormous +fissures caused by the ravages of time. Very often when lost in +admiration at its beauty, I have experienced a pang of regret that a +scene so enchanting should be hidden from the world in these remote +seas, and seldom meet the eyes of devoted lovers of nature. + +Besides this bay the shores of the island are indented by several other +extensive inlets, into which descend broad and verdant valleys. These +are inhabited by as many distinct tribes of savages, who, although +speaking kindred dialects of a common language, and having the same +religion and laws, have from time immemorial waged hereditary warfare +against each other. The intervening mountains generally two or three +thousand feet above the level of the sea geographically define the +territories of each of these hostile tribes, who never cross them, save +on some expedition of war or plunder. Immediately adjacent to Nukuheva, +and only separated from it by the mountains seen from the harbour, lies +the lovely valley of Happar, whose inmates cherish the most friendly +relations with the inhabitants of Nukuheva. On the other side of Happar, +and closely adjoining it, is the magnificent valley of the dreaded +Typees, the unappeasable enemies of both these tribes. + +These celebrated warriors appear to inspire the other islanders with +unspeakable terrors. Their very name is a frightful one; for the word +'Typee' in the Marquesan dialect signifies a lover of human flesh. It +is rather singular that the title should have been bestowed upon them +exclusively, inasmuch as the natives of all this group are irreclaimable +cannibals. The name may, perhaps, have been given to denote the peculiar +ferocity of this clan, and to convey a special stigma along with it. + +These same Typees enjoy a prodigious notoriety all over the islands. The +natives of Nukuheva would frequently recount in pantomime to our ship's +company their terrible feats, and would show the marks of wounds they +had received in desperate encounters with them. When ashore they would +try to frighten us by pointing, to one of their own number, and calling +him a Typee, manifesting no little surprise that we did not take to our +heels at so terrible an announcement. It was quite amusing, too, to see +with what earnestness they disclaimed all cannibal propensities on their +own part, while they denounced their enemies--the Typees--as inveterate +gourmandizers of human flesh; but this is a peculiarity to which I shall +hereafter have occasion to allude. + +Although I was convinced that the inhabitants of our bay were as arrant +cannibals as any of the other tribes on the island, still I could not +but feel a particular and most unqualified repugnance to the aforesaid +Typees. Even before visiting the Marquesas, I had heard from men who +had touched at the group on former voyages some revolting stories in +connection with these savages; and fresh in my remembrance was the +adventure of the master of the Katherine, who only a few months +previous, imprudently venturing into this bay in an armed boat for the +purpose of barter, was seized by the natives, carried back a little +distance into their valley, and was only saved from a cruel death by the +intervention of a young girl, who facilitated his escape by night along +the beach to Nukuheva. + +I had heard too of an English vessel that many years ago, after a weary +cruise, sought to enter the bay of Nukuheva, and arriving within two or +three miles of the land, was met by a large canoe filled with natives, +who offered to lead the way to the place of their destination. The +captain, unacquainted with the localities of the island, joyfully +acceded to the proposition--the canoe paddled on, the ship followed. She +was soon conducted to a beautiful inlet, and dropped her anchor in +its waters beneath the shadows of the lofty shore. That same night the +perfidious Typees, who had thus inveigled her into their fatal bay, +flocked aboard the doomed vessel by hundreds, and at a given signal +murdered every soul on board. + +I shall never forget the observation of one of our crew as we were +passing slowly by the entrance of the bay in our way to Nukuheva. As we +stood gazing over the side at the verdant headlands, Ned, pointing +with his hand in the direction of the treacherous valley, exclaimed, +'There--there's Typee. Oh, the bloody cannibals, what a meal they'd make +of us if we were to take it into our heads to land! but they say they +don't like sailor's flesh, it's too salt. I say, maty, how should you +like to be shoved ashore there, eh?' I little thought, as I shuddered +at the question, that in the space of a few weeks I should actually be a +captive in that self-same valley. + +The French, although they had gone through the ceremony of hoisting +their colours for a few hours at all the principal places of the +group, had not as yet visited the bay of Typee, anticipating a fierce +resistance on the part of the savages there, which for the present at +least they wished to avoid. Perhaps they were not a little influenced in +the adoption of this unusual policy from a recollection of the warlike +reception given by the Typees to the forces of Captain Porter, about +the year 1814, when that brave and accomplished officer endeavoured to +subjugate the clan merely to gratify the mortal hatred of his allies the +Nukuhevas and Happars. + +On that occasion I have been told that a considerable detachment of +sailors and marines from the frigate Essex, accompanied by at least two +thousand warriors of Happar and Nukuheva, landed in boats and canoes at +the head of the bay, and after penetrating a little distance into the +valley, met with the stoutest resistance from its inmates. Valiantly, +although with much loss, the Typees disputed every inch of ground, and +after some hard fighting obliged their assailants to retreat and abandon +their design of conquest. + +The invaders, on their march back to the sea, consoled themselves for +their repulse by setting fire to every house and temple in their route; +and a long line of smoking ruins defaced the once-smiling bosom of the +valley, and proclaimed to its pagan inhabitants the spirit that reigned +in the breasts of Christian soldiers. Who can wonder at the deadly +hatred of the Typees to all foreigners after such unprovoked atrocities? + +Thus it is that they whom we denominate 'savages' are made to deserve +the title. When the inhabitants of some sequestered island first descry +the 'big canoe' of the European rolling through the blue waters towards +their shores, they rush down to the beach in crowds, and with open arms +stand ready to embrace the strangers. Fatal embrace! They fold to their +bosom the vipers whose sting is destined to poison all their joys; and +the instinctive feeling of love within their breast is soon converted +into the bitterest hate. + +The enormities perpetrated in the South Seas upon some of the +inoffensive islanders will nigh pass belief. These things are seldom +proclaimed at home; they happen at the very ends of the earth; they +are done in a corner, and there are none to reveal them. But there is, +nevertheless, many a petty trader that has navigated the Pacific whose +course from island to island might be traced by a series of cold-blooded +robberies, kidnappings, and murders, the iniquity of which might be +considered almost sufficient to sink her guilty timbers to the bottom of +the sea. + +Sometimes vague accounts of such thing's reach our firesides, and +we coolly censure them as wrong, impolitic, needlessly severe, and +dangerous to the crews of other vessels. How different is our tone when +we read the highly-wrought description of the massacre of the crew of +the Hobomak by the Feejees; how we sympathize for the unhappy victims, +and with what horror do we regard the diabolical heathens, who, after +all, have but avenged the unprovoked injuries which they have received. +We breathe nothing but vengeance, and equip armed vessels to traverse +thousands of miles of ocean in order to execute summary punishment upon +the offenders. On arriving at their destination, they burn, slaughter, +and destroy, according to the tenor of written instructions, and sailing +away from the scene of devastation, call upon all Christendom to applaud +their courage and their justice. + +How often is the term 'savages' incorrectly applied! None really +deserving of it were ever yet discovered by voyagers or by travellers. +They have discovered heathens and barbarians whom by horrible cruelties +they have exasperated into savages. It may be asserted without fear +of contradictions that in all the cases of outrages committed by +Polynesians, Europeans have at some time or other been the aggressors, +and that the cruel and bloodthirsty disposition of some of the islanders +is mainly to be ascribed to the influence of such examples. + +But to return. Owing to the mutual hostilities of the different tribes +I have mentioned, the mountainous tracts which separate their respective +territories remain altogether uninhabited; the natives invariably +dwelling in the depths of the valleys, with a view of securing +themselves from the predatory incursions of their enemies, who often +lurk along their borders, ready to cut off any imprudent straggler, +or make a descent upon the inmates of some sequestered habitation. I +several times met with very aged men, who from this cause had never +passed the confines of their native vale, some of them having never even +ascended midway up the mountains in the whole course of their lives, and +who, accordingly had little idea of the appearance of any other part of +the island, the whole of which is not perhaps more than sixty miles in +circuit. The little space in which some of these clans pass away their +days would seem almost incredible. + +The glen of the Tior will furnish a curious illustration of this. + +The inhabited part is not more than four miles in length, and varies +in breadth from half a mile to less than a quarter. The rocky vine-clad +cliffs on one side tower almost perpendicularly from their base to +the height of at least fifteen hundred feet; while across the vale--in +striking contrast to the scenery opposite--grass-grown elevations rise +one above another in blooming terraces. Hemmed in by these stupendous +barriers, the valley would be altogether shut out from the rest of the +world, were it not that it is accessible from the sea at one end, and by +a narrow defile at the other. + +The impression produced upon the mind, when I first visited this +beautiful glen, will never be obliterated. + +I had come from Nukuheva by water in the ship's boat, and when we +entered the bay of Tior it was high noon. The heat had been intense, as +we had been floating upon the long smooth swell of the ocean, for there +was but little wind. The sun's rays had expended all their fury upon us; +and to add to our discomfort, we had omitted to supply ourselves with +water previous to starting. What with heat and thirst together, I became +so impatient to get ashore, that when at last we glided towards it, +I stood up in the bow of the boat ready for a spring. As she shot +two-thirds of her length high upon the beach, propelled by three or four +strong strokes of the oars, I leaped among a parcel of juvenile savages, +who stood prepared to give us a kind reception; and with them at my +heels, yelling like so many imps, I rushed forward across the open +ground in the vicinity of the sea, and plunged, diver fashion, into the +recesses of the first grove that offered. + +What a delightful sensation did I experience! I felt as if floating in +some new element, while all sort of gurgling, trickling, liquid sounds +fell upon my ear. People may say what they will about the refreshing +influences of a coldwater bath, but commend me when in a perspiration to +the shade baths of Tior, beneath the cocoanut trees, and amidst the cool +delightful atmosphere which surrounds them. + +How shall I describe the scenery that met my eye, as I looked out +from this verdant recess! The narrow valley, with its steep and close +adjoining sides draperied with vines, and arched overhead with a +fret-work of interlacing boughs, nearly hidden from view by masses +of leafy verdure, seemed from where I stood like an immense arbour +disclosing its vista to the eye, whilst as I advanced it insensibly +widened into the loveliest vale eye ever beheld. + +It so happened that the very day I was in Tior the French admiral, +attended by all the boats of his squadron, came down in state from +Nukuheva to take formal possession of the place. He remained in the +valley about two hours, during which time he had a ceremonious interview +with the king. The patriarch-sovereign of Tior was a man very far +advanced in years; but though age had bowed his form and rendered him +almost decrepid, his gigantic frame retained its original magnitude and +grandeur of appearance. + +He advanced slowly and with evident pain, assisting his tottering steps +with the heavy warspear he held in his hand, and attended by a group of +grey-bearded chiefs, on one of whom he occasionally leaned for support. +The admiral came forward with head uncovered and extended hand, while +the old king saluted him by a stately flourish of his weapon. The +next moment they stood side by side, these two extremes of the social +scale,--the polished, splendid Frenchman, and the poor tattooed savage. +They were both tall and noble-looking men; but in other respects how +strikingly contrasted! Du Petit Thouars exhibited upon his person +all the paraphernalia of his naval rank. He wore a richly decorated +admiral's frock-coat, a laced chapeau bras, and upon his breast were +a variety of ribbons and orders; while the simple islander, with the +exception of a slight cincture about his loins, appeared in all the +nakedness of nature. + +At what an immeasurable distance, thought I, are these two beings +removed from each other. In the one is shown the result of long +centuries of progressive Civilization and refinement, which have +gradually converted the mere creature into the semblance of all that is +elevated and grand; while the other, after the lapse of the same period, +has not advanced one step in the career of improvement, 'Yet, after +all,' quoth I to myself, 'insensible as he is to a thousand wants, and +removed from harassing cares, may not the savage be the happier man of +the two?' Such were the thoughts that arose in my mind as I gazed upon +the novel spectacle before me. In truth it was an impressive one, +and little likely to be effaced. I can recall even now with vivid +distinctness every feature of the scene. The umbrageous shades where +the interview took place--the glorious tropical vegetation around--the +picturesque grouping of the mingled throng of soldiery and natives--and +even the golden-hued bunch of bananas that I held in my hand at the +time, and of which I occasionally partook while making the aforesaid +philosophical reflections. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE + +THOUGHTS PREVIOUS TO ATTEMPTING AN ESCAPE--TOBY, A FELLOW SAILOR, AGREES +TO SHARE THE ADVENTURE--LAST NIGHT ABOARD THE SHIP + +HAVING fully resolved to leave the vessel clandestinely, and having +acquired all the knowledge concerning the bay that I could obtain under +the circumstances in which I was placed, I now deliberately turned over +in my mind every plan to escape that suggested itself, being determined +to act with all possible prudence in an attempt where failure would be +attended with so many disagreeable consequences. The idea of being +taken and brought back ignominiously to the ship was so inexpressibly +repulsive to me, that I was determined by no hasty and imprudent +measures to render such an event probable. + +I knew that our worthy captain, who felt, such a paternal solicitude +for the welfare of his crew, would not willingly consent that one of his +best hands should encounter the perils of a sojourn among the natives +of a barbarous island; and I was certain that in the event of my +disappearance, his fatherly anxiety would prompt him to offer, by way of +a reward, yard upon yard of gaily printed calico for my apprehension. +He might even have appreciated my services at the value of a musket, in +which case I felt perfectly certain that the whole population of the +bay would be immediately upon my track, incited by the prospect of so +magnificent a bounty. + +Having ascertained the fact before alluded to, that the islanders,--from +motives of precaution, dwelt altogether in the depths of the valleys, +and avoided wandering about the more elevated portions of the shore, +unless bound on some expedition of war or plunder, I concluded that if +I could effect unperceived a passage to the mountain, I might easily +remain among them, supporting myself by such fruits as came in my way +until the sailing of the ship, an event of which I could not fail to be +immediately apprised, as from my lofty position I should command a view +of the entire harbour. + +The idea pleased me greatly. It seemed to combine a great deal of +practicability with no inconsiderable enjoyment in a quiet way; for how +delightful it would be to look down upon the detested old vessel from +the height of some thousand feet, and contrast the verdant scenery about +me with the recollection of her narrow decks and gloomy forecastle! Why, +it was really refreshing even to think of it; and so I straightway fell +to picturing myself seated beneath a cocoanut tree on the brow of the +mountain, with a cluster of plantains within easy reach, criticizing her +nautical evolutions as she was working her way out of the harbour. + +To be sure there was one rather unpleasant drawback to these agreeable +anticipations--the possibility of falling in with a foraging party of +these same bloody-minded Typees, whose appetites, edged perhaps by the +air of so elevated a region, might prompt them to devour one. This, I +must confess, was a most disagreeable view of the matter. + +Just to think of a party of these unnatural gourmands taking it into +their heads to make a convivial meal of a poor devil, who would have +no means of escape or defence: however, there was no help for it. I was +willing to encounter some risks in order to accomplish my object, and +counted much upon my ability to elude these prowling cannibals amongst +the many coverts which the mountains afforded. Besides, the chances +were ten to one in my favour that they would none of them quit their own +fastnesses. + +I had determined not to communicate my design of withdrawing from the +vessel to any of my shipmates, and least of all to solicit any one to +accompany me in my flight. But it so happened one night, that being upon +deck, revolving over in my mind various plans of escape, I perceived one +of the ship's company leaning over the bulwarks, apparently plunged in a +profound reverie. He was a young fellow about my own age, for whom I +had all along entertained a great regard; and Toby, such was the name +by which he went among us, for his real name he would never tell us, was +every way worthy of it. He was active, ready and obliging, of dauntless +courage, and singularly open and fearless in the expression of his +feelings. I had on more than one occasion got him out of scrapes into +which this had led him; and I know not whether it was from this cause, +or a certain congeniality of sentiment between us, that he had always +shown a partiality for my society. We had battled out many a long watch +together, beguiling the weary hours with chat, song, and story, mingled +with a good many imprecations upon the hard destiny it seemed our common +fortune to encounter. + +Toby, like myself, had evidently moved in a different sphere of life, +and his conversation at times betrayed this, although he was anxious +to conceal it. He was one of that class of rovers you sometimes meet +at sea, who never reveal their origin, never allude to home, and go +rambling over the world as if pursued by some mysterious fate they +cannot possibly elude. + +There was much even in the appearance of Toby calculated to draw me +towards him, for while the greater part of the crew were as coarse in +person as in mind, Toby was endowed with a remarkably prepossessing +exterior. Arrayed in his blue frock and duck trousers, he was as smart a +looking sailor as ever stepped upon a deck; he was singularly small +and slightly made, with great flexibility of limb. His naturally dark +complexion had been deepened by exposure to the tropical sun, and a mass +of jetty locks clustered about his temples, and threw a darker shade +into his large black eyes. He was a strange wayward being, moody, +fitful, and melancholy--at times almost morose. He had a quick and fiery +temper too, which, when thoroughly roused, transported him into a state +bordering on delirium. + +It is strange the power that a mind of deep passion has over feebler +natures. I have seen a brawny, fellow, with no lack of ordinary courage, +fairly quail before this slender stripling, when in one of his curious +fits. But these paroxysms seldom occurred, and in them my big-hearted +shipmate vented the bile which more calm-tempered individuals get rid of +by a continual pettishness at trivial annoyances. + +No one ever saw Toby laugh. I mean in the hearty abandonment of +broad-mouthed mirth. He did smile sometimes, it is true; and there was +a good deal of dry, sarcastic humour about him, which told the more from +the imperturbable gravity of his tone and manner. + +Latterly I had observed that Toby's melancholy had greatly increased, +and I had frequently seen him since our arrival at the island gazing +wistfully upon the shore, when the remainder of the crew would be +rioting below. I was aware that he entertained a cordial detestation +of the ship, and believed that, should a fair chance of escape present +itself, he would embrace it willingly. + +But the attempt was so perilous in the place where we then lay, that +I supposed myself the only individual on board the ship who was +sufficiently reckless to think of it. In this, however, I was mistaken. + +When I perceived Toby leaning, as I have mentioned, against the bulwarks +and buried in thought, it struck me at once that the subject of his +meditations might be the same as my own. And if it be so, thought I, +is he not the very one of all my shipmates whom I would choose: for the +partner of my adventure? and why should I not have some comrade with me +to divide its dangers and alleviate its hardships? Perhaps I might be +obliged to lie concealed among the mountains for weeks. In such an event +what a solace would a companion be? + +These thoughts passed rapidly through my mind, and I wondered why I had +not before considered the matter in this light. But it was not too late. +A tap upon the shoulder served to rouse Toby from his reverie; I found +him ripe for the enterprise, and a very few words sufficed for a mutual +understanding between us. In an hour's time we had arranged all the +preliminaries, and decided upon our plan of action. We then ratified our +engagement with an affectionate wedding of palms, and to elude suspicion +repaired each to his hammock, to spend the last night on board the +Dolly. + +The next day the starboard watch, to which we both belonged, was to be +sent ashore on liberty; and, availing ourselves of this opportunity, +we determined, as soon after landing as possible, to separate ourselves +from the rest of the men without exciting their suspicions, and strike +back at once for the mountains. Seen from the ship, their summits +appeared inaccessible, but here and there sloping spurs extended from +them almost into the sea, buttressing the lofty elevations with which +they were connected, and forming those radiating valleys I have before +described. One of these ridges, which appeared more practicable than the +rest, we determined to climb, convinced that it would conduct us to +the heights beyond. Accordingly, we carefully observed its bearings and +locality from the ship, so that when ashore we should run no chance of +missing it. + +In all this the leading object we had in view was to seclude ourselves +from sight until the departure of the vessel; then to take our chance as +to the reception the Nukuheva natives might give us; and after remaining +upon the island as long as we found our stay agreeable, to leave it the +first favourable opportunity that offered. + + + +CHAPTER SIX + +A SPECIMEN OF NAUTICAL ORATORY--CRITICISMS OF THE SAILORS--THE STARBOARD +WATCH ARE GIVEN A HOLIDAY--THE ESCAPE TO THE MOUNTAINS + +EARLY the next morning the starboard watch were mustered upon the +quarter-deck, and our worthy captain, standing in the cabin gangway, +harangued us as follows:-- + +'Now, men, as we are just off a six months' cruise, and have got through +most all our work in port here, I suppose you want to go ashore. Well, I +mean to give your watch liberty today, so you may get ready as soon all +you please, and go; but understand this, I am going to give you liberty +because I suppose you would growl like so many old quarter gunners if I +didn't; at the same time, if you'll take my advice, every mother's son +of you will stay aboard and keep out of the way of the bloody cannibals +altogether. Ten to one, men, if you go ashore, you will get into some +infernal row, and that will be the end of you; for if those tattooed +scoundrels get you a little ways back into their valleys, they'll nab +you--that you may be certain of. Plenty of white men have gone ashore +here and never been seen any more. There was the old Dido, she put in +here about two years ago, and sent one watch off on liberty; they never +were heard of again for a week--the natives swore they didn't know where +they were--and only three of them ever got back to the ship again, and +one with his face damaged for life, for the cursed heathens tattooed a +broad patch clean across his figure-head. But it will be no use talking +to you, for go you will, that I see plainly; so all I have to say is, +that you need not blame me if the islanders make a meal of you. You may +stand some chance of escaping them though, if you keep close about the +French encampment,--and are back to the ship again before sunset. Keep +that much in your mind, if you forget all the rest I've been saying to +you. There, go forward: bear a hand and rig yourselves, and stand by for +a call. At two bells the boat will be manned to take you off, and the +Lord have mercy on you!' + +Various were the emotions depicted upon the countenances of the +starboard watch whilst listening to this address; but on its conclusion +there was a general move towards the forecastle, and we soon were +all busily engaged in getting ready for the holiday so auspiciously +announced by the skipper. During these preparations his harangue was +commented upon in no very measured terms; and one of the party, after +denouncing him as a lying old son of a seacook who begrudged a fellow a +few hours' liberty, exclaimed with an oath, 'But you don't bounce me out +of my liberty, old chap, for all your yarns; for I would go ashore if +every pebble on the beach was a live coal, and every stick a gridiron, +and the cannibals stood ready to broil me on landing.' + +The spirit of this sentiment was responded to by all hands, and we +resolved that in spite of the captain's croakings we would make a +glorious day of it. + +But Toby and I had our own game to play, and we availed ourselves of +the confusion which always reigns among a ship's company preparatory to +going ashore, to confer together and complete our arrangements. As our +object was to effect as rapid a flight as possible to the mountains, we +determined not to encumber ourselves with any superfluous apparel; and +accordingly, while the rest were rigging themselves out with some idea +of making a display, we were content to put on new stout duck trousers, +serviceable pumps, and heavy Havre-frocks, which with a Payta hat +completed our equipment. + +When our shipmates wondered at this, Toby exclaimed in his odd grave way +that the rest might do, as they liked, but that he for one preserved +his go-ashore traps for the Spanish main, where the tie of a sailor's +neckerchief might make some difference; but as for a parcel of +unbreeched heathen, he wouldn't go to the bottom of his chest for any +of them, and was half disposed to appear among them in buff himself. The +men laughed at what they thought was one of his strange conceits, and so +we escaped suspicion. + +It may appear singular that we should have been thus on our guard with +our own shipmates; but there were some among us who, had they possessed +the least inkling of our project, would, for a paltry hope of reward, +have immediately communicated it to the captain. + +As soon as two bells were struck, the word was passed for the +liberty-men to get into the boat. I lingered behind in the forecastle a +moment to take a parting glance at its familiar features, and just as +I was about to ascend to the deck my eye happened to light on the +bread-barge and beef-kid, which contained the remnants of our last hasty +meal. Although I had never before thought of providing anything in the +way of food for our expedition, as I fully relied upon the fruits of the +island to sustain us wherever we might wander, yet I could not resist +the inclination I felt to provide luncheon from the relics before me. +Accordingly I took a double handful of those small, broken, flinty bits +of biscuit which generally go by the name of 'midshipmen's nuts', and +thrust them into the bosom of my frock in which same simple receptacle I +had previously stowed away several pounds of tobacco and a few yards of +cotton cloth--articles with which I intended to purchase the good-will +of the natives, as soon as we should appear among them after the +departure of our vessel. + +This last addition to my stock caused a considerable protuberance in +front, which I abated in a measure by shaking the bits of bread around +my waist, and distributing the plugs of tobacco among the folds of the +garment. + +Hardly had I completed these arrangements when my name was sung out by a +dozen voices, and I sprung upon the deck, where I found all the party in +the boat, and impatient to shove off. I dropped over the side and seated +myself with the rest of the watch in the stern sheets, while the poor +larboarders shipped their oars, and commenced pulling us ashore. + +This happened to be the rainy season at the islands, and the heavens +had nearly the whole morning betokened one of those heavy showers which +during this period so frequently occur. The large drops fell bubbling +into the water shortly after our leaving the ship, and by the time we +had affected a landing it poured down in torrents. We fled for shelter +under cover of an immense canoe-house which stood hard by the beach, and +waited for the first fury of the storm to pass. + +It continued, however, without cessation; and the monotonous beating of +the rain over head began to exert a drowsy influence upon the men, who, +throwing themselves here and there upon the large war-canoes, after +chatting awhile, all fell asleep. + +This was the opportunity we desired, and Toby and I availed ourselves +of it at once by stealing out of the canoe-house and plunging into the +depths of an extensive grove that was in its rear. After ten minutes' +rapid progress we gained an open space from which we could just descry +the ridge we intended to mount looming dimly through the mists of the +tropical shower, and distant from us, as we estimated, something more +than a mile. Our direct course towards it lay through a rather populous +part of the bay; but desirous as we were of evading the natives and +securing an unmolested retreat to the mountains, we determined, by +taking a circuit through some extensive thickets, to avoid their +vicinity altogether. + +The heavy rain that still continued to fall without intermission +favoured our enterprise, as it drove the islanders into their houses, +and prevented any casual meeting with them. Our heavy frocks soon became +completely saturated with water, and by their weight, and that of +the articles we had concealed beneath them, not a little impeded our +progress. But it was no time to pause when at any moment we might be +surprised by a body of the savages, and forced at the very outset to +relinquish our undertaking. + +Since leaving the canoe-house we had scarcely exchanged a single +syllable with one another; but when we entered a second narrow opening +in the wood, and again caught sight of the ridge before us, I took Toby +by the arm, and pointing along its sloping outline to the lofty heights +at its extremity, said in a low tone, 'Now, Toby, not a word, nor a +glance backward, till we stand on the summit of yonder mountain--so no +more lingering but let us shove ahead while we can, and in a few hours' +time we may laugh aloud. You are the lightest and the nimblest, so lead +on, and I will follow.' + +'All right, brother,' said Toby, 'quick's our play; only lets keep close +together, that's all;' and so saying with a bound like a young roe, he +cleared a brook which ran across our path, and rushed forward with a +quick step. + +When we arrived within a short distance of the ridge, we were stopped by +a mass of tall yellow reeds, growing together as thickly as they could +stand, and as tough and stubborn as so many rods of steel; and we +perceived, to our chagrin, that they extended midway up the elevation we +proposed to ascend. + +For a moment we gazed about us in quest of a more practicable route; it +was, however, at once apparent that there was no resource but to pierce +this thicket of canes at all hazards. We now reversed our order of +march, I, being the heaviest, taking the lead, with a view of breaking a +path through the obstruction, while Toby fell into the rear. + +Two or three times I endeavoured to insinuate myself between the canes, +and by dint of coaxing and bending them to make some progress; but a +bull-frog might as well have tried to work a passage through the teeth +of a comb, and I gave up the attempt in despair. + +Half wild with meeting an obstacle we had so little anticipated, I threw +myself desperately against it, crushing to the ground the canes with +which I came in contact, and, rising to my feet again, repeated the +action with like effect. Twenty minutes of this violent exercise almost +exhausted me, but it carried us some way into the thicket; when Toby, +who had been reaping the benefit of my labours by following close at my +heels, proposed to become pioneer in turn, and accordingly passed ahead +with a view of affording me a respite from my exertions. As however +with his slight frame he made but bad work of it, I was soon obliged to +resume my old place again. On we toiled, the perspiration starting from +our bodies in floods, our limbs torn and lacerated with the splintered +fragments of the broken canes, until we had proceeded perhaps as far +as the middle of the brake, when suddenly it ceased raining, and the +atmosphere around us became close and sultry beyond expression. The +elasticity of the reeds quickly recovering from the temporary pressure +of our bodies, caused them to spring back to their original position; +so that they closed in upon us as we advanced, and prevented the +circulation of little air which might otherwise have reached us. +Besides this, their great height completely shut us out from the view of +surrounding objects, and we were not certain but that we might have been +going all the time in a wrong direction. + +Fatigued with my long-continued efforts, and panting for breath, I felt +myself completely incapacitated for any further exertion. I rolled up +the sleeve of my frock, and squeezed the moisture it contained into +my parched mouth. But the few drops I managed to obtain gave me little +relief, and I sank down for a moment with a sort of dogged apathy, from +which I was aroused by Toby, who had devised a plan to free us from the +net in which we had become entangled. + +He was laying about him lustily with his sheath-knive, lopping the canes +right and left, like a reaper, and soon made quite a clearing around us. +This sight reanimated me; and seizing my own knife, I hacked and hewed +away without mercy. But alas! the farther we advanced the thicker and +taller, and apparently the more interminable, the reeds became. + +I began to think we were fairly snared, and had almost made up my mind +that without a pair of wings we should never be able to escape from the +toils; when all at once I discerned a peep of daylight through the canes +on my right, and, communicating the joyful tidings to Toby, we both fell +to with fresh spirit, and speedily opening the passage towards it we +found ourselves clear of perplexities, and in the near vicinity of the +ridge. After resting for a few moments we began the ascent, and after +a little vigorous climbing found ourselves close to its summit. Instead +however of walking along its ridge, where we should have been in full +view of the natives in the vales beneath, and at a point where they +could easily intercept us were they so inclined, we cautiously advanced +on one side, crawling on our hands and knees, and screened from +observation by the grass through which we glided, much in the fashion of +a couple of serpents. After an hour employed in this unpleasant kind +of locomotion, we started to our feet again and pursued our way boldly +along the crest of the ridge. + +This salient spur of the lofty elevations that encompassed the bay rose +with a sharp angle from the valleys at its base, and presented, with the +exception of a few steep acclivities, the appearance of a vast inclined +plane, sweeping down towards the sea from the heights in the distance. +We had ascended it near the place of its termination and at its lowest +point, and now saw our route to the mountains distinctly defined along +its narrow crest, which was covered with a soft carpet of verdure, and +was in many parts only a few feet wide. + +Elated with the success which had so far attended our enterprise, and +invigorated by the refreshing atmosphere we now inhaled, Toby and I in +high spirits were making our way rapidly along the ridge, when suddenly +from the valleys below which lay on either side of us we heard the +distant shouts of the natives, who had just descried us, and to whom our +figures, brought in bold relief against the sky, were plainly revealed. + +Glancing our eyes into these valleys, we perceived their savage +inhabitants hurrying to and fro, seemingly under the influence of some +sudden alarm, and appearing to the eye scarcely bigger than so many +pigmies; while their white thatched dwellings, dwarfed by the distance, +looked like baby-houses. As we looked down upon the islanders from our +lofty elevation, we experienced a sense of security; feeling confident +that, should they undertake a pursuit, it would, from the start we +now had, prove entirely fruitless, unless they followed us into the +mountains, where we knew they cared not to venture. + +However, we thought it as well to make the most of our time; and +accordingly, where the ground would admit of it, we ran swiftly along +the summit of the ridge, until we were brought to a stand by a steep +cliff, which at first seemed to interpose an effectual barrier to our +farther advance. By dint of much hard scrambling however, and at some +risk to our necks, we at last surmounted it, and continued our fight +with unabated celerity. + +We had left the beach early in the morning, and after an uninterrupted, +though at times difficult and dangerous ascent, during which we had +never once turned our faces to the sea, we found ourselves, about +three hours before sunset, standing on the top of what seemed to be the +highest land on the island, an immense overhanging cliff composed of +basaltic rocks, hung round with parasitical plants. We must have been +more than three thousand feet above the level of the sea, and the +scenery viewed from this height was magnificent. + +The lonely bay of Nukuheva, dotted here and there with the black hulls +of the vessels composing the French squadron, lay reposing at the base +of a circular range of elevations, whose verdant sides, perforated with +deep glens or diversified with smiling valleys, formed altogether the +loveliest view I ever beheld, and were I to live a hundred years, I +shall never forget the feeling of admiration which I then experienced. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN + +THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN--DISAPPOINTMENT--INVENTORY OF ARTICLES +BROUGHT FROM THE SHIP--DIVISION OF THE STOCK OF BREAD--APPEARANCE OF +THE INTERIOR OF THE ISLAND--A DISCOVERY--A RAVINE AND WATERFALLS--A +SLEEPLESS NIGHT--FURTHER DISCOVERIES--MY ILLNESS--A MARQUESAN LANDSCAPE + +MY curiosity had been not a little raised with regard to the description +of country we should meet on the other side of the mountains; and I had +supposed, with Toby, that immediately on gaining the heights we should +be enabled to view the large bays of Happar and Typee reposing at our +feet on one side, in the same way that Nukuheva lay spread out below +on the other. But here we were disappointed. Instead of finding the +mountain we had ascended sweeping down in the opposite direction into +broad and capacious valleys, the land appeared to retain its general +elevation, only broken into a series of ridges and inter-vales which +so far as the eye could reach stretched away from us, with their +precipitous sides covered with the brightest verdure, and waving here +and there with the foliage of clumps of woodland; among which, however, +we perceived none of those trees upon whose fruit we had relied with +such certainty. + +This was a most unlooked-for discovery, and one that promised to defeat +our plans altogether, for we could not think of descending the mountain +on the Nukuheva side in quest of food. Should we for this purpose +be induced to retrace our steps, we should run no small chance of +encountering the natives, who in that case, if they did nothing worse to +us, would be certain to convey us back to the ship for the sake of the +reward in calico and trinkets, which we had no doubt our skipper would +hold out to them as an inducement to our capture. + +What was to be done? The Dolly would not sail perhaps for ten days, and +how were we to sustain life during this period? I bitterly repented our +improvidence in not providing ourselves, as we easily might have done, +with a supply of biscuits. With a rueful visage I now bethought me of +the scanty handful of bread I had stuffed into the bosom of my frock, +and felt somewhat desirous to ascertain what part of it had weathered +the rather rough usage it had experienced in ascending the mountain. +I accordingly proposed to Toby that we should enter into a joint +examination of the various articles we had brought from the ship. + +With this intent we seated ourselves upon the grass; and a little +curious to see with what kind of judgement my companion had filled +his frock--which I remarked seemed about as well lined as my own--I +requested him to commence operations by spreading out its contents. + +Thrusting his hand, then, into the bosom of this capacious receptacle, +he first brought to light about a pound of tobacco, whose component +parts still adhered together, the whole outside being covered with +soft particles of sea-bread. Wet and dripping, it had the appearance of +having been just recovered from the bottom of the sea. But I paid +slight attention to a substance of so little value to us in our present +situation, as soon as I perceived the indications it gave of Toby's +foresight in laying in a supply of food for the expedition. + +I eagerly inquired what quantity he had brought with him, when rummaging +once more beneath his garment, he produced a small handful of something +so soft, pulpy, and discoloured, that for a few moments he was as +much puzzled as myself to tell by what possible instrumentality such +a villainous compound had become engendered in his bosom. I can only +describe it as a hash of soaked bread and bits of tobacco, brought to +a doughy consistency by the united agency of perspiration and rain. +But repulsive as it might otherwise have been, I now regarded it as +an invaluable treasure, and proceeded with great care to transfer this +paste-like mass to a large leaf which I had plucked from a bush beside +me. Toby informed me that in the morning he had placed two whole +biscuits in his bosom, with a view of munching them, should he feel so +inclined, during our flight. These were now reduced to the equivocal +substance which I had just placed on the leaf. + +Another dive into the frock brought to view some four or five yards of +calico print, whose tasteful pattern was rather disfigured by the yellow +stains of the tobacco with which it had been brought in contact. In +drawing this calico slowly from his bosom inch by inch, Toby reminded +me of a juggler performing the feat of the endless ribbon. The next +cast was a small one, being a sailor's little 'ditty bag', containing +needles, thread, and other sewing utensils, then came a razor-case, +followed by two or three separate plugs of negro-head, which were fished +up from the bottom of the now empty receptacle. These various matters, +being inspected, I produced the few things which I had myself brought. + +As might have been anticipated from the state of my companion's edible +supplies, I found my own in a deplorable condition, and diminished to a +quantity that would not have formed half a dozen mouthfuls for a hungry +man who was partial enough to tobacco not to mind swallowing it. A +few morsels of bread, with a fathom or two of white cotton cloth, and +several pounds of choice pigtail, composed the extent of my possessions. + +Our joint stock of miscellaneous articles were now made up into a +compact bundle, which it was agreed we should carry alternately. But the +sorry remains of the biscuit were not to be disposed of so summarily: +the precarious circumstances in which we were placed made us regard them +as something on which very probably, depended the fate of our adventure. +After a brief discussion, in which we both of us expressed our +resolution of not descending into the bay until the ship's departure, +I suggested to my companion that little of it as there was, we should +divide the bread into six equal portions, each of which should be a +day's allowance for both of us. This proposition he assented to; so I +took the silk kerchief from my neck, and cutting it with my knife into +half a dozen equal pieces, proceeded to make an exact division. + +At first, Toby with a degree of fastidiousness that seemed to me +ill-timed, was for picking out the minute particles of tobacco +with which the spongy mass was mixed; but against this proceeding I +protested, as by such an operation we must have greatly diminished its +quantity. + +When the division was accomplished, we found that a day's allowance for +the two was not a great deal more than what a table-spoon might hold. +Each separate portion we immediately rolled up in the bit of silk +prepared for it, and joining them all together into a small package, I +committed them, with solemn injunctions of fidelity, to the custody of +Toby. For the remainder of that day we resolved to fast, as we had been +fortified by a breakfast in the morning; and now starting again to our +feet, we looked about us for a shelter during the night, which, from the +appearance of the heavens, promised to be a dark and tempestuous one. + +There was no place near us which would in any way answer our purpose, +so turning our backs upon Nukuheva, we commenced exploring the unknown +regions which lay upon the other side of the mountain. + +In this direction, as far as our vision extended, not a sign of life, +nor anything that denoted even the transient residence of man, could be +seen. The whole landscape seemed one unbroken solitude, the interior of +the island having apparently been untenanted since the morning of the +creation; and as we advanced through this wilderness, our voices +sounded strangely in our ears, as though human accents had never before +disturbed the fearful silence of the place, interrupted only by the low +murmurings of distant waterfalls. + +Our disappointment, however, in not finding the various fruits with +which we had intended to regale ourselves during our stay in these +wilds, was a good deal lessened by the consideration that from this very +circumstance we should be much less exposed to a casual meeting with the +savage tribes about us, who we knew always dwelt beneath the shadows of +those trees which supplied them with food. + +We wandered along, casting eager glances into every bush we passed, +until just as we had succeeded in mounting one of the many ridges that +intersected the ground, I saw in the grass before me something like an +indistinctly traced footpath, which appeared to lead along the top of +the ridge, and to descend--with it into a deep ravine about half a mile +in advance of us. + +Robinson Crusoe could not have been more startled at the footprint in +the sand than we were at this unwelcome discovery. My first impulse was +to make as rapid a retreat as possible, and bend our steps in some +other direction; but our curiosity to see whither this path might lead, +prompted us to pursue it. So on we went, the track becoming more and +more visible the farther we proceeded, until it conducted us to the +verge of the ravine, where it abruptly terminated. + +'And so,' said Toby, peering down into the chasm, 'everyone that travels +this path takes a jump here, eh?' + +'Not so,' said I, 'for I think they might manage to descend without it; +what say you,--shall we attempt the feat?' + +'And what, in the name of caves and coal-holes, do you expect to find at +the bottom of that gulf but a broken neck--why it looks blacker than our +ship's hold, and the roar of those waterfalls down there would batter +one's brains to pieces.' + +'Oh, no, Toby,' I exclaimed, laughing; 'but there's something to be seen +here, that's plain, or there would have been no path, and I am resolved +to find out what it is.' + +'I will tell you what, my pleasant fellow,' rejoined Toby quickly, 'if +you are going to pry into everything you meet with here that excites +your curiosity, you will marvellously soon get knocked on the head; to +a dead certainty you will come bang upon a party of these savages in the +midst of your discovery-makings, and I doubt whether such an event would +particularly delight you, just take my advice for once, and let us 'bout +ship and steer in some other direction; besides, it's getting late and +we ought to be mooring ourselves for the night.' + +'That is just the thing I have been driving at,' replied I; 'and I am +thinking that this ravine will exactly answer our purpose, for it is +roomy, secluded, well watered, and may shelter us from the weather.' + +'Aye, and from sleep too, and by the same token will give us sore +throats, and rheumatisms into the bargain,' cried Toby, with evident +dislike at the idea. + +'Oh, very well then, my lad,' said I, 'since you will not accompany me, +here I go alone. You will see me in the morning;' and advancing to the +edge of the cliff upon which we had been standing, I proceeded to lower +myself down by the tangled roots which clustered about all the crevices +of the rock. As I had anticipated, Toby, in spite of his previous +remonstrances, followed my example, and dropping himself with the +activity of a squirrel from point to point, he quickly outstripped +me and effected a landing at the bottom before I had accomplished +two-thirds of the descent. + +The sight that now greeted us was one that will ever be vividly +impressed upon my mind. Five foaming streams, rushing through as many +gorges, and swelled and turbid by the recent rains, united together in +one mad plunge of nearly eighty feet, and fell with wild uproar into a +deep black pool scooped out of the gloomy looking rocks that lay piled +around, and thence in one collected body dashed down a narrow sloping +channel which seemed to penetrate into the very bowels of the earth. +Overhead, vast roots of trees hung down from the sides of the ravine +dripping with moisture, and trembling with the concussions produced by +the fall. It was now sunset, and the feeble uncertain light that found +its way into these caverns and woody depths heightened their strange +appearance, and reminded us that in a short time we should find +ourselves in utter darkness. + +As soon as I had satisfied my curiosity by gazing at this scene, I fell +to wondering how it was that what we had taken for a path should have +conducted us to so singular a place, and began to suspect that after all +I might have been deceived in supposing it to have been a trick +formed by the islanders. This was rather an agreeable reflection than +otherwise, for it diminished our dread of accidentally meeting with any +of them, and I came to the conclusion that perhaps we could not have +selected a more secure hiding-place than this very spot we had so +accidentally hit upon. + +Toby agreed with me in this view of the matter, and we immediately began +gathering together the limbs of trees which lay scattered about, with +the view of constructing a temporary hut for the night. This we were +obliged to build close to the foot of the cataract, for the current of +water extended very nearly to the sides of the gorge. The few moments +of light that remained we employed in covering our hut with a species of +broad-bladed grass that grew in every fissure of the ravine. Our hut, +if it deserved to be called one, consisted of six or eight of the +straightest branches we could find laid obliquely against the steep wall +of rock, with their lower ends within a foot of the stream. Into the +space thus covered over we managed to crawl, and dispose our wearied +bodies as best we could. + +Shall I ever forget that horrid night! As for poor Toby, I could +scarcely get a word out of him. It would have been some consolation to +have heard his voice, but he lay shivering the live-long night like a +man afflicted with the palsy, with his knees drawn up to his head, while +his back was supported against the dripping side of the rock. During +this wretched night there seemed nothing wanting to complete the perfect +misery of our condition. The rain descended in such torrents that our +poor shelter proved a mere mockery. In vain did I try to elude the +incessant streams that poured upon me; by protecting one part I only +exposed another, and the water was continually finding some new opening +through which to drench us. + +I have had many a ducking in the course of my life, and in general +cared little about it; but the accumulated horrors of that night, the +deathlike coldness of the place, the appalling darkness and the dismal +sense of our forlorn condition, almost unmanned me. + +It will not be doubted that the next morning we were early risers, and +as soon as I could catch the faintest glimpse of anything like daylight +I shook my companion by the arm, and told him it was sunrise. Poor Toby +lifted up his head, and after a moment's pause said, in a husky voice, +'Then, shipmate, my toplights have gone out, for it appears darker now +with my eyes open that it did when they were shut.' + +'Nonsense!' exclaimed I; 'You are not awake yet.' + +'Awake!' roared Toby in a rage, 'awake! You mean to insinuate I've been +asleep, do you? It is an insult to a man to suppose he could sleep in +such an infernal place as this.' + +By the time I had apologized to my friend for having misconstrued his +silence, it had become somewhat more light, and we crawled out of our +lair. The rain had ceased, but everything around us was dripping with +moisture. We stripped off our saturated garments, and wrung them as dry +as we could. We contrived to make the blood circulate in our benumbed +limbs by rubbing them vigorously with our hands; and after performing +our ablutions in the stream, and putting on our still wet clothes, +we began to think it advisable to break our long fast, it being now +twenty-four hours since we had tasted food. + +Accordingly our day's ration was brought out, and seating ourselves on a +detached fragment of rock, we proceeded to discuss it. First we divided +it into two equal portions, and carefully rolling one of them up for our +evening's repast, divided the remainder again as equally as possible, +and then drew lots for the first choice. I could have placed the morsel +that fell to my share upon the tip of my finger; but notwithstanding +this I took care that it should be full ten minutes before I had +swallowed the last crumb. What a true saying it is that 'appetite +furnishes the best sauce.' There was a flavour and a relish to this +small particle of food that under other circumstances it would have +been impossible for the most delicate viands to have imparted. A copious +draught of the pure water which flowed at our feet served to complete +the meal, and after it we rose sensibly refreshed, and prepared for +whatever might befall us. + +We now carefully examined the chasm in which we had passed the night. +We crossed the stream, and gaining the further side of the pool I have +mentioned, discovered proofs that the spot must have been visited by +some one but a short time previous to our arrival. Further observation +convinced us that it had been regularly frequented, and, as we +afterwards conjectured from particular indications, for the purpose +of obtaining a certain root, from which the natives obtained a kind of +ointment. + +These discoveries immediately determined us to abandon a place which +had presented no inducement for us to remain, except the promise of +security; and as we looked about us for the means of ascending again +into the upper regions, we at last found a practicable part of the rock, +and half an hour's toil carried us to the summit of the same cliff from +which the preceding evening we had descended. + +I now proposed to Toby that instead of rambling about the island, +exposing ourselves to discovery at every turn, we should select some +place as our fixed abode for as long a period as our food should +hold out, build ourselves a comfortable hut, and be as prudent and +circumspect as possible. To all this my companion assented, and we at +once set about carrying the plan into execution. + +With this view, after exploring without success a little glen near us, +we crossed several of the ridges of which I have before spoken; and +about noon found ourselves ascending a long and gradually rising slope, +but still without having discovered any place adapted to our purpose. +Low and heavy clouds betokened an approaching storm, and we hurried on +to gain a covert in a clump of thick bushes, which appeared to terminate +the long ascent. We threw ourselves under the lee of these bushes, and +pulling up the long grass that grew around, covered ourselves completely +with it, and awaited the shower. + +But it did not come as soon as we had expected, and before many minutes +my companion was fast asleep, and I was rapidly falling into the same +state of happy forgetfulness. Just at this juncture, however, down came +the rain with the violence that put all thoughts of slumber to flight. +Although in some measure sheltered, our clothes soon became as wet +as ever; this, after all the trouble we had taken to dry them, was +provoking enough: but there was no help for it; and I recommend all +adventurous youths who abandon vessels in romantic islands during the +rainy season to provide themselves with umbrellas. + +After an hour or so the shower passed away. My companion slept through +it all, or at least appeared so to do; and now that it was over I had +not the heart to awaken him. As I lay on my back completely shrouded +with verdure, the leafy branches drooping over me, my limbs buried +in grass, I could not avoid comparing our situation with that of the +interesting babes in the wood. Poor little sufferers!--no wonder their +constitutions broke down under the hardships to which they were exposed. + +During the hour or two spent under the shelter of these bushes, I began +to feel symptoms which I at once attributed to the exposure of the +preceding night. Cold shiverings and a burning fever succeeded one +another at intervals, while one of my legs was swelled to such a degree, +and pained me so acutely, that I half suspected I had been bitten by +some venomous reptile, the congenial inhabitant of the chasm from which +we had lately emerged. I may here remark by the way--what I subsequently +gleamed--that all the islands of Polynesia enjoy the reputation, in +common with the Hibernian isle, of being free from the presence of any +vipers; though whether Saint Patrick ever visited them, is a question I +shall not attempt to decide. + +As the feverish sensation increased upon me I tossed about, still +unwilling to disturb my slumbering companion, from whose side I removed +two or three yards. I chanced to push aside a branch, and by so doing +suddenly disclosed to my view a scene which even now I can recall with +all the vividness of the first impression. Had a glimpse of the gardens +of Paradise been revealed to me, I could scarcely have been more +ravished with the sight. + +From the spot where I lay transfixed with surprise and delight, I looked +straight down into the bosom of a valley, which swept away in long wavy +undulations to the blue waters in the distance. Midway towards the +sea, and peering here and there amidst the foliage, might be seen the +palmetto-thatched houses of its inhabitants glistening in the sun that +had bleached them to a dazzling whiteness. The vale was more than three +leagues in length, and about a mile across at its greatest width. + +On either side it appeared hemmed in by steep and green acclivities, +which, uniting near the spot where I lay, formed an abrupt and +semicircular termination of grassy cliffs and precipices hundreds of +feet in height, over which flowed numberless small cascades. But the +crowning beauty of the prospect was its universal verdure; and in this +indeed consists, I believe, the peculiar charm of every Polynesian +landscape. Everywhere below me, from the base of the precipice upon +whose very verge I had been unconsciously reposing, the surface of the +vale presented a mass of foliage, spread with such rich profusion +that it was impossible to determine of what description of trees it +consisted. + +But perhaps there was nothing about the scenery I beheld more impressive +than those silent cascades, whose slender threads of water, after +leaping down the steep cliffs, were lost amidst the rich herbage of the +valley. + +Over all the landscape there reigned the most hushed repose, which I +almost feared to break, lest, like the enchanted gardens in the fairy +tale, a single syllable might dissolve the spell. For a long time, +forgetful alike of my own situation, and the vicinity of my still +slumbering companion, I remained gazing around me, hardly able to +comprehend by what means I had thus suddenly been made a spectator of +such a scene. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT + +THE IMPORTANT QUESTION, TYPEE OR HAPPAR?--A WILD GOOSE CHASE--MY +SUFFERINGS--DISHEARTENING SITUATION--A NIGHT IN A RAVINE--MORNING +MEAL--HAPPY IDEA OF TOBY--JOURNEY TOWARDS THE VALLEY + +RECOVERING from my astonishment at the beautiful scene before me, I +quickly awakened Toby, and informed him of the discovery I had made. +Together we now repaired to the border of the precipice, and my +companion's admiration was equal to my own. A little reflection, +however, abated our surprise at coming so unexpectedly upon this valley, +since the large vales of Happar and Typee, lying upon this side of +Nukuheva, and extending a considerable distance from the sea towards the +interior, must necessarily terminate somewhere about this point. + +The question now was as to which of those two places we were looking +down upon. Toby insisted that it was the abode of the Happar, and I that +it was tenanted by their enemies the ferocious Typees. To be sure I was +not entirely convinced by my own arguments, but Toby's proposition to +descend at once into the valley, and partake of the hospitality of its +inmates, seemed to me to be risking so much upon the strength of a mere +supposition, that I resolved to oppose it until we had more evidence to +proceed upon. + +The point was one of vital importance, as the natives of Happar were +not only at peace with Nukuheva, but cultivated with its inhabitants the +most friendly relations, and enjoyed besides a reputation for gentleness +and humanity which led us to expect from them, if not a cordial +reception, at least a shelter during the short period we should remain +in their territory. + +On the other hand, the very name of Typee struck a panic into my heart +which I did not attempt to disguise. The thought of voluntarily throwing +ourselves into the hands of these cruel savages, seemed to me an act +of mere madness; and almost equally so the idea of venturing into the +valley, uncertain by which of these two tribes it was inhabited. That +the vale at our feet was tenanted by one of them, was a point that +appeared to us past all doubt, since we knew that they resided in this +quarter, although our information did not enlighten us further. + +My companion, however, incapable of resisting the tempting prospect +which the place held out of an abundant supply of food and other means +of enjoyment, still clung to his own inconsiderate view of the subject, +nor could all my reasoning shake it. When I reminded him that it was +impossible for either of us to know anything with certainty, and when +I dwelt upon the horrible fate we should encounter were we rashly +to descend into the valley, and discover too late the error we had +committed, he replied by detailing all the evils of our present +condition, and the sufferings we must undergo should we continue to +remain where we then were. + +Anxious to draw him away from the subject, if possible--for I saw +that it would be in vain to attempt changing his mind--I directed his +attention to a long bright unwooded tract of land which, sweeping down +from the elevations in the interior, descended into the valley before +us. I then suggested to him that beyond this ridge might lie a capacious +and untenanted valley, abounding with all manner of delicious fruits; +for I had heard that there were several such upon the island, and +proposed that we should endeavour to reach it, and if we found our +expectations realized we should at once take refuge in it and remain +there as long as we pleased. + +He acquiesced in the suggestion; and we immediately, therefore, began +surveying the country lying before us, with a view of determining upon +the best route for us to pursue; but it presented little choice, the +whole interval being broken into steep ridges, divided by dark ravines, +extending in parallel lines at right angles to our direct course. All +these we would be obliged to cross before we could hope to arrive at our +destination. + +A weary journey! But we decided to undertake it, though, for my own +part, I felt little prepared to encounter its fatigues, shivering and +burning by turns with the ague and fever; for I know not how else to +describe the alternate sensations I experienced, and suffering not +a little from the lameness which afflicted me. Added to this was the +faintness consequent on our meagre diet--a calamity in which Toby +participated to the same extent as myself. + +These circumstances, however, only augmented my anxiety to reach a place +which promised us plenty and repose, before I should be reduced to a +state which would render me altogether unable to perform the journey. +Accordingly we now commenced it by descending the almost perpendicular +side of a steep and narrow gorge, bristling with a thick growth of +reeds. Here there was but one mode for us to adopt. We seated ourselves +upon the ground, and guided our descent by catching at the canes in our +path. This velocity with which we thus slid down the side of the ravine +soon brought us to a point where we could use our feet, and in a short +time we arrived at the edge of the torrent, which rolled impetuously +along the bed of the chasm. + +After taking a refreshing draught from the water of the stream, we +addressed ourselves to a much more difficult undertaking than the last. +Every foot of our late descent had to be regained in ascending the +opposite side of the gorge--an operation rendered the less agreeable +from the consideration that in these perpendicular episodes we did not +progress a hundred yards on our journey. But, ungrateful as the task +was, we set about it with exemplary patience, and after a snail-like +progress of an hour or more, had scaled perhaps one half of the +distance, when the fever which had left me for a while returned with +such violence, and accompanied by so raging a thirst, that it required +all the entreaties of Toby to prevent me from losing all the fruits of +my late exertion, by precipitating myself madly down the cliffs we had +just climbed, in quest of the water which flowed so temptingly at their +base. At the moment all my hopes and fears appeared to be merged in +this one desire, careless of the consequences that might result from its +gratification. I am aware of no feeling, either of pleasure or of pain, +that so completely deprives one of an power to resist its impulses, as +this same raging thirst. + +Toby earnestly conjured me to continue the ascent, assuring me that a +little more exertion would bring us to the summit, and that then in less +than five minutes we should find ourselves at the brink of the stream, +which must necessarily flow on the other side of the ridge. + +'Do not,' he exclaimed, 'turn back, now that we have proceeded thus far; +for I tell you that neither of us will have the courage to repeat the +attempt, if once more we find ourselves looking up to where we now are +from the bottom of these rocks!' + +I was not yet so perfectly beside myself as to be heedless of these +representations, and therefore toiled on, ineffectually endeavouring to +appease the thirst which consumed me, by thinking that in a short time I +should be able to gratify it to my heart's content. + +At last we gained the top of the second elevation, the loftiest of +those I have described as extending in parallel lines between us and the +valley we desired to reach. It commanded a view of the whole intervening +distance; and, discouraged as I was by other circumstances, this +prospect plunged me into the very depths of despair. Nothing but dark +and fearful chasms, separated by sharp-crested and perpendicular ridges +as far as the eye could reach. Could we have stepped from summit +to summit of these steep but narrow elevations we could easily have +accomplished the distance; but we must penetrate to the bottom of every +yawning gulf, and scale in succession every one of the eminences before +us. Even Toby, although not suffering as I did, was not proof against +the disheartening influences of the sight. + +But we did not long stand to contemplate it, impatient as I was to reach +the waters of the torrent which flowed beneath us. With an insensibility +to danger which I cannot call to mind without shuddering, we threw +ourselves down the depths of the ravine, startling its savage solitudes +with the echoes produced by the falling fragments of rock we every +moment dislodged from their places, careless of the insecurity of our +footing, and reckless whether the slight roots and twigs we clutched at +sustained us for the while, or treacherously yielded to our grasp. For +my own part, I scarcely knew whether I was helplessly falling from the +heights above, or whether the fearful rapidity with which I descended +was an act of my own volition. + +In a few minutes we reached the foot of the gorge, and kneeling upon +a small ledge of dripping rocks, I bent over to the stream. What a +delicious sensation was I now to experience! I paused for a second to +concentrate all my capabilities of enjoyment, and then immerged my lips +in the clear element before me. Had the apples of Sodom turned to ashes +in my mouth, I could not have felt a more startling revulsion. A single +drop of the cold fluid seemed to freeze every drop of blood in my body; +the fever that had been burning in my veins gave place on the instant to +death-like chills, which shook me one after another like so many shocks +of electricity, while the perspiration produced by my late violent +exertions congealed in icy beads upon my forehead. My thirst was gone, +and I fairly loathed the water. Starting to my feet, the sight of those +dank rocks, oozing forth moisture at every crevice, and the dark +stream shooting along its dismal channel, sent fresh chills through +my shivering frame, and I felt as uncontrollable a desire to climb up +towards the genial sunlight as I before had to descend the ravine. + +After two hours' perilous exertions we stood upon the summit of another +ridge, and it was with difficulty I could bring myself to believe that +we had ever penetrated the black and yawning chasm which then gaped at +our feet. Again we gazed upon the prospect which the height commanded, +but it was just as depressing as the one which had before met our eyes. +I now felt that in our present situation it was in vain for us to think +of ever overcoming the obstacles in our way, and I gave up all thoughts +of reaching the vale which lay beyond this series of impediments; while +at the same time I could not devise any scheme to extricate ourselves +from the difficulties in which we were involved. + +The remotest idea of returning to Nukuheva, unless assured of our +vessel's departure, never once entered my mind, and indeed it was +questionable whether we could have succeeded in reaching it, divided as +we were from the bay by a distance we could not compute, and perplexed +too in our remembrance of localities by our recent wanderings. Besides, +it was unendurable the thought of retracing our steps and rendering all +our painful exertions of no avail. + +There is scarcely anything when a man is in difficulties that he is +more disposed to look upon with abhorrence than a rightabout retrograde +movement--a systematic going over of the already trodden ground: +and especially if he has a love of adventure, such a course appears +indescribably repulsive, so long as there remains the least hope to be +derived from braving untried difficulties. + +It was this feeling that prompted us to descend the opposite side of the +elevation we had just scaled, although with what definite object in view +it would have been impossible for either of us to tell. + +Without exchanging a syllable upon the subject, Toby and myself +simultaneously renounced the design which had lured us thus +far--perceiving in each other's countenances that desponding expression +which speaks more eloquently than words. + +Together we stood towards the close of this weary day in the cavity of +the third gorge we had entered, wholly incapacitated for any further +exertion, until restored to some degree of strength by food and repose. + +We seated ourselves upon the least uncomfortable spot we could select, +and Toby produced from the bosom of his frock the sacred package. In +silence we partook of the small morsel of refreshment that had been left +from the morning's repast, and without once proposing to violate the +sanctity of our engagement with respect to the remainder, we rose to +our feet, and proceeded to construct some sort of shelter under which we +might obtain the sleep we so greatly needed. + +Fortunately the spot was better adapted to our purpose than the one in +which we had passed the last wretched night. We cleared away the tall +reeds from the small but almost level bit of ground, and twisted them +into a low basket-like hut, which we covered with a profusion of long +thick leaves, gathered from a tree near at hand. We disposed them +thickly all around, reserving only a slight opening that barely +permitted us to crawl under the shelter we had thus obtained. + +These deep recesses, though protected from the winds that assail the +summits of their lofty sides, are damp and chill to a degree that one +would hardly anticipate in such a climate; and being unprovided with +anything but our woollen frocks and thin duck trousers to resist the +cold of the place, we were the more solicitous to render our habitation +for the night as comfortable as we could. Accordingly, in addition to +what we had already done, we plucked down all the leaves within our +reach and threw them in a heap over our little hut, into which we now +crept, raking after us a reserved supply to form our couch. + +That night nothing but the pain I suffered prevented me from sleeping +most refreshingly. As it was, I caught two or three naps, while Toby +slept away at my side as soundly as though he had been sandwiched +between two Holland sheets. Luckily it did not rain, and we were +preserved from the misery which a heavy shower would have occasioned +us. In the morning I was awakened by the sonorous voice of my companion +ringing in my ears and bidding me rise. I crawled out from our heap of +leaves, and was astonished at the change which a good night's rest had +wrought in his appearance. He was as blithe and joyous as a young bird, +and was staying the keenness of his morning's appetite by chewing the +soft bark of a delicate branch he held in his hand, and he recommended +the like to me as an admirable antidote against the gnawings of hunger. + +For my own part, though feeling materially better than I had done the +preceding evening, I could not look at the limb that had pained me +so violently at intervals during the last twenty-four hours, without +experiencing a sense of alarm that I strove in vain to shake off. +Unwilling to disturb the flow of my comrade's spirits, I managed to +stifle the complaints to which I might otherwise have given vent, and +calling upon him good-humouredly to speed our banquet, I prepared myself +for it by washing in the stream. This operation concluded, we swallowed, +or rather absorbed, by a peculiar kind of slow sucking process, our +respective morsels of nourishment, and then entered into a discussion as +to the steps is was necessary for us to pursue. + +'What's to be done now?' inquired I, rather dolefully. + +'Descend into that same valley we descried yesterday.' rejoined Toby, +with a rapidity and loudness of utterance that almost led me to suspect +he had been slyly devouring the broadside of an ox in some of the +adjoining thickets. 'What else,' he continued, 'remains for us to do but +that, to be sure? Why, we shall both starve to a certainty if we remain +here; and as to your fears of those Typees--depend upon it, it is all +nonsense.' + +'It is impossible that the inhabitants of such a lovely place as we +saw can be anything else but good fellows; and if you choose rather to +perish with hunger in one of these soppy caverns, I for one prefer to +chance a bold descent into the valley, and risk the consequences'. + +'And who is to pilot us thither,' I asked, 'even if we should decide +upon the measure you propose? Are we to go again up and down those +precipices that we crossed yesterday, until we reach the place we +started from, and then take a flying leap from the cliffs to the +valley?' + +'Faith, I didn't think of that,' said Toby; 'sure enough, both sides of +the valley appeared to be hemmed in by precipices, didn't they?' + +'Yes,' answered I, 'as steep as the sides of a line-of-battle ship, +and about a hundred times as high.' My companion sank his head upon his +breast, and remained for a while in deep thought. Suddenly he sprang to +his feet, while his eyes lighted up with that gleam of intelligence that +marks the presence of some bright idea. + +'Yes, yes,' he exclaimed; 'the streams all run in the same direction, +and must necessarily flow into the valley before they reach the sea; all +we have to do is just to follow this stream, and sooner or later it will +lead us into the vale.' + +'You are right, Toby,' I exclaimed, 'you are right; it must conduct us +thither, and quickly too; for, see with what a steep inclination the +water descends.' + +'It does, indeed,' burst forth my companion, overjoyed at my +verification of his theory, 'it does indeed; why, it is as plain as a +pike-staff. Let us proceed at once; come, throw away all those stupid +ideas about the Typees, and hurrah for the lovely valley of the +Happars.' + +'You will have it to be Happar, I see, my dear fellow; pray Heaven you +may not find yourself deceived,' observed I, with a shake of my head. + +'Amen to all that, and much more,' shouted Toby, rushing forward; 'but +Happar it is, for nothing else than Happar can it be. So glorious a +valley--such forests of bread-fruit trees--such groves of cocoanut--such +wilderness of guava-bushes! Ah! shipmate! don't linger behind: in the +name of all delightful fruits, I am dying to be at them. Come on, come +on; shove ahead, there's a lively lad; never mind the rocks; kick them +out of the way, as I do; and tomorrow, old fellow, take my word for +it, we shall be in clover. Come on;' and so saying, he dashed along the +ravine like a madman, forgetting my inability to keep up with him. In a +few minutes, however, the exuberance of his spirits abated, and, pausing +for a while, he permitted me to overtake him. + + + +CHAPTER NINE + +PERILOUS PASSAGE OF THE RAVINE--DESCENT INTO THE VALLEY + +The fearless confidence of Toby was contagious, and I began to adopt the +Happar side of the question. I could not, however, overcome a certain +feeling of trepidation as we made our way along these gloomy solitudes. +Our progress, at first comparatively easy, became more and more +difficult. The bed of the watercourse was covered with fragments of +broken rocks, which had fallen from above, offering so many obstructions +to the course of the rapid stream, which vexed and fretted about +them,--forming at intervals small waterfalls, pouring over into deep +basins, or splashing wildly upon heaps of stones. + +From the narrowness of the gorge, and the steepness of its sides, there +was no mode of advancing but by wading through the water; stumbling +every moment over the impediments which lay hidden under its surface, +or tripping against the huge roots of trees. But the most annoying +hindrance we encountered was from a multitude of crooked boughs, which, +shooting out almost horizontally from the sides of the chasm, twisted +themselves together in fantastic masses almost to the surface of the +stream, affording us no passage except under the low arches which they +formed. Under these we were obliged to crawl on our hands and feet, +sliding along the oozy surface of the rocks, or slipping into the deep +pools, and with scarce light enough to guide us. Occasionally we would +strike our heads against some projecting limb of a tree; and while +imprudently engaged in rubbing the injured part, would fall sprawling +amongst flinty fragments, cutting and bruising ourselves, whilst the +unpitying waters flowed over our prostrate bodies. Belzoni, worming +himself through the subterranean passages of the Egyptian catacombs, +could not have met with great impediments than those we here +encountered. But we struggled against them manfully, well knowing our +only hope lay in advancing. + +Towards sunset we halted at a spot where we made preparations for +passing the night. Here we constructed a hut, in much the same way as +before, and crawling into it, endeavoured to forget our sufferings. My +companion, I believe, slept pretty soundly; but at day break, when we +rolled out of our dwelling, I felt nearly disqualified for any further +efforts. Toby prescribed as a remedy for my illness the contents of one +of our little silk packages, to be taken at once in a single dose. To +this species of medical treatment, however, I would by no means accede, +much as he insisted upon it; and so we partook of our usual morsel, and +silently resumed our journey. It was now the fourth day since we left +Nukuheva, and the gnawings of hunger became painfully acute. We were +fain to pacify them by chewing the tender bark of roots and twigs, +which, if they did not afford us nourishment, were at least sweet and +pleasant to the taste. + +Our progress along the steep watercourse was necessarily slow, and by +noon we had not advanced more than a mile. It was somewhere near this +part of the day that the noise of falling waters, which we had faintly +caught in the early morning, became more distinct; and it was not long +before we were arrested by a rocky precipice of nearly a hundred feet +in depth, that extended all across the channel, and over which the wild +stream poured in an unbroken leap. On each hand the walls of the +ravine presented their overhanging sides both above and below the fall, +affording no means whatever of avoiding the cataract by taking a circuit +round it. + +'What's to be done now, Toby?' said I. + +'Why,' rejoined he, 'as we cannot retreat, I suppose we must keep +shoving along.' + +'Very true, my dear Toby; but how do you purpose accomplishing that +desirable object?' + +'By jumping from the top of the fall, if there be no other way,' +unhesitatingly replied my companion: 'it will be much the quickest way +of descent; but as you are not quite as active as I am, we will try some +other way.' + +And, so saying, he crept cautiously along and peered over into the +abyss, while I remained wondering by what possible means we could +overcome this apparently insuperable obstruction. As soon as my +companion had completed his survey, I eagerly inquired the result. + +'The result of my observations you wish to know, do you?' began Toby, +deliberately, with one of his odd looks: 'well, my lad, the result of my +observations is very quickly imparted. It is at present uncertain which +of our two necks will have the honour to be broken first; but about a +hundred to one would be a fair bet in favour of the man who takes the +first jump.' + +'Then it is an impossible thing, is it?' inquired I gloomily. + +'No, shipmate; on the contrary, it is the easiest thing in life: the +only awkward point is the sort of usage which our unhappy limbs may +receive when we arrive at the bottom, and what sort of travelling trim +we shall be in afterwards. But follow me now, and I will show you the +only chance we have.' With this he conducted me to the verge of the +cataract, and pointed along the side of the ravine to a number of +curious looking roots, some three or four inches in thickness, and +several feet long, which, after twisting among the fissures of the rock, +shot perpendicularly from it and ran tapering to a point in the air, +hanging over the gulf like so many dark icicles. They covered nearly +the entire surface of one side of the gorge, the lowest of them +reaching even to the water. Many were moss grown and decayed, with their +extremities snapped short off, and those in the immediate vicinity of +the fall were slippery with moisture. + +Toby's scheme, and it was a desperate one, was to entrust ourselves +to these treacherous-looking roots, and by slipping down from one to +another to gain the bottom. + +'Are you ready to venture it?' asked Toby, looking at me earnestly but +without saying a word as to the practicability of the plan. + +'I am,' was my reply; for I saw it was our only resource if we wished to +advance, and as for retreating, all thoughts of that sort had been long +abandoned. + +After I had signified my assent, Toby, without uttering a a single word, +crawled along the dripping ledge until he gained a point from whence +he could just reach one of the largest of the pendant roots; he shook +it--it quivered in his grasp, and when he let it go it twanged in the +air like a strong, wire sharply struck. Satisfied by his scrutiny, my +light limbed companion swung himself nimbly upon it, and twisting his +legs round it in sailor fashion, slipped down eight or ten feet, where +his weight gave it a motion not un-like that of a pendulum. He could not +venture to descend any further; so holding on with one hand, he with the +other shook one by one all the slender roots around him, and at last, +finding one which he thought trustworthy, shifted him self to it and +continued his downward progress. + +So far so well; but I could not avoid comparing my heavier frame and +disabled condition with his light figure and remarkable activity; +but there was no help for it, and in less than a minute's time I was +swinging directly over his head. As soon as his upturned eyes caught a +glimpse of me, he exclaimed in his usual dry tone, for the danger did +not seem to daunt him in the least, 'Mate, do me the kindness not to +fall until I get out of your way;' and then swinging himself more on +one side, he continued his descent. In the mean time I cautiously +transferred myself from the limb down which I had been slipping to a +couple of others that were near it, deeming two strings to my bow better +than one, and taking care to test their strength before I trusted my +weight to them. + +On arriving towards the end of the second stage in this vertical +journey, and shaking the long roots which were round me, to my +consternation they snapped off one after another like so many pipe +stems, and fell in fragments against the side of the gulf, splashing at +last into the waters beneath. + +As one after another the treacherous roots yielded to my grasp, and fell +into the torrent, my heart sunk within me. The branches on which I was +suspended over the yawning chasm swang to and fro in the air, and I +expected them every moment to snap in twain. Appalled at the dreadful +fate that menaced me, I clutched frantically at the only large root +which remained near me, but in vain; I could not reach it, though my +fingers were within a few inches of it. Again and again I tried to reach +it, until at length, maddened with the thought of my situation, I swayed +myself violently by striking my foot against the side of the rock, and +at the instant that I approached the large root caught desperately at +it, and transferred myself to it. It vibrated violently under the sudden +weight, but fortunately did not give way. + +My brain grew dizzy with the idea of the frightful risk I had just run, +and I involuntarily closed my eyes to shut out the view of the +depth beneath me. For the instant I was safe, and I uttered a devout +ejaculation of thanksgiving for my escape. + +'Pretty well done,' shouted Toby underneath me; 'you are nimbler than +I thought you to be--hopping about up there from root to root like any +young squirrel. As soon as you have diverted yourself sufficiently, I +would advise you to proceed.' + +'Aye, aye, Toby, all in good time: two or three more such famous roots +as this, and I shall be with you.' + +The residue of my downward progress was comparatively easy; the roots +were in greater abundance, and in one or two places jutting out points +of rock assisted me greatly. In a few moments I was standing by the side +of my companion. + +Substituting a stout stick for the one I had thrown aside at the top of +the precipice, we now continued our course along the bed of the ravine. +Soon we were saluted by a sound in advance, that grew by degrees +louder and louder, as the noise of the cataract we were leaving behind +gradually died on our ears. + +'Another precipice for us, Toby.' + +'Very good; we can descend them, you know--come on.' + +Nothing indeed appeared to depress or intimidate this intrepid fellow. +Typees or Niagaras, he was as ready to engage one as the other, and I +could not avoid a thousand times congratulating myself upon having such +a companion in an enterprise like the present. + +After an hour's painful progress, we reached the verge of another fall, +still loftier than the preceding and flanked both above and below with +the same steep masses of rock, presenting, however, here and there +narrow irregular ledges, supporting a shallow soil, on which grew a +variety of bushes and trees, whose bright verdure contrasted beautifully +with the foamy waters that flowed between them. + +Toby, who invariably acted as pioneer, now proceeded to reconnoitre. +On his return, he reported that the shelves of rock on our right +would enable us to gain with little risk the bottom of the cataract. +Accordingly, leaving the bed of the stream at the very point where it +thundered down, we began crawling along one of those sloping ledges +until it carried us to within a few feet of another that inclined +downwards at a still sharper angle, and upon which, by assisting each +other we managed to alight in safety. We warily crept along this, +steadying ourselves by the naked roots of the shrubs that clung to every +fissure. As we proceeded, the narrow path became still more contracted, +rendering it difficult for us to maintain our footing, until suddenly, +as we reached an angle of the wall of rock where we had expected it to +widen, we perceived to our consternation that a yard or two further on +it abruptly terminated at a place we could not possibly hope to pass. + +Toby as usual led the van, and in silence I waited to learn from him how +he proposed to extricate us from this new difficulty. + +'Well, my boy,' I exclaimed, after the expiration of several minutes, +during which time my companion had not uttered a word, 'what's to be +done now?' + +He replied in a tranquil tone, that probably the best thing we could do +in our present strait was to get out of it as soon as possible. + +'Yes, my dear Toby, but tell me how we are to get out of it.' + +'Something in this sort of style,' he replied, and at the same moment to +my horror he slipped sideways off the rocks and, as I then thought, by +good fortune merely, alighted among the spreading branches of a species +of palm tree, that shooting its hardy roots along a ledge below, curved +its trunk upwards into the air, and presented a thick mass of foliage +about twenty feet below the spot where we had thus suddenly been brought +to a standstill. I involuntarily held my breath, expecting to see the +form of my companion, after being sustained for a moment by the branches +of the tree, sink through their frail support, and fall headlong to +the bottom. To my surprise and joy, however, he recovered himself, and +disentangling his limbs from the fractured branches, he peered out from +his leafy bed, and shouted lustily, 'Come on, my hearty there is no +other alternative!' and with this he ducked beneath the foliage, and +slipping down the trunk, stood in a moment at least fifty feet beneath +me, upon the broad shelf of rock from which sprung the tree he had +descended. + +What would I not have given at that moment to have been by his side. The +feat he had just accomplished seemed little less than miraculous, and +I could hardly credit the evidence of my senses when I saw the wide +distance that a single daring act had so suddenly placed between us. + +Toby's animating 'come on' again sounded in my ears, and dreading to +lose all confidence in myself if I remained meditating upon the step, +I once more gazed down to assure myself of the relative bearing of the +tree and my own position, and then closing my eyes and uttering one +comprehensive ejaculation of prayer, I inclined myself over towards the +abyss, and after one breathless instant fell with a crash into the tree, +the branches snapping and cracking with my weight, as I sunk lower and +lower among them, until I was stopped by coming in contact with a sturdy +limb. + +In a few moments I was standing at the foot of the tree manipulating +myself all over with a view of ascertaining the extent of the injuries +I had received. To my surprise the only effects of my feat were a few +slight contusions too trifling to care about. The rest of our descent +was easily accomplished, and in half an hour after regaining the ravine +we had partaken of our evening morsel, built our hut as usual, and +crawled under its shelter. + +The next morning, in spite of our debility and the agony of hunger under +which we were now suffering, though neither of us confessed to the fact, +we struggled along our dismal and still difficult and dangerous path, +cheered by the hope of soon catching a glimpse of the valley before +us, and towards evening the voice of a cataract which had for some time +sounded like a low deep bass to the music of the smaller waterfalls, +broke upon our ears in still louder tones, and assured us that we were +approaching its vicinity. + +That evening we stood on the brink of a precipice, over which the dark +stream bounded in one final leap of full 300 feet. The sheer descent +terminated in the region we so long had sought. On each side of the +fall, two lofty and perpendicular bluffs buttressed the sides of the +enormous cliff, and projected into the sea of verdure with which the +valley waved, and a range of similar projecting eminences stood disposed +in a half circle about the head if the vale. A thick canopy of trees +hung over the very verge of the fall, leaving an arched aperture for the +passage of the waters, which imparted a strange picturesqueness to the +scene. + +The valley was now before us; but instead of being conducted into its +smiling bosom by the gradual descent of the deep watercourse we had thus +far pursued, all our labours now appeared to have been rendered futile +by its abrupt termination. But, bitterly disappointed, we did not +entirely despair. + +As it was now near sunset we determined to pass the night where we were, +and on the morrow, refreshed by sleep, and by eating at one meal all our +stock of food, to accomplish a descent into the valley, or perish in the +attempt. + +We laid ourselves down that night on a spot, the recollection of which +still makes me shudder. A small table of rock which projected over the +precipice on one side of the stream, and was drenched by the spray +of the fall, sustained a huge trunk of a tree which must have been +deposited there by some heavy freshet. It lay obliquely, with one end +resting on the rock and the other supported by the side of the ravine. +Against it we placed in a sloping direction a number of the half decayed +boughs that were strewn about, and covering the whole with twigs and +leaves, awaited the morning's light beneath such shelter as it afforded. + + +During the whole of this night the continual roaring of the +cataract--the dismal moaning of the gale through the trees--the +pattering of the rain, and the profound darkness, affected my spirits to +a degree which nothing had ever before produced. Wet, half famished, +and chilled to the heart with the dampness of the place, and nearly wild +with the pain I endured, I fairly cowered down to the earth under +this multiplication of hardships, and abandoned myself to frightful +anticipations of evil; and my companion, whose spirit at last was a good +deal broken, scarcely uttered a word during the whole night. + +At length the day dawned upon us, and rising from our miserable pallet, +we stretched our stiffened joints, and after eating all that remained +of our bread, prepared for the last stage of our journey. I will not +recount every hair-breadth escape, and every fearful difficulty that +occurred before we succeeded in reaching the bosom of the valley. As I +have already described similar scenes, it will be sufficient to say that +at length, after great toil and great dangers, we both stood with no +limbs broken at the head of that magnificent vale which five days before +had so suddenly burst upon my sight, and almost beneath the shadow of +those very cliffs from whose summits we had gazed upon the prospect. + + + +CHAPTER TEN + +THE HEAD OF THE VALLEY--CAUTIOUS ADVANCE--A PATH--FRUIT--DISCOVERY +OF TWO OF THE NATIVES--THEIR SINGULAR CONDUCT--APPROACH TOWARDS +THE INHABITED PARTS OF THE VALE--SENSATION PRODUCED BY OUR +APPEARANCE--RECEPTION AT THE HOUSE OF ONE OF THE NATIVES + +HOW to obtain the fruit which we felt convinced must grow near at hand +was our first thought. + +Typee or Happar? A frightful death at the hands of the fiercest of +cannibals, or a kindly reception from a gentler race of savages? Which? +But it was too late now to discuss a question which would so soon be +answered. + +The part of the valley in which we found ourselves appeared to be +altogether uninhabited. An almost impenetrable thicket extended +from side to side, without presenting a single plant affording the +nourishment we had confidently calculated upon; and with this object, we +followed the course of the stream, casting quick glances as we +proceeded into the thick jungles on each hand. My companion--to whose +solicitations I had yielded in descending into the valley--now that +the step was taken, began to manifest a degree of caution I had little +expected from him. He proposed that in the event of our finding an +adequate supply of fruit, we should remain in this unfrequented portion +of the country--where we should run little chance of being surprised by +its occupants, whoever they might be--until sufficiently recruited to +resume our journey; when laying a store of food equal to our wants, we +might easily regain the bay of Nukuheva, after the lapse of a sufficient +interval to ensure the departure of our vessel. + +I objected strongly to this proposition, plausible as it was, as the +difficulties of the route would be almost insurmountable, unacquainted +as we were with the general bearings of the country, and I reminded +my companion of the hardships which we had already encountered in our +uncertain wanderings; in a word, I said that since we had deemed +it advisable to enter the valley, we ought manfully to face the +consequences, whatever they might be; the more especially as I was +convinced there was no alternative left us but to fall in with the +natives at once, and boldly risk the reception they might give us; and +that as to myself, I felt the necessity of rest and shelter, and that +until I had obtained them, I should be wholly unable to encounter such +sufferings as we had lately passed through. To the justice of these +observations Toby somewhat reluctantly assented. + +We were surprised that, after moving as far as we had along the valley, +we should still meet with the same impervious thickets; and thinking, +that although the borders of the stream might be lined for some distance +with them, yet beyond there might be more open ground, I requested Toby +to keep a bright look-out upon one side, while I did the same on the +other, in order to discover some opening in the bushes, and especially +to watch for the slightest appearance of a path or anything else that +might indicate the vicinity of the islanders. + +What furtive and anxious glances we cast into those dim-looking shadows! +With what apprehensions we proceeded, ignorant at what moment we might +be greeted by the javelin of some ambushed savage. At last my companion +paused, and directed my attention to a narrow opening in the foliage. We +struck into it, and it soon brought us by an indistinctly traced path to +a comparatively clear space, at the further end of which we descried +a number of the trees, the native name of which is 'annuee', and which +bear a most delicious fruit. What a race! I hobbling over the ground +like some decrepid wretch, and Toby leaping forward like a greyhound. He +quickly cleared one of the trees on which there were two or three of +the fruit, but to our chagrin they proved to be much decayed; the rinds +partly opened by the birds, and their hearts half devoured. However, we +quickly despatched them, and no ambrosia could have been more delicious. + +We looked about us uncertain whither to direct our steps, since the path +we had so far followed appeared to be lost in the open space around us. +At last we resolved to enter a grove near at hand, and had advanced a +few rods, when, just upon its skirts, I picked up a slender bread-fruit +shoot perfectly green, and with the tender bark freshly stripped from +it. It was still slippery with moisture, and appeared as if it had been +but that moment thrown aside. I said nothing, but merely held it up to +Toby, who started at this undeniable evidence of the vicinity of the +savages. + +The plot was now thickening.--A short distance further lay a little +faggot of the same shoots bound together with a strip of bark. Could it +have been thrown down by some solitary native, who, alarmed at seeing +us, had hurried forward to carry the tidings of our approach to his +countrymen?--Typee or Happar?--But it was too late to recede, so we +moved on slowly, my companion in advance casting eager glances under the +trees on each side, until all at once I saw him recoil as if stung by +an adder. Sinking on his knee, he waved me off with one hand, while with +the other he held aside some intervening leaves, and gazed intently at +some object. + +Disregarding his injunction, I quickly approached him and caught a +glimpse of two figures partly hidden by the dense foliage; they were +standing close together, and were perfectly motionless. They must have +previously perceived us, and withdrawn into the depths of the wood to +elude our observation. + +My mind was at once made up. Dropping my staff, and tearing open the +package of things we had brought from the ship, I unrolled the cotton +cloth, and holding it in one hand picked with the other a twig from the +bushes beside me, and telling Toby to follow my example, I broke through +the covert and advanced, waving the branch in token of peace towards +the shrinking forms before me. They were a boy and a girl, slender and +graceful, and completely naked, with the exception of a slight girdle of +bark, from which depended at opposite points two of the russet leaves of +the bread-fruit tree. An arm of the boy, half screened from sight by +her wild tresses, was thrown about the neck of the girl, while with the +other he held one of her hands in his; and thus they stood together, +their heads inclined forward, catching the faint noise we made in our +progress, and with one foot in advance, as if half inclined to fly from +our presence. + +As we drew near, their alarm evidently increased. Apprehensive that +they might fly from us altogether, I stopped short and motioned them +to advance and receive the gift I extended towards them, but they would +not; I then uttered a few words of their language with which I was +acquainted, scarcely expected that they would understand me, but to show +that we had not dropped from the clouds upon them. This appeared to give +them a little confidence, so I approached nearer, presenting the cloth +with one hand, and holding the bough with the other, while they slowly +retreated. At last they suffered us to approach so near to them that we +were enabled to throw the cotton cloth across their shoulders, giving +them to understand that it was theirs, and by a variety of gestures +endeavouring to make them understand that we entertained the highest +possible regard for them. + +The frightened pair now stood still, whilst we endeavoured to make them +comprehend the nature of our wants. In doing this Toby went through with +a complete series of pantomimic illustrations--opening his mouth from +ear to ear, and thrusting his fingers down his throat, gnashing his +teeth and rolling his eyes about, till I verily believe the poor +creatures took us for a couple of white cannibals who were about to +make a meal of them. When, however, they understood us, they showed +no inclination to relieve our wants. At this juncture it began to rain +violently, and we motioned them to lead us to some place of shelter. +With this request they appeared willing to comply, but nothing could +evince more strongly the apprehension with which they regarded us, +than the way in which, whilst walking before us, they kept their eyes +constantly turned back to watch every movement we made, and even our +very looks. + +'Typee or Happar, Toby?' asked I as we walked after them. + +'Of course Happar,' he replied, with a show of confidence which was +intended to disguise his doubts. + +'We shall soon know,' I exclaimed; and at the same moment I +stepped forward towards our guides, and pronouncing the two names +interrogatively and pointing to the lowest part of the valley, +endeavoured to come to the point at once. They repeated the words after +me again and again, but without giving any peculiar emphasis to either, +so that I was completely at a loss to understand them; for a couple of +wilier young things than we afterwards found them to have been on this +particular occasion never probably fell in any traveller's way. + +More and more curious to ascertain our fate, I now threw together in the +form of a question the words 'Happar' and 'Motarkee', the latter being +equivalent to the word 'good'. The two natives interchanged glances +of peculiar meaning with one another at this, and manifested no little +surprise; but on the repetition of the question after some consultation +together, to the great joy of Toby, they answered in the affirmative. +Toby was now in ecstasies, especially as the young savages continued +to reiterate their answer with great energy, as though desirous of +impressing us with the idea that being among the Happars, we ought to +consider ourselves perfectly secure. + +Although I had some lingering doubts, I feigned great delight with Toby +at this announcement, while my companion broke out into a pantomimic +abhorrence of Typee, and immeasurable love for the particular valley in +which we were; our guides all the while gazing uneasily at one another +as if at a loss to account for our conduct. + +They hurried on, and we followed them; until suddenly they set up a +strange halloo, which was answered from beyond the grove through which +we were passing, and the next moment we entered upon some open ground, +at the extremity of which we descried a long, low hut, and in front of +it were several young girls. As soon as they perceived us they fled with +wild screams into the adjoining thickets, like so many startled fawns. +A few moments after the whole valley resounded with savage outcries, and +the natives came running towards us from every direction. + +Had an army of invaders made an irruption into their territory they +could not have evinced greater excitement. We were soon completely +encircled by a dense throng, and in their eager desire to behold us they +almost arrested our progress; an equal number surrounded our youthful +guides, who with amazing volubility appeared to be detailing the +circumstances which had attended their meeting with us. Every item of +intelligence appeared to redouble the astonishment of the islanders, and +they gazed at us with inquiring looks. + +At last we reached a large and handsome building of bamboos, and were by +signs told to enter it, the natives opening a lane for us through which +to pass; on entering without ceremony, we threw our exhausted frames +upon the mats that covered the floor. In a moment the slight tenement +was completely full of people, whilst those who were unable to obtain +admittance gazed at us through its open cane-work. + +It was now evening, and by the dim light we could just discern the +savage countenances around us, gleaming with wild curiosity and wonder; +the naked forms and tattooed limbs of brawny warriors, with here and +there the slighter figures of young girls, all engaged in a perfect +storm of conversation, of which we were of course the one only +theme, whilst our recent guides were fully occupied in answering the +innumerable questions which every one put to them. Nothing can exceed +the fierce gesticulation of these people when animated in conversation, +and on this occasion they gave loose to all their natural vivacity, +shouting and dancing about in a manner that well nigh intimidated us. + +Close to where we lay, squatting upon their haunches, were some eight or +ten noble-looking chiefs--for such they subsequently proved to be--who, +more reserved than the rest, regarded us with a fixed and stern +attention, which not a little discomposed our equanimity. One of them +in particular, who appeared to be the highest in rank, placed himself +directly facing me, looking at me with a rigidity of aspect under which +I absolutely quailed. He never once opened his lips, but maintained his +severe expression of countenance, without turning his face aside for +a single moment. Never before had I been subjected to so strange and +steady a glance; it revealed nothing of the mind of the savage, but it +appeared to be reading my own. + +After undergoing this scrutiny till I grew absolutely nervous, with a +view of diverting it if possible, and conciliating the good opinion of +the warrior, I took some tobacco from the bosom of my frock and +offered it to him. He quietly rejected the proffered gift, and, without +speaking, motioned me to return it to its place. + +In my previous intercourse with the natives of Nukuheva and Tior, I had +found that the present of a small piece of tobacco would have rendered +any of them devoted to my service. Was this act of the chief a token of +his enmity? Typee or Happar? I asked within myself. I started, for at +the same moment this identical question was asked by the strange being +before me. I turned to Toby, the flickering light of a native taper +showed me his countenance pale with trepidation at this fatal question. +I paused for a second, and I know not by what impulse it was that I +answered 'Typee'. The piece of dusky statuary nodded in approval, and +then murmured 'Motarkee!' 'Motarkee,' said I, without further hesitation +'Typee motarkee.' + +What a transition! The dark figures around us leaped to their feet, +clapped their hands in transport, and shouted again and again the +talismanic syllables, the utterance of which appeared to have settled +everything. + +When this commotion had a little subsided, the principal chief squatted +once more before me, and throwing himself into a sudden rage, poured +forth a string of philippics, which I was at no loss to understand, from +the frequent recurrence of the word Happar, as being directed against +the natives of the adjoining valley. In all these denunciations my +companion and I acquiesced, while we extolled the character of the +warlike Typees. To be sure our panegyrics were somewhat laconic, +consisting in the repetition of that name, united with the potent +adjective 'motarkee'. But this was sufficient, and served to conciliate +the good will of the natives, with whom our congeniality of sentiment on +this point did more towards inspiring a friendly feeling than anything +else that could have happened. + +At last the wrath of the chief evaporated, and in a few moments he +was as placid as ever. Laying his hand upon his breast, he gave me to +understand that his name was 'Mehevi', and that, in return, he wished me +to communicate my appellation. I hesitated for an instant, thinking that +it might be difficult for him to pronounce my real name, and then with +the most praiseworthy intentions intimated that I was known as 'Tom'. +But I could not have made a worse selection; the chief could not master +it. 'Tommo,' 'Tomma', 'Tommee', everything but plain 'Tom'. As he +persisted in garnishing the word with an additional syllable, I +compromised the matter with him at the word 'Tommo'; and by that name +I went during the entire period of my stay in the valley. The same +proceeding was gone through with Toby, whose mellifluous appellation was +more easily caught. + +An exchange of names is equivalent to a ratification of good will and +amity among these simple people; and as we were aware of this fact, we +were delighted that it had taken place on the present occasion. + +Reclining upon our mats, we now held a kind of levee, giving audience +to successive troops of the natives, who introduced themselves to us by +pronouncing their respective names, and retired in high good humour on +receiving ours in return. During this ceremony the greatest merriment +prevailed nearly every announcement on the part of the islanders being +followed by a fresh sally of gaiety, which induced me to believe that +some of them at least were innocently diverting the company at our +expense, by bestowing upon themselves a string of absurd titles, of the +humour of which we were of course entirely ignorant. + +All this occupied about an hour, when the throng having a little +diminished, I turned to Mehevi and gave him to understand that we were +in need of food and sleep. Immediately the attentive chief addressed a +few words to one of the crowd, who disappeared, and returned in a few +moments with a calabash of 'poee-poee', and two or three young cocoanuts +stripped of their husks, and with their shells partly broken. We both +of us forthwith placed one of these natural goblets to our lips, and +drained it in a moment of the refreshing draught it contained. The +poee-poee was then placed before us, and even famished as I was, I +paused to consider in what manner to convey it to my mouth. + +This staple article of food among the Marquese islanders is manufactured +from the produce of the bread-fruit tree. It somewhat resembles in +its plastic nature our bookbinders' paste, is of a yellow colour, and +somewhat tart to the taste. + +Such was the dish, the merits of which I was now eager to discuss. I +eyed it wistfully for a moment, and then, unable any longer to stand on +ceremony, plunged my hand into the yielding mass, and to the boisterous +mirth of the natives drew it forth laden with the poee-poee, which +adhered in lengthy strings to every finger. So stubborn was its +consistency, that in conveying my heavily-weighted hand to my mouth, the +connecting links almost raised the calabash from the mats on which it +had been placed. This display of awkwardness--in which, by-the-bye, Toby +kept me company--convulsed the bystanders with uncontrollable laughter. + +As soon as their merriment had somewhat subsided, Mehevi, motioning us +to be attentive, dipped the forefinger of his right hand in the dish, +and giving it a rapid and scientific twirl, drew it out coated smoothly +with the preparation. With a second peculiar flourish he prevented the +poee-poee from dropping to the ground as he raised it to his mouth, into +which the finger was inserted and drawn forth perfectly free from any +adhesive matter. + +This performance was evidently intended for our instruction; so I +again essayed the feat on the principles inculcated, but with very ill +success. + +A starving man, however, little heeds conventional proprieties, +especially on a South-Sea Island, and accordingly Toby and I partook of +the dish after our own clumsy fashion, beplastering our faces all over +with the glutinous compound, and daubing our hands nearly to the +wrist. This kind of food is by no means disagreeable to the palate of a +European, though at first the mode of eating it may be. For my own +part, after the lapse of a few days I became accustomed to its singular +flavour, and grew remarkably fond of it. + +So much for the first course; several other dishes followed it, some of +which were positively delicious. We concluded our banquet by tossing +off the contents of two more young cocoanuts, after which we regaled +ourselves with the soothing fumes of tobacco, inhaled from a quaintly +carved pipe which passed round the circle. + +During the repast, the natives eyed us with intense curiosity, observing +our minutest motions, and appearing to discover abundant matter for +comment in the most trifling occurrence. Their surprise mounted the +highest, when we began to remove our uncomfortable garments, which were +saturated with rain. They scanned the whiteness of our limbs, and seemed +utterly unable to account for the contrast they presented to the swarthy +hue of our faces embrowned from a six months' exposure to the scorching +sun of the Line. They felt our skin, much in the same way that a silk +mercer would handle a remarkably fine piece of satin; and some of them +went so far in their investigation as to apply the olfactory organ. + +Their singular behaviour almost led me to imagine that they never before +had beheld a white man; but a few moments' reflection convinced me that +this could not have been the case; and a more satisfactory reason for +their conduct has since suggested itself to my mind. + +Deterred by the frightful stories related of its inhabitants, ships +never enter this bay, while their hostile relations with the tribes in +the adjoining valleys prevent the Typees from visiting that section of +the island where vessels occasionally lie. At long intervals, however, +some intrepid captain will touch on the skirts of the bay, with two or +three armed boats' crews and accompanied by interpreters. The natives +who live near the sea descry the strangers long before they reach their +waters, and aware of the purpose for which they come, proclaim loudly +the news of their approach. By a species of vocal telegraph the +intelligence reaches the inmost recesses of the vale in an inconceivably +short space of time, drawing nearly its whole population down to +the beach laden with every variety of fruit. The interpreter, who is +invariably a 'tabooed Kanaka'*, leaps ashore with the goods intended for +barter, while the boats, with their oars shipped, and every man on his +thwart, lie just outside the surf, heading off the shore, in readiness +at the first untoward event to escape to the open sea. As soon as the +traffic is concluded, one of the boats pulls in under cover of the +muskets of the others, the fruit is quickly thrown into her, and the +transient visitors precipitately retire from what they justly consider +so dangerous a vicinity. + +* The word 'Kanaka' is at the present day universally used in the South +Seas by Europeans to designate the Islanders. In the various dialects +of the principal groups it is simply a sexual designation applied to +the males; but it is now used by the natives in their intercourse with +foreigners in the same sense in which the latter employ it. + +A 'Tabooed Kanaka' is an islander whose person has been made to a +certain extent sacred by the operation of a singular custom hereafter to +be explained. + + + +The intercourse occurring with Europeans being so restricted, no wonder +that the inhabitants of the valley manifested so much curiosity with +regard to us, appearing as we did among them under such singular +circumstances. I have no doubt that we were the first white men who ever +penetrated thus far back into their territories, or at least the first +who had ever descended from the head of the vale. What had brought us +thither must have appeared a complete mystery to them, and from our +ignorance of the language it was impossible for us to enlighten them. In +answer to inquiries which the eloquence of their gestures enabled us to +comprehend, all that we could reply was, that we had come from Nukuheva, +a place, be it remembered, with which they were at open war. This +intelligence appeared to affect them with the most lively emotions. +'Nukuheva motarkee?' they asked. Of course we replied most energetically +in the negative. + +Then they plied us with a thousand questions, of which we could +understand nothing more than that they had reference to the recent +movements of the French, against whom they seemed to cherish the most +fierce hatred. So eager were they to obtain information on this point, +that they still continued to propound their queries long after we had +shown that we were utterly unable to answer them. Occasionally we caught +some indistinct idea of their meaning, when we would endeavour by every +method in our power to communicate the desired intelligence. At such +times their gratification was boundless, and they would redouble their +efforts to make us comprehend them more perfectly. But all in vain; and +in the end they looked at us despairingly, as if we were the receptacles +of invaluable information; but how to come at it they knew not. + +After a while the group around us gradually dispersed, and we were +left about midnight (as we conjectured) with those who appeared to be +permanent residents of the house. These individuals now provided us with +fresh mats to lie upon, covered us with several folds of tappa, and then +extinguishing the tapers that had been burning, threw themselves down +beside us, and after a little desultory conversation were soon sound +asleep. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN + +MIDNIGHT REFLECTIONS--MORNING VISITORS--A WARRIOR IN COSTUME--A SAVAGE +AESCULAPIUS--PRACTICE OF THE HEALING ART--BODY SERVANT--A DWELLING-HOUSE +OF THE VALLEY DESCRIBED--PORTRAITS OF ITS INMATES + +VARIOUS and conflicting were the thoughts which oppressed me during the +silent hours that followed the events related in the preceding chapter. +Toby, wearied with the fatigues of the day, slumbered heavily by my +side; but the pain under which I was suffering effectually prevented +my sleeping, and I remained distressingly alive to all the fearful +circumstances of our present situation. Was it possible that, after all +our vicissitudes, we were really in the terrible valley of Typee, and +at the mercy of its inmates, a fierce and unrelenting tribe of savages? +Typee or Happar? I shuddered when I reflected that there was no longer +any room for doubt; and that, beyond all hope of escape, we were now +placed in those very circumstances from the bare thought of which I had +recoiled with such abhorrence but a few days before. What might not +be our fearful destiny? To be sure, as yet we had been treated with no +violence; nay, had been even kindly and hospitably entertained. But what +dependence could be placed upon the fickle passions which sway the bosom +of a savage? His inconstancy and treachery are proverbial. Might it +not be that beneath these fair appearances the islanders covered some +perfidious design, and that their friendly reception of us might only +precede some horrible catastrophe? How strongly did these forebodings +spring up in my mind as I lay restlessly upon a couch of mats surrounded +by the dimly revealed forms of those whom I so greatly dreaded! + +From the excitement of these fearful thoughts I sank towards morning +into an uneasy slumber; and on awaking, with a start, in the midst of an +appalling dream, looked up into the eager countenance of a number of the +natives, who were bending over me. + +It was broad day; and the house was nearly filled with young females, +fancifully decorated with flowers, who gazed upon me as I rose with +faces in which childish delight and curiosity were vividly portrayed. +After waking Toby, they seated themselves round us on the mats, and gave +full play to that prying inquisitiveness which time out of mind has been +attributed to the adorable sex. + +As these unsophisticated young creatures were attended by no jealous +duennas, their proceedings were altogether informal, and void of +artificial restraint. Long and minute was the investigation with which +they honoured us, and so uproarious their mirth, that I felt infinitely +sheepish; and Toby was immeasurably outraged at their familiarity. + +These lively young ladies were at the same time wonderfully polite +and humane; fanning aside the insects that occasionally lighted on our +brows; presenting us with food; and compassionately regarding me in the +midst of my afflictions. But in spite of all their blandishments, my +feelings of propriety were exceedingly shocked, for I could but consider +them as having overstepped the due limits of female decorum. + +Having diverted themselves to their hearts' content, our young visitants +now withdrew, and gave place to successive troops of the other sex, who +continued flocking towards the house until near noon; by which time I +have no doubt that the greater part of the inhabitants of the valley had +bathed themselves in the light of our benignant countenances. + +At last, when their numbers began to diminish, a superb-looking warrior +stooped the towering plumes of his head-dress beneath the low portal, +and entered the house. I saw at once that he was some distinguished +personage, the natives regarding him with the utmost deference, and +making room for him as he approached. His aspect was imposing. The +splendid long drooping tail-feathers of the tropical bird, thickly +interspersed with the gaudy plumage of the cock, were disposed in an +immense upright semicircle upon his head, their lower extremities being +fixed in a crescent of guinea-heads which spanned the forehead. Around +his neck were several enormous necklaces of boar's tusks, polished like +ivory, and disposed in such a manner as that the longest and largest +were upon his capacious chest. Thrust forward through the large +apertures in his ears were two small and finely-shaped sperm whale +teeth, presenting their cavities in front, stuffed with freshly-plucked +leaves, and curiously wrought at the other end into strange little +images and devices. These barbaric trinkets, garnished in this manner at +their open extremities, and tapering and curving round to a point behind +the ear, resembled not a little a pair of cornucopias. + +The loins of the warrior were girt about with heavy folds of a +dark-coloured tappa, hanging before and behind in clusters of braided +tassels, while anklets and bracelets of curling human hair completed +his unique costume. In his right hand he grasped a beautifully carved +paddle-spear, nearly fifteen feet in length, made of the bright +koar-wood, one end sharply pointed, and the other flattened like an +oar-blade. Hanging obliquely from his girdle by a loop of sinnate was +a richly decorated pipe; the slender reed forming its stem was coloured +with a red pigment, and round it, as well as the idol-bowl, fluttered +little streamers of the thinnest tappa. + +But that which was most remarkable in the appearance of this splendid +islander was the elaborate tattooing displayed on every noble limb. All +imaginable lines and curves and figures were delineated over his whole +body, and in their grotesque variety and infinite profusion I could only +compare them to the crowded groupings of quaint patterns we sometimes +see in costly pieces of lacework. The most simple and remarkable of all +these ornaments was that which decorated the countenance of the chief. +Two broad stripes of tattooing, diverging from the centre of his shaven +crown, obliquely crossed both eyes--staining the lids--to a little +below each ear, where they united with another stripe which swept in a +straight line along the lips and formed the base of the triangle. +The warrior, from the excellence of his physical proportions, might +certainly have been regarded as one of Nature's noblemen, and the lines +drawn upon his face may possibly have denoted his exalted rank. + +This warlike personage, upon entering the house, seated himself at some +distance from the spot where Toby and myself reposed, while the rest of +the savages looked alternately from us to him, as if in expectation of +something they were disappointed in not perceiving. Regarding the chief +attentively, I thought his lineaments appeared familiar to me. As +soon as his full face was turned upon me, and I again beheld its +extraordinary embellishment, and met the strange gaze to which I had +been subjected the preceding night, I immediately, in spite of the +alteration in his appearance, recognized the noble Mehevi. On addressing +him, he advanced at once in the most cordial manner, and greeting me +warmly, seemed to enjoy not a little the effect his barbaric costume had +produced upon me. + +I forthwith determined to secure, if possible, the good-will of this +individual, as I easily perceived he was a man of great authority in his +tribe, and one who might exert a powerful influence upon our subsequent +fate. In the endeavour I was not repulsed; for nothing could surpass +the friendliness he manifested towards both my companion and myself. +He extended his sturdy limbs by our side, and endeavoured to make +us comprehend the full extent of the kindly feelings by which he was +actuated. The almost insuperable difficulty in communicating to one +another our ideas affected the chief with no little mortification. He +evinced a great desire to be enlightened with regard to the customs and +peculiarities of the far-off country we had left behind us, and to which +under the name of Maneeka he frequently alluded. + +But that which more than any other subject engaged his attention was +the late proceedings of the 'Frannee' as he called the French, in the +neighbouring bay of Nukuheva. This seemed a never-ending theme with him, +and one concerning which he was never weary of interrogating us. All the +information we succeeded in imparting to him on this subject was little +more than that we had seen six men-of-war lying in the hostile bay at +the time we had left it. When he received this intelligence, Mehevi, by +the aid of his fingers, went through a long numerical calculation, as if +estimating the number of Frenchmen the squadron might contain. + +It was just after employing his faculties in this way that he happened +to notice the swelling in my limb. He immediately examined it with the +utmost attention, and after doing so, despatched a boy who happened to +be standing by with some message. + +After the lapse of a few moments the stripling re-entered the house with +an aged islander, who might have been taken for old Hippocrates himself. +His head was as bald as the polished surface of a cocoanut shell, which +article it precisely resembled in smoothness and colour, while a long +silvery beard swept almost to his girdle of bark. Encircling his temples +was a bandeau of the twisted leaves of the Omoo tree, pressed closely +over the brows to shield his feeble vision from the glare of the sun. +His tottering steps were supported by a long slim staff, resembling the +wand with which a theatrical magician appears on the stage, and in +one hand he carried a freshly plaited fan of the green leaflets of the +cocoanut tree. A flowing robe of tappa, knotted over the shoulder, hung +loosely round his stooping form, and heightened the venerableness of his +aspect. + +Mehevi, saluting this old gentleman, motioned him to a seat between us, +and then uncovering my limb, desired him to examine it. The leech +gazed intently from me to Toby, and then proceeded to business. After +diligently observing the ailing member, he commenced manipulating it; +and on the supposition probably that the complaint had deprived the leg +of all sensation, began to pinch and hammer it in such a manner that I +absolutely roared with pain. Thinking that I was as capable of making +an application of thumps and pinches to the part as any one else, I +endeavoured to resist this species of medical treatment. But it was +not so easy a matter to get out of the clutches of the old wizard; he +fastened on the unfortunate limb as if it were something for which he +had been long seeking, and muttering some kind of incantation continued +his discipline, pounding it after a fashion that set me well nigh crazy; +while Mehevi, upon the same principle which prompts an affectionate +mother to hold a struggling child in a dentist's chair, restrained me +in his powerful grasp, and actually encouraged the wretch in this +infliction of torture. + +Almost frantic with rage and pain, I yelled like a bedlamite; while +Toby, throwing himself into all the attitudes of a posture-master, +vainly endeavoured to expostulate with the natives by signs and +gestures. To have looked at my companion, as, sympathizing with my +sufferings, he strove to put an end to them, one would have thought +that he was the deaf and dumb alphabet incarnated. Whether my tormentor +yielded to Toby's entreaties, or paused from sheer exhaustion, I do not +know; but all at once he ceased his operations, and at the same time the +chief relinquishing his hold upon me, I fell back, faint and breathless +with the agony I had endured. + +My unfortunate limb was now left much in the same condition as a +rump-steak after undergoing the castigating process which precedes +cooking. My physician, having recovered from the fatigues of his +exertions, as if anxious to make amends for the pain to which he had +subjected me, now took some herbs out of a little wallet that was +suspended from his waist, and moistening them in water, applied them +to the inflamed part, stooping over it at the same time, and either +whispering a spell, or having a little confidential chat with some +imaginary demon located in the calf of my leg. My limb was now swathed +in leafy bandages, and grateful to Providence for the cessation of +hostilities, I was suffered to rest. + +Mehevi shortly after rose to depart; but before he went he spoke +authoritatively to one of the natives whom he addressed as Kory-Kory; +and from the little I could understand of what took place, pointed +him out to me as a man whose peculiar business thenceforth would be to +attend upon my person. I am not certain that I comprehended as much as +this at the time, but the subsequent conduct of my trusty body-servant +fully assured me that such must have been the case. + +I could not but be amused at the manner in which the chief addressed me +upon this occasion, talking to me for at least fifteen or twenty minutes +as calmly as if I could understand every word that he said. I remarked +this peculiarity very often afterwards in many other of the islanders. + +Mehevi having now departed, and the family physician having likewise +made his exit, we were left about sunset with ten or twelve natives, who +by this time I had ascertained composed the household of which Toby and +I were members. As the dwelling to which we had been first introduced +was the place of my permanent abode while I remained in the valley, +and as I was necessarily placed upon the most intimate footing with its +occupants, I may as well here enter into a little description of it +and its inhabitants. This description will apply also to nearly all the +other dwelling-places in the vale, and will furnish some idea of the +generality of the natives. + +Near one side of the valley, and about midway up the ascent of a rather +abrupt rise of ground waving with the richest verdure, a number of large +stones were laid in successive courses, to the height of nearly +eight feet, and disposed in such a manner that their level surface +corresponded in shape with the habitation which was perched upon it. A +narrow space, however, was reserved in front of the dwelling, upon the +summit of this pile of stones (called by the natives a 'pi-pi'), +which being enclosed by a little picket of canes, gave it somewhat the +appearance of a verandah. The frame of the house was constructed of +large bamboos planted uprightly, and secured together at intervals by +transverse stalks of the light wood of the habiscus, lashed with thongs +of bark. The rear of the tenement--built up with successive ranges of +cocoanut boughs bound one upon another, with their leaflets cunningly +woven together--inclined a little from the vertical, and extended from +the extreme edge of the 'pi-pi' to about twenty feet from its surface; +whence the shelving roof--thatched with the long tapering leaves of the +palmetto--sloped steeply off to within about five feet of the floor; +leaving the eaves drooping with tassel-like appendages over the front +of the habitation. This was constructed of light and elegant canes in a +kind of open screenwork, tastefully adorned with bindings of variegated +sinnate, which served to hold together its various parts. The sides of +the house were similarly built; thus presenting three quarters for the +circulation of the air, while the whole was impervious to the rain. + +In length this picturesque building was perhaps twelve yards, while +in breadth it could not have exceeded as many feet. So much for the +exterior; which, with its wire-like reed-twisted sides, not a little +reminded me of an immense aviary. + +Stooping a little, you passed through a narrow aperture in its front; +and facing you, on entering, lay two long, perfectly straight, and +well-polished trunks of the cocoanut tree, extending the full length of +the dwelling; one of them placed closely against the rear, and the other +lying parallel with it some two yards distant, the interval between +them being spread with a multitude of gaily-worked mats, nearly all of a +different pattern. This space formed the common couch and lounging place +of the natives, answering the purpose of a divan in Oriental countries. +Here would they slumber through the hours of the night, and recline +luxuriously during the greater part of the day. The remainder of the +floor presented only the cool shining surfaces of the large stones of +which the 'pi-pi' was composed. + +From the ridge-pole of the house hung suspended a number of large +packages enveloped in coarse tappa; some of which contained festival +dresses, and various other matters of the wardrobe, held in high +estimation. These were easily accessible by means of a line, which, +passing over the ridge-pole, had one end attached to a bundle, while +with the other, which led to the side of the dwelling and was there +secured, the package could be lowered or elevated at pleasure. + +Against the farther wall of the house were arranged in tasteful figures +a variety of spears and javelins, and other implements of savage +warfare. Outside of the habitation, and built upon the piazza-like area +in its front, was a little shed used as a sort of larder or pantry, and +in which were stored various articles of domestic use and convenience. +A few yards from the pi-pi was a large shed built of cocoanut boughs, +where the process of preparing the 'poee-poee' was carried on, and all +culinary operations attended to. + +Thus much for the house, and its appurtenances; and it will be readily +acknowledged that a more commodious and appropriate dwelling for the +climate and the people could not possibly be devised. It was cool, free +to admit the air, scrupulously clean, and elevated above the dampness +and impurities of the ground. + +But now to sketch the inmates; and here I claim for my tried servitor +and faithful valet Kory-Kory the precedence of a first description. As +his character will be gradually unfolded in the course of my narrative, +I shall for the present content myself with delineating his personal +appearance. Kory-Kory, though the most devoted and best natured +serving-man in the world, was, alas! a hideous object to look upon. He +was some twenty-five years of age, and about six feet in height, robust +and well made, and of the most extraordinary aspect. His head was +carefully shaven with the exception of two circular spots, about the +size of a dollar, near the top of the cranium, where the hair, permitted +to grow of an amazing length, was twisted up in two prominent knots, +that gave him the appearance of being decorated with a pair of horns. +His beard, plucked out by the root from every other part of his face, +was suffered to droop in hairy pendants, two of which garnished his +under lip, and an equal number hung from the extremity of his chin. + +Kory-Kory, with a view of improving the handiwork of nature, and +perhaps prompted by a desire to add to the engaging expression of +his countenance, had seen fit to embellish his face with three broad +longitudinal stripes of tattooing, which, like those country roads that +go straight forward in defiance of all obstacles, crossed his nasal +organ, descended into the hollow of his eyes, and even skirted the +borders of his mouth. Each completely spanned his physiognomy; one +extending in a line with his eyes, another crossing the face in the +vicinity of the nose, and the third sweeping along his lips from ear +to ear. His countenance thus triply hooped, as it were, with tattooing, +always reminded me of those unhappy wretches whom I have sometimes +observed gazing out sentimentally from behind the grated bars of a +prison window; whilst the entire body of my savage valet, covered all +over with representations of birds and fishes, and a variety of most +unaccountable-looking creatures, suggested to me the idea of a pictorial +museum of natural history, or an illustrated copy of 'Goldsmith's +Animated Nature.' + +But it seems really heartless in me to write thus of the poor islander, +when I owe perhaps to his unremitting attentions the very existence I +now enjoy. Kory-Kory, I mean thee no harm in what I say in regard to +thy outward adornings; but they were a little curious to my unaccustomed +sight, and therefore I dilate upon them. But to underrate or forget thy +faithful services is something I could never be guilty of, even in the +giddiest moment of my life. + +The father of my attached follower was a native of gigantic frame, and +had once possessed prodigious physical powers; but the lofty form was +now yielding to the inroads of time, though the hand of disease seemed +never to have been laid upon the aged warrior. Marheyo--for such was +his name--appeared to have retired from all active participation in the +affairs of the valley, seldom or never accompanying the natives in +their various expeditions; and employing the greater part of his time +in throwing up a little shed just outside the house, upon which he was +engaged to my certain knowledge for four months, without appearing +to make any sensible advance. I suppose the old gentleman was in his +dotage, for he manifested in various ways the characteristics which mark +this particular stage of life. + +I remember in particular his having a choice pair of ear-ornaments, +fabricated from the teeth of some sea-monster. These he would +alternately wear and take off at least fifty times in the course of the +day, going and coming from his little hut on each occasion with all the +tranquillity imaginable. Sometimes slipping them through the slits +in his ears, he would seize his spear--which in length and slightness +resembled a fishing-pole--and go stalking beneath the shadows of the +neighbouring groves, as if about to give a hostile meeting to some +cannibal knight. But he would soon return again, and hiding his weapon +under the projecting eaves of the house, and rolling his clumsy trinkets +carefully in a piece of tappa, would resume his more pacific operations +as quietly as if he had never interrupted them. + +But despite his eccentricities, Marheyo was a most paternal and +warm-hearted old fellow, and in this particular not a little resembled +his son Kory-Kory. The mother of the latter was the mistress of the +family, and a notable housewife, and a most industrious old lady she +was. If she did not understand the art of making jellies, jams, custard, +tea-cakes, and such like trashy affairs, she was profoundly skilled in +the mysteries of preparing 'amar', 'poee-poee', and 'kokoo', with other +substantial matters. + +She was a genuine busy-body; bustling about the house like a country +landlady at an unexpected arrival; for ever giving the young girls tasks +to perform, which the little hussies as often neglected; poking into +every corner, and rummaging over bundles of old tappa, or making a +prodigious clatter among the calabashes. Sometimes she might have been +seen squatting upon her haunches in front of a huge wooden basin, and +kneading poee-poee with terrific vehemence, dashing the stone pestle +about as if she would shiver the vessel into fragments; on other +occasions, galloping about the valley in search of a particular kind +of leaf, used in some of her recondite operations, and returning home, +toiling and sweating, with a bundle of it, under which most women would +have sunk. + +To tell the truth, Kory-Kory's mother was the only industrious person +in all the valley of Typee; and she could not have employed herself more +actively had she been left an exceedingly muscular and destitute widow, +with an inordinate ate supply of young children, in the bleakest part +of the civilized world. There was not the slightest necessity for the +greater portion of the labour performed by the old lady: but she seemed +to work from some irresistible impulse; her limbs continually swaying to +and fro, as if there were some indefatigable engine concealed within her +body which kept her in perpetual motion. + +Never suppose that she was a termagant or a shrew for all this; she had +the kindliest heart in the world, and acted towards me in particular +in a truly maternal manner, occasionally putting some little morsel of +choice food into my hand, some outlandish kind of savage sweetmeat or +pastry, like a doting mother petting a sickly urchin with tarts +and sugar plums. Warm indeed are my remembrances of the dear, good, +affectionate old Tinor! + +Besides the individuals I have mentioned, there belonged to the +household three young men, dissipated, good-for-nothing, roystering +blades of savages, who were either employed in prosecuting love affairs +with the maidens of the tribe, or grew boozy on 'arva' and tobacco in +the company of congenial spirits, the scapegraces of the valley. + +Among the permanent inmates of the house were likewise several lovely +damsels, who instead of thrumming pianos and reading novels, like +more enlightened young ladies, substituted for these employments the +manufacture of a fine species of tappa; but for the greater portion of +the time were skipping from house to house, gadding and gossiping with +their acquaintances. + +From the rest of these, however, I must except the beauteous nymph +Fayaway, who was my peculiar favourite. Her free pliant figure was the +very perfection of female grace and beauty. Her complexion was a rich +and mantling olive, and when watching the glow upon her cheeks I could +almost swear that beneath the transparent medium there lurked the +blushes of a faint vermilion. + +The face of this girl was a rounded oval, and each feature as perfectly +formed as the heart or imagination of man could desire. + +Her full lips, when parted with a smile, disclosed teeth of dazzling +whiteness and when her rosy mouth opened with a burst of merriment, they +looked like the milk-white seeds of the 'arta,' a fruit of the valley, +which, when cleft in twain, shows them reposing in rows on each side, +imbedded in the red and juicy pulp. Her hair of the deepest brown, +parted irregularly in the middle, flowed in natural ringlets over her +shoulders, and whenever she chanced to stoop, fell over and hid from +view her lovely bosom. Gazing into the depths of her strange blue +eyes, when she was in a contemplative mood, they seemed most placid yet +unfathomable; but when illuminated by some lively emotion, they beamed +upon the beholder like stars. The hands of Fayaway were as soft and +delicate as those of any countess; for an entire exemption from rude +labour marks the girlhood and even prime of a Typee woman's life. Her +feet, though wholly exposed, were as diminutive and fairly shaped as +those which peep from beneath the skirts of a Lima lady's dress. The +skin of this young creature, from continual ablutions and the use of +mollifying ointments, was inconceivably smooth and soft. + +I may succeed, perhaps, in particularizing some of the individual +features of Fayaway's beauty, but that general loveliness of appearance +which they all contributed to produce I will not attempt to describe. +The easy unstudied graces of a child of nature like this, breathing from +infancy an atmosphere of perpetual summer, and nurtured by the simple +fruits of the earth; enjoying a perfect freedom from care and anxiety, +and removed effectually from all injurious tendencies, strike the eye in +a manner which cannot be pourtrayed. This picture is no fancy sketch; it +is drawn from the most vivid recollections of the person delineated. + +Were I asked if the beauteous form of Fayaway was altogether free from +the hideous blemish of tattooing, I should be constrained to answer that +it was not. But the practitioners of the barbarous art, so remorseless +in their inflictions upon the brawny limbs of the warriors of the tribe, +seem to be conscious that it needs not the resources of their profession +to augment the charms of the maidens of the vale. + +The females are very little embellished in this way, and Fayaway, and +all the other young girls of her age, were even less so than those of +their sex more advanced in years. The reason of this peculiarity will +be alluded to hereafter. All the tattooing that the nymph in question +exhibited upon her person may be easily described. Three minute dots, no +bigger than pin-heads, decorated each lip, and at a little distance were +not at all discernible. Just upon the fall of the shoulder were drawn +two parallel lines half an inch apart, and perhaps three inches in +length, the interval being filled with delicately executed figures. +These narrow bands of tattooing, thus placed, always reminded me of +those stripes of gold lace worn by officers in undress, and which are in +lieu of epaulettes to denote their rank. + +Thus much was Fayaway tattooed. The audacious hand which had gone so far +in its desecrating work stopping short, apparently wanting the heart to +proceed. + +But I have omitted to describe the dress worn by this nymph of the +valley. + +Fayaway--I must avow the fact--for the most part clung to the primitive +and summer garb of Eden. But how becoming the costume! + +It showed her fine figure to the best possible advantage; and nothing +could have been better adapted to her peculiar style of beauty. On +ordinary occasions she was habited precisely as I have described the two +youthful savages whom we had met on first entering the valley. At other +times, when rambling among the groves, or visiting at the houses of her +acquaintances, she wore a tunic of white tappa, reaching from her waist +to a little below the knees; and when exposed for any length of time to +the sun, she invariably protected herself from its rays by a floating +mantle of--the same material, loosely gathered about the person. Her +gala dress will be described hereafter. + +As the beauties of our own land delight in bedecking themselves with +fanciful articles of jewellery, suspending them from their ears, hanging +them about their necks, and clasping them around their wrists; so +Fayaway and her companions were in the habit of ornamenting themselves +with similar appendages. + +Flora was their jeweller. Sometimes they wore necklaces of small +carnation flowers, strung like rubies upon a fibre of tappa, or +displayed in their ears a single white bud, the stem thrust backward +through the aperture, and showing in front the delicate petals folded +together in a beautiful sphere, and looking like a drop of the purest +pearl. Chaplets too, resembling in their arrangement the strawberry +coronal worn by an English peeress, and composed of intertwined leaves +and blossoms, often crowned their temples; and bracelets and anklets +of the same tasteful pattern were frequently to be seen. Indeed, the +maidens of the island were passionately fond of flowers, and never +wearied of decorating their persons with them; a lovely trait in their +character, and one that ere long will be more fully alluded to. + +Though in my eyes, at least, Fayaway was indisputably the loveliest +female I saw in Typee, yet the description I have given of her will in +some measure apply to nearly all the youthful portion of her sex in the +valley. Judge ye then, reader, what beautiful creatures they must have +been. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE + +OFFICIOUSNESS OF KORY-KORY--HIS DEVOTION--A BATH IN THE STREAM--WANT +OF REFINEMENT OF THE TYPEE DAMSELS--STROLL WITH MEHEVI--A TYPEE +HIGHWAY--THE TABOO GROVES--THE HOOLAH HOOLAH GROUND--THE TI--TIMEWORN +SAVAGES--HOSPITALITY OF MEHEVI--MIDNIGHT MUSINGS--ADVENTURES IN THE +DARK--DISTINGUISHED HONOURS PAID TO THE VISITORS--STRANGE PROCESSION AND +RETURN TO THE HOUSE OF MARHEYO + +WHEN Mehevi had departed from the house, as related in the preceding +chapter, Kory-Kory commenced the functions of the post assigned him. +He brought out, various kinds of food; and, as if I were an infant, +insisted upon feeding me with his own hands. To this procedure I, of +course, most earnestly objected, but in vain; and having laid a calabash +of kokoo before me, he washed his fingers in a vessel of water, and then +putting his hands into the dish and rolling the food into little balls, +put them one after another into my mouth. All my remonstrances against +this measure only provoked so great a clamour on his part, that I +was obliged to acquiesce; and the operation of feeding being thus +facilitated, the meal was quickly despatched. As for Toby, he was +allowed to help himself after his own fashion. + +The repast over, my attendant arranged the mats for repose, and, bidding +me lie down, covered me with a large robe of tappa, at the same time +looking approvingly upon me, and exclaiming 'Ki-Ki, nuee nuee, ah! moee +moee motarkee' (eat plenty, ah! sleep very good). The philosophy of +this sentiment I did not pretend to question; for deprived of sleep for +several preceding nights, and the pain of my limb having much abated, I +now felt inclined to avail myself of the opportunity afforded me. + +The next morning, on waking, I found Kory-Kory stretched out on one side +of me, while my companion lay upon the other. I felt sensibly refreshed +after a night of sound repose, and immediately agreed to the proposition +of my valet that I should repair to the water and wash, although +dreading the suffering that the exertion might produce. From this +apprehension, however, I was quickly relieved; for Kory-Kory, leaping +from the pi-pi, and then backing himself up against it, like a porter +in readiness to shoulder a trunk, with loud vociferations and a +superabundance of gestures, gave me to understand that I was to mount +upon his back and be thus transported to the stream, which flowed +perhaps two hundred yards from the house. + +Our appearance upon the verandah in front of the habitation drew +together quite a crowd, who stood looking on and conversing with one +another in the most animated manner. They reminded one of a group of +idlers gathered about the door of a village tavern when the equipage +of some distinguished traveller is brought round previously to his +departure. As soon as I clasped my arms about the neck of the devoted +fellow, and he jogged off with me, the crowd--composed chiefly of young +girls and boys--followed after, shouting and capering with infinite +glee, and accompanied us to the banks of the stream. + +On gaining it, Kory-Kory, wading up to his hips in the water, carried me +half way across, and deposited me on a smooth black stone which rose a +few inches above the surface. The amphibious rabble at our heels plunged +in after us, and climbing to the summit of the grass-grown rocks with +which the bed of the brook was here and there broken, waited curiously +to witness our morning ablutions. + +Somewhat embarrassed by the presence of the female portion of the +company, and feeling my cheeks burning with bashful timidity, I formed +a primitive basin by joining my hands together, and cooled my blushes +in the water it contained; then removing my frock, bent over and washed +myself down to my waist in the stream. As soon as Kory-Kory comprehended +from my motions that this was to be the extent of my performance, he +appeared perfectly aghast with astonishment, and rushing towards me, +poured out a torrent of words in eager deprecation of so limited an +operation, enjoining me by unmistakable signs to immerse my whole body. +To this I was forced to consent; and the honest fellow regarding me as a +froward, inexperienced child, whom it was his duty to serve at the risk +of offending, lifted me from the rocks, and tenderly bathed my limbs. +This over, and resuming my seat, I could not avoid bursting into +admiration of the scene around me. + +From the verdant surfaces of the large stones that lay scattered about, +the natives were now sliding off into the water, diving and ducking +beneath the surface in all directions--the young girls springing +buoyantly into the air, and revealing their naked forms to the waist, +with their long tresses dancing about their shoulders, their eyes +sparkling like drops of dew in the sun, and their gay laughter pealing +forth at every frolicsome incident. On the afternoon of the day that I +took my first bath in the valley, we received another visit from Mehevi. +The noble savage seemed to be in the same pleasant mood, and was quite +as cordial in his manner as before. After remaining about an hour, he +rose from the mats, and motioning to leave the house, invited Toby and +myself to accompany him. I pointed to my leg; but Mehevi in his turn +pointed to Kory-Kory, and removed that objection; so, mounting upon the +faithful fellow's shoulders again--like the old man of the sea astride +of Sindbad--I followed after the chief. + +The nature of the route we now pursued struck me more forcibly than +anything I had yet seen, as illustrating the indolent disposition of +the islanders. The path was obviously the most beaten one in the +valley, several others leading from each side into it, and perhaps for +successive generations it had formed the principal avenue of the place. +And yet, until I grew more familiar with its impediments, it seemed as +difficult to travel as the recesses of a wilderness. Part of it swept +around an abrupt rise of ground, the surface of which was broken by +frequent inequalities, and thickly strewn with projecting masses of +rocks, whose summits were often hidden from view by the drooping foliage +of the luxurious vegetation. Sometimes directly over, sometimes evading +these obstacles with a wide circuit, the path wound along;--one moment +climbing over a sudden eminence smooth with continued wear, then +descending on the other side into a steep glen, and crossing the flinty +channel of a brook. Here it pursued the depths of a glade, occasionally +obliging you to stoop beneath vast horizontal branches; and now you +stepped over huge trunks and boughs that lay rotting across the track. + +Such was the grand thoroughfare of Typee. After proceeding a little +distance along it--Kory-Kory panting and blowing with the weight of +his burden--I dismounted from his back, and grasping the long spear of +Mehevi in my hand, assisted my steps over the numerous obstacles of +the road; preferring this mode of advance to one which, from the +difficulties of the way, was equally painful to myself and my wearied +servitor. + +Our journey was soon at an end; for, scaling a sudden height, we came +abruptly upon the place of our destination. I wish that it were possible +to sketch in words this spot as vividly as I recollect it. + +Here were situated the Taboo groves of the valley--the scene of many a +prolonged feast, of many a horrid rite. Beneath the dark shadows of +the consecrated bread-fruit trees there reigned a solemn twilight--a +cathedral-like gloom. The frightful genius of pagan worship seemed to +brood in silence over the place, breathing its spell upon every object +around. Here and there, in the depths of these awful shades, half +screened from sight by masses of overhanging foliage, rose the +idolatrous altars of the savages, built of enormous blocks of black and +polished stone, placed one upon another, without cement, to the height +of twelve or fifteen feet, and surmounted by a rustic open temple, +enclosed with a low picket of canes, within which might be seen, in +various stages of decay, offerings of bread-fruit and cocoanuts, and the +putrefying relics of some recent sacrifice. + +In the midst of the wood was the hallowed 'Hoolah Hoolah' ground--set +apart for the celebration of the fantastical religious ritual of these +people--comprising an extensive oblong pi-pi, terminating at either end +in a lofty terraced altar, guarded by ranks of hideous wooden idols, and +with the two remaining sides flanked by ranges of bamboo sheds, opening +towards the interior of the quadrangle thus formed. Vast trees, standing +in the middle of this space, and throwing over it an umbrageous shade, +had their massive trunks built round with slight stages, elevated a few +feet above the ground, and railed in with canes, forming so many rustic +pulpits, from which the priests harangued their devotees. + +This holiest of spots was defended from profanation by the strictest +edicts of the all-pervading 'taboo', which condemned to instant death +the sacrilegious female who should enter or touch its sacred precincts, +or even so much as press with her feet the ground made holy by the +shadows that it cast. + +Access was had to the enclosure through an embowered entrance, on one +side, facing a number of towering cocoanut trees, planted at intervals +along a level area of a hundred yards. At the further extremity of this +space was to be seen a building of considerable size, reserved for the +habitation of the priests and religious attendants of the groves. + +In its vicinity was another remarkable edifice, built as usual upon the +summit of a pi-pi, and at least two hundred feet in length, though not +more than twenty in breadth. The whole front of this latter structure +was completely open, and from one end to the other ran a narrow +verandah, fenced in on the edge of the pi-pi with a picket of canes. +Its interior presented the appearance of an immense lounging place, the +entire floor being strewn with successive layers of mats, lying between +parallel trunks of cocoanut trees, selected for the purpose from the +straightest and most symmetrical the vale afforded. + +To this building, denominated in the language of the natives the 'Ti', +Mehevi now conducted us. Thus far we had been accompanied by a troop of +the natives of both sexes; but as soon as we approached its vicinity, +the females gradually separated themselves from the crowd, and standing +aloof, permitted us to pass on. The merciless prohibitions of the +taboo extended likewise to this edifice, and were enforced by the +same dreadful penalty that secured the Hoolah-Hoolah ground from the +imaginary pollution of a woman's presence. + +On entering the house, I was surprised to see six muskets ranged against +the bamboo on one side, from the barrels of which depended as many small +canvas pouches, partly filled with powder. + +Disposed about these muskets, like the cutlasses that decorate the +bulkhead of a man-of-war's cabin, were a great variety of rude spears +and paddles, javelins, and war-clubs. This then, said I to Toby, must be +the armoury of the tribe. + +As we advanced further along the building, we were struck with the +aspect of four or five hideous old wretches, on whose decrepit forms +time and tattooing seemed to have obliterated every trace of humanity. +Owing to the continued operation of this latter process, which only +terminates among the warriors of the island after all the figures +stretched upon their limbs in youth have been blended together--an +effect, however, produced only in cases of extreme longevity--the bodies +of these men were of a uniform dull green colour--the hue which the +tattooing gradually assumes as the individual advances in age. Their +skin had a frightful scaly appearance, which, united with its singular +colour, made their limbs not a little resemble dusty specimens of +verde-antique. Their flesh, in parts, hung upon them in huge folds, like +the overlapping plaits on the flank of a rhinoceros. Their heads were +completely bald, whilst their faces were puckered into a thousand +wrinkles, and they presented no vestige of a beard. But the most +remarkable peculiarity about them was the appearance of their feet; +the toes, like the radiating lines of the mariner's compass, pointed +to every quarter of the horizon. This was doubtless attributable to +the fact, that during nearly a hundred years of existence the said toes +never had been subjected to any artificial confinement, and in their +old age, being averse to close neighbourhood, bid one another keep open +order. + +These repulsive-looking creatures appeared to have lost the use of their +lower limbs altogether; sitting upon the floor cross-legged in a state +of torpor. They never heeded us in the least, scarcely looking conscious +of our presence, while Mehevi seated us upon the mats, and Kory-Kory +gave utterance to some unintelligible gibberish. + +In a few moments a boy entered with a wooden trencher of poee-poee; and +in regaling myself with its contents I was obliged again to submit to +the officious intervention of my indefatigable servitor. Various other +dishes followed, the chief manifesting the most hospitable importunity +in pressing us to partake, and to remove all bashfulness on our part, +set us no despicable example in his own person. + +The repast concluded, a pipe was lighted, which passed from mouth to +mouth, and yielding to its soporific influence, the quiet of the place, +and the deepening shadows of approaching night, my companion and I sank +into a kind of drowsy repose, while the chief and Kory-Kory seemed to be +slumbering beside us. + +I awoke from an uneasy nap, about midnight, as I supposed; and, raising +myself partly from the mat, became sensible that we were enveloped +in utter darkness. Toby lay still asleep, but our late companions had +disappeared. The only sound that interrupted the silence of the place +was the asthmatic breathing of the old men I have mentioned, who reposed +at a little distance from us. Besides them, as well as I could judge, +there was no one else in the house. + +Apprehensive of some evil, I roused my comrade, and we were engaged in a +whispered conference concerning the unexpected withdrawal of the natives +when all at once, from the depths of the grove, in full view of us +where we lay, shoots of flame were seen to rise, and in a few moments +illuminated the surrounding trees, casting, by contrast, into still +deeper gloom the darkness around us. + +While we continued gazing at this sight, dark figures appeared moving +to and fro before the flames; while others, dancing and capering about, +looked like so many demons. + +Regarding this new phenomenon with no small degree of trepidation, I +said to my companion, 'What can all this mean, Toby?' + +'Oh, nothing,' replied he; 'getting the fire ready, I suppose.' + +'Fire!' exclaimed I, while my heart took to beating like a trip-hammer, +'what fire?' + +'Why, the fire to cook us, to be sure, what else would the cannibals be +kicking up such a row about if it were not for that?' + +'Oh, Toby! have done with your jokes; this is no time for them; +something is about to happen, I feel confident.' + +'Jokes, indeed?' exclaimed Toby indignantly. 'Did you ever hear me joke? +Why, for what do you suppose the devils have been feeding us up in this +kind of style during the last three days, unless it were for something +that you are too much frightened at to talk about? Look at that +Kory-Kory there!--has he not been stuffing you with his confounded +mushes, just in the way they treat swine before they kill them? Depend +upon it, we will be eaten this blessed night, and there is the fire we +shall be roasted by.' + +This view of the matter was not at all calculated to allay my +apprehensions, and I shuddered when I reflected that we were indeed at +the mercy of a tribe of cannibals, and that the dreadful contingency +to which Toby had alluded was by no means removed beyond the bounds of +possibility. + +'There! I told you so! they are coming for us!' exclaimed my companion +the next moment, as the forms of four of the islanders were seen in +bold relief against the illuminated back-ground mounting the pi-pi and +approaching towards us. + +They came on noiselessly, nay stealthily, and glided along through the +gloom that surrounded us as if about to spring upon some object they +were fearful of disturbing before they should make sure of it.--Gracious +heaven! the horrible reflections which crowded upon me that moment.--A +cold sweat stood upon my brow, and spell-bound with terror I awaited my +fate! + +Suddenly the silence was broken by the well-remembered tones of Mehevi, +and at the kindly accents of his voice my fears were immediately +dissipated. 'Tommo, Toby, ki ki!' (eat). He had waited to address us, +until he had assured himself that we were both awake, at which he seemed +somewhat surprised. + +'Ki ki! is it?' said Toby in his gruff tones; 'Well, cook us first, will +you--but what's this?' he added, as another savage appeared, bearing +before him a large trencher of wood containing some kind of steaming +meat, as appeared from the odours it diffused, and which he deposited at +the feet of Mehevi. 'A baked baby, I dare say I but I will have none +of it, never mind what it is.--A pretty fool I should make of myself, +indeed, waked up here in the middle of the night, stuffing and guzzling, +and all to make a fat meal for a parcel of booby-minded cannibals one +of these mornings!--No, I see what they are at very plainly, so I am +resolved to starve myself into a bunch of bones and gristle, and then, +if they serve me up, they are welcome! But I say, Tommo, you are not +going to eat any of that mess there, in the dark, are you? Why, how can +you tell what it is?' + +'By tasting it, to be sure,' said I, masticating a morsel that Kory-Kory +had just put in my mouth, 'and excellently good it is, too, very much +like veal.' + +'A baked baby, by the soul of Captain Cook!' burst forth Toby, with +amazing vehemence; 'Veal? why there never was a calf on the island +till you landed. I tell you you are bolting down mouthfuls from a dead +Happar's carcass, as sure as you live, and no mistake!' + +Emetics and lukewarm water! What a sensation in the abdominal region! +Sure enough, where could the fiends incarnate have obtained meat? But I +resolved to satisfy myself at all hazards; and turning to Mehevi, I soon +made the ready chief understand that I wished a light to be brought. +When the taper came, I gazed eagerly into the vessel, and recognized the +mutilated remains of a juvenile porker! 'Puarkee!' exclaimed Kory-Kory, +looking complacently at the dish; and from that day to this I have never +forgotten that such is the designation of a pig in the Typee lingo. + +The next morning, after being again abundantly feasted by the hospitable +Mehevi, Toby and myself arose to depart. But the chief requested us to +postpone our intention. 'Abo, abo' (Wait, wait), he said and accordingly +we resumed our seats, while, assisted by the zealous Kory-Kory, he +appeared to be engaged in giving directions to a number of the natives +outside, who were busily employed in making arrangements, the nature +of which we could not comprehend. But we were not left long in our +ignorance, for a few moments only had elapsed, when the chief beckoned +us to approach, and we perceived that he had been marshalling a kind of +guard of honour to escort us on our return to the house of Marheyo. + +The procession was led off by two venerable-looking savages, each +provided with a spear, from the end of which streamed a pennon of +milk-white tappa. After them went several youths, bearing aloft +calabashes of poee-poee, and followed in their turn by four stalwart +fellows, sustaining long bamboos, from the tops of which hung +suspended, at least twenty feet from the ground, large baskets of +green bread-fruits. Then came a troop of boys, carrying bunches of ripe +bananas, and baskets made of the woven leaflets of cocoanut boughs, +filled with the young fruit of the tree, the naked shells stripped of +their husks peeping forth from the verdant wicker-work that surrounded +them. Last of all came a burly islander, holding over his head a wooden +trencher, in which lay disposed the remnants of our midnight feast, +hidden from view, however, by a covering of bread-fruit leaves. + +Astonished as I was at this exhibition, I could not avoid smiling at +its grotesque appearance, and the associations it naturally called +up. Mehevi, it seemed, was bent on replenishing old Marheyo's larder, +fearful perhaps that without this precaution his guests might not fare +as well as they could desire. + +As soon as I descended from the pi-pi, the procession formed anew, +enclosing us in its centre; where I remained part of the time, carried +by Kory-Kory, and occasionally relieving him from his burden by limping +along with spear. When we moved off in this order, the natives struck +up a musical recitative, which with various alternations, they continued +until we arrived at the place of our destination. + +As we proceeded on our way, bands of young girls, darting from the +surrounding groves, hung upon our skirts, and accompanied us with shouts +of merriment and delight, which almost drowned the deep notes of the +recitative. On approaching old Marheyo's domicile, its inmates rushed +out to receive us; and while the gifts of Mehevi were being disposed of, +the superannuated warrior did the honours of his mansion with all the +warmth of hospitality evinced by an English squire when he regales his +friends at some fine old patrimonial mansion. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN + +ATTEMPT TO PROCURE RELIEF FROM NUKUHEVA--PERILOUS ADVENTURE OF TOBY IN +THE HAPPAR MOUNTAINS--ELOQUENCE OF KORY-KORY + +AMIDST these novel scenes a week passed away almost imperceptibly. The +natives, actuated by some mysterious impulse, day after day redoubled +their attentions to us. Their manner towards us was unaccountable. +Surely, thought I, they would not act thus if they meant us any harm. +But why this excess of deferential kindness, or what equivalent can they +imagine us capable of rendering them for it? + +We were fairly puzzled. But despite the apprehensions I could not +dispel, the horrible character imputed to these Typees appeared to be +wholly undeserved. + +'Why, they are cannibals!' said Toby on one occasion when I eulogized +the tribe. 'Granted,' I replied, 'but a more humane, gentlemanly and +amiable set of epicures do not probably exist in the Pacific.' + +But, notwithstanding the kind treatment we received, I was too familiar +with the fickle disposition of savages not to feel anxious to withdraw +from the valley, and put myself beyond the reach of that fearful death +which, under all these smiling appearances, might yet menace us. But +here there was an obstacle in the way of doing so. It was idle for me +to think of moving from the place until I should have recovered from the +severe lameness that afflicted me; indeed my malady began seriously to +alarm me; for, despite the herbal remedies of the natives, it continued +to grow worse and worse. Their mild applications, though they soothed +the pain, did not remove the disorder, and I felt convinced that without +better aid I might anticipate long and acute suffering. + +But how was this aid to be procured? From the surgeons of the French +fleet, which probably still lay in the bay of Nukuheva, it might easily +have been obtained, could I have made my case known to them. But how +could that be effected? + +At last, in the exigency to which I was reduced, I proposed to Toby that +he should endeavour to go round to Nukuheva, and if he could not +succeed in returning to the valley by water, in one of the boats of the +squadron, and taking me off, he might at least procure me some proper +medicines, and effect his return overland. + +My companion listened to me in silence, and at first did not appear to +relish the idea. The truth was, he felt impatient to escape from the +place, and wished to avail himself of our present high favour with +the natives to make good our retreat, before we should experience some +sudden alteration in their behaviour. As he could not think of leaving +me in my helpless condition, he implored me to be of good cheer; assured +me that I should soon be better, and enabled in a few days to return +with him to Nukuheva. + +Added to this, he could not bear the idea of again returning to this +dangerous place; and as for the expectation of persuading the Frenchmen +to detach a boat's crew for the purpose of rescuing me from the Typees, +he looked upon it as idle; and with arguments that I could not answer, +urged the improbability of their provoking the hostilities of the clan +by any such measure; especially, as for the purpose of quieting its +apprehensions, they had as yet refrained from making any visit to the +bay. 'And even should they consent,' said Toby, 'they would only produce +a commotion in the valley, in which we might both be sacrificed by these +ferocious islanders.' This was unanswerable; but still I clung to the +belief that he might succeed in accomplishing the other part of my plan; +and at last I overcame his scruples, and he agreed to make the attempt. + +As soon as we succeeded in making the natives understand our intention, +they broke out into the most vehement opposition to the measure, and +for a while I almost despaired of obtaining their consent. At the bare +thought of one of us leaving them, they manifested the most lively +concern. The grief and consternation of Kory-Kory, in particular, was +unbounded; he threw himself into a perfect paroxysm of gestures which +were intended to convey to us not only his abhorrence of Nukuheva +and its uncivilized inhabitants, but also his astonishment that after +becoming acquainted with the enlightened Typees, we should evince the +least desire to withdraw, even for a time, from their agreeable society. + +However, I overbore his objections by appealing to my lameness; from +which I assured the natives I should speedily recover if Toby were +permitted to obtain the supplies I needed. + +It was agreed that on the following morning my companion should depart, +accompanied by some one or two of the household, who should point out to +him an easy route, by which the bay might be reached before sunset. + +At early dawn of the next day, our habitation was astir. One of the +young men mounted into an adjoining cocoanut tree, and threw down a +number of the young fruit, which old Marheyo quickly stripped of the +green husks, and strung together upon a short pole. These were intended +to refresh Toby on his route. + +The preparations being completed, with no little emotion I bade my +companion adieu. He promised to return in three days at farthest; and, +bidding me keep up my spirits in the interval, turned round the corner +of the pi-pi, and, under the guidance of the venerable Marheyo, was +soon out of sight. His departure oppressed me with melancholy, and, +re-entering the dwelling, I threw myself almost in despair upon the +matting of the floor. + +In two hours' time the old warrior returned, and gave me to understand +that after accompanying my companion a little distance, and showing him +the route, he had left him journeying on his way. + +It was about noon of this same day, a season which these people are wont +to pass in sleep, that I lay in the house, surrounded by its slumbering +inmates, and painfully affected by the strange silence which prevailed. +All at once I thought I heard a faint shout, as if proceeding from +some persons in the depth of the grove which extended in front of our +habitation. + +The sounds grew louder and nearer, and gradually the whole valley rang +with wild outcries. The sleepers around me started to their feet in +alarm, and hurried outside to discover the cause of the commotion. +Kory-Kory, who had been the first to spring up, soon returned almost +breathless, and nearly frantic with the excitement under which he seemed +to be labouring. All that I could understand from him was that some +accident had happened to Toby. Apprehensive of some dreadful calamity, +I rushed out of the house, and caught sight of a tumultuous crowd, who, +with shrieks and lamentations, were just emerging from the grove +bearing in their arms some object, the sight of which produced all this +transport of sorrow. As they drew near, the men redoubled their +cries, while the girls, tossing their bare arms in the air, exclaimed +plaintively, 'Awha! awha! Toby mukee moee!'--Alas! alas! Toby is killed! + +In a moment the crowd opened, and disclosed the apparently lifeless body +of my companion home between two men, the head hanging heavily against +the breast of the foremost. The whole face, neck, back, and bosom were +covered with blood, which still trickled slowly from a wound behind the +temple. In the midst of the greatest uproar and confusion the body was +carried into the house and laid on a mat. Waving the natives off to give +room and air, I bent eagerly over Toby, and, laying my hand upon the +breast, ascertained that the heart still beat. Overjoyed at this, I +seized a calabash of water, and dashed its contents upon his face, then +wiping away the blood, anxiously examined the wound. It was about three +inches long, and on removing the clotted hair from about it, showed the +skull laid completely bare. Immediately with my knife I cut away the +heavy locks, and bathed the part repeatedly in water. + +In a few moments Toby revived, and opening his eyes for a second--closed +them again without speaking. Kory-Kory, who had been kneeling beside me, +now chafed his limbs gently with the palms of his hands, while a young +girl at his head kept fanning him, and I still continued to moisten his +lips and brow. Soon my poor comrade showed signs of animation, and I +succeeded in making him swallow from a cocoanut shell a few mouthfuls of +water. + +Old Tinor now appeared, holding in her hand some simples she had +gathered, the juice of which she by signs besought me to squeeze into +the wound. Having done so, I thought it best to leave Toby undisturbed +until he should have had time to rally his faculties. Several times he +opened his lips, but fearful for his safety I enjoined silence. In the +course of two or three hours, however, he sat up, and was sufficiently +recovered to tell me what had occurred. + +'After leaving the house with Marheyo,' said Toby, 'we struck across the +valley, and ascended the opposite heights. Just beyond them, my guide +informed me, lay the valley of Happar, while along their summits, and +skirting the head of the vale, was my route to Nukuheva. After mounting +a little way up the elevation my guide paused, and gave me to understand +that he could not accompany me any farther, and by various signs +intimated that he was afraid to approach any nearer the territories of +the enemies of his tribe. He however pointed out my path, which now +lay clearly before me, and bidding me farewell, hastily descended the +mountain. + +'Quite elated at being so near the Happars, I pushed up the acclivity, +and soon gained its summit. It tapered to a sharp ridge, from whence +I beheld both the hostile valleys. Here I sat down and rested for a +moment, refreshing myself with my cocoanuts. I was soon again pursuing +my way along the height, when suddenly I saw three of the islanders, who +must have just come out of Happar valley, standing in the path ahead of +me. They were each armed with a heavy spear, and one from his appearance +I took to be a chief. They sung out something, I could not understand +what, and beckoned me to come on. + +'Without the least hesitation I advanced towards them, and had +approached within about a yard of the foremost, when, pointing angrily +into the Typee valley, and uttering some savage exclamation, he wheeled +round his weapon like lightning, and struck me in a moment to the +ground. The blow inflicted this wound, and took away my senses. As soon +as I came to myself, I perceived the three islanders standing a little +distance off, and apparently engaged in some violent altercation +respecting me. + +'My first impulse was to run for it; but, in endeavouring to rise, I +fell back, and rolled down a little grassy precipice. The shock seemed +to rally my faculties; so, starting to my feet, I fled down the path I +had just ascended. I had no need to look behind me, for, from the yells +I heard, I knew that my enemies were in full pursuit. Urged on by their +fearful outcries, and heedless of the injury I had received--though +the blood flowing from the wound trickled over into my eyes and almost +blinded me--I rushed down the mountain side with the speed of the wind. +In a short time I had descended nearly a third of the distance, and the +savages had ceased their cries, when suddenly a terrific howl burst upon +my ear, and at the same moment a heavy javelin darted past me as I fled, +and stuck quivering in a tree close to me. Another yell followed, and +a second spear and a third shot through the air within a few feet of my +body, both of them piercing the ground obliquely in advance of me. The +fellows gave a roar of rage and disappointment; but they were afraid, I +suppose, of coming down further into the Typee valley, and so abandoned +the chase. I saw them recover their weapons and turn back; and I +continued my descent as fast as I could. + +'What could have caused this ferocious attack on the part of these +Happars I could not imagine, unless it were that they had seen me +ascending the mountain with Marheyo, and that the mere fact of coming +from the Typee valley was sufficient to provoke them. + +'As long as I was in danger I scarcely felt the wound I had received; +but when the chase was over I began to suffer from it. I had lost my +hat in the flight, and the run scorched my bare head. I felt faint +and giddy; but, fearful of falling to the ground beyond the reach of +assistance, I staggered on as well as I could, and at last gained the +level of the valley, and then down I sank; and I knew nothing more until +I found myself lying upon these mats, and you stooping over me with the +calabash of water.' + +Such was Toby's account of this sad affair. I afterwards learned that, +fortunately, he had fallen close to a spot where the natives go for +fuel. A party of them caught sight of him as he fell, and sounding +the alarm, had lifted him up; and after ineffectually endeavouring to +restore him at the brook, had hurried forward with him to the house. + +This incident threw a dark cloud over our prospects. It reminded us that +we were hemmed in by hostile tribes, whose territories we could not hope +to pass, on our route to Nukuheva, without encountering the effects of +their savage resentment. There appeared to be no avenue opened to our +escape but the sea, which washed the lower extremities of the vale. + +Our Typee friends availed themselves of the recent disaster of Toby to +exhort us to a due appreciation of the blessings we enjoyed among them, +contrasting their own generous reception of us with the animosity of +their neighbours. They likewise dwelt upon the cannibal propensities of +the Happars, a subject which they were perfectly aware could not fail +to alarm us; while at the same time they earnestly disclaimed all +participation in so horrid a custom. Nor did they omit to call upon +us to admire the natural loveliness of their own abode, and the lavish +abundance with which it produced all manner of luxuriant fruits; +exalting it in this particular above any of the surrounding valleys. + +Kory-Kory seemed to experience so heartfelt a desire to infuse into our +minds proper views on these subjects, that, assisted in his endeavours +by the little knowledge of the language we had acquired, he actually +made us comprehend a considerable part of what he said. To facilitate +our correct apprehension of his meaning, he at first condensed his ideas +into the smallest possible compass. + +'Happar keekeeno nuee,' he exclaimed, 'nuee, nuee, ki ki +kannaka!--ah! owle motarkee!' which signifies, 'Terrible fellows those +Happars!--devour an amazing quantity of men!--ah, shocking bad!' +Thus far he explained himself by a variety of gestures, during +the performance of which he would dart out of the house, and point +abhorrently towards the Happar valley; running in to us again with +a rapidity that showed he was fearful he would lose one part of +his meaning before he could complete the other; and continuing his +illustrations by seizing the fleshy part of my arm in his teeth, +intimating by the operation that the people who lived over in that +direction would like nothing better than to treat me in that manner. + +Having assured himself that we were fully enlightened on this point, he +proceeded to another branch of his subject. 'Ah! Typee mortakee!--nuee, +nuee mioree--nuee, nuee wai--nuee, nuee poee-poee--nuee, nuee kokoo--ah! +nuee, nuee kiki--ah! nuee, nuee, nuee!' Which literally interpreted +as before, would imply, 'Ah, Typee! isn't it a fine place though!--no +danger of starving here, I tell you!--plenty of bread-fruit--plenty of +water--plenty of pudding--ah! plenty of everything! ah! heaps, heaps +heaps!' All this was accompanied by a running commentary of signs and +gestures which it was impossible not to comprehend. + +As he continued his harangue, however, Kory-Kory, in emulation of our +more polished orators, began to launch out rather diffusely into other +branches of his subject, enlarging probably upon the moral reflections +it suggested; and proceeded in such a strain of unintelligible and +stunning gibberish, that he actually gave me the headache for the rest +of the day. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN + +A GREAT EVENT HAPPENS IN THE VALLEY--THE ISLAND TELEGRAPH--SOMETHING +BEFALLS TOBY--FAYAWAY DISPLAYS A TENDER HEART--MELANCHOLY +REFLECTIONS--MYSTERIOUS CONDUCT OF THE ISLANDERS--DEVOTION OF +KORY-KORY--A RURAL COUCH--A LUXURY--KORY-KORY STRIKES A LIGHT A LA TYPEE + +IN the course of a few days Toby had recovered from the effects of +his adventure with the Happar warriors; the wound on his head rapidly +healing under the vegetable treatment of the good Tinor. Less fortunate +than my companion however, I still continued to languish under a +complaint, the origin and nature of which were still a mystery. Cut off +as I was from all intercourse with the civilized world, and feeling the +inefficacy of anything the natives could do to relieve me; knowing, +too, that so long as I remained in my present condition, it would +be impossible for me to leave the valley, whatever opportunity might +present itself; and apprehensive that ere long we might be exposed to +some caprice on the part of the islanders, I now gave up all hopes +of recovery, and became a prey to the most gloomy thoughts. A deep +dejection fell upon me, which neither the friendly remonstrances of +my companion, the devoted attentions of Kory-Kory nor all the soothing +influences of Fayaway could remove. + +One morning as I lay on the mats in the house, plunged in melancholy +reverie, and regardless of everything around me, Toby, who had left me +about an hour, returned in haste, and with great glee told me to cheer +up and be of good heart; for he believed, from what was going on among +the natives, that there were boats approaching the bay. + +These tidings operated upon me like magic. The hour of our deliverance +was at hand, and starting up, I was soon convinced that something +unusual was about to occur. The word 'botee! botee!' was vociferated in +all directions; and shouts were heard in the distance, at first +feebly and faintly; but growing louder and nearer at each successive +repetition, until they were caught up by a fellow in a cocoanut tree a +few yards off, who sounding them in turn, they were reiterated from a +neighbouring grove, and so died away gradually from point to point, as +the intelligence penetrated into the farthest recess of the valley. This +was the vocal telegraph of the islanders; by means of which condensed +items of information could be carried in a very few minutes from the +sea to their remotest habitation, a distance of at least eight or nine +miles. On the present occasion it was in active operation; one piece of +information following another with inconceivable rapidity. + +The greatest commotion now appeared to prevail. At every fresh item of +intelligence the natives betrayed the liveliest interest, and redoubled +the energy with which they employed themselves in collecting fruit to +sell to the expected visitors. Some were tearing off the husks from +cocoanuts; some perched in the trees were throwing down bread-fruit +to their companions, who gathered them into heaps as they fell; while +others were plying their fingers rapidly in weaving leafen baskets in +which to carry the fruit. + +There were other matters too going on at the same time. Here you would +see a stout warrior polishing his spear with a bit of old tappa, or +adjusting the folds of the girdle about his waist; and there you might +descry a young damsel decorating herself with flowers, as if having +in her eye some maidenly conquest; while, as in all cases of hurry +and confusion in every part of the world, a number of individuals kept +hurrying to and fro, with amazing vigour and perseverance, doing nothing +themselves, and hindering others. + +Never before had we seen the islanders in such a state of bustle and +excitement; and the scene furnished abundant evidence of the fact--that +it was only at long intervals any such events occur. + +When I thought of the length of time that might intervene before a +similar chance of escape would be presented, I bitterly lamented that +I had not the power of availing myself effectually of the present +opportunity. + +From all that we could gather, it appeared that the natives were fearful +of arriving too late upon the beach, unless they made extraordinary +exertions. Sick and lame as I was, I would have started with Toby at +once, had not Kory-Kory not only refused to carry me, but manifested +the most invincible repugnance to our leaving the neighbourhood of the +house. The rest of the savages were equally opposed to our wishes, and +seemed grieved and astonished at the earnestness of my solicitations. +I clearly perceived that while my attendant avoided all appearance of +constraining my movements, he was nevertheless determined to thwart my +wishes. He seemed to me on this particular occasion, as well as often +afterwards, to be executing the orders of some other person with regard +to me, though at the same time feeling towards me the most lively +affection. + +Toby, who had made up his mind to accompany the islanders if possible, +as soon as they were in readiness to depart, and who for that reason had +refrained from showing the same anxiety that I had done, now represented +to me that it was idle for me to entertain the hope of reaching the +beach in time to profit by any opportunity that might then be presented. + +'Do you not see,' said he, 'the savages themselves are fearful of being +too late, and I should hurry forward myself at once did I not think that +if I showed too much eagerness I should destroy all our hopes of reaping +any benefit from this fortunate event. If you will only endeavour to +appear tranquil or unconcerned, you will quiet their suspicions, and I +have no doubt they will then let me go with them to the beach, supposing +that I merely go out of curiosity. Should I succeed in getting down to +the boats, I will make known the condition in which I have left you, and +measures may then be taken to secure our escape.' + +In the expediency of this I could not but acquiesce; and as the natives +had now completed their preparations, I watched with the liveliest +interest the reception that Toby's application might meet with. As soon +as they understood from my companion that I intended to remain, they +appeared to make no objection to his proposition, and even hailed it +with pleasure. Their singular conduct on this occasion not a little +puzzled me at the time, and imparted to subsequent events an additional +mystery. + +The islanders were now to be seen hurrying along the path which led to +the sea. I shook Toby warmly by the hand, and gave him my Payta hat +to shield his wounded head from the sun, as he had lost his own. He +cordially returned the pressure of my hand, and solemnly promising to +return as soon as the boats should leave the shore, sprang from my side, +and the next minute disappeared in a turn of the grove. + +In spite of the unpleasant reflections that crowded upon my mind, I +could not but be entertained by the novel and animated sight which by +now met my view. One after another the natives crowded along the narrow +path, laden with every variety of fruit. Here, you might have seen one, +who, after ineffectually endeavouring to persuade a surly porker to be +conducted in leading strings, was obliged at last to seize the perverse +animal in his arms, and carry him struggling against his naked breast, +and squealing without intermission. There went two, who at a little +distance might have been taken for the Hebrew spies, on their return to +Moses with the goodly bunch of grape. One trotted before the other at a +distance of a couple of yards, while between them, from a pole resting +on the shoulders, was suspended a huge cluster of bananas, which swayed +to and fro with the rocking gait at which they proceeded. Here ran +another, perspiring with his exertions, and bearing before him a +quantity of cocoanuts, who, fearful of being too late, heeded not the +fruit that dropped from his basket, and appeared solely intent upon +reaching his destination, careless how many of his cocoanuts kept +company with him. + +In a short time the last straggler was seen hurrying on his way, and the +faint shouts of those in advance died insensibly upon the ear. Our +part of the valley now appeared nearly deserted by its inhabitants, +Kory-Kory, his aged father, and a few decrepit old people, being all +that were left. + +Towards sunset the islanders in small parties began to return from +the beach, and among them, as they drew near to the house, I sought to +descry the form of my companion. But one after another they passed the +dwelling, and I caught no glimpse of him. Supposing, however, that he +would soon appear with some of the members of the household, I quieted +my apprehensions, and waited patiently to see him advancing in company +with the beautiful Fayaway. At last, I perceived Tinor coming forward, +followed by the girls and young men who usually resided in the house of +Marheyo; but with them came not my comrade, and, filled with a thousand +alarms, I eagerly sought to discover the cause of his delay. + +My earnest questions appeared to embarrass the natives greatly. All +their accounts were contradictory: one giving me to understand that +Toby would be with me in a very short time; another that he did not know +where he was; while a third, violently inveighing, against him, assured +me that he had stolen away, and would never come back. It appeared +to me, at the time, that in making these various statements they +endeavoured to conceal from me some terrible disaster, lest the +knowledge of it should overpower me. + +Fearful lest some fatal calamity had overtaken him, I sought out young +Fayaway, and endeavoured to learn from her, if possible, the truth. + +This gentle being had early attracted my regard, not only from her +extraordinary beauty, but from the attractive cast of her countenance, +singularly expressive of intelligence and humanity. Of all the natives +she alone seemed to appreciate the effect which the peculiarity of the +circumstances in which we were placed had produced upon the minds of my +companion and myself. In addressing me--especially when I lay reclining +upon the mats suffering from pain--there was a tenderness in her manner +which it was impossible to misunderstand or resist. Whenever she entered +the house, the expression of her face indicated the liveliest sympathy +for me; and moving towards the place where I lay, with one arm slightly +elevated in a gesture of pity, and her large glistening eyes gazing +intently into mine, she would murmur plaintively, 'Awha! awha! Tommo,' +and seat herself mournfully beside me. + +Her manner convinced me that she deeply compassionated my situation, as +being removed from my country and friends, and placed beyond the reach +of all relief. Indeed, at times I was almost led to believe that her +mind was swayed by gentle impulses hardly to be anticipated from one in +her condition; that she appeared to be conscious there were ties rudely +severed, which had once bound us to our homes; that there were sisters +and brothers anxiously looking forward to our return, who were, perhaps, +never more to behold us. + +In this amiable light did Fayaway appear in my eyes; and reposing full +confidence in her candour and intelligence, I now had recourse to her, +in the midst of my alarm, with regard to my companion. + +My questions evidently distressed her. She looked round from one to +another of the bystanders, as if hardly knowing what answer to give me. +At last, yielding to my importunities, she overcame her scruples, and +gave me to understand that Toby had gone away with the boats which had +visited the bay, but had promised to return at the expiration of three +days. At first I accused him of perfidiously deserting me; but as I grew +more composed, I upbraided myself for imputing so cowardly an action +to him, and tranquillized myself with the belief that he had availed +himself, of the opportunity to go round to Nukuheva, in order to make +some arrangement by which I could be removed from the valley. At any +rate, thought I, he will return with the medicines I require, and then, +as soon as I recover, there will be no difficulty in the way of our +departure. + +Consoling myself with these reflections, I lay down that night in a +happier frame of mind than I had done for some time. The next day passed +without any allusion to Toby on the part of the natives, who seemed +desirous of avoiding all reference to the subject. This raised some +apprehensions in my breast; but when night came, I congratulated myself +that the second day had now gone by, and that on the morrow Toby would +again be with me. But the morrow came and went, and my companion did +not appear. Ah! thought I, he reckons three days from the morning of his +departure,--tomorrow he will arrive. But that weary day also closed upon +me, without his return. Even yet I would not despair; I thought that +something detained him--that he was waiting for the sailing of a boat, +at Nukuheva, and that in a day or two at farthest I should see him +again. But day after day of renewed disappointment passed by; at last +hope deserted me, and I fell a victim to despair. + +Yes; thought I, gloomily, he has secured his own escape, and cares not +what calamity may befall his unfortunate comrade. Fool that I was, +to suppose that any one would willingly encounter the perils of this +valley, after having once got beyond its limits! He has gone, and has +left me to combat alone all the dangers by which I am surrounded. Thus +would I sometimes seek to derive a desperate consolation from dwelling +upon the perfidity of Toby: whilst at other times I sunk under the +bitter remorse which I felt as having by my own imprudence brought upon +myself the fate which I was sure awaited me. + +At other times I thought that perhaps after all these treacherous +savages had made away with him, and thence the confusion into which +they were thrown by my questions, and their contradictory answers, or he +might be a captive in some other part of the valley, or, more dreadful +still, might have met with that fate at which my very soul shuddered. +But all these speculations were vain; no tidings of Toby ever reached +me; he had gone never to return. + +The conduct of the islanders appeared inexplicable. All reference to my +lost comrade was carefully evaded, and if at any time they were forced +to make some reply to my frequent inquiries on the subject, they would +uniformly denounce him as an ungrateful runaway, who had deserted +his friend, and taken himself off to that vile and detestable place +Nukuheva. + +But whatever might have been his fate, now that he was gone the natives +multiplied their acts of kindness and attention towards myself, treating +me with a degree of deference which could hardly have been surpassed had +I been some celestial visitant. Kory-Kory never for one moment left my +side, unless it were to execute my wishes. The faithful fellow, twice +every day, in the cool of the morning and in the evening, insisted upon +carrying me to the stream, and bathing me in its refreshing water. + +Frequently in the afternoon he would carry me to a particular part of +the stream, where the beauty of the scene produced a soothing influence +upon my mind. At this place the waters flowed between grassy banks, +planted with enormous bread-fruit trees, whose vast branches interlacing +overhead, formed a leafy canopy; near the stream were several smooth +black rocks. One of these, projecting several feet above the surface +of the water, had upon its summit a shallow cavity, which, filled with +freshly-gathered leaves, formed a delightful couch. + +Here I often lay for hours, covered with a gauze-like veil of tappa, +while Fayaway, seated beside me, and holding in her hand a fan woven +from the leaflets of a young cocoanut bough, brushed aside the insects +that occasionally lighted on my face, and Kory-Kory, with a view of +chasing away my melancholy, performed a thousand antics in the water +before us. + +As my eye wandered along this romantic stream, it would fall upon the +half-immersed figure of a beautiful girl, standing in the transparent +water, and catching in a little net a species of diminutive shell-fish, +of which these people are extraordinarily fond. Sometimes a chattering +group would be seated upon the edge of a low rock in the midst of the +brook, busily engaged in thinning and polishing the shells of cocoanuts, +by rubbing them briskly with a small stone in the water, an operation +which soon converts them into a light and elegant drinking vessel, +somewhat resembling goblets made of tortoise shell. + +But the tranquillizing influence of beautiful scenery, and the +exhibition of human life under so novel and charming an aspect were not +my only sources of consolation. + +Every evening the girls of the house gathered about me on the mats, and +after chasing away Kory-Kory from my side--who nevertheless, retired +only to a little distance and watched their proceedings with the most +jealous attention--would anoint my whole body with a fragrant oil, +squeezed from a yellow root, previously pounded between a couple of +stones, and which in their language is denominated 'aka'. And most +refreshing and agreeable are the juices of the 'aka', when applied to +ones, limbs by the soft palms of sweet nymphs, whose bright eyes are +beaming upon you with kindness; and I used to hail with delight the +daily recurrence of this luxurious operation, in which I forgot all my +troubles, and buried for the time every feeling of sorrow. + +Sometimes in the cool of the evening my devoted servitor would lead me +out upon the pi-pi in front of the house, and seating me near its edge, +protect my body from the annoyance of the insects which occasionally +hovered in the air, by wrapping me round with a large roll of tappa. +He then bustled about, and employed himself at least twenty minutes in +adjusting everything to secure my personal comfort. + +Having perfected his arrangements, he would get my pipe, and, lighting +it, would hand it to me. Often he was obliged to strike a light for the +occasion, and as the mode he adopted was entirely different from what I +had ever seen or heard of before I will describe it. + +A straight, dry, and partly decayed stick of the Hibiscus, about six +feet in length, and half as many inches in diameter, with a small, bit +of wood not more than a foot long, and scarcely an inch wide, is as +invariably to be met with in every house in Typee as a box of lucifer +matches in the corner of a kitchen cupboard at home. + +The islander, placing the larger stick obliquely against some object, +with one end elevated at an angle of forty-five degrees, mounts astride +of it like an urchin about to gallop off upon a cane, and then grasping +the smaller one firmly in both hands, he rubs its pointed end slowly +up and down the extent of a few inches on the principal stick, until at +last he makes a narrow groove in the wood, with an abrupt termination +at the point furthest from him, where all the dusty particles which the +friction creates are accumulated in a little heap. + +At first Kory-Kory goes to work quite leisurely, but gradually quickens +his pace, and waxing warm in the employment, drives the stick furiously +along the smoking channel, plying his hands to and fro with amazing +rapidity, the perspiration starting from every pore. As he approaches +the climax of his effort, he pants and gasps for breath, and his eyes +almost start from their sockets with the violence of his exertions. This +is the critical stage of the operation; all his previous labours +are vain if he cannot sustain the rapidity of the movement until the +reluctant spark is produced. Suddenly he stops, becoming perfectly +motionless. His hands still retain their hold of the smaller stick, +which is pressed convulsively against the further end of the channel +among the fine powder there accumulated, as if he had just pierced +through and through some little viper that was wriggling and struggling +to escape from his clutches. The next moment a delicate wreath of smoke +curls spirally into the air, the heap of dusty particles glows with +fire, and Kory-Kory, almost breathless, dismounts from his steed. + +This operation appeared to me to be the most laborious species of work +performed in Typee; and had I possessed a sufficient intimacy with the +language to have conveyed my ideas upon the subject, I should certainly +have suggested to the most influential of the natives the expediency of +establishing a college of vestals to be centrally located in the valley, +for the purpose of keeping alive the indispensable article of fire; so +as to supersede the necessity of such a vast outlay of strength and +good temper, as were usually squandered on these occasions. There might, +however, be special difficulties in carrying this plan into execution. + +What a striking evidence does this operation furnish of the wide +difference between the extreme of savage and civilized life. A gentleman +of Typee can bring up a numerous family of children and give them all +a highly respectable cannibal education, with infinitely less toil +and anxiety than he expends in the simple process of striking a light; +whilst a poor European artisan, who through the instrumentality of a +lucifer performs the same operation in one second, is put to his wit's +end to provide for his starving offspring that food which the children +of a Polynesian father, without troubling their parents, pluck from the +branches of every tree around them. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN + +KINDNESS OF MARHEYO AND THE REST OF THE ISLANDERS--A FULL DESCRIPTION OF +THE BREAD-FRUIT TREE--DIFFERENT MODES OF PREPARING THE FRUIT + +ALL the inhabitants of the valley treated me with great kindness; but as +to the household of Marheyo, with whom I was now permanently domiciled, +nothing could surpass their efforts to minister to my comfort. To the +gratification of my palate they paid the most unwearied attention. +They continually invited me to partake of food, and when after eating +heartily I declined the viands they continued to offer me, they seemed +to think that my appetite stood in need of some piquant stimulant to +excite its activity. + +In pursuance of this idea, old Marheyo himself would hie him away to +the sea-shore by the break of day, for the purpose of collecting +various species of rare sea-weed; some of which among these people are +considered a great luxury. After a whole day spent in this employment, +he would return about nightfall with several cocoanut shells filled with +different descriptions of kelp. In preparing these for use he manifested +all the ostentation of a professed cook, although the chief mystery of +the affair appeared to consist in pouring water in judicious quantities +upon the slimy contents of his cocoanut shells. + +The first time he submitted one of these saline salads to my critical +attention I naturally thought that anything collected at such pains must +possess peculiar merits; but one mouthful was a complete dose; and great +was the consternation of the old warrior at the rapidity with which I +ejected his Epicurean treat. + +How true it is, that the rarity of any particular article enhances +its value amazingly. In some part of the valley--I know not where, but +probably in the neighbourhood of the sea--the girls were sometimes in +the habit of procuring small quantities of salt, a thimble-full or +so being the result of the united labours of a party of five or six +employed for the greater part of the day. This precious commodity they +brought to the house, enveloped in multitudinous folds of leaves; and +as a special mark of the esteem in which they held me, would spread +an immense leaf on the ground, and dropping one by one a few minute +particles of the salt upon it, invite me to taste them. + +From the extravagant value placed upon the article, I verily believe, +that with a bushel of common Liverpool salt all the real estate in Typee +might have been purchased. With a small pinch of it in one hand, and a +quarter section of a bread-fruit in the other, the greatest chief in the +valley would have laughed at all luxuries of a Parisian table. + +The celebrity of the bread-fruit tree, and the conspicuous place it +occupies in a Typee bill of fare, induces me to give at some length +a general description of the tree, and the various modes in which the +fruit is prepared. + +The bread-fruit tree, in its glorious prime, is a grand and towering +object, forming the same feature in a Marquesan landscape that the +patriarchal elm does in New England scenery. The latter tree it not a +little resembles in height, in the wide spread of its stalwart branches, +and in its venerable and imposing aspect. + +The leaves of the bread-fruit are of great size, and their edges are cut +and scolloped as fantastically as those of a lady's lace collar. As they +annually tend towards decay, they almost rival in brilliant variety +of their gradually changing hues the fleeting shades of the expiring +dolphin. The autumnal tints of our American forests, glorious as they +are, sink into nothing in comparison with this tree. + +The leaf, in one particular stage, when nearly all the prismatic colours +are blended on its surface, is often converted by the natives into +a superb and striking head-dress. The principal fibre traversing its +length being split open a convenient distance, and the elastic sides of +the aperture pressed apart, the head is inserted between them, the leaf +drooping on one side, with its forward half turned jauntily up on the +brows, and the remaining part spreading laterally behind the ears. + +The fruit somewhat resembles in magnitude and general appearance one of +our citron melons of ordinary size; but, unlike the citron, it has no +sectional lines drawn along the outside. Its surface is dotted all over +with little conical prominences, looking not unlike the knobs, on an +antiquated church door. The rind is perhaps an eighth of an inch in +thickness; and denuded of this at the time when it is in the greatest +perfection, the fruit presents a beautiful globe of white pulp, the +whole of which may be eaten, with the exception of a slender core, which +is easily removed. + +The bread-fruit, however, is never used, and is indeed altogether unfit +to be eaten, until submitted in one form or other to the action of fire. + +The most simple manner in which this operation is performed, and I +think, the best, consists in placing any number of the freshly plucked +fruit, when in a particular state of greenness, among the embers of a +fire, in the same way that you would roast a potato. After the lapse +of ten or fifteen minutes, the green rind embrowns and cracks, showing +through the fissures in its sides the milk-white interior. As soon as it +cools the rind drops off, and you then have the soft round pulp in its +purest and most delicious state. Thus eaten, it has a mild and pleasing +flavour. + +Sometimes after having been roasted in the fire, the natives snatch it +briskly from the embers, and permitting it to slip out of the yielding +rind into a vessel of cold water, stir up the mixture, which they +call 'bo-a-sho'. I never could endure this compound, and indeed the +preparation is not greatly in vogue among the more polite Typees. + +There is one form, however, in which the fruit is occasionally served, +that renders it a dish fit for a king. As soon as it is taken from the +fire the exterior is removed, the core extracted, and the remaining part +is placed in a sort of shallow stone mortar, and briskly worked with +a pestle of the same substance. While one person is performing this +operation, another takes a ripe cocoanut, and breaking it in halves, +which they also do very cleverly, proceeds to grate the juicy meat into +fine particles. This is done by means of a piece of mother-of-pearl +shell, lashed firmly to the extreme end of a heavy stick, with its +straight side accurately notched like a saw. The stick is sometimes a +grotesquely-formed limb of a tree, with three or four branches twisting +from its body like so many shapeless legs, and sustaining it two or +three feet from the ground. + +The native, first placing a calabash beneath the nose, as it were, of +his curious-looking log-steed, for the purpose of receiving the +grated fragments as they fall, mounts astride of it as if it were a +hobby-horse, and twirling the inside of his hemispheres of cocoanut +around the sharp teeth of the mother-of-pearl shell, the pure white meat +falls in snowy showers into the receptacle provided. Having obtained a +quantity sufficient for his purpose, he places it in a bag made of +the net-like fibrous substance attached to all cocoanut trees, and +compressing it over the bread-fruit, which being now sufficiently +pounded, is put into a wooden bowl--extracts a thick creamy milk. The +delicious liquid soon bubbles round the fruit, and leaves it at last +just peeping above its surface. + +This preparation is called 'kokoo', and a most luscious preparation it +is. The hobby-horse and the pestle and mortar were in great requisition +during the time I remained in the house of Marheyo, and Kory-Kory had +frequent occasion to show his skill in their use. + +But the great staple articles of food into which the bread-fruit is +converted by these natives are known respectively by the names of Amar +and Poee-Poee. + +At a certain season of the year, when the fruit of the hundred groves +of the valley has reached its maturity, and hangs in golden spheres from +every branch, the islanders assemble in harvest groups, and garner in +the abundance which surrounds them. + +The trees are stripped of their nodding burdens, which, easily freed +from the rind and core, are gathered together in capacious wooden +vessels, where the pulpy fruit is soon worked by a stone pestle, +vigorously applied, into a blended mass of a doughy consistency, called +by the natives 'Tutao'. This is then divided into separate parcels, +which, after being made up into stout packages, enveloped in successive +folds of leaves, and bound round with thongs of bark, are stored away in +large receptacles hollowed in the earth, from whence they are drawn as +occasion may require. In this condition the Tutao sometimes remains for +years, and even is thought to improve by age. Before it is fit to be +eaten, however, it has to undergo an additional process. A primitive +oven is scooped in the ground, and its bottom being loosely covered +with stones, a large fire is kindled within it. As soon as the requisite +degree of heat is attained, the embers are removed, and the surface of +the stones being covered with thick layers of leaves, one of the large +packages of Tutao is deposited upon them and overspread with another +layer of leaves. The whole is then quickly heaped up with earth, and +forms a sloping mound. + +The Tutao thus baked is called 'Amar'; the action of the oven having +converted it into an amber-coloured caky substance, a little tart, but +not at all disagreeable to the taste. + +By another and final process the 'Amar' is changed into 'Poee-Poee'. +This transition is rapidly effected. The Amar is placed in a vessel, and +mixed with water until it gains a proper pudding-like consistency, when, +without further preparation, it is in readiness for use. This is the +form in which the 'Tutao' is generally consumed. The singular mode of +eating it I have already described. + +Were it not that the bread-fruit is thus capable of being preserved for +a length of time, the natives might be reduced to a state of starvation; +for owing to some unknown cause the trees sometimes fail to bear fruit; +and on such occasions the islanders chiefly depend upon the supplies +they have been enabled to store away. + +This stately tree, which is rarely met with upon the Sandwich Islands, +and then only of a very inferior quality, and at Tahiti does not abound +to a degree that renders its fruit the principal article of food, +attains its greatest excellence in the genial climate of the Marquesan +group, where it grows to an enormous magnitude, and flourishes in the +utmost abundance. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN + +MELANCHOLY CONDITION--OCCURRENCE AT THE TI--ANECDOTE OF MARHEYO--SHAVING +THE HEAD OF A WARRIOR + +IN looking back to this period, and calling to remembrance the +numberless proofs of kindness and respect which I received from the +natives of the valley, I can scarcely understand how it was that, in the +midst of so many consolatory circumstances, my mind should still have +been consumed by the most dismal forebodings, and have remained a +prey to the profoundest melancholy. It is true that the suspicious +circumstances which had attended the disappearance of Toby were enough +of themselves to excite distrust with regard to the savages, in whose +power I felt myself to be entirely placed, especially when it was +combined with the knowledge that these very men, kind and respectful +as they were to me, were, after all, nothing better than a set of +cannibals. + +But my chief source of anxiety, and that which poisoned every temporary +enjoyment, was the mysterious disease in my leg, which still remained +unabated. All the herbal applications of Tinor, united with the severer +discipline of the old leech, and the affectionate nursing of Kory-Kory, +had failed to relieve me. I was almost a cripple, and the pain I endured +at intervals was agonizing. The unaccountable malady showed no signs +of amendment: on the contrary, its violence increased day by day, and +threatened the most fatal results, unless some powerful means were +employed to counteract it. It seemed as if I were destined to sink +under this grievous affliction, or at least that it would hinder me from +availing myself of any opportunity of escaping from the valley. + +An incident which occurred as nearly as I can estimate about three weeks +after the disappearance of Toby, convinced me that the natives, from +some reason or other, would interpose every possible obstacle to my +leaving them. + +One morning there was no little excitement evinced by the people near +my abode, and which I soon discovered proceeded from a vague report +that boats, had been seen at a great distance approaching the bay. +Immediately all was bustle and animation. It so happened that day that +the pain I suffered having somewhat abated, and feeling in much better +spirits than usual, I had complied with Kory-Kory's invitation to visit +the chief Mehevi at the place called the 'Ti', which I have before +described as being situated within the precincts of the Taboo Groves. +These sacred recesses were at no great distance from Marheyo's +habitation, and lay between it and the sea; the path that conducted to +the beach passing directly in front of the Ti, and thence skirting along +the border of the groves. + +I was reposing upon the mats, within the sacred building, in company +with Mehevi and several other chiefs, when the announcement was first +made. It sent a thrill of joy through my whole frame;--perhaps Toby was +about to return. I rose at once to my feet, and my instinctive impulse +was to hurry down to the beach, equally regardless of the distance that +separated me from it, and of my disabled condition. As soon as Mehevi +noticed the effect the intelligence had produced upon me, and the +impatience I betrayed to reach the sea, his countenance assumed that +inflexible rigidity of expression which had so awed me on the afternoon +of our arrival at the house of Marheyo. As I was proceeding to leave +the Ti, he laid his hand upon my shoulder, and said gravely, 'abo, abo' +(wait, wait). Solely intent upon the one thought that occupied my mind, +and heedless of his request, I was brushing past him, when suddenly he +assumed a tone of authority, and told me to 'moee' (sit down). Though +struck by the alteration in his demeanour, the excitement under which I +laboured was too strong to permit me to obey the unexpected command, +and I was still limping towards the edge of the pi-pi with Kory-Kory +clinging to one arm in his efforts to restrain me, when the natives +around started to their feet, ranged themselves along the open front of +the building, while Mehevi looked at me scowlingly, and reiterated his +commands still more sternly. + +It was at this moment, when fifty savage countenances were glaring upon +me, that I first truly experienced I was indeed a captive in the +valley. The conviction rushed upon me with staggering force, and I was +overwhelmed by this confirmation of my worst fears. I saw at once that +it was useless for me to resist, and sick at heart, I reseated myself +upon the mats, and for the moment abandoned myself to despair. + +I now perceived the natives one after the other hurrying past the Ti and +pursuing the route that conducted to the sea. These savages, thought +I, will soon be holding communication with some of my own countrymen +perhaps, who with ease could restore me to liberty did they know of the +situation I was in. No language can describe the wretchedness which I +felt; and in the bitterness of my soul I imprecated a thousand curses on +the perfidious Toby, who had thus abandoned me to destruction. It was in +vain that Kory-Kory tempted me with food, or lighted my pipe, or sought +to attract my attention by performing the uncouth antics that +had sometimes diverted me. I was fairly knocked down by this last +misfortune, which, much as I had feared it, I had never before had the +courage calmly to contemplate. + +Regardless of everything but my own sorrow, I remained in the Ti for +several hours, until shouts proceeding at intervals from the groves +beyond the house proclaimed the return of the natives from the beach. + +Whether any boats visited the bay that morning or not, I never could +ascertain. The savages assured me that there had not--but I was inclined +to believe that by deceiving me in this particular they sought to allay +the violence of my grief. However that might be, this incident showed +plainly that the Typees intended to hold me a prisoner. As they still +treated me with the same sedulous attention as before, I was utterly +at a loss how to account for their singular conduct. Had I been in a +situation to instruct them in any of the rudiments of the mechanic arts, +or had I manifested a disposition to render myself in any way useful +among them, their conduct might have been attributed to some adequate +motive, but as it was, the matter seemed to me inexplicable. + +During my whole stay on the island there occurred but two or three +instances where the natives applied to me with the view of availing +themselves of my superior information; and these now appear so ludicrous +that I cannot forbear relating them. + +The few things we had brought from Nukuheva had been done up into a +small bundle which we had carried with us in our descent to the valley. +This bundle, the first night of our arrival, I had used as a pillow, but +on the succeeding morning, opening it for the inspection of the natives, +they gazed upon the miscellaneous contents as though I had just revealed +to them a casket of diamonds, and they insisted that so precious a +treasure should be properly secured. A line was accordingly attached to +it, and the other end being passed over the ridge-pole of the house, it +was hoisted up to the apex of the roof, where it hung suspended directly +over the mats where I usually reclined. When I desired anything from it +I merely raised my finger to a bamboo beside me, and taking hold of +the string which was there fastened, lowered the package. This was +exceedingly handy, and I took care to let the natives understand how +much I applauded the invention. Of this package the chief contents were +a razor with its case, a supply of needles and thread, a pound or two of +tobacco and a few yards of bright-coloured calico. + +I should have mentioned that shortly after Toby's disappearance, +perceiving the uncertainty of the time I might be obliged to remain in +the valley--if, indeed, I ever should escape from it--and considering +that my whole wardrobe consisted of a shirt and a pair of trousers, I +resolved to doff these garments at once, in order to preserve them in +a suitable condition for wear should I again appear among civilized +beings. I was consequently obliged to assume the Typee costume, a little +altered, however, to suit my own views of propriety, and in which I have +no doubt I appeared to as much advantage as a senator of Rome enveloped +in the folds of his toga. A few folds of yellow tappa tucked about my +waist, descended to my feet in the style of a lady's petticoat, only +I did not have recourse to those voluminous paddings in the rear with +which our gentle dames are in the habit of augmenting the sublime +rotundity of their figures. This usually comprised my in-door dress; +whenever I walked out, I superadded to it an ample robe of the same +material, which completely enveloped my person, and screened it from the +rays of the sun. + +One morning I made a rent in this mantle; and to show the islanders with +what facility it could be repaired, I lowered my bundle, and taking +from it a needle and thread, proceeded to stitch up the opening. They +regarded this wonderful application of science with intense admiration; +and whilst I was stitching away, old Marheyo, who was one of the +lookers-on, suddenly clapped his hand to his forehead, and rushing to +a corner of the house, drew forth a soiled and tattered strip of faded +calico which he must have procured some time or other in traffic on the +beach--and besought me eagerly to exercise a little of my art upon it. +I willingly complied, though certainly so stumpy a needle as mine never +took such gigantic strides over calico before. The repairs completed, +old Marheyo gave me a paternal hug; and divesting himself of his 'maro' +(girdle), swathed the calico about his loins, and slipping the beloved +ornaments into his ears, grasped his spear and sallied out of the house, +like a valiant Templar arrayed in a new and costly suit of armour. + +I never used my razor during my stay in the island, but although a +very subordinate affair, it had been vastly admired by the Typees; and +Narmonee, a great hero among them, who was exceedingly precise in the +arrangements of his toilet and the general adjustment of is person, +being the most accurately tattooed and laboriously horrified individual +in all the valley, thought it would be a great advantage to have it +applied to the already shaven crown of his head. + +The implement they usually employ is a shark's tooth, which is about as +well adapted to the purpose as a one-pronged fork for pitching hay. No +wonder, then, that the acute Narmonee perceived the advantage my razor +possessed over the usual implement. Accordingly, one day he requested as +a personal favour that I would just run over his head with the razor. In +reply, I gave him to understand that it was too dull, and could not be +used to any purpose without being previously sharpened. To assist my +meaning, I went through an imaginary honing process on the palm of my +hand. Narmonee took my meaning in an instant, and running out of the +house, returned the next moment with a huge rough mass of rock as big +as a millstone, and indicated to me that that was exactly the thing +I wanted. Of course there was nothing left for me but to proceed to +business, and I began scraping away at a great rate. He writhed and +wriggled under the infliction, but, fully convinced of my skill, endured +the pain like a martyr. + +Though I never saw Narmonee in battle I will, from what I then observed, +stake my life upon his courage and fortitude. Before commencing +operations, his head had presented a surface of short bristling hairs, +and by the time I had concluded my unskilful operation it resembled not +a little a stubble field after being gone over with a harrow. However, +as the chief expressed the liveliest satisfaction at the result, I was +too wise to dissent from his opinion. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN + +IMPROVEMENT IN HEALTH AND SPIRITS--FELICITY OF THE +TYPEES--THEIR ENJOYMENTS COMPARED WITH THOSE OF MORE ENLIGHTENED +COMMUNITIES--COMPARATIVE WICKEDNESS OF CIVILIZED AND UNENLIGHTENED +PEOPLE--A SKIRMISH IN THE MOUNTAIN WITH THE WARRIORS OF HAPPAR + +DAY after day wore on, and still there was no perceptible change in the +conduct of the islanders towards me. Gradually I lost all knowledge of +the regular recurrence of the days of the week, and sunk insensibly into +that kind of apathy which ensues after some violent outburst of despair. +My limb suddenly healed, the swelling went down, the pain subsided, and +I had every reason to suppose I should soon completely recover from the +affliction that had so long tormented me. + +As soon as I was enabled to ramble about the valley in company with the +natives, troops of whom followed me whenever I sallied out of the house, +I began to experience an elasticity of mind which placed me beyond the +reach of those dismal forebodings to which I had so lately been a prey. +Received wherever I went with the most deferential kindness; regaled +perpetually with the most delightful fruits; ministered to by dark-eyed +nymphs, and enjoying besides all the services of the devoted Kory-Kory, +I thought that, for a sojourn among cannibals, no man could have well +made a more agreeable one. + +To be sure there were limits set to my wanderings. Toward the sea my +progress was barred by an express prohibition of the savages; and after +having made two or three ineffectual attempts to reach it, as much to +gratify my curiosity as anything else, I gave up the idea. It was in +vain to think of reaching it by stealth, since the natives escorted me +in numbers wherever I went, and not for one single moment that I can +recall to mind was I ever permitted to be alone. + +The green and precipitous elevations that stood ranged around the +head of the vale where Marheyo's habitation was situated effectually +precluded all hope of escape in that quarter, even if I could have +stolen away from the thousand eyes of the savages. + +But these reflections now seldom obtruded upon me; I gave myself up to +the passing hour, and if ever disagreeable thoughts arose in my mind, I +drove them away. When I looked around the verdant recess in which I was +buried, and gazed up to the summits of the lofty eminence that hemmed me +in, I was well disposed to think that I was in the 'Happy Valley', +and that beyond those heights there was naught but a world of care +and anxiety. As I extended my wanderings in the valley and grew more +familiar with the habits of its inmates, I was fain to confess that, +despite the disadvantages of his condition, the Polynesian savage, +surrounded by all the luxurious provisions of nature, enjoyed an +infinitely happier, though certainly a less intellectual existence than +the self-complacent European. + +The naked wretch who shivers beneath the bleak skies, and starves among +the inhospitable wilds of Tierra-del-Fuego, might indeed be made happier +by civilization, for it would alleviate his physical wants. But the +voluptuous Indian, with every desire supplied, whom Providence has +bountifully provided with all the sources of pure and natural enjoyment, +and from whom are removed so many of the ills and pains of life--what +has he to desire at the hands of Civilization? She may 'cultivate his +mind--may elevate his thoughts,'--these I believe are the established +phrases--but will he be the happier? Let the once smiling and populous +Hawaiian islands, with their now diseased, starving, and dying natives, +answer the question. The missionaries may seek to disguise the matter +as they will, but the facts are incontrovertible; and the devoutest +Christian who visits that group with an unbiased mind, must go away +mournfully asking--'Are these, alas! the fruits of twenty-five years of +enlightening?' + +In a primitive state of society, the enjoyments of life, though few +and simple, are spread over a great extent, and are unalloyed; but +Civilization, for every advantage she imparts, holds a hundred evils in +reserve;--the heart-burnings, the jealousies, the social rivalries, +the family dissentions, and the thousand self-inflicted discomforts of +refined life, which make up in units the swelling aggregate of human +misery, are unknown among these unsophisticated people. + +But it will be urged that these shocking unprincipled wretches are +cannibals. Very true; and a rather bad trait in their character it must +be allowed. But they are such only when they seek to gratify the passion +of revenge upon their enemies; and I ask whether the mere eating of +human flesh so very far exceeds in barbarity that custom which only +a few years since was practised in enlightened England:--a convicted +traitor, perhaps a man found guilty of honesty, patriotism, and suchlike +heinous crimes, had his head lopped off with a huge axe, his bowels +dragged out and thrown into a fire; while his body, carved into four +quarters, was with his head exposed upon pikes, and permitted to rot and +fester among the public haunts of men! + +The fiend-like skill we display in the invention of all manner of +death-dealing engines, the vindictiveness with which we carry on our +wars, and the misery and desolation that follow in their train, are +enough of themselves to distinguish the white civilized man as the most +ferocious animal on the face of the earth. + +His remorseless cruelty is seen in many of the institutions of our own +favoured land. There is one in particular lately adopted in one of the +States of the Union, which purports to have been dictated by the most +merciful considerations. To destroy our malefactors piece-meal, drying +up in their veins, drop by drop, the blood we are too chicken-hearted +to shed by a single blow which would at once put a period to their +sufferings, is deemed to be infinitely preferable to the old-fashioned +punishment of gibbeting--much less annoying to the victim, and more in +accordance with the refined spirit of the age; and yet how feeble is all +language to describe the horrors we inflict upon these wretches, whom we +mason up in the cells of our prisons, and condemn to perpetual solitude +in the very heart of our population. + +But it is needless to multiply the examples of civilized barbarity; they +far exceed in the amount of misery they cause the crimes which we regard +with such abhorrence in our less enlightened fellow-creatures. + +The term 'Savage' is, I conceive, often misapplied, and indeed, when I +consider the vices, cruelties, and enormities of every kind that spring +up in the tainted atmosphere of a feverish civilization, I am inclined +to think that so far as the relative wickedness of the parties is +concerned, four or five Marquesan Islanders sent to the United States +as Missionaries might be quite as useful as an equal number of Americans +despatched to the Islands in a similar capacity. + +I once heard it given as an instance of the frightful depravity of a +certain tribe in the Pacific that they had no word in their language +to express the idea of virtue. The assertion was unfounded; but were +it otherwise, it might be met by stating that their language is almost +entirely destitute of terms to express the delightful ideas conveyed by +our endless catalogue of civilized crimes. + +In the altered frame of mind to which I have referred, every object that +presented itself to my notice in the valley struck me in a new light, +and the opportunities I now enjoyed of observing the manners of its +inmates, tended to strengthen my favourable impressions. One peculiarity +that fixed my admiration was the perpetual hilarity reigning through the +whole extent of the vale. + +There seemed to be no cares, griefs, troubles, or vexations, in all +Typee. The hours tripped along as gaily as the laughing couples down a +country dance. + +There were none of those thousand sources of irritation that the +ingenuity of civilized man has created to mar his own felicity. There +were no foreclosures of mortgages, no protested notes, no bills payable, +no debts of honour in Typee; no unreasonable tailors and shoemakers +perversely bent on being paid; no duns of any description and battery +attorneys, to foment discord, backing their clients up to a quarrel, +and then knocking their heads together; no poor relations, everlastingly +occupying the spare bed-chamber, and diminishing the elbow room at the +family table; no destitute widows with their children starving on the +cold charities of the world; no beggars; no debtors' prisons; no proud +and hard-hearted nabobs in Typee; or to sum up all in one word--no +Money! 'That root of all evil' was not to be found in the valley. + +In this secluded abode of happiness there were no cross old women, no +cruel step-dames, no withered spinsters, no lovesick maidens, no sour +old bachelors, no inattentive husbands, no melancholy young men, no +blubbering youngsters, and no squalling brats. All was mirth, fun and +high good humour. Blue devils, hypochondria, and doleful dumps, went and +hid themselves among the nooks and crannies of the rocks. + +Here you would see a parcel of children frolicking together the +live-long day, and no quarrelling, no contention, among them. The same +number in our own land could not have played together for the space of +an hour without biting or scratching one another. There you might have +seen a throng of young females, not filled with envyings of each other's +charms, nor displaying the ridiculous affectations of gentility, nor +yet moving in whalebone corsets, like so many automatons, but free, +inartificially happy, and unconstrained. + +There were some spots in that sunny vale where they would frequently +resort to decorate themselves with garlands of flowers. To have seen +them reclining beneath the shadows of one of the beautiful groves; +the ground about them strewn with freshly gathered buds and blossoms, +employed in weaving chaplets and necklaces, one would have thought +that all the train of Flora had gathered together to keep a festival in +honour of their mistress. + +With the young men there seemed almost always some matter of diversion +or business on hand that afforded a constant variety of enjoyment. But +whether fishing, or carving canoes, or polishing their ornaments, never +was there exhibited the least sign of strife or contention among them. +As for the warriors, they maintained a tranquil dignity of demeanour, +journeying occasionally from house to house, where they were always sure +to be received with the attention bestowed upon distinguished guests. +The old men, of whom there were many in the vale, seldom stirred from +their mats, where they would recline for hours and hours, smoking and +talking to one another with all the garrulity of age. + +But the continual happiness, which so far as I was able to judge +appeared to prevail in the valley, sprang principally from that +all-pervading sensation which Rousseau has told us be at one time +experienced, the mere buoyant sense of a healthful physical existence. +And indeed in this particular the Typees had ample reason to felicitate +themselves, for sickness was almost unknown. During the whole period of +my stay I saw but one invalid among them; and on their smooth skins you +observed no blemish or mark of disease. + +The general repose, however, upon which I have just been descanting, +was broken in upon about this time by an event which proved that the +islanders were not entirely exempt from those occurrences which disturb +the quiet of more civilized communities. + +Having now been a considerable time in the valley, I began to feel +surprised that the violent hostility subsisting between its inhabitants, +and those of the adjoining bay of Happar, should never have manifested +itself in any warlike encounter. Although the valiant Typees would often +by gesticulations declare their undying hatred against their enemies, +and the disgust they felt at their cannibal propensities; although they +dilated upon the manifold injuries they had received at their hands, yet +with a forbearance truly commendable, they appeared to sit down under +their grievances, and to refrain from making any reprisals. The Happars, +entrenched behind their mountains, and never even showing themselves on +their summits, did not appear to me to furnish adequate cause for that +excess of animosity evinced towards them by the heroic tenants of our +vale, and I was inclined to believe that the deeds of blood attributed +to them had been greatly exaggerated. + +On the other hand, as the clamours of war had not up to this period +disturbed the serenity of the tribe, I began to distrust the truth of +those reports which ascribed so fierce and belligerent a character to +the Typee nation. Surely, thought I, all these terrible stories I have +heard about the inveteracy with which they carried on the feud, their +deadly intensity, of hatred and the diabolical malice with which they +glutted their revenge upon the inanimate forms of the slain, are nothing +more than fables, and I must confess that I experienced something like a +sense of regret at having my hideous anticipations thus disappointed. +I felt in some sort like a 'prentice boy who, going to the play in the +expectation of being delighted with a cut-and-thrust tragedy, is almost +moved to tears of disappointment at the exhibition of a genteel comedy. + +I could not avoid thinking that I had fallen in with a greatly traduced +people, and I moralized not a little upon the disadvantage of having a +bad name, which in this instance had given a tribe of savages, who +were as pacific as so many lambkins, the reputation of a confederacy of +giant-killers. + +But subsequent events proved that I had been a little too premature in +coming to this conclusion. One, day about noon, happening to be at the +Ti, I had lain down on the mats with several of the chiefs, and had +gradually sunk into a most luxurious siesta, when I was awakened by +a tremendous outcry, and starting up beheld the natives seizing their +spears and hurrying out, while the most puissant of the chiefs, grasping +the six muskets which were ranged against the bamboos, followed after, +and soon disappeared in the groves. These movements were accompanied +by wild shouts, in which 'Happar, Happar,' greatly predominated. The +islanders were now seen running past the Ti, and striking across the +valley to the Happar side. Presently I heard the sharp report of a +musket from the adjoining hills, and then a burst of voices in the same +direction. At this the women who had congregated in the groves, set up +the most violent clamours, as they invariably do here as elsewhere on +every occasion of excitement and alarm, with a view of tranquillizing +their own minds and disturbing other people. On this particular +occasion they made such an outrageous noise, and continued it with such +perseverance, that for awhile, had entire volleys of musketry been fired +off in the neighbouring mountains, I should not have been able to have +heard them. + +When this female commotion had a little subsided I listened eagerly for +further information. At last bang went another shot, and then a second +volley of yells from the hills. Again all was quiet, and continued so +for such a length of time that I began to think the contending armies +had agreed upon a suspension of hostilities; when pop went a third gun, +followed as before with a yell. After this, for nearly two hours +nothing occurred worthy of comment, save some straggling shouts from the +hillside, sounding like the halloos of a parcel of truant boys who had +lost themselves in the woods. + +During this interval I had remained standing on the piazza of the 'Ti,' +which directly fronted the Happar mountain, and with no one near me +but Kory-Kory and the old superannuated savages I have described. These +latter never stirred from their mats, and seemed altogether unconscious +that anything unusual was going on. + +As for Kory-Kory, he appeared to think that we were in the midst of +great events, and sought most zealously to impress me with a due sense +of their importance. Every sound that reached us conveyed some momentous +item of intelligence to him. At such times, as if he were gifted with +second sight, he would go through a variety of pantomimic illustrations, +showing me the precise manner in which the redoubtable Typees were at +that very moment chastising the insolence of the enemy. 'Mehevi hanna +pippee nuee Happar,' he exclaimed every five minutes, giving me to +understand that under that distinguished captain the warriors of his +nation were performing prodigies of valour. + +Having heard only four reports from the muskets, I was led to believe +that they were worked by the islanders in the same manner as the Sultan +Solyman's ponderous artillery at the siege of Byzantium, one of them +taking an hour or two to load and train. At last, no sound whatever +proceeding from the mountains, I concluded that the contest had been +determined one way or the other. Such appeared, indeed, to be the case, +for in a little while a courier arrived at the 'Ti', almost breathless +with his exertions, and communicated the news of a great victory having +been achieved by his countrymen: 'Happar poo arva!--Happar poo arva!' +(the cowards had fled). Kory-Kory was in ecstasies, and commenced a +vehement harangue, which, so far as I understood it, implied that the +result exactly agreed with his expectations, and which, moreover, +was intended to convince me that it would be a perfectly useless +undertaking, even for an army of fire-eaters, to offer battle to the +irresistible heroes of our valley. In all this I of course acquiesced, +and looked forward with no little interest to the return of the +conquerors, whose victory I feared might not have been purchased without +cost to themselves. + +But here I was again mistaken; for Mehevi, in conducting his warlike +operations, rather inclined to the Fabian than to the Bonapartean +tactics, husbanding his resources and exposing his troops to no +unnecessary hazards. The total loss of the victors in this obstinately +contested affair was, in killed, wounded, and missing--one forefinger +and part of a thumb-nail (which the late proprietor brought along with +him in his hand), a severely contused arm, and a considerable effusion +of blood flowing from the thigh of a chief, who had received an ugly +thrust from a Happar spear. What the enemy had suffered I could not +discover, but I presume they had succeeded in taking off with them the +bodies of their slain. + +Such was the issue of the battle, as far as its results came under my +observation: and as it appeared to be considered an event of prodigious +importance, I reasonably concluded that the wars of the natives were +marked by no very sanguinary traits. I afterwards learned how the +skirmish had originated. A number of the Happars had been discovered +prowling for no good purpose on the Typee side of the mountain; the +alarm sounded, and the invaders, after a protracted resistance, had been +chased over the frontier. But why had not the intrepid Mehevi carried +the war into Happar? Why had he not made a descent into the hostile +vale, and brought away some trophy of his victory--some materials for +the cannibal entertainment which I had heard usually terminated every +engagement? After all, I was much inclined to believe that these +shocking festivals must occur very rarely among the islanders, if, +indeed, they ever take place. + +For two or three days the late event was the theme of general comment; +after which the excitement gradually wore away, and the valley resumed +its accustomed tranquility. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN + +SWIMMING IN COMPANY WITH THE GIRLS OF THE VALLEY--A CANOE--EFFECTS +OF THE TABOO--A PLEASURE EXCURSION ON THE POND--BEAUTIFUL FREAK OF +FAYAWAY--MANTUA-MAKING--A STRANGER ARRIVES IN THE VALLEY--HIS MYSTERIOUS +CONDUCT--NATIVE ORATORY--THE INTERVIEW--ITS RESULTS--DEPARTURE OF THE +STRANGER + +RETURNING health and peace of mind gave a new interest to everything +around me. I sought to diversify my time by as many enjoyments as lay +within my reach. Bathing in company with troops of girls formed one of +my chief amusements. We sometimes enjoyed the recreation in the waters +of a miniature lake, to which the central stream of the valley expanded. +This lovely sheet of water was almost circular in figure, and about +three hundred yards across. Its beauty was indescribable. All around +its banks waved luxuriant masses of tropical foliage, soaring high above +which were seen, here and there, the symmetrical shaft of the cocoanut +tree, surmounted by its tufts of graceful branches, drooping in the air +like so many waving ostrich plumes. + +The ease and grace with which the maidens of the valley propelled +themselves through the water, and their familiarity with the element, +were truly astonishing. Sometimes they might be seen gliding along just +under the surface, without apparently moving hand or foot--then throwing +themselves on their sides, they darted through the water, revealing +glimpses of their forms, as, in the course of their rapid progress, they +shot for an instant partly into the air--at one moment they dived deep +down into the water, and the next they rose bounding to the surface. + +I remember upon one occasion plunging in among a parcel of these +river-nymphs, and counting vainly on my superior strength, sought to +drag some of them under the water, but I quickly repented my temerity. +The amphibious young creatures swarmed about me like a shoal of +dolphins, and seizing hold of my devoted limbs, tumbled me about and +ducked me under the surface, until from the strange noises which rang in +my ears, and the supernatural visions dancing before my eyes, I thought +I was in the land of the spirits. I stood indeed as little chance among +them as a cumbrous whale attacked on all sides by a legion of swordfish. +When at length they relinquished their hold of me, they swam away in +every direction, laughing at my clumsy endeavours to reach them. + +There was no boat on the lake; but at my solicitation and for my special +use, some of the young men attached to Marheyo's household, under +the direction of the indefatigable Kory-Kory, brought up a light and +tastefully carved canoe from the sea. It was launched upon the sheet +of water, and floated there as gracefully as a swan. But, melancholy to +relate, it produced an effect I had not anticipated. The sweet nymphs, +who had sported with me before on the lake, now all fled its vicinity. +The prohibited craft, guarded by the edicts of the 'taboo,' extended the +prohibition to the waters in which it lay. + +For a few days, Kory-Kory, with one or two other youths, accompanied +me in my excursions to the lake, and while I paddled about in my light +canoe, would swim after me shouting and gambolling in pursuit. But I +as ever partial to what is termed in the 'Young Men's Own Book'--'the +society of virtuous and intelligent young ladies;' and in the absence +of the mermaids, the amusement became dull and insipid. One morning +I expressed to my faithful servitor my desire for the return of the +nymphs. The honest fellow looked at me bewildered for a moment, and +then shook his head solemnly, and murmured 'taboo! taboo!' giving me to +understand that unless the canoe was removed I could not expect to have +the young ladies back again. But to this procedure I was averse; I not +only wanted the canoe to stay where it was, but I wanted the beauteous +Fayaway to get into it, and paddle with me about the lake. This latter +proposition completely horrified Kory-Kory's notions of propriety. He +inveighed against it, as something too monstrous to be thought of. It +not only shocked their established notions of propriety, but was at +variance with all their religious ordinances. + +However, although the 'taboo' was a ticklish thing to meddle with, I +determined to test its capabilities of resisting an attack. I consulted +the chief Mehevi, who endeavoured to dissuade me from my object; but +I was not to be repulsed; and accordingly increased the warmth of my +solicitations. At last he entered into a long, and I have no doubt a +very learned and eloquent exposition of the history and nature of the +'taboo' as affecting this particular case; employing a variety of most +extraordinary words, which, from their amazing length and sonorousness, +I have every reason to believe were of a theological nature. But all +that he said failed to convince me: partly, perhaps, because I could not +comprehend a word that he uttered; but chiefly, that for the life of me +I could not understand why a woman would not have as much right to +enter a canoe as a man. At last he became a little more rational, and +intimated that, out of the abundant love he bore me, he would consult +with the priests and see what could be done. + +How it was that the priesthood of Typee satisfied the affair with their +consciences, I know not; but so it was, and Fayaway dispensation from +this portion of the taboo was at length procured. Such an event I +believe never before had occurred in the valley; but it was high time +the islanders should be taught a little gallantry, and I trust that the +example I set them may produce beneficial effects. Ridiculous, indeed, +that the lovely creatures should be obliged to paddle about in the +water, like so many ducks, while a parcel of great strapping fellows +skimmed over its surface in their canoes. + +The first day after Fayaway's emancipation, I had a delightful little +party on the lake--the damsels' Kory-Kory, and myself. My zealous +body-servant brought from the house a calabash of poee-poee, half a +dozen young cocoanuts--stripped of their husks--three pipes, as many +yams, and me on his back a part of the way. Something of a load; but +Kory-Kory was a very strong man for his size, and by no means brittle in +the spine. We had a very pleasant day; my trusty valet plied the paddle +and swept us gently along the margin of the water, beneath the shades +of the overhanging thickets. Fayaway and I reclined in the stern of +the canoe, on the very best terms possible with one another; the gentle +nymph occasionally placing her pipe to her lip, and exhaling the mild +fumes of the tobacco, to which her rosy breath added a fresh perfume. +Strange as it may seem, there is nothing in which a young and beautiful +female appears to more advantage than in the act of smoking. How +captivating is a Peruvian lady, swinging in her gaily-woven hammock of +grass, extended between two orange-trees, and inhaling the fragrance of +a choice cigarro! + +But Fayaway, holding in her delicately formed olive hand the long yellow +reed of her pipe, with its quaintly carved bowl, and every few moments +languishingly giving forth light wreaths of vapour from her mouth and +nostrils, looked still more engaging. + +We floated about thus for several hours, when I looked up to the warm, +glowing, tropical sky, and then down into the transparent depths below; +and when my eye, wandering from the bewitching scenery around, fell upon +the grotesquely-tattooed form of Kory-Kory, and finally, encountered the +pensive gaze of Fayaway, I thought I had been transported to some fairy +region, so unreal did everything appear. + +This lovely piece of water was the coolest spot in all the valley, and I +now made it a place of continual resort during the hottest period of +the day. One side of it lay near the termination of a long gradually +expanding gorge, which mounted to the heights that environed the vale. +The strong trade wind, met in its course by these elevations, circled +and eddied about their summits, and was sometimes driven down the +steep ravine and swept across the valley, ruffling in its passage the +otherwise tranquil surface of the lake. + +One day, after we had been paddling about for some time, I disembarked +Kory-Kory, and paddled the canoe to the windward side of the lake. As +I turned the canoe, Fayaway, who was with me, seemed all at once to be +struck with some happy idea. With a wild exclamation of delight, she +disengaged from her person the ample robe of tappa which was knotted +over her shoulder (for the purpose of shielding her from the sun), and +spreading it out like a sail, stood erect with upraised arms in the head +of the canoe. We American sailors pride ourselves upon our straight, +clean spars, but a prettier little mast than Fayaway made was never +shipped aboard of any craft. + +In a moment the tappa was distended by the breeze--the long brown +tresses of Fayaway streamed in the air--and the canoe glided rapidly +through the water, and shot towards the shore. Seated in the stern, I +directed its course with my paddle until it dashed up the soft sloping +bank, and Fayaway, with a light spring alighted on the ground; whilst +Kory-Kory, who had watched our manoeuvres with admiration, now +clapped his hands in transport, and shouted like a madman. Many a time +afterwards was this feat repeated. + +If the reader has not observed ere this that I was the declared admirer +of Miss Fayaway, all I can say is that he is little conversant with +affairs of the heart, and I certainly shall not trouble myself to +enlighten him any farther. Out of the calico I had brought from the ship +I made a dress for this lovely girl. In it she looked, I must confess, +something like an opera-dancer. + +The drapery of the latter damsel generally commences a little above +the elbows, but my island beauty's began at the waist, and terminated +sufficiently far above the ground to reveal the most bewitching ankle in +the universe. + +The day that Fayaway first wore this robe was rendered memorable by a +new acquaintance being introduced to me. In the afternoon I was lying +in the house when I heard a great uproar outside; but being by this time +pretty well accustomed to the wild halloos which were almost continually +ringing through the valley, I paid little attention to it, until old +Marheyo, under the influence of some strange excitement, rushed into my +presence and communicated the astounding tidings, 'Marnoo pemi!' which +being interpreted, implied that an individual by the name of Marnoo was +approaching. + +My worthy old friend evidently expected that this intelligence would +produce a great effect upon me, and for a time he stood earnestly +regarding me, as if curious to see how I should conduct myself, but as +I remained perfectly unmoved, the old gentleman darted out of the house +again, in as great a hurry as he had entered it. + +'Marnoo, Marnoo,' cogitated I, 'I have never heard that name before. +Some distinguished character, I presume, from the prodigious riot the +natives are making;' the tumultuous noise drawing nearer and nearer +every moment, while 'Marnoo!--Marnoo!' was shouted by every tongue. + +I made up my mind that some savage warrior of consequence, who had +not yet enjoyed the honour of an audience, was desirous of paying his +respects on the present occasion. So vain had I become by the lavish +attention to which I had been accustomed, that I felt half inclined, +as a punishment for such neglect, to give this Marnoo a cold reception, +when the excited throng came within view, convoying one of the most +striking specimens of humanity that I ever beheld. + +The stranger could not have been more than twenty-five years of age, and +was a little above the ordinary height; had he a single hair's breadth +taller, the matchless symmetry of his form would have been destroyed. +His unclad limbs were beautifully formed; whilst the elegant outline of +his figure, together with his beardless cheeks, might have entitled him +to the distinction of standing for the statue of the Polynesian Apollo; +and indeed the oval of his countenance and the regularity of every +feature reminded one of an antique bust. But the marble repose of art +was supplied by a warmth and liveliness of expression only to be seen in +the South Sea Islander under the most favourable developments of nature. +The hair of Marnoo was a rich curling brown, and twined about his +temples and neck in little close curling ringlets, which danced up and +down continually, when he was animated in conversation. His cheek was +of a feminine softness, and his face was free from the least blemish +of tattooing, although the rest of his body was drawn all over with +fanciful figures, which--unlike the unconnected sketching usual among +these natives--appeared to have been executed in conformity with some +general design. + +The tattooing on his back in particular attracted my attention. The +artist employed must indeed have excelled in his profession. Traced +along the course of the spine was accurately delineated the slender, +tapering and diamond checkered shaft of the beautiful 'artu' tree. +Branching from the stem on each side, and disposed alternately, were +the graceful branches drooping with leaves all correctly drawn and +elaborately finished. Indeed the best specimen of the Fine Arts I had +yet seen in Typee. A rear view of the stranger might have suggested the +idea of a spreading vine tacked against a garden wall. Upon his breast, +arms and legs, were exhibited an infinite variety of figures; every +one of which, however, appeared to have reference to the general +effect sought to be produced. The tattooing I have described was of the +brightest blue, and when contrasted with the light olive-colour of the +skin, produced an unique and even elegant effect. A slight girdle of +white tappa, scarcely two inches in width, but hanging before and behind +in spreading tassels, composed the entire costume of the stranger. + +He advanced surrounded by the islanders, carrying under one arm a small +roll of native cloth, and grasping in his other hand a long and richly +decorated spear. His manner was that of a traveller conscious that he is +approaching a comfortable stage in his journey. Every moment he turned +good-humouredly on the throng around him, and gave some dashing sort of +reply to their incessant queries, which appeared to convulse them with +uncontrollable mirth. + +Struck by his demeanour, and the peculiarity of his appearance, so +unlike that of the shaven-crowned and face-tattooed natives in general, +I involuntarily rose as he entered the house, and proffered him a seat +on the mats beside me. But without deigning to notice the civility, or +even the more incontrovertible fact of my existence, the stranger passed +on, utterly regardless of me, and flung himself upon the further end +of the long couch that traversed the sole apartment of Marheyo's +habitation. + +Had the belle of the season, in the pride of her beauty and power, been +cut in a place of public resort by some supercilious exquisite, she +could not have felt greater indignation than I did at this unexpected +slight. + +I was thrown into utter astonishment. The conduct of the savages had +prepared me to anticipate from every newcomer the same extravagant +expressions of curiosity and regard. The singularity of his conduct, +however, only roused my desire to discover who this remarkable personage +might be, who now engrossed the attention of every one. + +Tinor placed before him a calabash of poee-poee, from which the stranger +regaled himself, alternating every mouthful with some rapid exclamation, +which was eagerly caught up and echoed by the crowd that completely +filled the house. When I observed the striking devotion of the natives +to him, and their temporary withdrawal of all attention from myself, I +felt not a little piqued. The glory of Tommo is departed, thought I, and +the sooner he removes from the valley the better. These were my feelings +at the moment, and they were prompted by that glorious principle +inherent in all heroic natures--the strong-rooted determination to have +the biggest share of the pudding or to go without any of it. + +Marnoo, that all-attractive personage, having satisfied his hunger and +inhaled a few whiffs from a pipe which was handed to him, launched +out into an harangue which completely enchained the attention of his +auditors. + +Little as I understood of the language, yet from his animated gestures +and the varying expression of his features--reflected as from so many +mirrors in the countenances around him, I could easily discover the +nature of those passions which he sought to arouse. From the frequent +recurrence of the words 'Nukuheva' and 'Frannee' (French), and some +others with the meaning of which I was acquainted, he appeared to be +rehearsing to his auditors events which had recently occurred in the +neighbouring bays. But how he had gained the knowledge of these matters +I could not understand, unless it were that he had just come from +Nukuheva--a supposition which his travel-stained appearance not a little +supported. But, if a native of that region, I could not account for his +friendly reception at the hands of the Typees. + +Never, certainly, had I beheld so powerful an exhibition of natural +eloquence as Marnoo displayed during the course of his oration. The +grace of the attitudes into which he threw his flexible figure, the +striking gestures of his naked arms, and above all, the fire which shot +from his brilliant eyes, imparted an effect to the continually changing +accents of his voice, of which the most accomplished orator might have +been proud. At one moment reclining sideways upon the mat, and leaning +calmly upon his bended arm, he related circumstantially the aggressions +of the French--their hostile visits to the surrounding bays, enumerating +each one in succession--Happar, Puerka, Nukuheva, Tior,--and then +starting to his feet and precipitating himself forward with clenched +hands and a countenance distorted with passion, he poured out a tide of +invectives. Falling back into an attitude of lofty command, he exhorted +the Typees to resist these encroachments; reminding them, with a fierce +glance of exultation, that as yet the terror of their name had preserved +them from attack, and with a scornful sneer he sketched in ironical +terms the wondrous intrepidity of the French, who, with five war-canoes +and hundreds of men, had not dared to assail the naked warriors of their +valley. + +The effect he produced upon his audience was electric; one and all they +stood regarding him with sparkling eyes and trembling limbs, as though +they were listening to the inspired voice of a prophet. + +But it soon appeared that Marnoo's powers were as versatile as they +were extraordinary. As soon as he had finished his vehement harangue, he +threw himself again upon the mats, and, singling out individuals in the +crowd, addressed them by name, in a sort of bantering style, the humour +of which, though nearly hidden from me filled the whole assembly with +uproarious delight. + +He had a word for everybody; and, turning rapidly from one to another, +gave utterance to some hasty witticism, which was sure to be followed +by peals of laughter. To the females as well as to the men, he addressed +his discourse. Heaven only knows what he said to them, but he caused +smiles and blushes to mantle their ingenuous faces. I am, indeed, very +much inclined to believe that Marnoo, with his handsome person and +captivating manners, was a sad deceiver among the simple maidens of the +island. + +During all this time he had never, for one moment, deigned to regard me. +He appeared, indeed, to be altogether unconscious of my presence. I +was utterly at a loss how to account for this extraordinary conduct. I +easily perceived that he was a man of no little consequence among the +islanders; that he possessed uncommon talents; and was gifted with a +higher degree of knowledge than the inmates of the valley. For these +reasons, I therefore greatly feared lest having, from some cause or +other, unfriendly feelings towards me, he might exert his powerful +influence to do me mischief. + +It seemed evident that he was not a permanent resident of the vale, and +yet, whence could he have come? On all sides the Typees were girt in by +hostile tribes, and how could he possibly, if belonging to any of these, +be received with so much cordiality? + +The personal appearance of the enigmatical stranger suggested additional +perplexities. The face, free from tattooing, and the unshaven crown, +were peculiarities I had never before remarked in any part of the +island, and I had always heard that the contrary were considered the +indispensable distinction of a Marquesan warrior. Altogether the matter +was perfectly incomprehensible to me, and I awaited its solution with no +small degree of anxiety. + +At length, from certain indications, I suspected that he was making me +the subject of his remarks, although he appeared cautiously to avoid +either pronouncing my name, or looking in the direction where I lay. All +at once he rose from the mats where he had been reclining, and, still +conversing, moved towards me, his eye purposely evading mine, and seated +himself within less than a yard of me. I had hardly recovered from my +surprise, when he suddenly turned round, and, with a most benignant +countenance extended his right hand gracefully towards me. Of course I +accepted the courteous challenge, and, as soon as our palms met, he bent +towards me, and murmured in musical accents--'How you do?' 'How long you +been in this bay?' 'You like this bay?' + +Had I been pierced simultaneously by three Happar spears, I could not +have started more than I did at hearing these simple questions. For a +moment I was overwhelmed with astonishment, and then answered something +I know not what; but as soon as I regained my self-possession, the +thought darted through my mind that from this individual I might obtain +that information regarding Toby which I suspected the natives had +purposely withheld from me. Accordingly I questioned him concerning +the disappearance of my companion, but he denied all knowledge of +the matter. I then inquired from whence he had come? He replied, from +Nukuheva. When I expressed my surprise, he looked at me for a moment, +as if enjoying my perplexity, and then with his strange vivacity, +exclaimed,--'Ah! Me taboo,--me go Nukuheva,--me go Tior,--me go +Typee,--me go everywhere,--nobody harm me,--me taboo.' + +This explanation would have been altogether unintelligible to me, had +it not recalled to my mind something I had previously heard concerning +a singular custom among these islanders. Though the country is possessed +by various tribes, whose mutual hostilities almost wholly prelude any +intercourse between them; yet there are instances where a person having +ratified friendly relations with some individual belonging longing to +the valley, whose inmates are at war with his own, may, under particular +restrictions, venture with impunity into the country of his friend, +where, under other circumstances, he would have been treated as an +enemy. In this light are personal friendships regarded among them, and +the individual so protected is said to be 'taboo', and his person, to a +certain extent, is held as sacred. Thus the stranger informed me he had +access to all the valleys in the island. + +Curious to know how he had acquired his knowledge of English, I +questioned him on the subject. At first, for some reason or other, he +evaded the inquiry, but afterwards told me that, when a boy, he had +been carried to sea by the captain of a trading vessel, with whom he +had stayed three years, living part of the time with him at Sidney in +Australia, and that at a subsequent visit to the island, the captain +had, at his own request, permitted him to remain among his countrymen. +The natural quickness of the savage had been wonderfully improved by his +intercourse with the white men, and his partial knowledge of a foreign +language gave him a great ascendancy over his less accomplished +countrymen. + +When I asked the now affable Marnoo why it was that he had not +previously spoken to me, he eagerly inquired what I had been led to +think of him from his conduct in that respect. I replied, that I had +supposed him to be some great chief or warrior, who had seen plenty +of white men before, and did not think it worth while to notice a poor +sailor. At this declaration of the exalted opinion I had formed of him, +he appeared vastly gratified, and gave me to understand that he had +purposely behaved in that manner, in order to increase my astonishment, +as soon as he should see proper to address me. + +Marnoo now sought to learn my version of the story as to how I came +to be an inmate of the Typee valley. When I related to him the +circumstances under which Toby and I had entered it, he listened +with evident interest; but as soon as I alluded to the absence, yet +unaccounted for, of my comrade, he endeavoured to change the subject, as +if it were something he desired not to agitate. It seemed, indeed, as +if everything connected with Toby was destined to beget distrust and +anxiety in my bosom. Notwithstanding Marnoo's denial of any knowledge +of his fate, I could not avoid suspecting that he was deceiving me; and +this suspicion revived those frightful apprehensions with regard to my +own fate, which, for a short time past, had subsided in my breast. + +Influenced by these feelings, I now felt a strong desire to avail myself +of the stranger's protection, and under his safeguard to return to +Nukuheva. But as soon as I hinted at this, he unhesitatingly pronounced +it to be entirely impracticable; assuring me that the Typees would never +consent to my leaving the valley. Although what he said merely confirmed +the impression which I had before entertained, still it increased +my anxiety to escape from a captivity which, however endurable, nay, +delightful it might be in some respects, involved in its issues a fate +marked by the most frightful contingencies. + +I could not conceal from my mind that Toby had been treated in the same +friendly manner as I had been, and yet all their kindness terminated +with his mysterious disappearance. Might not the same fate await me?--a +fate too dreadful to think of. Stimulated by these considerations, +I urged anew my request to Marnoo; but he only set forth in stronger +colours the impossibility of my escape, and repeated his previous +declaration that the Typees would never be brought to consent to my +departure. + +When I endeavoured to learn from him the motives which prompted them to +hold me a prisoner, Marnoo again presumed that mysterious tone which had +tormented me with apprehension when I had questioned him with regard to +the fate of my companion. + +Thus repulsed, in a manner which only served, by arousing the most +dreadful forebodings, to excite me to renewed attempts, I conjured him +to intercede for me with the natives, and endeavour to procure their +consent to my leaving them. To this he appeared strongly averse; but, +yielding at last to my importunities, he addressed several of the +chiefs, who with the rest had been eyeing us intently during the whole +of our conversation. His petition, however, was at once met with the +most violent disapprobation, manifesting itself in angry glances and +gestures, and a perfect torrent of passionate words, directed to both +him and myself. Marnoo, evidently repenting the step he had taken, +earnestly deprecated the resentment of the crowd, and, in a few moments +succeeded in pacifying to some extent the clamours which had broken out +as soon as his proposition had been understood. + +With the most intense interest had I watched the reception his +intercession might receive; and a bitter pang shot through my heart +at the additional evidence, now furnished, of the unchangeable +determination of the islanders. Marnoo told me with evident alarm in his +countenance, that although admitted into the bay on a friendly footing +with its inhabitants, he could not presume to meddle with their +concerns, as such procedure, if persisted in, would at once absolve +the Typees from the restraints of the 'taboo', although so long as +he refrained from such conduct, it screened him effectually from the +consequences of the enmity they bore his tribe. At this moment, Mehevi, +who was present, angrily interrupted him; and the words which he uttered +in a commanding tone, evidently meant that he must at once cease talking +to me and withdraw to the other part of the house. Marnoo immediately +started up, hurriedly enjoining me not to address him again, and as I +valued my safety, to refrain from all further allusion to the subject of +my departure; and then, in compliance with the order of the determined +chief, but not before it had again been angrily repeated, he withdrew to +a distance. + +I now perceived, with no small degree of apprehension, the same savage +expression in the countenances of the natives, which had startled me +during the scene at the Ti. They glanced their eyes suspiciously from +Marnoo to me, as if distrusting the nature of an intercourse carried on, +as it was, in a language they could not understand, and they seemed to +harbour the belief that already we had concerted measures calculated to +elude their vigilance. + +The lively countenances of these people are wonderfully indicative of +the emotions of the soul, and the imperfections of their oral language +are more than compensated for by the nervous eloquence of their looks +and gestures. I could plainly trace, in every varying expression of +their faces, all those passions which had been thus unexpectedly aroused +in their bosoms. + +It required no reflection to convince me, from what was going on, that +the injunction of Marnoo was not to be rashly slighted; and accordingly, +great as was the effort to suppress my feelings, I accosted Mehevi in +a good-humoured tone, with a view of dissipating any ill impression +he might have received. But the ireful, angry chief was not so easily +mollified. He rejected my advances with that peculiarly stern expression +I have before described, and took care by the whole of his behaviour +towards me to show the displeasure and resentment which he felt. + +Marnoo, at the other extremity of the house, apparently desirous of +making a diversion in my favour, exerted himself to amuse with his +pleasantries the crowd about him; but his lively attempts were not so +successful as they had previously been, and, foiled in his efforts, he +rose gravely to depart. No one expressed any regret at this movement, +so seizing his roll of tappa, and grasping his spear, he advanced to +the front of the pi-pi, and waving his hand in adieu to the now silent +throng, cast upon me a glance of mingled pity and reproach, and flung +himself into the path which led from the house. I watched his receding +figure until it was lost in the obscurity of the grove, and then gave +myself up to the most desponding reflections. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN + +REFLECTIONS AFTER MARNOO'S DEPARTURE-BATTLE OF THE POP-GUNS--STRANGE +CONCEIT OF MARHEYO--PROCESS OF MAKING TAPPA + +THE knowledge I had now obtained as to the intention of the savages +deeply affected me. + +Marnoo, I perceived, was a man who, by reason of his superior +acquirements, and the knowledge he possessed of the events which were +taking place in the different bays of the island, was held in no little +estimation by the inhabitants of the valley. He had been received with +the most cordial welcome and respect. The natives had hung upon the +accents of his voice, and, had manifested the highest gratification at +being individually noticed by him. And yet despite all this, a few +words urged in my behalf, with the intent of obtaining my release from +captivity, had sufficed not only to banish all harmony and good-will; +but, if I could believe what he told me, had gone on to endanger his own +personal safety. + +How strongly rooted, then, must be the determination of the Typees +with regard to me, and how suddenly could they display the strangest +passions! The mere suggestion of my departure had estranged from me, +for the time at least, Mehevi, who was the most influential of all +the chiefs, and who had previously exhibited so many instances of his +friendly sentiments. The rest of the natives had likewise evinced their +strong repugnance to my wishes, and even Kory-Kory himself seemed to +share in the general disapprobation bestowed upon me. + +In vain I racked my invention to find out some motive for them, but I +could discover none. + +But however this might be, the scene which had just occurred admonished +me of the danger of trifling with the wayward and passionate spirits +against whom it was vain to struggle, and might even be fatal to do go. +My only hope was to induce the natives to believe that I was reconciled +to my detention in the valley, and by assuming a tranquil and cheerful +demeanour, to allay the suspicions which I had so unfortunately aroused. +Their confidence revived, they might in a short time remit in some +degree their watchfulness over my movements, and I should then be the +better enabled to avail myself of any opportunity which presented itself +for escape. I determined, therefore, to make the best of a bad +bargain, and to bear up manfully against whatever might betide. In this +endeavour, I succeeded beyond my own expectations. At the period +of Marnoo's visit, I had been in the valley, as nearly as I could +conjecture, some two months. Although not completely recovered from my +strange illness, which still lingered about me, I was free from pain +and able to take exercise. In short, I had every reason to anticipate a +perfect recovery. Freed from apprehension on this point, and resolved +to regard the future without flinching, I flung myself anew into all the +social pleasures of the valley, and sought to bury all regrets, and +all remembrances of my previous existence in the wild enjoyments it +afforded. + +In my various wanderings through the vale, and as I became better +acquainted with the character of its inhabitants, I was more and more +struck with the light-hearted joyousness that everywhere prevailed. The +minds of these simple savages, unoccupied by matters of graver moment, +were capable of deriving the utmost delight from circumstances which +would have passed unnoticed in more intelligent communities. All their +enjoyment, indeed, seemed to be made up of the little trifling incidents +of the passing hour; but these diminutive items swelled altogether to an +amount of happiness seldom experienced by more enlightened individuals, +whose pleasures are drawn from more elevated but rarer sources. + +What community, for instance, of refined and intellectual mortals +would derive the least satisfaction from shooting pop-guns? The +mere supposition of such a thing being possible would excite their +indignation, and yet the whole population of Typee did little else for +ten days but occupy themselves with that childish amusement, fairly +screaming, too, with the delight it afforded them. + +One day I was frolicking with a little spirited urchin, some six years +old, who chased me with a piece of bamboo about three feet long, with +which he occasionally belaboured me. Seizing the stick from him, the +idea happened to suggest itself, that I might make for the youngster, +out of the slender tube, one of those nursery muskets with which I had +sometimes seen children playing. + +Accordingly, with my knife I made two parallel slits in the cane several +inches in length, and cutting loose at one end the elastic strip between +them, bent it back and slipped the point into a little notch made for +the purse. Any small substance placed against this would be projected +with considerable force through the tube, by merely springing the bent +strip out of the notch. + +Had I possessed the remotest idea of the sensation this piece of +ordnance was destined to produce, I should certainly have taken out a +patent for the invention. The boy scampered away with it, half delirious +with ecstasy, and in twenty minutes afterwards I might have been seen +surrounded by a noisy crowd--venerable old graybeards--responsible +fathers of families--valiant warriors--matrons--young men--girls and +children, all holding in their hands bits of bamboo, and each clamouring +to be served first. + +For three or four hours I was engaged in manufacturing pop-guns, but +at last made over my good-will and interest in the concern to a lad of +remarkably quick parts, whom I soon initiated into the art and mystery. + +Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop, now resounded all over the valley. Duels, +skirmishes, pitched battles, and general engagements were to be seen +on every side. Here, as you walked along a path which led through a +thicket, you fell into a cunningly laid ambush, and became a target for +a body of musketeers whose tattooed limbs you could just see peeping +into view through the foliage. There you were assailed by the intrepid +garrison of a house, who levelled their bamboo rifles at you from +between the upright canes which composed its sides. Farther on you were +fired upon by a detachment of sharpshooters, mounted upon the top of a +pi-pi. + +Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop! green guavas, seeds, and berries were flying about +in every direction, and during this dangerous state of affairs I was +half afraid that, like the man and his brazen bull, I should fall +a victim to my own ingenuity. Like everything else, however, the +excitement gradually wore away, though ever after occasionally pop-guns +might be heard at all hours of the day. + +It was towards the close of the pop-gun war, that I was infinitely +diverted with a strange freak of Marheyo's. + +I had worn, when I quitted the ship, a pair of thick pumps, which, from +the rough usage they had received in scaling precipices and sliding down +gorges, were so dilapidated as to be altogether unfit for use--so, at +least, would have thought the generality of people, and so they most +certainly were, when considered in the light of shoes. But things +unservicable in one way, may with advantage be applied in another, +that is, if one have genius enough for the purpose. This genius Marheyo +possessed in a superlative degree, as he abundantly evinced by the use +to which he put those sorely bruised and battered old shoes. + +Every article, however trivial, which belonged to me, the natives +appeared to regard as sacred; and I observed that for several days +after becoming an inmate of the house, my pumps were suffered to remain, +untouched, where I had first happened to throw them. I remembered, +however, that after awhile I had missed them from their accustomed +place; but the matter gave me no concern, supposing that Tinor--like any +other tidy housewife, having come across them in some of her domestic +occupations--had pitched the useless things out of the house. But I was +soon undeceived. + +One day I observed old Marheyo bustling about me with unusual activity, +and to such a degree as almost to supersede Kory-Kory in the functions +of his office. One moment he volunteered to trot off with me on his back +to the stream; and when I refused, noways daunted by the repulse, he +continued to frisk about me like a superannuated house-dog. I could not +for the life of me conjecture what possessed the old gentleman, until +all at once, availing himself of the temporary absence of the household, +he went through a variety of of uncouth gestures, pointing eagerly down +to my feet, then up to a little bundle, which swung from the ridge pole +overhead. At last I caught a faint idea of his meaning, and motioned him +to lower the package. He executed the order in the twinkling of an eye, +and unrolling a piece of tappa, displayed to my astonished gaze the +identical pumps which I thought had been destroyed long before. + +I immediately comprehended his desire, and very generously gave him the +shoes, which had become quite mouldy, wondering for what earthly purpose +he could want them. The same afternoon I descried the venerable warrior +approaching the house, with a slow, stately gait, ear-rings in ears, and +spear in hand, with this highly ornamental pair of shoes suspended from +his neck by a strip of bark, and swinging backwards and forwards on +his capacious chest. In the gala costume of the tasteful Marheyo, these +calf-skin pendants ever after formed the most striking feature. + +But to turn to something a little more important. Although the whole +existence of the inhabitants of the valley seemed to pass away exempt +from toil, yet there were some light employments which, although amusing +rather than laborious as occupations, contributed to their comfort and +luxury. Among these the most important was the manufacture of the native +cloth,--'tappa',--so well known, under various modifications, throughout +the whole Polynesian Archipelago. As is generally understood, this +useful and sometimes elegant article is fabricated from the bark +of different trees. But, as I believe that no description of its +manufacture has ever been given, I shall state what I know regarding it. + +In the manufacture of the beautiful white tappa generally worn on the +Marquesan Islands, the preliminary operation consists in gathering a +certain quantity of the young branches of the cloth-tree. The exterior +green bark being pulled off as worthless, there remains a slender +fibrous substance, which is carefully stripped from the stick, to which +it closely adheres. When a sufficient quantity of it has been collected, +the various strips are enveloped in a covering of large leaves, which +the natives use precisely as we do wrapping-paper, and which are secured +by a few turns of a line passed round them. The package is then laid in +the bed of some running stream, with a heavy stone placed over it, to +prevent its being swept away. After it has remained for two or three +days in this state, it is drawn out, and exposed, for a short time, to +the action of the air, every distinct piece being attentively inspected, +with a view of ascertaining whether it has yet been sufficiently +affected by the operation. This is repeated again and again, until the +desired result is obtained. + +When the substance is in a proper state for the next process, it +betrays evidences of incipient decomposition; the fibres are relaxed and +softened, and rendered perfectly malleable. The different strips are +now extended, one by one, in successive layers, upon some smooth +surface--generally the prostrate trunk of a cocoanut tree--and the heap +thus formed is subjected, at every new increase, to a moderate beating, +with a sort of wooden mallet, leisurely applied. The mallet is made of a +hard heavy wood resembling ebony, is about twelve inches in length, and +perhaps two in breadth, with a rounded handle at one end, and in shape +is the exact counterpart of one of our four-sided razor-strops. The flat +surfaces of the implement are marked with shallow parallel indentations, +varying in depth on the different sides, so as to be adapted to the +several stages of the operation. These marks produce the corduroy sort +of stripes discernible in the tappa in its finished state. After being +beaten in the manner I have described, the material soon becomes blended +in one mass, which, moistened occasionally with water, is at intervals +hammered out, by a kind of gold-beating process, to any degree of +thinness required. In this way the cloth is easily made to vary in +strength and thickness, so as to suit the numerous purposes to which it +is applied. + +When the operation last described has been concluded, the new-made tappa +is spread out on the grass to bleach and dry, and soon becomes of a +dazzling whiteness. Sometimes, in the first stages of the manufacture, +the substance is impregnated with a vegetable juice, which gives it +a permanent colour. A rich brown and a bright yellow are occasionally +seen, but the simple taste of the Typee people inclines them to prefer +the natural tint. + +The notable wife of Kamehameha, the renowned conqueror and king of the +Sandwich Islands, used to pride herself in the skill she displayed in +dyeing her tappa with contrasting colours disposed in regular figures; +and, in the midst of the innovations of the times, was regarded, towards +the decline of her life, as a lady of the old school, clinging as she +did to the national cloth, in preference to the frippery of the +European calicoes. But the art of printing the tappa is unknown upon the +Marquesan Islands. In passing along the valley, I was often attracted by +the noise of the mallet, which, when employed in the manufacture of +the cloth produces at every stroke of its hard, heavy wood, a clear, +ringing, and musical sound, capable of being heard at a great distance. +When several of these implements happen to be in operation at the same +time, near one another, the effect upon the ear of a person, at a little +distance, is really charming. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY + +HISTORY OF A DAY AS USUALLY SPENT IN TYPEE VALLEY--DANCES OF THE +MARQUESAN GIRLS + +NOTHING can be more uniform and undiversified than the life of the +Typees; one tranquil day of ease and happiness follows another in quiet +succession; and with these unsophisicated savages the history of a +day is the history of a life. I will, therefore, as briefly as I can, +describe one of our days in the valley. + +To begin with the morning. We were not very early risers--the sun would +be shooting his golden spikes above the Happar mountain, ere I threw +aside my tappa robe, and girding my long tunic about my waist, sallied +out with Fayaway and Kory-Kory, and the rest of the household, and bent +my steps towards the stream. Here we found congregated all those who +dwelt in our section of the valley; and here we bathed with them. The +fresh morning air and the cool flowing waters put both soul and body in +a glow, and after a half-hour employed in this recreation, we sauntered +back to the house--Tinor and Marheyo gathering dry sticks by the way +for fire-wood; some of the young men laying the cocoanut trees under +contribution as they passed beneath them; while Kory-Kory played his +outlandish pranks for my particular diversion, and Fayaway and I, not +arm in arm to be sure, but sometimes hand in hand, strolled along, with +feelings of perfect charity for all the world, and especial good-will +towards each other. + +Our morning meal was soon prepared. The islanders are somewhat +abstemious at this repast; reserving the more powerful efforts of +their appetite to a later period of the day. For my own part, with the +assistance of my valet, who, as I have before stated, always officiated +as spoon on these occasions, I ate sparingly from one of Tinor's +trenchers, of poee-poee; which was devoted exclusively for my own use, +being mixed with the milky meat of ripe cocoanut. A section of a roasted +bread-fruit, a small cake of 'Amar', or a mess of 'Cokoo,' two or three +bananas, or a mammee-apple; an annuee, or some other agreeable and +nutritious fruit served from day to day to diversify the meal, which was +finished by tossing off the liquid contents of a young cocoanut or two. + +While partaking of this simple repast, the inmates of Marheyo's house, +after the style of the ancient Romans, reclined in sociable groups upon +the divan of mats, and digestion was promoted by cheerful conversation. + +After the morning meal was concluded, pipes were lighted; and among them +my own especial pipe, a present from the noble Mehevi. + +The islanders, who only smoke a whiff or two at a time, and at long +intervals, and who keep their pipes going from hand to hand continually, +regarded my systematic smoking of four or five pipefuls of tobacco in +succession, as something quite wonderful. When two or three pipes had +circulated freely, the company gradually broke up. Marheyo went to the +little hut he was forever building. Tinor began to inspect her rolls of +tappa, or employed her busy fingers in plaiting grass-mats. The girls +anointed themselves with their fragrant oils, dressed their hair, or +looked over their curious finery, and compared together their ivory +trinkets, fashioned out of boar's tusks or whale's teeth. The young men +and warriors produced their spears, paddles, canoe-gear, battle-clubs, +and war-conchs, and occupied themselves in carving, all sorts of figures +upon them with pointed bits of shell or flint, and adorning them, +especially the war-conchs, with tassels of braided bark and tufts of +human hair. Some, immediately after eating, threw themselves once more +upon the inviting mats, and resumed the employment of the previous +night, sleeping as soundly as if they had not closed their eyes for a +week. Others sallied out into the groves, for the purpose of gathering +fruit or fibres of bark and leaves; the last two being in constant +requisition, and applied to a hundred uses. A few, perhaps, among the +girls, would slip into the woods after flowers, or repair to the stream +will; small calabashes and cocoanut shells, in order to polish them +by friction with a smooth stone in the water. In truth these innocent +people seemed to be at no loss for something to occupy their time; and +it would be no light task to enumerate all their employments, or rather +pleasures. + +My own mornings I spent in a variety of ways. Sometimes I rambled about +from house to house, sure of receiving a cordial welcome wherever I +went; or from grove to grove, and from one shady place to another, in +company with Kory-Kory and Fayaway, and a rabble rout of merry young +idlers. Sometimes I was too indolent for exercise, and accepting one of +the many invitations I was continually receiving, stretched myself out +on the mats of some hospitable dwelling, and occupied myself pleasantly +either in watching the proceedings of those around me or taking part +in them myself. Whenever I chose to do the latter, the delight of the +islanders was boundless; and there was always a throng of competitors +for the honour of instructing me in any particular craft. I soon became +quite an accomplished hand at making tappa--could braid a grass sling as +well as the best of them--and once, with my knife, carved the handle of +a javelin so exquisitely, that I have no doubt, to this day, Karnoonoo, +its owner, preserves it as a surprising specimen of my skill. As noon +approached, all those who had wandered forth from our habitation, began +to return; and when midday was fairly come scarcely a sound was to be +heard in the valley: a deep sleep fell upon all. The luxurious siesta +was hardly ever omitted, except by old Marheyo, who was so eccentric +a character, that he seemed to be governed by no fixed principles +whatever; but acting just according to the humour of the moment, +slept, ate, or tinkered away at his little hut, without regard to the +proprieties of time or place. Frequently he might have been seen taking +a nap in the sun at noon-day, or a bath in the stream of mid-night. +Once I beheld him perched eighty feet from the ground, in the tuft of a +cocoanut tree, smoking; and often I saw him standing up to the waist +in water, engaged in plucking out the stray hairs of his beard, using a +piece of muscle-shell for tweezers. + +The noon-tide slumber lasted generally an hour and a half: very often +longer; and after the sleepers had arisen from their mats they again +had recourse to their pipes, and then made preparations for the most +important meal of the day. + +I, however, like those gentlemen of leisure who breakfast at home and +dine at their club, almost invariably, during my intervals of health, +enjoyed the afternoon repast with the bachelor chiefs of the Ti, who +were always rejoiced to see me, and lavishly spread before me all the +good things which their larder afforded. Mehevi generally introduced +among other dainties a baked pig, an article which I have every reason +to suppose was provided for my sole gratification. + +The Ti was a right jovial place. It did my heart, as well as my body, +good to visit it. Secure from female intrusion, there was no restraint +upon the hilarity of the warriors, who, like the gentlemen of Europe +after the cloth is drawn and the ladies retire, freely indulged their +mirth. + +After spending a considerable portion of the afternoon at the Ti, I +usually found myself, as the cool of the evening came on, either sailing +on the little lake with Fayaway, or bathing in the waters of the +stream with a number of the savages, who, at this hour, always repaired +thither. As the shadows of night approached Marheyo's household were +once more assembled under his roof: tapers were lit, long curious chants +were raised, interminable stories were told (for which one present was +little the wiser), and all sorts of social festivities served to while +away the time. + +The young girls very often danced by moonlight in front of their +dwellings. There are a great variety of these dances, in which, however, +I never saw the men take part. They all consist of active, romping, +mischievous evolutions, in which every limb is brought into requisition. +Indeed, the Marquesan girls dance all over, as it were; not only do +their feet dance, but their arms, hands, fingers, ay, their very eyes, +seem to dance in their heads. + +The damsels wear nothing but flowers and their compendious gala tunics; +and when they plume themselves for the dance, they look like a band of +olive-coloured Sylphides on the point of taking wing. In good sooth, +they so sway their floating forms, arch their necks, toss aloft their +naked arms, and glide, and swim, and whirl, that it was almost too much +for a quiet, sober-minded, modest young man like myself. + +Unless some particular festivity was going forward, the inmates of +Marheyo's house retired to their mats rather early in the evening; but +not for the night, since, after slumbering lightly for a while, they +rose again, relit their tapers, partook of the third and last meal of +the day, at which poee-poee alone was eaten, and then, after inhaling a +narcotic whiff from a pipe of tobacco, disposed themselves for the great +business of night, sleep. With the Marquesans it might almost most be +styled the great business of life, for they pass a large portion +of their time in the arms of Somnus. The native strength of their +constitution is no way shown more emphatically than in the quantity of +sleep they can endure. To many of them, indeed, life is little else than +an often interrupted and luxurious nap. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE + +THE SPRING OF ARVA WAI--REMARKABLE MONUMENTAL REMAINS--SOME IDEAS WITH +REGARD TO THE HISTORY OF THE PI-PIS FOUND IN THE VALLEY + +ALMOST every country has its medicinal springs famed for their healing +virtues. The Cheltenham of Typee is embosomed in the deepest solitude, +and but seldom receives a visitor. It is situated remote from any +dwelling, a little way up the mountain, near the head of the valley; and +you approach it by a pathway shaded by the most beautiful foliage, and +adorned with a thousand fragrant plants. The mineral waters of Arva Wai* +ooze forth from the crevices of a rock, and gliding down its mossy side, +fall at last, in many clustering drops, into a natural basin of stone +fringed round with grass and dewy-looking little violet-coloured +flowers, as fresh and beautiful as the perpetual moisture they enjoy can +make them. + +*I presume this might be translated into 'Strong Waters'. Arva is the +name bestowed upon a root the properties of which are both inebriating +and medicinal. 'Wai' is the Marquesan word for water. + + + +The water is held in high estimation by the islanders, some of whom +consider it an agreeable as well as a medicinal beverage; they bring it +from the mountain in their calabashes, and store it away beneath heaps +of leaves in some shady nook near the house. Old Marheyo had a great +love for the waters of the spring. Every now and then he lugged off to +the mountain a great round demijohn of a calabash, and, panting with his +exertions, brought it back filled with his darling fluid. + +The water tasted like a solution of a dozen disagreeable things, and was +sufficiently nauseous to have made the fortune of the proprietor, had +the spa been situated in the midst of any civilized community. + +As I am no chemist, I cannot give a scientific analysis of the water. +All I know about the matter is, that one day Marheyo in my presence +poured out the last drop from his huge calabash, and I observed at the +bottom of the vessel a small quantity of gravelly sediment very much +resembling our common sand. Whether this is always found in the water, +and gives it its peculiar flavour and virtues, or whether its presence +was merely incidental, I was not able to ascertain. + +One day in returning from this spring by a circuitous path, I came upon +a scene which reminded me of Stonehenge and the architectural labours of +the Druids. + +At the base of one of the mountains, and surrounded on all sides by +dense groves, a series of vast terraces of stone rises, step by step, +for a considerable distance up the hill side. These terraces cannot +be less than one hundred yards in length and twenty in width. Their +magnitude, however, is less striking than the immense size of the blocks +composing them. Some of the stones, of an oblong shape, are from ten +to fifteen feet in length, and five or six feet thick. Their sides are +quite smooth, but though square, and of pretty regular formation, they +bear no mark of the chisel. They are laid together without cement, and +here and there show gaps between. The topmost terrace and the lower +one are somewhat peculiar in their construction. They have both a +quadrangular depression in the centre, leaving the rest of the terrace +elevated several feet above it. In the intervals of the stones immense +trees have taken root, and their broad boughs stretching far over, and +interlacing together, support a canopy almost impenetrable to the sun. +Overgrowing the greater part of them, and climbing from one to another, +is a wilderness of vines, in whose sinewy embrace many of the stones +lie half-hidden, while in some places a thick growth of bushes entirely +covers them. There is a wild pathway which obliquely crosses two of +these terraces; and so profound is the shade, so dense the vegetation, +that a stranger to the place might pass along it without being aware of +their existence. + +These structures bear every indication of a very high antiquity and +Kory-Kory, who was my authority in all matters of scientific research, +gave me to understand that they were coeval with the creation of the +world; that the great gods themselves were the builders; and that they +would endure until time shall be no more. + +Kory-Kory's prompt explanation and his attributing the work to a +divine origin, at once convinced me that neither he nor the rest of his +country-men knew anything about them. + +As I gazed upon this monument, doubtless the work of an extinct and +forgotten race, thus buried in the green nook of an island at the ends +of the earth, the existence of which was yesterday unknown, a stronger +feeling of awe came over me than if I had stood musing at the mighty +base of the Pyramid of Cheops. There are no inscriptions, no sculpture, +no clue, by which to conjecture its history; nothing but the dumb +stones. How many generations of the majestic trees which overshadow them +have grown and flourished and decayed since first they were erected! + +These remains naturally suggest many interesting reflections. They +establish the great age of the island, an opinion which the builders +of theories concerning, the creation of the various groups in the South +Seas are not always inclined to admit. For my own part, I think it +just as probable that human beings were living in the valleys of the +Marquesas three thousand years ago as that they were inhabiting the land +of Egypt. The origin of the island of Nukuheva cannot be imputed to the +coral insect; for indefatigable as that wonderful creature is, it would +be hardly muscular enough to pile rocks one upon the other more than +three thousand feet above the level of the sea. That the land may have +been thrown up by a submarine volcano is as possible as anything else. +No one can make an affidavit to the contrary, and therefore I still say +nothing against the supposition: indeed, were geologists to assert that +the whole continent of America had in like manner been formed by the +simultaneous explosion of a train of Etnas laid under the water all the +way from the North Pole to the parallel of Cape Horn, I am the last man +in the world to contradict them. + +I have already mentioned that the dwellings of the islanders were almost +invariably built upon massive stone foundations, which they call pi-pis. +The dimensions of these, however, as well as of the stones composing +them, are comparatively small: but there are other and larger erections +of a similar description comprising the 'morais', or burying grounds, +and festival-places, in nearly all the valleys of the island. Some of +these piles are so extensive, and so great a degree of labour and skill +must have been requisite in constructing them, that I can scarcely +believe they were built by the ancestors of the present inhabitants. If +indeed they were, the race has sadly deteriorated in their knowledge of +the mechanic arts. To say nothing of their habitual indolence, by what +contrivance within the reach of so simple a people could such enormous +masses have been moved or fixed in their places? and how could they with +their rude implements have chiselled and hammered them into shape? + +All of these larger pi-pis--like that of the Hoolah Hoolah ground in the +Typee valley--bore incontestible marks of great age; and I am disposed +to believe that their erection may be ascribed to the same race of men +who were the builders of the still more ancient remains I have just +described. + +According to Kory-Kory's account, the pi-pi upon which stands the Hoolah +Hoolah ground was built a great many moons ago, under the direction of +Monoo, a great chief and warrior, and, as it would appear, master-mason +among the Typees. It was erected for the express purpose to which it is +at present devoted, in the incredibly short period of one sun; and was +dedicated to the immortal wooden idols by a grand festival, which lasted +ten days and nights. + +Among the smaller pi-pis, upon which stand the dwelling-houses of the +natives, I never observed any which intimated a recent erection. There +are in every part of the valley a great many of these massive stone +foundations which have no houses upon them. This is vastly convenient, +for whenever an enterprising islander chooses to emigrate a few hundred +yards from the place where he was born, all he has to do in order to +establish himself in some new locality, is to select one of the many +unappropriated pi-pis, and without further ceremony pitch his bamboo +tent upon it. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO + +PREPARATIONS FOR A GRAND FESTIVAL IN THE VALLEY--STRANGE DOINGS IN +THE TABOO GROVES--MONUMENT OF CALABASHES--GALA COSTUME OF THE TYPEE +DAMSELS--DEPARTURE FOR THE FESTIVAL + +FROM the time that my lameness had decreased I had made a daily practice +of visiting Mehevi at the Ti, who invariably gave me a most cordial +reception. I was always accompanied in these excursions by Fayaway +and the ever-present Kory-Kory. The former, as soon as we reached the +vicinity of the Ti--which was rigorously tabooed to the whole female +sex--withdrew to a neighbouring hut, as if her feminine delicacy +'restricted' her from approaching a habitation which might be regarded +as a sort of Bachelor's Hall. + +And in good truth it might well have been so considered. Although it +was the permanent residence of several distinguished chiefs, and of +the noble Mehevi in particular, it was still at certain seasons the +favourite haunt of all the jolly, talkative, and elderly savages of +the vale, who resorted thither in the same way that similar characters +frequent a tavern in civilized countries. There they would remain hour +after hour, chatting, smoking, eating poee-poee, or busily engaged in +sleeping for the good of their constitutions. + +This building appeared to be the head-quarters of the valley, where all +flying rumours concentrated; and to have seen it filled with a crowd +of the natives, all males, conversing in animated clusters, while +multitudes were continually coming and going, one would have thought it +a kind of savage Exchange, where the rise and fall of Polynesian Stock +was discussed. + +Mehevi acted as supreme lord over the place, spending the greater +portion of his time there: and often when, at particular hours of the +day, it was deserted by nearly every one else except the verd-antique +looking centenarians, who were fixtures in the building, the chief +himself was sure to be found enjoying his 'otium cum dignitate'--upon +the luxurious mats which covered the floor. Whenever I made my +appearance he invariably rose, and like a gentleman doing the honours of +his mansion, invited me to repose myself wherever I pleased, and calling +out 'tamaree!' (boy), a little fellow would appear, and then retiring +for an instant, return with some savoury mess, from which the chief +would press me to regale myself. To tell the truth, Mehevi was indebted +to the excellence of his viands for the honour of my repeated visits--a +matter which cannot appear singular, when it is borne in mind that +bachelors, all the world over, are famous for serving up unexceptionable +repasts. + +One day, on drawing near to the Ti, I observed that extensive +preparations were going forward, plainly betokening some approaching +festival. Some of the symptoms reminded me of the stir produced among +the scullions of a large hotel, where a grand jubilee dinner is about to +be given. The natives were hurrying about hither and thither, engaged in +various duties, some lugging off to the stream enormous hollow +bamboos, for the purpose of filling them with water; others chasing +furious-looking hogs through the bushes, in their endeavours to capture +them; and numbers employed in kneading great mountains of poee-poee +heaped up in huge wooden vessels. + +After observing these lively indications for a while, I was attracted to +a neighbouring grove by a prodigious squeaking which I heard there. On +reaching the spot I found it proceeded from a large hog which a number +of natives were forcibly holding to the earth, while a muscular fellow, +armed with a bludgeon, was ineffectually aiming murderous blows at the +skull of the unfortunate porker. Again and again he missed his +writhing and struggling victim, but though puffing and panting with +his exertions, he still continued them; and after striking a sufficient +number of blows to have demolished an entire drove of oxen, with one +crashing stroke he laid him dead at his feet. + +Without letting any blood from the body, it was immediately carried to a +fire which had been kindled near at hand and four savages taking hold of +the carcass by its legs, passed it rapidly to and fro in the flames. +In a moment the smell of burning bristles betrayed the object of this +procedure. Having got thus far in the matter, the body was removed to a +little distance and, being disembowelled, the entrails were laid aside +as choice parts, and the whole carcass thoroughly washed with water. An +ample thick green cloth, composed of the long thick leaves of a species +of palm-tree, ingeniously tacked together with little pins of bamboo, +was now spread upon the ground, in which the body being carefully +rolled, it was borne to an oven previously prepared to receive it. Here +it was at once laid upon the heated stones at the bottom, and covered +with thick layers of leaves, the whole being quickly hidden from sight +by a mound of earth raised over it. + +Such is the summary style in which the Typees convert perverse-minded +and rebellious hogs into the most docile and amiable pork; a morsel +of which placed on the tongue melts like a soft smile from the lips of +Beauty. + +I commend their peculiar mode of proceeding to the consideration of all +butchers, cooks, and housewives. The hapless porker whose fate I have +just rehearsed, was not the only one who suffered in that memorable day. +Many a dismal grunt, many an imploring squeak, proclaimed what was going +on throughout the whole extent of the valley; and I verily believe the +first-born of every litter perished before the setting of that fatal +sun. + +The scene around the Ti was now most animated. Hogs and poee-poee were +baking in numerous ovens, which, heaped up with fresh earth into slight +elevations, looked like so many ant-hills. Scores of the savages were +vigorously plying their stone pestles in preparing masses of poee-poee, +and numbers were gathering green bread-fruit and young cocoanuts in the +surrounding groves; when an exceeding great multitude, with a view of +encouraging the rest in their labours, stood still, and kept shouting +most lustily without intermission. + +It is a peculiarity among these people, that, when engaged in an +employment, they always make a prodigious fuss about it. So seldom do +they ever exert themselves, that when they do work they seem determined +that so meritorious an action shall not escape the observation of those +around if, for example, they have occasion to remove a stone to a little +distance, which perhaps might be carried by two able-bodied men, a whole +swarm gather about it, and, after a vast deal of palavering, lift it +up among them, every one struggling to get hold of it, and bear it off +yelling and panting as if accomplishing some mighty achievement. Seeing +them on these occasions, one is reminded of an infinity of black ants +clustering about and dragging away to some hole the leg of a deceased +fly. + +Having for some time attentively observed these demonstrations of good +cheer, I entered the Ti, where Mehevi sat complacently looking out upon +the busy scene, and occasionally issuing his orders. The chief appeared +to be in an extraordinary flow of spirits and gave me to understand that +on the morrow there would be grand doings in the Groves generally, and +at the Ti in particular; and urged me by no means to absent myself. In +commemoration of what event, however, or in honour of what +distinguished personage, the feast was to be given, altogether passed my +comprehension. Mehevi sought to enlighten my ignorance, but he failed as +signally as when he had endeavoured to initiate me into the perplexing +arcana of the taboo. + +On leaving the Ti, Kory-Kory, who had as a matter of course accompanied +me, observing that my curiosity remained unabated, resolved to make +everything plain and satisfactory. With this intent, he escorted +me through the Taboo Groves, pointing out to my notice a variety of +objects, and endeavoured to explain them in such an indescribable jargon +of words, that it almost put me in bodily pain to listen to him. In +particular, he led me to a remarkable pyramidical structure some three +yards square at the base, and perhaps ten feet in height, which had +lately been thrown up, and occupied a very conspicuous position. It +was composed principally of large empty calabashes, with a few polished +cocoanut shells, and looked not unlike a cenotaph of skulls. My cicerone +perceived the astonishment with which I gazed at this monument of savage +crockery, and immediately addressed himself in the task of enlightening +me: but all in vain; and to this hour the nature of the monument remains +a complete mystery to me. As, however, it formed so prominent a feature +in the approaching revels, I bestowed upon the latter, in my own mind, +the title of the 'Feast of Calabashes'. + +The following morning, awaking rather late, I perceived the whole of +Marheyo's family busily engaged in preparing for the festival. + +The old warrior himself was arranging in round balls the two grey locks +of hair that were suffered to grow from the crown of his head; his +earrings and spear, both well polished, lay beside him, while the highly +decorative pair of shoes hung suspended from a projecting cane against +the side of the house. The young men were similarly employed; and the +fair damsels, including Fayaway, were anointing themselves with 'aka', +arranging their long tresses, and performing other matters connected +with the duties of the toilet. + +Having completed their preparations, the girls now exhibited themselves +in gala costume; the most conspicuous feature of which was a necklace +of beautiful white flowers, with the stems removed, and strung closely +together upon a single fibre of tappa. Corresponding ornaments were +inserted in their ears, and woven garlands upon their heads. About their +waist they wore a short tunic of spotless white tappa, and some of them +super-added to this a mantle of the same material, tied in an elaborate +bow upon the left shoulder, and falling about the figure in picturesque +folds. + +Thus arrayed, I would have matched the charming Fayaway against any +beauty in the world. + +People may say what they will about the taste evinced by our fashionable +ladies in dress. Their jewels, their feathers, their silks, and +their furbelows, would have sunk into utter insignificance beside the +exquisite simplicity of attire adopted by the nymphs of the vale on this +festive occasion. I should like to have seen a gallery of coronation +beauties, at Westminster Abbey, confronted for a moment by this band of +island girls; their stiffness, formality, and affectation, contrasted +with the artless vivacity and unconcealed natural graces of these savage +maidens. It would be the Venus de' Medici placed beside a milliner's +doll. It was not long before Kory-Kory and myself were left alone in the +house, the rest of its inmates having departed for the Taboo Groves. +My valet was all impatience to follow them; and was as fidgety about my +dilatory movements as a diner out waiting hat in hand at the bottom +of the stairs for some lagging companion. At last, yielding to his +importunities, I set out for the Ti. As we passed the houses peeping out +from the groves through which our route lay, I noticed that they were +entirely deserted by their inhabitants. + +When we reached the rock that abruptly terminated the path, and +concealed from us the festive scene, wild shouts and a confused blending +of voices assured me that the occasion, whatever it might be, had +drawn together a great multitude. Kory-Kory, previous to mounting the +elevation, paused for a moment, like a dandy at a ball-room door, to put +a hasty finish to his toilet. During this short interval, the thought +struck me that I ought myself perhaps to be taking some little pains +with my appearance. + +But as I had no holiday raiment, I was not a little puzzled to devise +some means of decorating myself. However, as I felt desirous to create a +sensation, I determined to do all that lay in my power; and knowing that +I could not delight the savages more than by conforming to their style +of dress, I removed from my person the large robe of tappa which I was +accustomed to wear over my shoulders whenever I sallied into the open +air, and remained merely girt about with a short tunic descending from +my waist to my knees. + +My quick-witted attendant fully appreciated the compliment I was paying +to the costume of his race, and began more sedulously to arrange the +folds of the one only garment which remained to me. Whilst he was doing +this, I caught sight of a knot of young lasses, who were sitting near us +on the grass surrounded by heaps of flowers which they were forming into +garlands. I motioned to them to bring some of their handywork to me; +and in an instant a dozen wreaths were at my disposal. One of them I +put round the apology for a hat which I had been forced to construct for +myself out of palmetto-leaves, and some of the others I converted into a +splendid girdle. These operations finished, with the slow and dignified +step of a full-dressed beau I ascended the rock. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE + +THE FEAST OF CALABASHES + +THE whole population of the valley seemed to be gathered within the +precincts of the grove. In the distance could be seen the long front of +the Ti, its immense piazza swarming with men, arrayed in every variety +of fantastic costume, and all vociferating with animated gestures; while +the whole interval between it and the place where I stood was enlivened +by groups of females fancifully decorated, dancing, capering, and +uttering wild exclamations. As soon as they descried me they set up a +shout of welcome; and a band of them came dancing towards me, chanting +as they approached some wild recitative. The change in my garb seemed to +transport them with delight, and clustering about me on all sides, they +accompanied me towards the Ti. When however we drew near it these joyous +nymphs paused in their career, and parting on either side, permitted me +to pass on to the now densely thronged building. + +So soon as I mounted to the pi-pi I saw at a glance that the revels were +fairly under way. + +What lavish plenty reigned around?--Warwick feasting his retainers with +beef and ale, was a niggard to the noble Mehevi!--All along the piazza +of the Ti were arranged elaborately carved canoe-shaped vessels, some +twenty feet in length, tied with newly made poee-poee, and sheltered +from the sun by the broad leaves of the banana. At intervals were heaps +of green bread-fruit, raised in pyramidical stacks, resembling the +regular piles of heavy shot to be seen in the yard of an arsenal. +Inserted into the interstices of the huge stones which formed the pi-pi +were large boughs of trees; hanging from the branches of which, and +screened from the sun by their foliage, were innumerable little packages +with leafy coverings, containing the meat of the numerous hogs which +had been slain, done up in this manner to make it more accessible to the +crowd. Leaning against the railing on the piazza were an immense +number of long, heavy bamboos, plugged at the lower end, and with their +projecting muzzles stuffed with a wad of leaves. These were filled with +water from the stream, and each of them might hold from four to five +gallons. + +The banquet being thus spread, naught remained but for everyone to +help himself at his pleasure. Accordingly not a moment passed but the +transplanted boughs I have mentioned were rifled by the throng of the +fruit they certainly had never borne before. Calabashes of poee-poee +were continually being replenished from the extensive receptacle in +which that article was stored, and multitudes of little fires were +kindled about the Ti for the purpose of roasting the bread-fruit. + +Within the building itself was presented a most extraordinary scene. The +immense lounge of mats lying between the parallel rows of the trunks of +cocoanut trees, and extending the entire length of the house, at least +two hundred feet, was covered by the reclining forms of a host of chiefs +and warriors who were eating at a great rate, or soothing the cares of +Polynesian life in the sedative fumes of tobacco. The smoke was inhaled +from large pipes, the bowls of which, made out of small cocoanut shells, +were curiously carved in strange heathenish devices. These were passed +from mouth to mouth by the recumbent smokers, each of whom, taking two +or three prodigious whiffs, handed the pipe to his neighbour; sometimes +for that purpose stretching indolently across the body of some dozing +individual whose exertions at the dinner-table had already induced +sleep. + +The tobacco used among the Typees was of a very mild and pleasing +flavour, and as I always saw it in leaves, and the natives appeared +pretty well supplied with it, I was led to believe that it must have +been the growth of the valley. Indeed Kory-Kory gave me to understand +that this was the case; but I never saw a single plant growing on the +island. At Nukuheva, and, I believe, in all the other valleys, the weed +is very scarce, being only obtained in small quantities from foreigners, +and smoking is consequently with the inhabitants of these places a very +great luxury. How it was that the Typees were so well furnished with +it I cannot divine. I should think them too indolent to devote any +attention to its culture; and, indeed, as far as my observation +extended, not a single atom of the soil was under any other cultivation +than that of shower and sunshine. The tobacco-plant, however, like the +sugar-cane, may grow wild in some remote part of the vale. + +There were many in the Ti for whom the tobacco did not furnish a +sufficient stimulus, and who accordingly had recourse to 'arva', as a +more powerful agent in producing the desired effect. + +'Arva' is a root very generally dispersed over the South Seas, and from +it is extracted a juice, the effects of which upon the system are at +first stimulating in a moderate degree; but it soon relaxes the muscles, +and exerting a narcotic influence produces a luxurious sleep. In +the valley this beverage was universally prepared in the following +way:--Some half-dozen young boys seated themselves in a circle around +an empty wooden vessel, each one of them being supplied with a certain +quantity of the roots of the 'arva', broken into small bits and laid +by his side. A cocoanut goblet of water was passed around the juvenile +company, who rinsing their mouths with its contents, proceeded to the +business before them. This merely consisted in thoroughly masticating +the 'arva', and throwing it mouthful after mouthful into the receptacle +provided. When a sufficient quantity had been thus obtained water was +poured upon the mass, and being stirred about with the forefinger of the +right hand, the preparation was soon in readiness for use. The 'arva' +has medicinal qualities. + +Upon the Sandwich Islands it has been employed with no small success in +the treatment of scrofulous affections, and in combating the ravages +of a disease for whose frightful inroads the ill-starred inhabitants of +that group are indebted to their foreign benefactors. But the tenants of +the Typee valley, as yet exempt from these inflictions, generally employ +the 'arva' as a minister to social enjoyment, and a calabash of the +liquid circulates among them as the bottle with us. + +Mehevi, who was greatly delighted with the change in my costume, gave +me a cordial welcome. He had reserved for me a most delectable mess +of 'cokoo', well knowing my partiality for that dish; and had likewise +selected three or four young cocoanuts, several roasted bread-fruit, +and a magnificent bunch of bananas, for my especial comfort and +gratification. These various matters were at once placed before me; but +Kory-Kory deemed the banquet entirely insufficient for my wants until +he had supplied me with one of the leafy packages of pork, which, +notwithstanding the somewhat hasty manner in which it had been prepared, +possessed a most excellent flavour, and was surprisingly sweet and +tender. + +Pork is not a staple article of food among the people of the Marquesas; +consequently they pay little attention to the BREEDING of the swine. The +hogs are permitted to roam at large on the groves, where they obtain +no small part of their nourishment from the cocoanuts which continually +fall from the trees. But it is only after infinite labour and +difficulty, that the hungry animal can pierce the husk and shell so as +to get at the meat. I have frequently been amused at seeing one of +them, after crunching the obstinate nut with his teeth for a long time +unsuccessfully, get into a violent passion with it. He would then root +furiously under the cocoanut, and, with a fling of his snout, toss it +before him on the ground. Following it up, he would crunch at it again +savagely for a moment, and then next knock it on one side, pausing +immediately after, as if wondering how it could so suddenly have +disappeared. In this way the persecuted cocoanuts were often chased half +across the valley. + +The second day of the Feast of Calabashes was ushered in by still more +uproarious noises than the first. The skins of innumerable sheep seemed +to be resounding to the blows of an army of drummers. Startled from my +slumbers by the din, I leaped up, and found the whole household engaged +in making preparations for immediate departure. Curious to discover of +what strange events these novel sounds might be the precursors, and not +a little desirous to catch a sight of the instruments which produced +the terrific noise, I accompanied the natives as soon as they were in +readiness to depart for the Taboo Groves. + +The comparatively open space that extended from the Ti toward the rock, +to which I have before alluded as forming the ascent to the place, was, +with the building itself, now altogether deserted by the men; the whole +distance being filled by bands of females, shouting and dancing under +the influence of some strange excitement. + +I was amused at the appearance of four or five old women who, in a state +of utter nudity, with their arms extended flatly down their sides, and +holding themselves perfectly erect, were leaping stiffly into the +air, like so many sticks bobbing to the surface, after being pressed +perpendicularly into the water. They preserved the utmost gravity of +countenance, and continued their extraordinary movements without +a single moment's cessation. They did not appear to attract the +observation of the crowd around them, but I must candidly confess that +for my own part, I stared at them most pertinaciously. + +Desirous of being enlightened in regard to the meaning of this peculiar +diversion, I turned, inquiringly to Kory-Kory; that learned Typee +immediately proceeded to explain the whole matter thoroughly. But all +that I could comprehend from what he said was, that the leaping figures +before me were bereaved widows, whose partners had been slain in battle +many moons previously; and who, at every festival, gave public evidence +in this manner of their calamities. It was evident that Kory-Kory +considered this an all-sufficient reason for so indecorous a custom; but +I must say that it did not satisfy me as to its propriety. + +Leaving these afflicted females, we passed on to the Hoolah Hoolah +ground. Within the spacious quadrangle, the whole population of the +valley seemed to be assembled, and the sight presented was truly +remarkable. Beneath the sheds of bamboo which opened towards the +interior of the square reclined the principal chiefs and warriors, while +a miscellaneous throng lay at their ease under the enormous trees which +spread a majestic canopy overhead. Upon the terraces of the gigantic +altars, at each end, were deposited green bread-fruit in baskets of +cocoanut leaves, large rolls of tappa, bunches of ripe bananas, clusters +of mammee-apples, the golden-hued fruit of the artu-tree, and baked +hogs, laid out in large wooden trenchers, fancifully decorated with +freshly plucked leaves, whilst a variety of rude implements of war were +piled in confused heaps before the ranks of hideous idols. Fruits of +various kinds were likewise suspended in leafen baskets, from the tops +of poles planted uprightly, and at regular intervals, along the lower +terraces of both altars. At their base were arranged two parallel rows +of cumbersome drums, standing at least fifteen feet in height, and +formed from the hollow trunks of large trees. Their heads were covered +with shark skins, and their barrels were elaborately carved with various +quaint figures and devices. At regular intervals they were bound round +by a species of sinnate of various colours, and strips of native cloth +flattened upon them here and there. Behind these instruments were built +slight platforms, upon which stood a number of young men who, beating +violently with the palms of their hands upon the drum-heads, produced +those outrageous sounds which had awakened me in the morning. Every few +minutes these musical performers hopped down from their elevation into +the crowd below, and their places were immediately supplied by fresh +recruits. Thus an incessant din was kept up that might have startled +Pandemonium. + +Precisely in the middle of the quadrangle were placed perpendicularly +in the ground, a hundred or more slender, fresh-cut poles, stripped of +their bark, and decorated at the end with a floating pennon of white +tappa; the whole being fenced about with a little picket of canes. For +what purpose these angular ornaments were intended I in vain endeavoured +to discover. + +Another most striking feature of the performance was exhibited by a +score of old men, who sat cross-legged in the little pulpits, which +encircled the trunks of the immense trees growing in the middle of the +enclosure. These venerable gentlemen, who I presume were the priests, +kept up an uninterrupted monotonous chant, which was partly drowned in +the roar of drums. In the right hand they held a finely woven grass fan, +with a heavy black wooden handle curiously chased: these fans they kept +in continual motion. + +But no attention whatever seemed to be paid to the drummers or to the +old priests; the individuals who composed the vast crowd present being +entirely taken up in chanting and laughing with one another, smoking, +drinking 'arva', and eating. For all the observation it attracted, +or the good it achieved, the whole savage orchestra might with great +advantage to its own members and the company in general, have ceased the +prodigious uproar they were making. + +In vain I questioned Kory-Kory and others of the natives, as to the +meaning of the strange things that were going on; all their explanations +were conveyed in such a mass of outlandish gibberish and gesticulation +that I gave up the attempt in despair. All that day the drums resounded, +the priests chanted, and the multitude feasted and roared till sunset, +when the throng dispersed, and the Taboo Groves were again abandoned to +quiet and repose. The next day the same scene was repeated until night, +when this singular festival terminated. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR + +IDEAS SUGGESTED BY THE FEAST OF CALABASHES--INACCURACY OF CERTAIN +PUBLISHED ACCOUNTS OF THE ISLANDS--A REASON--NEGLECTED STATE OF +HEATHENISM IN THE VALLEY--EFFIGY OF A DEAD WARRIOR--A SINGULAR +SUPERSTITION--THE PRIEST KOLORY AND THE GOD MOA ARTUA--AMAZING RELIGIOUS +OBSERVANCE--A DILAPIDATED SHRINE--KORY-KORY AND THE IDOL--AN INFERENCE + +ALTHOUGH I had been baffled in my attempts to learn the origin of +the Feast of Calabashes, yet it seemed very plain to me that it was +principally, if not wholly, of a religious character. As a religious +solemnity, however, it had not at all corresponded with the horrible +descriptions of Polynesian worship which we have received in some +published narratives, and especially in those accounts of the +evangelized islands with which the missionaries have favoured us. Did +not the sacred character of these persons render the purity of their +intentions unquestionable, I should certainly be led to suppose that +they had exaggerated the evils of Paganism, in order to enhance the +merit of their own disinterested labours. + +In a certain work incidentally treating of the 'Washington, or Northern +Marquesas Islands,' I have seen the frequent immolation of human victims +upon the altars of their gods, positively and repeatedly charged upon +the inhabitants. The same work gives also a rather minute account of +their religion--enumerates a great many of their superstitions--and +makes known the particular designations of numerous orders of the +priesthood. One would almost imagine from the long list that is given +of cannibal primates, bishops, arch-deacons, prebendaries, and other +inferior ecclesiastics, that the sacerdotal order far outnumbered the +rest of the population, and that the poor natives were more severely +priest-ridden than even the inhabitants of the papal states. These +accounts are likewise calculated to leave upon the reader's mind an +impression that human victims are daily cooked and served up upon the +altars; that heathenish cruelties of every description are continually +practised; and that these ignorant Pagans are in a state of the +extremest wretchedness in consequence of the grossness of their +superstitions. Be it observed, however, that all this information is +given by a man who, according to his own statement, was only at one of +the islands, and remained there but two weeks, sleeping every night on +board his ship, and taking little kid-glove excursions ashore in the +daytime, attended by an armed party. + +Now, all I can say is, that in all my excursions through the valley of +Typee, I never saw any of these alleged enormities. If any of them are +practised upon the Marquesas Islands they must certainly have come to +my knowledge while living for months with a tribe of savages, wholly +unchanged from their original primitive condition, and reputed the most +ferocious in the South Seas. + +The fact is, that there is a vast deal of unintentional humbuggery +in some of the accounts we have from scientific men concerning the +religious institutions of Polynesia. These learned tourists generally +obtain the greater part of their information from retired old South-Sea +rovers, who have domesticated themselves among the barbarous tribes of +the Pacific. Jack, who has long been accustomed to the long-bow, and +to spin tough yarns on the ship's forecastle, invariably officiates as +showman of the island on which he has settled, and having mastered a few +dozen words of the language, is supposed to know all about the people +who speak it. A natural desire to make himself of consequence in the +eyes of the strangers, prompts him to lay claim to a much greater +knowledge of such matters than he actually possesses. In reply to +incessant queries, he communicates not only all he knows but a good deal +more, and if there be any information deficient still he is at no +loss to supply it. The avidity with which his anecdotes are noted +down tickles his vanity, and his powers of invention increase with the +credulity auditors. He knows just the sort of information wanted, and +furnishes it to any extent. + +This is not a supposed case; I have met with several individuals like +the one described, and I have been present at two or three of their +interviews with strangers. + +Now, when the scientific voyager arrives at home with his collection +of wonders, he attempts, perhaps, to give a description of some of the +strange people he has been visiting. Instead of representing them as +a community of lusty savages, who are leading a merry, idle, innocent +life, he enters into a very circumstantial and learned narrative of +certain unaccountable superstitions and practices, about which he knows +as little as the islanders themselves. Having had little time, and +scarcely any opportunity, to become acquainted with the customs he +pretends to describe, he writes them down one after another in an +off-hand, haphazard style; and were the book thus produced to be +translated into the tongue of the people of whom it purports to give the +history, it would appear quite as wonderful to them as it does to the +American public, and much more improbable. + +For my own part, I am free to confess my almost entire inability to +gratify any curiosity that may be felt with regard to the theology of +the valley. I doubt whether the inhabitants themselves could do so. They +are either too lazy or too sensible to worry themselves about abstract +points of religious belief. While I was among them, they never held any +synods or councils to settle the principles of their faith by agitating +them. An unbounded liberty of conscience seemed to prevail. Those +who pleased to do so were allowed to repose implicit faith in an +ill-favoured god with a large bottle-nose and fat shapeless arms crossed +upon his breast; whilst others worshipped an image which, having no +likeness either in heaven or on earth, could hardly be called an idol. +As the islanders always maintained a discreet reserve with regard to +my own peculiar views on religion, I thought it would be excessively +ill-bred of me to pry into theirs. + +But, although my knowledge of the religious faith of the Typees was +unavoidably limited, one of their superstitious observances with which I +became acquainted interested me greatly. + +In one of the most secluded portions of the valley within a stone's +cast of Fayaway's lake--for so I christened the scene of our island +yachting--and hard by a growth of palms, which stood ranged in order +along both banks of the stream, waving their green arms as if to do +honour to its passage, was the mausoleum of a deceased, warrior chief. +Like all the other edifices of any note, it was raised upon a small +pi-pi of stones, which, being of unusual height, was a conspicuous +object from a distance. A light thatching of bleached palmetto-leaves +hung over it like a self supported canopy; for it was not until you +came very near that you saw it was supported by four slender columns of +bamboo rising at each corner to a little more than the height of a man. +A clear area of a few yards surrounded the pi-pi, and was enclosed by +four trunks of cocoanut trees resting at the angles on massive blocks of +stone. The place was sacred. The sign of the inscrutable Taboo was seen +in the shape of a mystic roll of white tappa, suspended by a twisted +cord of the same material from the top of a slight pole planted within +the enclosure*. The sanctity of the spot appeared never to have been +violated. The stillness of the grave was there, and the calm solitude +around was beautiful and touching. The soft shadows of those lofty +palm-trees!--I can see them now--hanging over the little temple, as if +to keep out the intrusive sun. + +*White appears to be the sacred colour among the Marquesans. + +On all sides as you approached this silent spot you caught sight of the +dead chief's effigy, seated in the stern of a canoe, which was raised on +a light frame a few inches above the level of the pi-pi. The canoe was +about seven feet in length; of a rich, dark coloured wood, handsomely +carved and adorned in many places with variegated bindings of stained +sinnate, into which were ingeniously wrought a number of sparkling +seashells, and a belt of the same shells ran all round it. The body +of the figure--of whatever material it might have been made--was +effectually concealed in a heavy robe of brown tappa, revealing; only +the hands and head; the latter skilfully carved in wood, and surmounted +by a superb arch of plumes. These plumes, in the subdued and gentle +gales which found access to this sequestered spot, were never for one +moment at rest, but kept nodding and waving over the chief's brow. The +long leaves of the palmetto drooped over the eaves, and through them you +saw the warrior holding his paddle with both hands in the act of rowing, +leaning forward and inclining his head, as if eager to hurry on his +voyage. Glaring at him forever, and face to face, was a polished human +skull, which crowned the prow of the canoe. The spectral figurehead, +reversed in its position, glancing backwards, seemed to mock the +impatient attitude of the warrior. + +When I first visited this singular place with Kory-Kory, he told me--or +at least I so understood him--that the chief was paddling his way to +the realms of bliss, and bread-fruit--the Polynesian heaven--where +every moment the bread-fruit trees dropped their ripened spheres to the +ground, and where there was no end to the cocoanuts and bananas: there +they reposed through the livelong eternity upon mats much finer than +those of Typee; and every day bathed their glowing limbs in rivers +of cocoanut oil. In that happy land there were plenty of plumes and +feathers, and boars'-tusks and sperm-whale teeth, far preferable to all +the shining trinkets and gay tappa of the white men; and, best of all, +women far lovelier than the daughters of earth were there in abundance. +'A very pleasant place,' Kory-Kory said it was; 'but after all, not much +pleasanter, he thought, than Typee.' 'Did he not then,' I asked him, +'wish to accompany the warrior?' 'Oh no: he was very happy where he was; +but supposed that some time or other he would go in his own canoe.' + +Thus far, I think, I clearly comprehended Kory-Kory. But there was a +singular expression he made use of at the time, enforced by as singular +a gesture, the meaning of which I would have given much to penetrate. +I am inclined to believe it must have been a proverb he uttered; for I +afterwards heard him repeat the same words several times, and in what +appeared to me to be a somewhat: similar sense. Indeed, Kory-Kory had +a great variety of short, smart-sounding sentences, with which he +frequently enlivened his discourse; and he introduced them with an air +which plainly intimated, that in his opinion, they settled the matter in +question, whatever it might be. + +Could it have been then, that when I asked him whether he desired to go +to this heaven of bread-fruit, cocoanuts, and young ladies, which he had +been describing, he answered by saying something equivalent to our +old adage--'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush'?--if he did, +Kory-Kory was a discreet and sensible fellow, and I cannot sufficiently +admire his shrewdness. + +Whenever, in the course of my rambles through the valley I happened to +be near the chief's mausoleum, I always turned aside to visit it. The +place had a peculiar charm for me; I hardly know why, but so it was. As +I leaned over the railing and gazed upon the strange effigy and watched +the play of the feathery head-dress, stirred by the same breeze which in +low tones breathed amidst the lofty palm-trees, I loved to yield myself +up to the fanciful superstition of the islanders, and could almost +believe that the grim warrior was bound heavenward. In this mood when +I turned to depart, I bade him 'God speed, and a pleasant voyage.' Aye, +paddle away, brave chieftain, to the land of spirits! To the material +eye thou makest but little progress; but with the eye of faith, I see +thy canoe cleaving the bright waves, which die away on those dimly +looming shores of Paradise. + +This strange superstition affords another evidence of the fact, that +however ignorant man may be, he still feels within him his immortal +spirit yearning, after the unknown future. + +Although the religious theories of the islands were a complete mystery +to me, their practical every-day operation could not be concealed. I +frequently passed the little temples reposing in the shadows of the +taboo groves and beheld the offerings--mouldy fruit spread out upon +a rude altar, or hanging in half-decayed baskets around some uncouth +jolly-looking image; I was present during the continuance of the +festival; I daily beheld the grinning idols marshalled rank and file in +the Hoolah Hoolah ground, and was often in the habit of meeting +those whom I supposed to be the priests. But the temples seemed to be +abandoned to solitude; the festival had been nothing more than a jovial +mingling of the tribe; the idols were quite harmless as any other logs +of wood; and the priests were the merriest dogs in the valley. + +In fact religious affairs in Typee were at a very low ebb: all such +matters sat very lightly upon the thoughtless inhabitants; and, in the +celebration of many of their strange rites, they appeared merely to seek +a sort of childish amusement. + +A curious evidence of this was given in a remarkable ceremony in which I +frequently saw Mehevi and several other chefs and warriors of note take +part; but never a single female. + +Among those whom I looked upon as forming the priesthood of the valley, +there was one in particular who often attracted my notice, and whom +I could not help regarding as the head of the order. He was a noble +looking man, in the prime of his life, and of a most benignant aspect. +The authority this man, whose name was Kolory, seemed to exercise over +the rest, the episcopal part he took in the Feast of Calabashes, his +sleek and complacent appearance, the mystic characters which were +tattooed upon his chest, and above all the mitre he frequently wore, +in the shape of a towering head-dress, consisting of part of a cocoanut +branch, the stalk planted uprightly on his brow, and the leaflets +gathered together and passed round the temples and behind the ears, all +these pointed him out as Lord Primate of Typee. Kolory was a sort of +Knight Templar--a soldier-priest; for he often wore the dress of a +Marquesan warrior, and always carried a long spear, which, instead of +terminating in a paddle at the lower end, after the general fashion of +these weapons, was curved into a heathenish-looking little image. This +instrument, however, might perhaps have been emblematic of his double +functions. With one end in carnal combat he transfixed the enemies of +his tribe; and with the other as a pastoral crook he kept in order his +spiritual flock. But this is not all I have to say about Kolory. + +His martial grace very often carried about with him what seemed to me +the half of a broken war-club. It was swathed round with ragged bits of +white tappa, and the upper part, which was intended to represent a +human head, was embellished with a strip of scarlet cloth of European +manufacture. It required little observation to discover that this +strange object was revered as a god. By the side of the big and lusty +images standing sentinel over the altars of the Hoolah Hoolah ground, it +seemed a mere pigmy in tatters. But appearances all the world over are +deceptive. Little men are sometimes very potent, and rags sometimes +cover very extensive pretensions. In fact, this funny little image was +the 'crack' god of the island; lording it over all the wooden lubbers +who looked so grim and dreadful; its name was Moa Artua*. And it was in +honour of Moa Artua, and for the entertainment of those who believe in +him, that the curious ceremony I am about to describe was observed. + +*The word 'Artua', although having some other significations, is in +nearly all the Polynesian dialects used as the general designation of +the gods. + + + +Mehevi and the chieftains of the Ti have just risen from their noontide +slumbers. There are no affairs of state to dispose of; and having eaten +two or three breakfasts in the course of the morning, the magnates of +the valley feel no appetite as yet for dinner. How are their leisure +moments to be occupied? They smoke, they chat, and at last one of their +number makes a proposition to the rest, who joyfully acquiescing, he +darts out of the house, leaps from the pi-pi, and disappears in the +grove. Soon you see him returning with Kolory, who bears the god Moa +Artua in his arms, and carries in one hand a small trough, hollowed out +in the likeness of a canoe. The priest comes along dandling his charge +as if it were a lachrymose infant he was endeavouring to put into a +good humour. Presently entering the Ti, he seats himself on the mats as +composedly as a juggler about to perform his sleight-of-hand tricks; and +with the chiefs disposed in a circle around him, commences his ceremony. +In the first place he gives Moa Artua an affectionate hug, then +caressingly lays him to his breast, and, finally, whispers something in +his ear; the rest of the company listening eagerly for a reply. But +the baby-god is deaf or dumb,--perhaps both, for never a word does, he +utter. At last Kolory speaks a little louder, and soon growing angry, +comes boldly out with what he has to say and bawls to him. He put me in +mind of a choleric fellow, who, after trying in vain to communicated a +secret to a deaf man, all at once flies into a passion and screams it +out so that every one may hear. Still Moa Artua remains as quiet as +ever; and Kolory, seemingly losing his temper, fetches him a box over +the head, strips him of his tappa and red cloth, and laying him in +a state of nudity in a little trough, covers him from sight. At this +proceeding all present loudly applaud and signify their approval by +uttering the adjective 'motarkee' with violent emphasis. Kolory however, +is so desirous his conduct should meet with unqualified approbation, +that he inquires of each individual separately whether under existing +circumstances he has not done perfectly right in shutting up Moa Artua. +The invariable response is 'Aa, Aa' (yes, yes), repeated over again +and again in a manner which ought to quiet the scruples of the most +conscientious. After a few moments Kolory brings forth his doll again, +and while arraying it very carefully in the tappa and red cloth, +alternately fondles and chides it. The toilet being completed, he once +more speaks to it aloud. The whole company hereupon show the greatest +interest; while the priest holding Moa Artua to his ear interprets to +them what he pretends the god is confidentially communicating to him. +Some items intelligence appear to tickle all present amazingly; for one +claps his hands in a rapture; another shouts with merriment; and a third +leaps to his feet and capers about like a madman. + +What under the sun Moa Artua on these occasions had to say to Kolory +I never could find out; but I could not help thinking that the former +showed a sad want of spirit in being disciplined into making those +disclosures, which at first he seemed bent on withholding. Whether the +priest honestly interpreted what he believed the divinity said to him, +or whether he was not all the while guilty of a vile humbug, I shall +not presume to decide. At any rate, whatever as coming from the god +was imparted to those present seemed to be generally of a complimentary +nature: a fact which illustrates the sagacity of Kolory, or else the +timeserving disposition of this hardly used deity. + +Moa Artua having nothing more to say, his bearer goes to nursing +him again, in which occupation, however, he is soon interrupted by a +question put by one of the warriors to the god. Kolory hereupon snatches +it up to his ear again, and after listening attentively, once more +officiates as the organ of communication. A multitude of questions and +answers having passed between the parties, much to the satisfaction of +those who propose them, the god is put tenderly to bed in the trough, +and the whole company unite in a long chant, led off by Kolory. This +ended, the ceremony is over; the chiefs rise to their feet in high good +humour, and my Lord Archbishop, after chatting awhile, and regaling +himself with a whiff or two from a pipe of tobacco, tucks the canoe +under his arm and marches off with it. + +The whole of these proceedings were like those of a parcel of children +playing with dolls and baby houses. + +For a youngster scarcely ten inches high, and with so few early +advantages as he doubtless had had, Moa Artua was certainly a precocious +little fellow if he really said all that was imputed to him; but for +what reason this poor devil of a deity, thus cuffed about, cajoled, and +shut up in a box, was held in greater estimation than the full-grown +and dignified personages of the Taboo Groves, I cannot divine. And yet +Mehevi, and other chiefs of unquestionable veracity--to say nothing of +the Primate himself--assured me over and over again that Moa Artua was +the tutelary deity of Typee, and was more to be held in honour than a +whole battalion of the clumsy idols in the Hoolah Hoolah grounds. + +Kory-Kory--who seemed to have devoted considerable attention to the +study of theology, as he knew the names of all the graven images in the +valley, and often repeated them over to me--likewise entertained some +rather enlarged ideas with regard to the character and pretensions of +Moa Artua. He once gave me to understand, with a gesture there was no +misconceiving, that if he (Moa Artua) were so minded he could cause a +cocoanut tree to sprout out of his (Kory-Kory's) head; and that it +would be the easiest thing in life for him (Moa Artua) to take the whole +island of Nukuheva in his mouth and dive down to the bottom of the sea +with it. + +But in sober seriousness, I hardly knew what to make of the religion +of the valley. There was nothing that so much perplexed the illustrious +Cook, in his intercourse with the South Sea islanders, as their sacred +rites. Although this prince of navigators was in many instances assisted +by interpreters in the prosecution of his researches, he still frankly +acknowledges that he was at a loss to obtain anything like a clear +insight into the puzzling arcana of their faith. A similar admission has +been made by other eminent voyagers: by Carteret, Byron, Kotzebue, and +Vancouver. + +For my own part, although hardly a day passed while I remained upon the +island that I did not witness some religious ceremony or other, it was +very much like seeing a parcel of 'Freemasons' making secret signs to +each other; I saw everything, but could comprehend nothing. + +On the whole, I am inclined to believe, that the islanders in the +Pacific have no fixed and definite ideas whatever on the subject of +religion. I am persuaded that Kolory himself would be effectually posed +were he called upon to draw up the articles of his faith and pronounce +the creed by which he hoped to be saved. In truth, the Typees, so far +as their actions evince, submitted to no laws human or divine--always +excepting the thrice mysterious Taboo. The 'independent electors' of the +valley were not to be brow-beaten by chiefs, priests, idol or devils. +As for the luckless idols, they received more hard knocks than +supplications. I do not wonder that some of them looked so grim, and +stood so bolt upright as if fearful of looking to the right or the left +lest they should give any one offence. The fact is, they had to +carry themselves 'PRETTY STRAIGHT,' or suffer the consequences. Their +worshippers were such a precious set of fickle-minded and irreverent +heathens, that there was no telling when they might topple one of them +over, break it to pieces, and making a fire with it on the very altar +itself, fall to roasting the offerings of bread-fruit, and at them in +spite of its teeth. + +In how little reverence these unfortunate deities were held by the +natives was on one occasion most convincingly proved to me.--Walking +with Kory-Kory through the deepest recesses of the groves, I perceived +a curious looking image, about six feet in height which originally had +been placed upright against a low pi-pi, surmounted by a ruinous bamboo +temple, but having become fatigued and weak in the knees, was now +carelessly leaning against it. The idol was partly concealed by the +foliage of a tree which stood near, and whose leafy boughs drooped over +the pile of stones, as if to protect the rude fane from the decay to +which it was rapidly hastening. The image itself was nothing more than +a grotesquely shaped log, carved in the likeness of a portly naked man +with the arms clasped over the head, the jaws thrown wide apart, and its +thick shapeless legs bowed into an arch. It was much decayed. The +lower part was overgrown with a bright silky moss. Thin spears of grass +sprouted from the distended mouth, and fringed the outline of the head +and arms. His godship had literally attained a green old age. All its +prominent points were bruised and battered, or entirely rotted away. +The nose had taken its departure, and from the general appearance of the +head it might have, been supposed that the wooden divinity, in despair +at the neglect of its worshippers, had been trying to beat its own +brains out against the surrounding trees. + +I drew near to inspect more closely this strange object of idolatry, but +halted reverently at the distance of two or three paces, out of regard +to the religious prejudices of my valet. As soon, however, as Kory-Kory +perceived that I was in one of my inquiring, scientific moods, to my +astonishment, he sprang to the side of the idol, and pushing it away +from the stones against which it rested, endeavoured to make it stand +upon its legs. But the divinity had lost the use of them altogether; and +while Kory-Kory was trying to prop it up, placing a stick between it +and the pi-pi, the monster fell clumsily to the ground, and would have +infallibly have broken its neck had not Kory-Kory providentially broken +its fall by receiving its whole weight on his own half-crushed back. I +never saw the honest fellow in such a rage before. He leaped furiously +to his feet, and seizing the stick, began beating the poor image: every +moment, or two pausing and talking to it in the most violent manner, as +if upbraiding it for the accident. When his indignation had subsided +a little he whirled the idol about most profanely, so as to give me an +opportunity of examining it on all sides. I am quite sure I never should +have presumed to have taken such liberties with the god myself, and I +was not a little shocked at Kory-Kory's impiety. + +This anecdote speaks for itself. When one of the inferior order of +natives could show such contempt for a venerable and decrepit God of the +Groves, what the state of religion must be among the people in general +is easy to be imagined. In truth, I regard the Typees as a back-slidden +generation. They are sunk in religious sloth, and require a spiritual +revival. A long prosperity of bread-fruit and cocoanuts has rendered +them remiss in the performance of their higher obligations. The wood-rot +malady is spreading among the idols--the fruit upon their altars +is becoming offensive--the temples themselves need rethatching--the +tattooed clergy are altogether too light-hearted and lazy--and their +flocks are going astray. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE + +GENERAL INFORMATION GATHERED AT THE FESTIVAL--PERSONAL BEAUTY OF +THE TYPEES--THEIR SUPERIORITY OVER THE INHABITANTS OF THE OTHER +ISLANDS--DIVERSITY OF COMPLEXION--A VEGETABLE COSMETIC AND +OINTMENT--TESTIMONY OF VOYAGERS TO THE UNCOMMON BEAUTY OF +THE MARQUESANS--FEW EVIDENCES OF INTERCOURSE WITH CIVILIZED +BEINGS--DILAPIDATED MUSKET--PRIMITIVE SIMPLICITY OF GOVERNMENT--REGAL +DIGNITY OF MEHEVI + +ALTHOUGH I had been unable during the late festival to obtain +information on many interesting subjects which had much excited my +curiosity, still that important event had not passed by without adding +materially to my general knowledge of the islanders. + +I was especially struck by the physical strength and beauty which +they displayed, by their great superiority in these respects over the +inhabitants of the neighbouring bay of Nukuheva, and by the singular +contrasts they presented among themselves in their various shades of +complexion. + +In beauty of form they surpassed anything I had ever seen. Not a single +instance of natural deformity was observable in all the throng attending +the revels. Occasionally I noticed among the men the scars of wounds +they had received in battle; and sometimes, though very seldom, the loss +of a finger, an eye, or an arm, attributable to the same cause. With +these exceptions, every individual appeared free from those blemishes +which sometimes mar the effect of an otherwise perfect form. But their +physical excellence did not merely consist in an exemption from these +evils; nearly every individual of their number might have been taken for +a sculptor's model. + +When I remembered that these islanders derived no advantage from dress, +but appeared in all the naked simplicity of nature, I could not avoid +comparing them with the fine gentlemen and dandies who promenade such +unexceptionable figures in our frequented thoroughfares. Stripped of +the cunning artifices of the tailor, and standing forth in the garb +of Eden--what a sorry, set of round-shouldered, spindle-shanked, +crane-necked varlets would civilized men appear! Stuffed calves, +padded breasts, and scientifically cut pantaloons would then avail them +nothing, and the effect would be truly deplorable. + +Nothing in the appearance of the islanders struck me more forcibly +than the whiteness of their teeth. The novelist always compares the +masticators of his heroine to ivory; but I boldly pronounce the teeth +of the Typee to be far more beautiful than ivory itself. The jaws of the +oldest graybeards among them were much better garnished than those of +most of the youths of civilized countries; while the teeth of the young +and middle-aged, in their purity and whiteness, were actually dazzling +to the eye. Their marvellous whiteness of the teeth is to be ascribed +to the pure vegetable diet of these people, and the uninterrupted +healthfulness of their natural mode of life. + +The men, in almost every instance, are of lofty stature, scarcely +ever less than six feet in height, while the other sex are uncommonly +diminutive. The early period of life at which the human form arrives +at maturity in this generous tropical climate, likewise deserves to be +mentioned. A little creature, not more than thirteen years of age, and +who in other particulars might be regarded as a mere child, is often +seen nursing her own baby, whilst lads who, under less ripening skies, +would be still at school, are here responsible fathers of families. + +On first entering the Typee Valley, I had been struck with the marked +contrast presented by its inhabitants with those of the bay I had +previously left. In the latter place, I had not been favourably +impressed with the personal appearance of the male portion of the +population; although with the females, excepting in some truly +melancholy instances, I had been wonderfully pleased. I had observed +that even the little intercourse Europeans had carried on with the +Nukuheva natives had not failed to leave its traces amongst them. One of +the most dreadful curses under which humanity labours had commenced its +havocks, and betrayed, as it ever does among the South Sea islanders, +the most aggravated symptoms. From this, as from all other foreign +inflictions, the yet uncontaminated tenants of the Typee Valley were +wholly exempt; and long may they continue so. Better will it be for them +for ever to remain the happy and innocent heathens and barbarians +that they now are, than, like the wretched inhabitants of the Sandwich +Islands, to enjoy the mere name of Christians without experiencing any +of the vital operations of true religion, whilst, at the same time, they +are made the victims of the worst vices and evils of civilized life. + +Apart, however, from these considerations, I am inclined to believe that +there exists a radical difference between the two tribes, if indeed +they are not distinct races of men. To those who have merely touched at +Nukuheva Bay, without visiting other portions of the island, it would +hardly appear credible the diversities presented between the various +small clans inhabiting so diminutive a spot. But the hereditary +hostility which has existed between them for ages, fully accounts for +this. + +Not so easy, however, is it to assign an adequate cause for the endless +variety of complexions to be seen in the Typee Valley. During the +festival, I had noticed several young females whose skins were almost as +white as any Saxon damsel's; a slight dash of the mantling brown being +all that marked the difference. This comparative fairness of complexion, +though in a great degree perfectly natural, is partly the result of an +artificial process, and of an entire exclusion from the sun. The juice +of the 'papa' root found in great abundance at the head of the valley, +is held in great esteem as a cosmetic, with which many of the females +daily anoint their whole person. The habitual use of it whitens and +beautifies the skin. Those of the young girls who resort to this method +of heightening their charms, never expose themselves selves to the +rays of the sun; an observance, however, that produces little or no +inconvenience, since there are but few of the inhabited portions of the +vale which are not shaded over with a spreading canopy of boughs, so +that one may journey from house to house, scarcely deviating from the +direct course, and yet never once see his shadow cast upon the ground. + +The 'papa', when used, is suffered to remain upon the skin for several +hours; being of a light green colour, it consequently imparts for +the time a similar hue to the complexion. Nothing, therefore, can be +imagined more singular than the appearance of these nearly naked damsels +immediately after the application of the cosmetic. To look at one of +them you would almost suppose she was some vegetable in an unripe state; +and that, instead of living in the shade for ever, she ought to be +placed out in the sun to ripen. + +All the islanders are more or less in the habit of anointing themselves; +the women preferring the 'aker' to 'papa', and the men using the oil +of the cocoanut. Mehevi was remarkable fond of mollifying his entire +cuticle with this ointment. Sometimes he might be seen, with his whole +body fairly reeking with the perfumed oil of the nut, looking as if he +had just emerged from a soap-boiler's vat, or had undergone the process +of dipping in a tallow-chandlery. To this cause perhaps, united to their +frequent bathing and extreme cleanliness, is ascribable, in a great +measure, the marvellous purity and smoothness of skin exhibited by the +natives in general. + +The prevailing tint among the women of the valley was a light olive, and +of this style of complexion Fayaway afforded the most beautiful example. +Others were still darker; while not a few were of a genuine golden +colour, and some of a swarthy hue. + +As agreeing with much previously mentioned in this narrative I may +here observe that Mendanna, their discoverer, in his account of the +Marquesas, described the natives as wondrously beautiful to behold, and +as nearly resembling the people of southern Europe. The first of these +islands seen by Mendanna was La Madelena, which is not far distant from +Nukuheva; and its inhabitants in every respect resemble those dwelling +on that and the other islands of the group. Figueroa, the chronicler of +Mendanna's voyage, says, that on the morning the land was descried, +when the Spaniards drew near the shore, there sallied forth, in rude +progression, about seventy canoes, and at the same time many of the +inhabitants (females I presume) made towards the ships by swimming. He +adds, that 'in complexion they were nearly white; of good stature, +and finely formed; and on their faces and bodies were delineated +representations of fishes and other devices'. The old Don then goes on +to say, 'There came, among others, two lads paddling their canoe, whose +eyes were fixed on the ship; they had beautiful faces and the most +promising animation of countenance; and were in all things so becoming, +that the pilot-mayor Quiros affirmed, nothing in his life ever caused +him so much regret as the leaving such fine creatures to be lost in that +country.'* More than two hundred years have gone by since the passage of +which the above is a translation was written; and it appears to me +now, as I read it, as fresh and true as if written but yesterday. The +islanders are still the same; and I have seen boys in the Typee Valley +of whose 'beautiful faces' and promising 'animation of countenance' no +one who has not beheld them can form any adequate idea. Cook, in the +account of his voyage, pronounces the Marquesans as by far the most +splendid islanders in the South Seas. Stewart, the chaplain of the U.S. +ship Vincennes, in his 'Scenes in the South Seas', expresses, in more +than one place, his amazement at the surpassing loveliness of the women; +and says that many of the Nukuheva damsels reminded him forcibly of the +most celebrated beauties in his own land. Fanning, a Yankee mariner of +some reputation, likewise records his lively impressions of the physical +appearance of these people; and Commodore David Porter of the U.S. +frigate Essex, is said to have been vastly smitten by the beauty of the +ladies. Their great superiority over all other Polynesians cannot fail +to attract the notice of those who visit the principal groups in the +Pacific. The voluptuous Tahitians are the only people who at all deserve +to be compared with them; while the dark-haired Hawaiians and +the woolly-headed Feejees are immeasurably inferior to them. The +distinguishing characteristic of the Marquesan islanders, and that +which at once strikes you, is the European cast of their features--a +peculiarity seldom observable among other uncivilized people. Many of +their faces present profiles classically beautiful, and in the valley of +Typee I saw several who, like the stranger Marnoo, were in every respect +models of beauty. + +* This passage, which is cited as an almost literal translation from the +original, I found in a small volume entitled 'Circumnavigation of the +Globe, in which volume are several extracts from 'Dalrymple's Historical +Collections'. The last-mentioned work I have never seen, but it is said +to contain a very correct English version of great part of the learned +Doctor Christoval Suaverde da Figueroa's History of Mendanna's Voyage, +published at Madrid, A.D. 1613. + + + +Some of the natives present at the Feast of Calabashes had displayed a +few articles of European dress; disposed however, about their persons +after their own peculiar fashion. Among these I perceived two pieces of +cotton-cloth which poor Toby and myself had bestowed upon our youthful +guides the afternoon we entered the valley. They were evidently reserved +for gala days; and during those of the festival they rendered the young +islanders who wore them very distinguished characters. The small number +who were similarly adorned, and the great value they appeared to place +upon the most common and most trivial articles, furnished ample evidence +of the very restricted intercourse they held with vessels touching at +the island. A few cotton handkerchiefs, of a gay pattern, tied about the +neck, and suffered to fall over the shoulder; strips of fanciful calico, +swathed about the loins, were nearly all I saw. + +Indeed, throughout the valley, there were few things of any kind to +be seen of European origin. All I ever saw, besides the articles just +alluded to, were the six muskets preserved in the Ti, and three or four +similar implements of warfare hung up in other houses; some small +canvas bags, partly filled with bullets and powder, and half a dozen old +hatchet-heads, with the edges blunted and battered to such a degree +as to render them utterly useless. These last seemed to be regarded as +nearly worthless by the natives; and several times they held up, one +of them before me, and throwing it aside with a gesture of disgust, +manifested their contempt for anything that could so soon become +unserviceable. + +But the muskets, the powder, and the bullets were held in most +extravagant esteem. The former, from their great age and the +peculiarities they exhibited, were well worthy a place in any +antiquarian's armoury. I remember in particular one that hung in the +Ti, and which Mehevi--supposing as a matter of course that I was able to +repair it--had put into my hands for that purpose. It was one of those +clumsy, old-fashioned, English pieces known generally as Tower Hill +muskets, and, for aught I know, might have been left on the island by +Wallace, Carteret, Cook, or Vancouver. The stock was half rotten and +worm-eaten; the lock was as rusty and about as well adapted to its +ostensible purpose as an old door-hinge; the threading of the screws +about the trigger was completely worn away; while the barrel shook in +the wood. Such was the weapon the chief desired me to restore to its +original condition. As I did not possess the accomplishments of a +gunsmith, and was likewise destitute of the necessary tools, I was +reluctantly obliged to signify my inability to perform the task. At this +unexpected communication Mehevi regarded me, for a moment, as if he half +suspected I was some inferior sort of white man, who after all did not +know much more than a Typee. However, after a most laboured explanation +of the matter, I succeeded in making him understand the extreme +difficulty of the task. Scarcely satisfied with my apologies, however, +he marched off with the superannuated musket in something of a huff, as +if he would no longer expose it to the indignity of being manipulated by +such unskilful fingers. + +During the festival I had not failed to remark the simplicity of manner, +the freedom from all restraint, and, to certain degree, the equality +of condition manifested by the natives in general. No one appeared to +assume any arrogant pretensions. There was little more than a slight +difference in costume to distinguish the chiefs from the other natives. +All appeared to mix together freely, and without any reserve; although +I noticed that the wishes of a chief, even when delivered in the mildest +tone, received the same immediate obedience which elsewhere would have +been only accorded to a peremptory command. What may be the extent +of the authority of the chiefs over the rest of the tribe, I will not +venture to assert; but from all I saw during my stay in the valley, I +was induced to believe that in matters concerning the general welfare +it was very limited. The required degree of deference towards them, +however, was willingly and cheerfully yielded; and as all authority is +transmitted from father to son, I have no doubt that one of the effects +here, as elsewhere, of high birth, is to induce respect and obedience. + +The civil institutions of the Marquesas Islands appear to be in this, +as in other respects, directly the reverse of those of the Tahitian and +Hawaiian groups, where the original power of the king and chiefs was far +more despotic than that of any tyrant in civilized countries. At Tahiti +it used to be death for one of the inferior orders to approach, without +permission, under the shadow, of the king's house; or to fail in paying +the customary reverence when food destined for the king was borne past +them by his messengers. At the Sandwich Islands, Kaahumanu, the gigantic +old dowager queen--a woman of nearly four hundred pounds weight, and +who is said to be still living at Mowee--was accustomed, in some of her +terrific gusts of temper, to snatch up an ordinary sized man who had +offended her, and snap his spine across her knee. Incredible as this +may seem, it is a fact. While at Lahainaluna--the residence of this +monstrous Jezebel--a humpbacked wretch was pointed out to me, who, some +twenty-five years previously, had had the vertebrae of his backbone very +seriously discomposed by his gentle mistress. + +The particular grades of rank existing among the chiefs of Typee, I +could not in all cases determine. Previous to the Feast of Calabashes +I had been puzzled what particular station to assign to Mehevi. But the +important part he took upon that occasion convinced me that he had no +superior among the inhabitants of the valley. I had invariably noticed a +certain degree of deference paid to him by all with whom I had ever seen +him brought in contact; but when I remembered that my wanderings had +been confined to a limited portion of the valley, and that towards +the sea a number of distinguished chiefs resided, some of whom had +separately visited me at Marheyo's house, and whom, until the Festival, +I had never seen in the company of Mehevi, I felt disposed to believe +that his rank after all might not be particularly elevated. + +The revels, however, had brought together all the warriors whom I had +seen individually and in groups at different times and places. Among +them Mehevi moved with an easy air of superiority which was not to be +mistaken; and he whom I had only looked at as the hospitable host of the +Ti, and one of the military leaders of the tribe, now assumed in my eyes +the dignity of royal station. His striking costume, no less than his +naturally commanding figure, seemed indeed to give him pre-eminence over +the rest. The towering helmet of feathers that he wore raised him +in height above all who surrounded him; and though some others were +similarly adorned, the length and luxuriance of their plumes were +inferior to his. + +Mehevi was in fact the greatest of the chiefs--the head of his clan--the +sovereign of the valley; and the simplicity of the social institutions +of the people could not have been more completely proved than by the +fact, that after having been several weeks in the valley, and almost in +daily intercourse with Mehevi, I should have remained until the time of +the festival ignorant of his regal character. But a new light had now +broken in upon me. The Ti was the palace--and Mehevi the king. Both the +one and the other of a most simple and patriarchal nature: it must be +allowed, and wholly unattended by the ceremonious pomp which usually +surrounds the purple. + +After having made this discovery I could not avoid congratulating myself +that Mehevi had from the first taken me as it were under his royal +protection, and that he still continued to entertain for me the warmest +regard, as far at least as I was enabled to judge from appearances. For +the future I determined to pay most assiduous court to him, hoping that +eventually through his kindness I might obtain my liberty. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX + +KING MEHEVI--ALLUSION TO HIS HAWAIIAN MAJESTY--CONDUCT OF MARHEYO AND +MEHEVI IN CERTAIN DELICATE MATTERS--PECULIAR SYSTEM OF MARRIAGE--NUMBER +OF POPULATION--UNIFORMITY--EMBALMING--PLACES OF SEPULTURE--FUNERAL +OBSEQUIES AT NUKUHEVA-NUMBER OF INHABITANTS IN TYPEE--LOCATION OF THE +DWELLINGS--HAPPINESS ENJOYED IN THE VALLEY--A WARNING--SOME IDEAS WITH +REGARD TO THE PRESENT STATE OF THE HAWAIIANS--STORY OF A MISSIONARY'S +WIFE--FASHIONABLE EQUIPAGES AT OAHU--REFLECTIONS + +KING MEHEVI!--A goodly sounding title--and why should I not bestow +it upon the foremost man in the valley of Typee? The republican +missionaries of Oahu cause to be gazetted in the Court Journal, +published at Honolulu, the most trivial movement of 'his gracious +majesty' King Kammehammaha III, and 'their highnesses the princes of the +blood royal'.* And who is his 'gracious majesty', and what the +quality of this blood royal'?--His 'gracious majesty' is a fat, lazy, +negro-looking blockhead, with as little character as power. He has +lost the noble traits of the barbarian, without acquiring the redeeming +graces of a civilized being; and, although a member of the Hawiian +Temperance Society, is a most inveterate dram-drinker. + +*Accounts like these are sometimes copied into English and American +journals. They lead the reader to infer that the arts and customs of +civilized life are rapidly refining the natives of the Sandwich Islands. +But let no one be deceived by these accounts. The chiefs swagger about +in gold lace and broadcloth, while the great mass of the common people +are nearly as primitive in their appearance as in the days of Cook. In +the progress of events at these islands, the two classes are receding +from each other; the chiefs are daily becoming more luxurious and +extravagant in their style of living, and the common people more and +more destitute of the necessaries and decencies of life. But the end +to which both will arrive at last will be the same: the one are fast +destroying themselves by sensual indulgences, and the other are +fast being destroyed by a complication of disorders, and the want of +wholesome food. The resources of the domineering chiefs are wrung from +the starving serfs, and every additional bauble with which they bedeck +themselves is purchased by the sufferings of their bondsmen; so that the +measure of gew-gaw refinement attained by the chiefs is only an index +to the actual state in which the greater portion of the population lie +grovelling. + + + +The 'blood royal' is an extremely thick, depraved fluid; formed +principally of raw fish, bad brandy, and European sweetmeats, and is +charged with a variety of eruptive humours, which are developed in +sundry blotches and pimples upon the august face of 'majesty itself', +and the angelic countenances of the 'princes and princesses of the blood +royal'! + +Now, if the farcical puppet of a chief magistrate in the Sandwich +Islands be allowed the title of King, why should it be withheld from +the noble savage Mehevi, who is a thousand times more worthy of the +appellation? All hail, therefore, Mehevi, King of the Cannibal Valley, +and long life and prosperity to his Typeean majesty! May Heaven for many +a year preserve him, the uncompromising foe of Nukuheva and the French, +if a hostile attitude will secure his lovely domain from the remorseless +inflictions of South Sea civilization. + +Previously to seeing the Dancing Widows I had little idea that there +were any matrimonial relations subsisting in Typee, and I should as soon +have thought of a Platonic affection being cultivated between the sexes, +as of the solemn connection of man and wife. To be sure, there were old +Marheyo and Tinor, who seemed to have a sort of nuptial understanding +with one another; but for all that, I had sometimes observed a +comical-looking old gentleman dressed in a suit of shabby tattooing, who +had the audacity to take various liberties with the lady, and that too +in the very presence of the old warrior her husband, who looked on +as good-naturedly as if nothing was happening. This behaviour, until +subsequent discoveries enlightened me, puzzled me more than anything +else I witnessed in Typee. + +As for Mehevi, I had supposed him a confirmed bachelor, as well as most +of the principal chiefs. At any rate, if they had wives and families, +they ought to have been ashamed of themselves; for sure I am, they never +troubled themselves about any domestic affairs. In truth, Mehevi seemed +to be the president of a club of hearty fellows, who kept 'Bachelor's +Hall' in fine style at the Ti. I had no doubt but that they regarded +children as odious incumbrances; and their ideas of domestic felicity +were sufficiently shown in the fact, that they allowed no meddlesome +housekeepers to turn topsy-turvy those snug little arrangements they had +made in their comfortable dwelling. I strongly suspected however, that +some of these jolly bachelors were carrying on love intrigues with +the maidens of the tribe; although they did not appear publicly to +acknowledge them. I happened to pop upon Mehevi three or four times when +he was romping--in a most undignified manner for a warrior king--with +one of the prettiest little witches in the valley. She lived with an +old woman and a young man, in a house near Marheyo's; and although in +appearance a mere child herself, had a noble boy about a year old, who +bore a marvellous resemblance to Mehevi, whom I should certainly have +believed to have been the father, were it not that the little fellow +had no triangle on his face--but on second thoughts, tattooing is not +hereditary. Mehevi, however, was not the only person upon whom the +damsel Moonoony smiled--the young fellow of fifteen, who permanently +resided in the home with her, was decidedly in her good graces. I +sometimes beheld both him and the chief making love at the same time. Is +it possible, thought I, that the valiant warrior can consent to give +up a corner in the thing he loves? This too was a mystery which, with +others of the same kind, was afterwards satisfactorily explained. + +During the second day of the Feast of Calabashes, Kory-Kory--being +determined that I should have some understanding on these matters--had, +in the course of his explanations, directed my attention to +a peculiarity I had frequently remarked among many of the +females;--principally those of a mature age and rather matronly +appearance. This consisted in having the right hand and the left foot +most elaborately tattooed; whilst the rest of the body was wholly free +from the operation of the art, with the exception of the minutely dotted +lips and slight marks on the shoulders, to which I have previously +referred as comprising the sole tattooing exhibited by Fayaway, in +common with other young girls of her age. The hand and foot thus +embellished were, according to Kory-Kory, the distinguishing badge of +wedlock, so far as that social and highly commendable institution is +known among those people. It answers, indeed, the same purpose as the +plain gold ring worn by our fairer spouses. + +After Kory-Kory's explanation of the subject, I was for some time +studiously respectful in the presence of all females thus distinguished, +and never ventured to indulge in the slightest approach to flirtation +with any of their number. Married women, to be sure!--I knew better than +to offend them. + +A further insight, however, into the peculiar domestic customs of the +inmates of the valley did away in a measure with the severity of my +scruples, and convinced me that I was deceived in some at least of my +conclusions. A regular system of polygamy exists among the islanders; +but of a most extraordinary nature,--a plurality of husbands, instead of +wives! and this solitary fact speaks volumes for the gentle disposition +of the male population. + +Where else, indeed, could such a practice exist, even for a single +day?--Imagine a revolution brought about in a Turkish seraglio, and +the harem rendered the abode of bearded men; or conceive some beautiful +woman in our own country running distracted at the sight of her numerous +lovers murdering one another before her eyes, out of jealousy for the +unequal distribution of her favours!--Heaven defend us from such a state +of things!--We are scarcely amiable and forbearing enough to submit to +it. + +I was not able to learn what particular ceremony was observed in forming +the marriage contract, but am inclined to think that it must have been +of a very simple nature. Perhaps the mere 'popping the question', as +it is termed with us, might have been followed by an immediate nuptial +alliance. At any rate, I have more than one reason to believe that +tedious courtships are unknown in the valley of Typee. + +The males considerably outnumber the females. This holds true of many +of the islands of Polynesia, although the reverse of what is the case in +most civilized countries. The girls are first wooed and won, at a very +tender age, by some stripling in the household in which they reside. +This, however, is a mere frolic of the affections, and no formal +engagement is contracted. By the time this first love has a little +subsided, a second suitor presents himself, of graver years, and carries +both boy and girl away to his own habitation. This disinterested and +generous-hearted fellow now weds the young couple--marrying damsel +and lover at the same time--and all three thenceforth live together +as harmoniously as so many turtles. I have heard of some men who in +civilized countries rashly marry large families with their wives, but +had no idea that there was any place where people married supplementary +husbands with them. Infidelity on either side is very rare. No man +has more than one wife, and no wife of mature years has less than two +husbands,--sometimes she has three, but such instances are not +frequent. The marriage tie, whatever it may be, does not appear to be +indissoluble; for separations occasionally happen. These, however, +when they do take place, produce no unhappiness, and are preceded by no +bickerings; for the simple reason, that an ill-used wife or a henpecked +husband is not obliged to file a bill in Chancery to obtain a divorce. +As nothing stands in the way of a separation, the matrimonial yoke sits +easily and lightly, and a Typee wife lives on very pleasant and sociable +terms with her husband. On the whole, wedlock, as known among these +Typees, seems to be of a more distinct and enduring nature than +is usually the case with barbarous people. A baneful promiscuous +intercourse of the sexes is hereby avoided, and virtue, without being +clamorously invoked, is, as it were, unconsciously practised. + +The contrast exhibited between the Marquesas and other islands of the +Pacific in this respect, is worthy of being noticed. At Tahiti the +marriage tie was altogether unknown; and the relation of husband +and wife, father and son, could hardly be said to exist. The Arreory +Society--one of the most singular institutions that ever existed in any +part of the world--spread universal licentiousness over the island. It +was the voluptuous character of these people which rendered the disease +introduced among them by De Bougainville's ships, in 1768, doubly +destructive. It visited them like a plague, sweeping them off by +hundreds. + +Notwithstanding the existence of wedlock among the Typees, the +Scriptural injunction to increase and multiply seems to be but +indifferently attended to. I never saw any of those large families in +arithmetical or step-ladder progression which one often meets with at +home. I never knew of more than two youngsters living together in the +same home, and but seldom even that number. As for the women, it was +very plain that the anxieties of the nursery but seldom disturbed the +serenity of their souls; and they were never seen going about the valley +with half a score of little ones tagging at their apron-strings, or +rather at the bread-fruit-leaf they usually wore in the rear. + +The ratio of increase among all the Polynesian nations is very small; +and in some places as yet uncorrupted by intercourse with Europeans, +the births would appear not very little to outnumber the deaths; the +population in such instances remaining nearly the same for several +successive generations, even upon those islands seldom or never +desolated by wars, and among people with whom the crime of infanticide +is altogether unknown. This would seem expressively ordained by +Providence to prevent the overstocking of the islands with a race too +indolent to cultivate the ground, and who, for that reason alone, would, +by any considerable increase in their numbers, be exposed to the most +deplorable misery. During the entire period of my stay in the valley of +Typee, I never saw more than ten or twelve children under the age of six +months, and only became aware of two births. + +It is to the absence of the marriage tie that the late rapid decrease +of the population of the Sandwich Islands and of Tahiti is in part to be +ascribed. The vices and diseases introduced among these unhappy people +annually swell the ordinary mortality of the islands, while, from the +same cause, the originally small number of births is proportionally +decreased. Thus the progress of the Hawaiians and Tahitians to utter +extinction is accelerated in a sort of compound ratio. + +I have before had occasion to remark, that I never saw any of the +ordinary signs of a pace of sepulture in the valley, a circumstance +which I attributed, at the time, to my living in a particular part +of it, and being forbidden to extend my rambles to any considerable +distance towards the sea. I have since thought it probable, however, +that the Typees, either desirous of removing from their sight the +evidences of mortality, or prompted by a taste for rural beauty, may +have some charming cemetery situation in the shadowy recesses along +the base of the mountains. At Nukuheva, two or three large quadrangular +'pi-pis', heavily flagged, enclosed with regular stone walls, and shaded +over and almost hidden from view by the interlacing branches of +enormous trees, were pointed out to me as burial-places. The bodies, I +understood, were deposited in rude vaults beneath the flagging, and were +suffered to remain there without being disinterred. Although nothing +could be more strange and gloomy than the aspect of these places, where +the lofty trees threw their dark shadows over rude blocks of stone, +a stranger looking at them would have discerned none of the ordinary +evidences of a place of sepulture. + +During my stay in the valley, as none of its inmates were so +accommodating as to die and be buried in order to gratify my curiosity +with regard to their funeral rites, I was reluctantly obliged to +remain in ignorance of them. As I have reason to believe, however, the +observances of the Typees in these matters are the same with those of +all the other tribes in the island, I will here relate a scene I chanced +to witness at Nukuheva. + +A young man had died, about daybreak, in a house near the beach. I had +been sent ashore that morning, and saw a good deal of the preparations +they were making for his obsequies. The body, neatly wrapped in a new +white tappa, was laid out in an open shed of cocoanut boughs, upon a +bier constructed of elastic bamboos ingeniously twisted together. This +was supported about two feet from the ground, by large canes planted +uprightly in the earth. Two females, of a dejected appearance, watched +by its side, plaintively chanting and beating the air with large grass +fans whitened with pipe-clay. In the dwelling-house adjoining a numerous +company we assembled, and various articles of food were being prepared +for consumption. Two or three individuals, distinguished by head-dresses +of beautiful tappa, and wearing a great number of ornaments, appeared +to officiate as masters of the ceremonies. By noon the entertainment had +fairly begun and we were told that it would last during the whole of +the two following days. With the exception of those who mourned by +the corpse, every one seemed disposed to drown the sense of the late +bereavement in convivial indulgence. The girls, decked out in their +savage finery, danced; the old men chanted; the warriors smoked and +chatted; and the young and lusty, of both sexes, feasted plentifully, +and seemed to enjoy themselves as pleasantly as they could have done had +it been a wedding. + +The islanders understand the art of embalming, and practise it with such +success that the bodies of their great chiefs are frequently preserved +for many years in the very houses where they died. I saw three of these +in my visit to the Bay of Tior. One was enveloped in immense folds of +tappa, with only the face exposed, and hung erect against the side of +the dwelling. The others were stretched out upon biers of bamboo, in +open, elevated temples, which seemed consecrated to their memory. The +heads of enemies killed in battle are invariably preserved and hung up +as trophies in the house of the conqueror. I am not acquainted with the +process which is in use, but believe that fumigation is the principal +agency employed. All the remains which I saw presented the appearance of +a ham after being suspended for some time in a smoky chimney. + +But to return from the dead to the living. The late festival had drawn +together, as I had every reason to believe, the whole population of the +vale, and consequently I was enabled to make some estimate with regard +to its numbers. I should imagine that there were about two thousand +inhabitants in Typee; and no number could have been better adapted to +the extent of the valley. The valley is some nine miles in length, +and may average one in breadth; the houses being distributed at wide +intervals throughout its whole extent, principally, however, towards the +head of the vale. There are no villages; the houses stand here and there +in the shadow of the groves, or are scattered along the banks of the +winding stream; their golden-hued bamboo sides and gleaming white thatch +forming a beautiful contrast to the perpetual verdure in which they are +embowered. There are no roads of any kind in the valley. Nothing but a +labyrinth of footpaths twisting and turning among the thickets without +end. + +The penalty of the Fall presses very lightly upon the valley of Typee; +for, with the one solitary exception of striking a light, I scarcely saw +any piece of work performed there which caused the sweat to stand upon +a single brow. As for digging and delving for a livelihood, the thing is +altogether unknown. Nature has planted the bread-fruit and the banana, +and in her own good time she brings them to maturity, when the idle +savage stretches forth his hand, and satisfies his appetite. + +Ill-fated people! I shudder when I think of the change a few years +will produce in their paradisaical abode; and probably when the most +destructive vices, and the worst attendances on civilization, shall have +driven all peace and happiness from the valley, the magnanimous +French will proclaim to the world that the Marquesas Islands have been +converted to Christianity! and this the Catholic world will doubtless +consider as a glorious event. Heaven help the 'Isles of the Sea'!--The +sympathy which Christendom feels for them, has, alas! in too many +instances proved their bane. + +How little do some of these poor islanders comprehend when they look +around them, that no inconsiderable part of their disasters originate +in certain tea-party excitements, under the influence of which +benevolent-looking gentlemen in white cravats solicit alms, and old +ladies in spectacles, and young ladies in sober russet gowns, contribute +sixpences towards the creation of a fund, the object of which is to +ameliorate the spiritual condition of the Polynesians, but whose end has +almost invariably been to accomplish their temporal destruction! + +Let the savages be civilized, but civilize them with benefits, and not +with evils; and let heathenism be destroyed, but not by destroying the +heathen. The Anglo-Saxon hive have extirpated Paganism from the greater +part of the North American continent; but with it they have likewise +extirpated the greater portion of the Red race. Civilization is +gradually sweeping from the earth the lingering vestiges of Paganism, +and at the same time the shrinking forms of its unhappy worshippers. + +Among the islands of Polynesia, no sooner are the images overturned, the +temples demolished, and the idolators converted into NOMINAL Christians, +that disease, vice, and premature death make their appearance. The +depopulated land is then recruited from the rapacious, hordes of +enlightened individuals who settle themselves within its borders, +and clamorously announce the progress of the Truth. Neat villas, trim +gardens, shaven lawns, spires, and cupolas arise, while the poor savage +soon finds himself an interloper in the country of his fathers, and +that too on the very site of the hut where he was born. The spontaneous +fruits of the earth, which God in his wisdom had ordained for the +support of the indolent natives, remorselessly seized upon and +appropriated by the stranger, are devoured before the eyes of the +starving inhabitants, or sent on board the numerous vessels which now +touch at their shores. + +When the famished wretches are cut off in this manner from their natural +supplies, they are told by their benefactors to work and earn their +support by the sweat of their brows! But to no fine gentleman born to +hereditary opulence, does this manual labour come more unkindly than +to the luxurious Indian when thus robbed of the bounty of heaven. +Habituated to a life of indolence, he cannot and will not exert himself; +and want, disease, and vice, all evils of foreign growth, soon terminate +his miserable existence. + +But what matters all this? Behold the glorious result!--The abominations +of Paganism have given way to the pure rites of the Christian +worship,--the ignorant savage has been supplanted by the refined +European! Look at Honolulu, the metropolis of the Sandwich Islands!--A +community of disinterested merchants, and devoted self-exiled heralds of +the Cross, located on the very spot that twenty years ago was defiled by +the presence of idolatry. What a subject for an eloquent Bible-meeting +orator! Nor has such an opportunity for a display of missionary rhetoric +been allowed to pass by unimproved!--But when these philanthropists send +us such glowing accounts of one half of their labours, why does their +modesty restrain them from publishing the other half of the good they +have wrought?--Not until I visited Honolulu was I aware of the fact that +the small remnant of the natives had been civilized into draught-horses; +and evangelized into beasts of burden. But so it is. They have been +literally broken into the traces, and are harnessed to the vehicles of +their spiritual instructors like so many dumb brutes! + + . . . . . . . + +Lest the slightest misconception should arise from anything thrown out +in this chapter, or indeed in any other part of the volume, let me here +observe that against the cause of missions in, the abstract no Christian +can possibly be opposed: it is in truth a just and holy cause. But +if the great end proposed by it be spiritual, the agency employed to +accomplish that end is purely earthly; and, although the object in +view be the achievement of much good, that agency may nevertheless be +productive of evil. In short, missionary undertaking, however it may +blessed of heaven, is in itself but human; and subject, like everything +else, to errors and abuses. And have not errors and abuses crept into +the most sacred places, and may there not be unworthy or incapable +missionaries abroad, as well as ecclesiastics of similar character +at home? May not the unworthiness or incapacity of those who assume +apostolic functions upon the remote islands of the sea more easily +escape detection by the world at large than if it were displayed in +the heart of a city? An unwarranted confidence in the sanctity of its +apostles--a proneness to regard them as incapable of guile--and +an impatience of the least suspicion to their rectitude as men or +Christians, have ever been prevailing faults in the Church. Nor is this +to be wondered at: for subject as Christianity is to the assaults of +unprincipled foes, we are naturally disposed to regard everything like +an exposure of ecclesiastical misconduct as the offspring of malevolence +or irreligious feeling. Not even this last consideration, however shall +deter me from the honest expression of my sentiments. + +There is something apparently wrong in the practical operations of +the Sandwich Islands Mission. Those who from pure religious motives +contribute to the support of this enterprise should take care to +ascertain that their donations, flowing through many devious channels, +at last effect their legitimate object, the conversion of the Hawaiians. +I urge this not because I doubt the moral probity of those who disburse +the funds, but because I know that they are not rightly applied. To read +pathetic accounts of missionary hardships, and glowing descriptions of +conversion, and baptisms, taking place beneath palm-trees, is one thing; +and to go to the Sandwich Islands and see the missionaries dwelling +in picturesque and prettily furnished coral-rock villas, whilst the +miserable natives are committing all sorts of immorality around them, is +quite another. + +In justice to the missionaries, however, I will willingly admit, that +where-ever evils may have resulted from their collective mismanagement +of the business of the mission, and from the want of vital piety evinced +by some of their number, still the present deplorable condition of the +Sandwich Islands is by no means wholly chargeable against them. The +demoralizing influence of a dissolute foreign population, and the +frequent visits of all descriptions of vessels, have tended not a little +to increase the evils alluded to. In a word, here, as in every case +where civilization has in any way been introduced among those whom we +call savages, she has scattered her vices, and withheld her blessings. + +As wise a man as Shakespeare has said, that the bearer of evil tidings +hath but a losing office; and so I suppose will it prove with me, in +communicating to the trusting friends of the Hawiian Mission what has +been disclosed in various portions of this narrative. I am persuaded, +however, that as these disclosures will by their very nature attract +attention, so they will lead to something which will not be without +ultimate benefit to the cause of Christianity in the Sandwich Islands. + +I have but one more thing to add in connection with this subject--those +things which I have stated as facts will remain facts, in spite of +whatever the bigoted or incredulous may say or write against them. My +reflections, however, on those facts may not be free from error. If such +be the case, I claim no further indulgence than should be conceded to +every man whose object is to do good. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN + +THE SOCIAL CONDITION AND GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE TYPEES + +I HAVE already mentioned that the influence exerted over the people +of the valley by their chiefs was mild in the extreme; and as to any +general rule or standard of conduct by which the commonality were +governed in their intercourse with each other, so far as my observation +extended, I should be almost tempted to say, that none existed on the +island, except, indeed, the mysterious 'Taboo' be considered as such. +During the time I lived among the Typees, no one was ever put upon his +trial for any offence against the public. To all appearance there +were no courts of law or equity. There was no municipal police for the +purpose of apprehending vagrants and disorderly characters. In +short, there were no legal provisions whatever for the well-being and +conservation of society, the enlightened end of civilized legislation. +And yet everything went on in the valley with a harmony and smoothness +unparalleled, I will venture to assert, in the most select, refined, and +pious associations of mortals in Christendom. How are we to explain this +enigma? These islanders were heathens! savages! ay, cannibals! and how +came they without the aid of established law, to exhibit, in so eminent +a degree, that social order which is the greatest blessing and highest +pride of the social state? + +It may reasonably be inquired, how were these people governed? how were +their passions controlled in their everyday transactions? It must have +been by an inherent principle of honesty and charity towards each other. +They seemed to be governed by that sort of tacit common-sense law which, +say what they will of the inborn lawlessness of the human race, has +its precepts graven on every breast. The grand principles of virtue and +honour, however they may be distorted by arbitrary codes, are the same +all the world over: and where these principles are concerned, the right +or wrong of any action appears the same to the uncultivated as to the +enlightened mind. It is to this indwelling, this universally diffused +perception of what is just and noble, that the integrity of the +Marquesans in their intercourse with each other, is to be attributed. +In the darkest nights they slept securely, with all their worldly wealth +around them, in houses the doors of which were never fastened. The +disquieting ideas of theft or assassination never disturbed them. + +Each islander reposed beneath his own palmetto thatching, or sat under +his own bread-fruit trees, with none to molest or alarm him. There was +not a padlock in the valley, nor anything that answered the purpose +of one: still there was no community of goods. This long spear, so +elegantly carved, and highly polished, belongs to Wormoonoo: it is far +handsomer than the one which old Marheyo so greatly prizes; it is the +most valuable article belonging to its owner. And yet I have seen it +leaning against a cocoanut tree in the grove, and there it was found +when sought for. Here is a sperm-whale tooth, graven all over with +cunning devices: it is the property of Karluna; it is the most precious +of the damsel's ornaments. In her estimation its price is far above +rubies--and yet there hangs the dental jewel by its cord of braided +bark, in the girl's house, which is far back in the valley; the door is +left open, and all the inmates have gone off to bathe in the stream.* + +*The strict honesty which the inhabitants of nearly all the Polynesian +Islands manifest toward each other, is in striking contrast with the +thieving propensities some of them evince in their intercourse with +foreigners. It would almost seem that, according to their peculiar code +of morals, the pilfering of a hatchet or a wrought nail from a European, +is looked upon as a praiseworthy action. Or rather, it may be presumed, +that bearing in mind the wholesale forays made upon them by their +nautical visitors, they consider the property of the latter as a fair +object of reprisal. This consideration, while it serves to reconcile an +apparent contradiction in the moral character of the islanders, should +in some measure alter that low opinion of it which the reader of South +Sea voyages is too apt to form. + + + +So much for the respect in which 'personal property' is held in Typee; +how secure an investment of 'real property' may be, I cannot take upon +me to say. Whether the land of the valley was the joint property of its +inhabitants, or whether it was parcelled out among a certain number of +landed proprietors who allowed everybody to 'squat' and 'poach' as +much as he or she pleased, I never could ascertain. At any rate, musty +parchments and title-deeds there were none on the island; and I am half +inclined to believe that its inhabitants hold their broad valleys in fee +simple from Nature herself; to have and to hold, so long as grass grows +and water runs; or until their French visitors, by a summary mode of +conveyancing, shall appropriate them to their own benefit and behoof. + +Yesterday I saw Kory-Kory hie him away, armed with a long pole, with +which, standing on the ground, he knocked down the fruit from the +topmost boughs of the trees, and brought them home in his basket of +cocoanut leaves. Today I see an islander, whom I know to reside in a +distant part of the valley, doing the self-same thing. On the sloping +bank of the stream are a number of banana-trees I have often seen a +score or two of young people making a merry foray on the great golden +clusters, and bearing them off, one after another, to different parts +of the vale, shouting and trampling as they went. No churlish old +curmudgeon could have been the owner of that grove of bread-fruit trees, +or of these gloriously yellow bunches of bananas. + +From what I have said it will be perceived that there is a vast +difference between 'personal property' and 'real estate' in the valley +of Typee. Some individuals, of course, are more wealthy than others. +For example, the ridge-pole of Marheyo's house bends under the weight of +many a huge packet of tappa; his long couch is laid with mats placed one +upon the other seven deep. Outside, Tinor has ranged along in her +bamboo cupboard--or whatever the place may be called--a goodly array of +calabashes and wooden trenchers. Now, the house just beyond the grove, +and next to Marheyo's, occupied by Ruaruga, is not quite so well +furnished. There are only three moderate-sized packages swinging +overhead: there are only two layers of mats beneath; and the calabashes +and trenchers are not so numerous, nor so tastefully stained and carved. +But then, Ruaruga has a house--not so pretty a one, to be sure--but just +as commodious as Marheyo's; and, I suppose, if he wished to vie with +his neighbour's establishment, he could do so with very little trouble. +These, in short, constituted the chief differences perceivable in the +relative wealth of the people in Typee. + +Civilization does not engross all the virtues of humanity: she has not +even her full share of them. They flourish in greater abundance and +attain greater strength among many barbarous people. The hospitality +of the wild Arab, the courage of the North American Indian, and the +faithful friendship of some of the Polynesian nations, far surpass +anything of a similar kind among the polished communities of Europe. If +truth and justice, and the better principles of our nature, cannot +exist unless enforced by the statute-book, how are we to account for the +social condition of the Typees? So pure and upright were they in all the +relations of life, that entering their valley, as I did, under the most +erroneous impressions of their character, I was soon led to exclaim in +amazement: 'Are these the ferocious savages, the blood-thirsty cannibals +of whom I have heard such frightful tales! They deal more kindly with +each other, and are more humane than many who study essays on virtue and +benevolence, and who repeat every night that beautiful prayer breathed +first by the lips of the divine and gentle Jesus.' I will frankly +declare that after passing a few weeks in this valley of the Marquesas, +I formed a higher estimate of human nature than I had ever before +entertained. But alas! since then I have been one of the crew of a +man-of-war, and the pent-up wickedness of five hundred men has nearly +overturned all my previous theories. + +There was one admirable trait in the general character of the Typees +which, more than anything else, secured my admiration: it was the +unanimity of feeling they displayed on every occasion. With them +there hardly appeared to be any difference of opinion upon any subject +whatever. They all thought and acted alike. I do not conceive that they +could support a debating society for a single night: there would be +nothing to dispute about; and were they to call a convention to take +into consideration the state of the tribe, its session would be a +remarkably short one. They showed this spirit of unanimity in every +action of life; everything was done in concert and good fellowship. I +will give an instance of this fraternal feeling. + +One day, in returning with Kory-Kory from my accustomed visit to the +Ti, we passed by a little opening in the grove; on one side of which, +my attendant informed me, was that afternoon to be built a dwelling of +bamboo. At least a hundred of the natives were bringing materials to the +ground, some carrying in their hands one or two of the canes which were +to form the sides, others slender rods of the habiscus, strung with +palmetto leaves, for the roof. Every one contributed something to the +work; and by the united, but easy, and even indolent, labours of all, +the entire work was completed before sunset. The islanders, while +employed in erecting this tenement, reminded me of a colony of beavers +at work. To be sure, they were hardly as silent and demure as those +wonderful creatures, nor were they by any means as diligent. To tell the +truth they were somewhat inclined to be lazy, but a perfect tumult of +hilarity prevailed; and they worked together so unitedly, and seemed +actuated by such an instinct of friendliness, that it was truly +beautiful to behold. + +Not a single female took part in this employment: and if the degree of +consideration in which the ever-adorable sex is held by the men be--as +the philosophers affirm--a just criterion of the degree of refinement +among a people, then I may truly pronounce the Typees to be as polished +a community as ever the sun shone upon. The religious restrictions of +the taboo alone excepted, the women of the valley were allowed every +possible indulgence. Nowhere are the ladies more assiduously courted; +nowhere are they better appreciated as the contributors to our highest +enjoyments; and nowhere are they more sensible of their power. Far +different from their condition among many rude nations, where the women +are made to perform all the work while their ungallant lords and masters +lie buried in sloth, the gentle sex in the valley of Typee were exempt +from toil, if toil it might be called that, even in the tropical +climate, never distilled one drop of perspiration. Their light household +occupations, together with the manufacture of tappa, the platting of +mats, and the polishing of drinking-vessels, were the only employments +pertaining to the women. And even these resembled those pleasant +avocations which fill up the elegant morning leisure of our fashionable +ladies at home. But in these occupations, slight and agreeable though +they were, the giddy young girls very seldom engaged. Indeed these +wilful care-killing damsels were averse to all useful employment. + +Like so many spoiled beauties, they ranged through the groves--bathed +in the stream--danced--flirted--played all manner of mischievous pranks, +and passed their days in one merry round of thoughtless happiness. + +During my whole stay on the island I never witnessed a single quarrel, +nor anything that in the slightest degree approached even to a dispute. +The natives appeared to form one household, whose members were bound +together by the ties of strong affection. The love of kindred I did not +so much perceive, for it seemed blended in the general love; and where +all were treated as brothers and sisters, it was hard to tell who were +actually related to each other by blood. + +Let it not be supposed that I have overdrawn this picture. I have +not done so. Nor let it be urged, that the hostility of this tribe +to foreigners, and the hereditary feuds they carry on against their +fellow-islanders beyond the mountains, are facts which contradict me. +Not so; these apparent discrepancies are easily reconciled. By many a +legendary tale of violence and wrong, as well as by events which have +passed before their eyes, these people have been taught to look upon +white men with abhorrence. The cruel invasion of their country by Porter +has alone furnished them with ample provocation; and I can sympathize +in the spirit which prompts the Typee warrior to guard all the passes to +his valley with the point of his levelled spear, and, standing upon +the beach, with his back turned upon his green home, to hold at bay the +intruding European. + +As to the origin of the enmity of this particular clan towards the +neighbouring tribes, I cannot so confidently speak. I will not say that +their foes are the aggressors, nor will I endeavour to palliate their +conduct. But surely, if our evil passions must find vent, it is far +better to expend them on strangers and aliens, than in the bosom of +the community in which we dwell. In many polished countries civil +contentions, as well as domestic enmities, are prevalent, and the same +time that the most atrocious foreign wars are waged. How much less +guilty, then, are our islanders, who of these three sins are only +chargeable with one, and that the least criminal! + +The reader will ere long have reason to suspect that the Typees are not +free from the guilt of cannibalism; and he will then, perhaps, charge me +with admiring a people against whom so odious a crime is chargeable. But +this only enormity in their character is not half so horrible as it +is usually described. According to the popular fictions, the crews of +vessels, shipwrecked on some barbarous coast, are eaten alive like so +many dainty joints by the uncivil inhabitants; and unfortunate voyagers +are lured into smiling and treacherous bays; knocked on the head with +outlandish war-clubs; and served up without any prelimary dressing. In +truth, so horrific and improbable are these accounts, that many sensible +and well-informed people will not believe that any cannibals exist; and +place every book of voyages which purports to give any account of them, +on the same shelf with Blue Beard and Jack the Giant-Killer. While +others, implicitly crediting the most extravagant fictions, firmly +believe that there are people in the world with tastes so depraved that +they would infinitely prefer a single mouthful of material humanity to +a good dinner of roast beef and plum pudding. But here, Truth, who loves +to be centrally located, is again found between the two extremes; for +cannibalism to a certain moderate extent is practised among several of +the primitive tribes in the Pacific, but it is upon the bodies of slain +enemies alone, and horrible and fearful as the custom is, immeasurably +as it is to be abhorred and condemned, still I assert that those who +indulge in it are in other respects humane and virtuous. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT + +FISHING PARTIES--MODE OF DISTRIBUTING THE FISH--MIDNIGHT +BANQUET--TIME-KEEPING TAPERS--UNCEREMONIOUS STYLE OF EATING THE FISH + +THERE was no instance in which the social and kindly dispositions of the +Typees were more forcibly evinced than in the manner the conducted their +great fishing parties. Four times during my stay in the valley the young +men assembled near the full of the moon, and went together on these +excursions. As they were generally absent about forty-eight hours, I was +led to believe that they went out towards the open sea, some distance +from the bay. The Polynesians seldom use a hook and line, almost always +employing large well-made nets, most ingeniously fabricated from the +twisted fibres of a certain bark. I examined several of them which had +been spread to dry upon the beach at Nukuheva. They resemble very much +our own seines, and I should think they were nearly as durable. + +All the South Sea Islanders are passionately fond of fish; but none +of them can be more so than the inhabitants of Typee. I could not +comprehend, therefore, why they so seldom sought it in their waters, for +it was only at stated times that the fishing parties were formed, and +these occasions were always looked forward to with no small degree of +interest. + +During their absence the whole population of the place were in a +ferment, and nothing was talked of but 'pehee, pehee' (fish, fish). +Towards the time when they were expected to return the vocal telegraph +was put into operation--the inhabitants, who were scattered throughout +the length of the valley, leaped upon rocks and into trees, shouting +with delight at the thoughts of the anticipated treat. As soon as the +approach of the party was announced, there was a general rush of the +men towards the beach; some of them remaining, however, about the Ti in +order to get matters in readiness for the reception of the fish, which +were brought to the Taboo Groves in immense packages of leaves, each one +of them being suspended from a pole carried on the shoulders of two men. + +I was present at the Ti on one of these occasions, and the sight was +most interesting. After all the packages had arrived, they were laid in +a row under the verandah of the building and opened. + +The fish were all quite small, generally about the size of a herring, +and of every variety. About one-eighth of the whole being reserved +for the use of the Ti itself, the remainder was divided into numerous +smaller packages, which were immediately dispatched in every direction +to the remotest parts of the valley. Arrived at their destination, these +were in turn portioned out, and equally distributed among the various +houses of each particular district. The fish were under a strict Taboo, +until the distribution was completed, which seemed to be effected in the +most impartial manner. By the operation of this system every man, woman, +and child in the vale, were at one and the same time partaking of this +favourite article of food. + +Once I remember the party arrived at midnight; but the unseasonableness +of the tour did not repress the impatience of the islanders. The +carriers dispatched from the Ti were to be seen hurrying in all +directions through the deep groves; each individual preceded by a boy +bearing a flaming torch of dried cocoanut boughs, which from time to +time was replenished from the materials scattered along the path. The +wild glare of these enormous flambeaux, lighting up with a startling +brilliancy the innermost recesses of the vale, and seen moving rapidly +along beneath the canopy of leaves, the savage shout of the excited +messengers sounding the news of their approach, which was answered +on all sides, and the strange appearance of their naked bodies, seen +against the gloomy background, produced altogether an effect upon my +mind that I shall long remember. + +It was on this same occasion that Kory-Kory awakened me at the dead +hour of night, and in a sort of transport communicated the intelligence +contained in the words 'pehee perni' (fish come). As I happened to have +been in a remarkably sound and refreshing slumber, I could not imagine +why the information had not been deferred until morning, indeed, I felt +very much inclined to fly into a passion and box my valet's ears; but on +second thoughts I got quietly up, and on going outside the house was not +a little interested by the moving illumination which I beheld. + +When old Marheyo received his share of the spoils, immediate +preparations were made for a midnight banquet; calabashes of poee-poee +were filled to the brim; green bread-fruit were roasted; and a huge cake +of 'amar' was cut up with a sliver of bamboo and laid out on an immense +banana-leaf. + +At this supper we were lighted by several of the native tapers, held in +the hands of young girls. These tapers are most ingeniously made. There +is a nut abounding in the valley, called by the Typees 'armor', closely +resembling our common horse-chestnut. The shell is broken, and the +contents extracted whole. Any number of these are strung at pleasure +upon the long elastic fibre that traverses the branches of the cocoanut +tree. Some of these tapers are eight or ten feet in length; but being +perfectly flexible, one end is held in a coil, while the other is +lighted. The nut burns with a fitful bluish flame, and the oil that it +contains is exhausted in about ten minutes. As one burns down, the next +becomes ignited, and the ashes of the former are knocked into a cocoanut +shell kept for the purpose. This primitive candle requires continual +attention, and must be constantly held in the hand. The person so +employed marks the lapse of time by the number of nuts consumed, which +is easily learned by counting the bits of tappa distributed at regular +intervals along the string. + +I grieve to state so distressing a fact, but the inhabitants of +Typee were in the habit of devouring fish much in the same way that +a civilized being would eat a radish, and without any more previous +preparation. They eat it raw; scales, bones, gills, and all the inside. +The fish is held by the tail, and the head being introduced into the +mouth, the animal disappears with a rapidity that would at first nearly +lead one to imagine it had been launched bodily down the throat. + +Raw fish! Shall I ever forget my sensations when I first saw my island +beauty devour one. Oh, heavens! Fayaway, how could you ever have +contracted so vile a habit? However, after the first shock had subsided, +the custom grew less odious in my eyes, and I soon accustomed myself to +the sight. Let no one imagine, however, that the lovely Fayaway was in +the habit of swallowing great vulgar-looking fishes: oh, no; with her +beautiful small hand she would clasp a delicate, little, golden-hued +love of a fish and eat it as elegantly and as innocently as though it +were a Naples biscuit. But alas! it was after all a raw fish; and all I +can say is, that Fayaway ate it in a more ladylike manner than any other +girl of the valley. + +When at Rome do as the Romans do, I held to be so good a proverb, that +being in Typee I made a point of doing as the Typees did. Thus I +ate poee-poee as they did; I walked about in a garb striking for its +simplicity; and I reposed on a community of couches; besides doing many +other things in conformity with their peculiar habits; but the farthest +I ever went in the way of conformity, was on several occasions to regale +myself with raw fish. These being remarkably tender, and quite small, +the undertaking was not so disagreeable in the main, and after a few +trials I positively began to relish them; however, I subjected them to a +slight operation with a knife previously to making my repast. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE + +NATURAL HISTORY OF THE VALLEY--GOLDEN LIZARDS--TAMENESS OF THE +BIRDS--MOSQUITOES--FLIES--DOGS--A SOLITARY CAT--THE CLIMATE--THE +COCOANUT TREE--SINGULAR MODES OF CLIMBING IT--AN AGILE YOUNG +CHIEF--FEARLESSNESS OF THE CHILDREN--TOO-TOO AND THE COCOANUT TREE--THE +BIRDS OF THE VALLEY + +I THINK I must enlighten the reader a little about the natural history +of the valley. + +Whence, in the name of Count Buffon and Baron Cuvier, came those dogs +that I saw in Typee? Dogs!--Big hairless rats rather; all with smooth, +shining speckled hides--fat sides, and very disagreeable faces. Whence +could they have come? That they were not the indigenous production of +the region, I am firmly convinced. Indeed they seemed aware of their +being interlopers, looking fairly ashamed, and always trying to hide +themselves in some dark corner. It was plain enough they did not feel at +home in the vale--that they wished themselves well out of it, and back +to the ugly country from which they must have come. + +Scurvy curs! they were my abhorrence; I should have liked nothing +better than to have been the death of every one of them. In fact, on one +occasion, I intimated the propriety of a canine crusade to Mehevi; but +the benevolent king would not consent to it. He heard me very patiently; +but when I had finished, shook his head, and told me in confidence that +they were 'taboo'. + +As for the animal that made the fortune of the ex-lord-mayor +Whittington, I shall never forget the day that I was lying in the house +about noon, everybody else being fast asleep; and happening to raise +my eyes, met those of a big black spectral cat, which sat erect in the +doorway, looking at me with its frightful goggling green orbs, like one +of those monstrous imps that torment some of Teniers' saints! I am one +of those unfortunate persons to whom the sight of these animals are, at +any time an insufferable annoyance. + +Thus constitutionally averse to cats in general, the unexpected +apparition of this one in particular utterly confounded me. When I had +a little recovered from the fascination of its glance, I started up; the +cat fled, and emboldened by this, I rushed out of the house in pursuit; +but it had disappeared. It was the only time I ever saw one in the +valley, and how it got there I cannot imagine. It is just possible that +it might have escaped from one of the ships at Nukuheva. It was in vain +to seek information on the subject from the natives, since none of them +had seen the animal, the appearance of which remains a mystery to me to +this day. + +Among the few animals which are to be met with in Typee, there was none +which I looked upon with more interest than a beautiful golden-hued +species of lizard. It measured perhaps five inches from head to tail, +and was most gracefully proportioned. Numbers of those creatures were +to be seen basking in the sunshine upon the thatching of the houses, and +multitudes at all hours of the day showed their glittering sides as they +ran frolicking between the spears of grass or raced in troops up and +down the tall shafts of the cocoanut trees. But the remarkable beauty +of these little animals and their lively ways were not their only claims +upon my admiration. They were perfectly tame and insensible to fear. +Frequently, after seating myself upon the ground in some shady place +during the heat of the day, I would be completely overrun with them. +If I brushed one off my arm, it would leap perhaps into my hair: when I +tried to frighten it away by gently pinching its leg, it would turn for +protection to the very hand that attacked it. + +The birds are also remarkably tame. If you happened to see one perched +upon a branch within reach of your arm, and advanced towards it, it did +not fly away immediately, but waited quietly looking at you, until you +could almost touch it, and then took wing slowly, less alarmed at your +presence, it would seem, than desirous of removing itself from your +path. Had salt been less scarce in the valley than it was, this was the +very place to have gone birding with it. I remember that once, on an +uninhabited island of the Gallipagos, a bird alighted on my outstretched +arm, while its mate chirped from an adjoining tree. Its tameness, far +from shocking me, as a similar occurrence did Selkirk, imparted to +me the most exquisite thrill of delight I ever experienced, and with +somewhat of the same pleasure did I afterwards behold the birds and +lizards of the valley show their confidence in the kindliness of man. + +Among the numerous afflictions which the Europeans have entailed upon +some of the natives of the South Seas, is the accidental introduction +among them of that enemy of all repose and ruffler of even tempers--the +Mosquito. At the Sandwich Islands and at two or three of the Society +group, there are now thriving colonies of these insects, who promise ere +long to supplant altogether the aboriginal sand-flies. They sting, buzz, +and torment, from one end of the year to the other, and by incessantly +exasperating the natives materially obstruct the benevolent labours of +the missionaries. + +From this grievous visitation, however the Typees are as yet wholly +exempt; but its place is unfortunately in some degree supplied by the +occasional presence of a minute species of fly, which, without stinging, +is nevertheless productive of no little annoyance. The tameness of the +birds and lizards is as nothing when compared to the fearless confidence +of this insect. He will perch upon one of your eye-lashes, and go to +roost there if you do not disturb him, or force his way through your +hair, or along the cavity of the nostril, till you almost fancy he is +resolved to explore the very brain itself. On one occasion I was so +inconsiderate as to yawn while a number of them were hovering around +me. I never repeated the act. Some half-dozen darted into the open +apartment, and began walking about its ceiling; the sensation was +dreadful. I involuntarily closed my mouth, and the poor creatures being +enveloped in inner darkness, must in their consternation have stumbled +over my palate, and been precipitated into the gulf beneath. At any +rate, though I afterwards charitably held my mouth open for at least +five minutes, with a view of affording egress to the stragglers, none of +them ever availed themselves of the opportunity. + +There are no wild animals of any kind on the island unless it be decided +that the natives themselves are such. The mountains and the interior +present to the eye nothing but silent solitudes, unbroken by the roar +of beasts of prey, and enlivened by few tokens even of minute animated +existence. There are no venomous reptiles, and no snakes of any +description to be found in any of the valleys. + +In a company of Marquesan natives the weather affords no topic of +conversation. It can hardly be said to have any vicissitudes. The rainy +season, it is true, brings frequent showers, but they are intermitting +and refreshing. When an islander bound on some expedition rises from his +couch in the morning, he is never solicitous to peep out and see how the +sky looks, or ascertain from what quarter the wind blows. He is always +sure of a 'fine day', and the promise of a few genial showers he hails +with pleasure. There is never any of that 'remarkable weather' on the +islands which from time immemorial has been experienced in America, and +still continues to call forth the wondering conversational exclamations +of its elderly citizens. Nor do there even occur any of those eccentric +meteorological changes which elsewhere surprise us. In the valley of +Typee ice-creams would never be rendered less acceptable by sudden +frosts, nor would picnic parties be deferred on account of inauspicious +snowstorms: for there day follows day in one unvarying round of summer +and sunshine, and the whole year is one long tropical month of June just +melting into July. + +It is this genial climate which causes the cocoanuts to flourish as they +do. This invaluable fruit, brought to perfection by the rich soil of the +Marquesas, and home aloft on a stately column more than a hundred feet +from the ground, would seem at first almost inaccessible to the simple +natives. Indeed the slender, smooth, and soaring shaft, without a single +limb or protuberance of any kind to assist one in mounting it, presents +an obstacle only to be overcome by the surprising agility and ingenuity +of the islanders. It might be supposed that their indolence would lead +them patiently to await the period when the ripened nuts, slowly parting +from their stems, fall one by one to the ground. This certainly would +be the case, were it not that the young fruit, encased in a soft green +husk, with the incipient meat adhering in a jelly-like pellicle to its +sides, and containing a bumper of the most delicious nectar, is what +they chiefly prize. They have at least twenty different terms to express +as many progressive stages in the growth of the nut. Many of them reject +the fruit altogether except at a particular period of its growth, which, +incredible as it may appear, they seemed to me to be able to ascertain +within an hour or two. Others are still more capricious in their +tastes; and after gathering together a heap of the nuts of all ages, and +ingeniously tapping them, will first sip from one and then from another, +as fastidiously as some delicate wine-bibber experimenting glass in hand +among his dusty demi-johns of different vintages. + +Some of the young men, with more flexible frames than their comrades, +and perhaps with more courageous souls, had a way of walking up +the trunk of the cocoanut trees which to me seemed little less than +miraculous; and when looking at them in the act, I experienced that +curious perplexity a child feels when he beholds a fly moving feet +uppermost along a ceiling. + +I will endeavour to describe the way in which Narnee, a noble young +chief, sometimes performed this feat for my peculiar gratification; but +his preliminary performances must also be recorded. Upon my signifying +my desire that he should pluck me the young fruit of some particular +tree, the handsome savage, throwing himself into a sudden attitude of +surprise, feigns astonishment at the apparent absurdity of the request. +Maintaining this position for a moment, the strange emotions depicted on +his countenance soften down into one of humorous resignation to my will, +and then looking wistfully up to the tufted top of the tree, he +stands on tip-toe, straining his neck and elevating his arm, as though +endeavouring to reach the fruit from the ground where he stands. As +if defeated in this childish attempt, he now sinks to the earth +despondingly, beating his breast in well-acted despair; and then, +starting to his feet all at once, and throwing back his head, raises +both hands, like a school-boy about to catch a falling ball. After +continuing this for a moment or two, as if in expectation that the fruit +was going to be tossed down to him by some good spirit in the tree-top, +he turns wildly round in another fit of despair, and scampers off to the +distance of thirty or forty yards. Here he remains awhile, eyeing the +tree, the very picture of misery; but the next moment, receiving, as it +were, a flash of inspiration, he rushes again towards it, and clasping +both arms about the trunk, with one elevated a little above the other, +he presses the soles of his feet close together against the tree, +extending his legs from it until they are nearly horizontal, and his +body becomes doubled into an arch; then, hand over hand and foot over +foot, he rises from the earth with steady rapidity, and almost before +you are aware of it, has gained the cradled and embowered nest of nuts, +and with boisterous glee flings the fruit to the ground. + +This mode of walking the tree is only practicable where the trunk +declines considerably from the perpendicular. This, however, is almost +always the case; some of the perfectly straight shafts of the trees +leaning at an angle of thirty degrees. + +The less active among the men, and many of the children of the valley +have another method of climbing. They take a broad and stout piece of +bark, and secure each end of it to their ankles, so that when the feet +thus confined are extended apart, a space of little more than twelve +inches is left between them. This contrivance greatly facilitates +the act of climbing. The band pressed against the tree, and closely +embracing it, yields a pretty firm support; while with the arms clasped +about the trunk, and at regular intervals sustaining the body, the feet +are drawn up nearly a yard at a time, and a corresponding elevation of +the hands immediately succeeds. In this way I have seen little children, +scarcely five years of age, fearlessly climbing the slender pole of +a young cocoanut tree, and while hanging perhaps fifty feet from the +ground, receiving the plaudits of their parents beneath, who clapped +their hands, and encouraged them to mount still higher. + +What, thought I, on first witnessing one of these exhibitions, would +the nervous mothers of America and England say to a similar display of +hardihood in any of their children? The Lacedemonian nation might have +approved of it, but most modern dames would have gone into hysterics at +the sight. + +At the top of the cocoanut tree the numerous branches, radiating on +all sides from a common centre, form a sort of green and waving +basket, between the leaflets of which you just discern the nuts thickly +clustering together, and on the loftier trees looking no bigger from +the ground than bunches of grapes. I remember one adventurous little +fellow--Too-Too was the rascal's name--who had built himself a sort of +aerial baby-house in the picturesque tuft of a tree adjoining Marheyo's +habitation. He used to spend hours there,--rustling among the branches, +and shouting with delight every time the strong gusts of wind rushing +down from the mountain side, swayed to and fro the tall and flexible +column on which he was perched. Whenever I heard Too-Too's musical voice +sounding strangely to the ear from so great a height, and beheld him +peeping down upon me from out his leafy covert, he always recalled to my +mind Dibdin's lines-- + + 'There's a sweet little cherub that sits up aloft, + To look out for the life of poor Jack.' + +Birds--bright and beautiful birds--fly over the valley of Typee. You +see them perched aloft among the immovable boughs of the majestic +bread-fruit trees, or gently swaying on the elastic branches of the +Omoo; skimming over the palmetto thatching of the bamboo huts; passing +like spirits on the wing through the shadows of the grove, and sometimes +descending into the bosom of the valley in gleaming flights from the +mountains. Their plumage is purple and azure, crimson and white, black +and gold; with bills of every tint: bright bloody red, jet black, and +ivory white, and their eyes are bright and sparkling; they go sailing +through the air in starry throngs; but, alas! the spell of dumbness is +upon them all--there is not a single warbler in the valley! + +I know not why it was, but the sight of these birds, generally the +ministers of gladness, always oppressed me with melancholy. As in their +dumb beauty they hovered by me whilst I was walking, or looked down upon +me with steady curious eyes from out the foliage, I was almost inclined +to fancy that they knew they were gazing upon a stranger, and that they +commiserated his fate. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY + +A PROFESSOR OF THE FINE ARTS--HIS PERSECUTIONS--SOMETHING ABOUT +TATTOOING AND TABOOING--TWO ANECDOTES IN ILLUSTRATION OF THE LATTER--A +FEW THOUGHTS ON THE TYPEE DIALECT + +IN one of my strolls with Kory-Kory, in passing along the border of a +thick growth of bushes, my attention was arrested by a singular noise. +On entering the thicket I witnessed for the first time the operation of +tattooing as performed by these islanders. + +I beheld a man extended flat upon his back on the ground, and, despite +the forced composure of his countenance, it was evident that he was +suffering agony. His tormentor bent over him, working away for all the +world like a stone-cutter with mallet and chisel. In one hand he held a +short slender stick, pointed with a shark's tooth, on the upright end of +which he tapped with a small hammer-like piece of wood, thus puncturing +the skin, and charging it with the colouring matter in which the +instrument was dipped. A cocoanut shell containing this fluid was placed +upon the ground. It is prepared by mixing with a vegetable juice the +ashes of the 'armor', or candle-nut, always preserved for the purpose. +Beside the savage, and spread out upon a piece of soiled tappa, were +a great number of curious black-looking little implements of bone and +wood, used in the various divisions of his art. A few terminated in a +single fine point, and, like very delicate pencils, were employed in +giving the finishing touches, or in operating upon the more sensitive +portions of the body, as was the case in the present instance. Others +presented several points distributed in a line, somewhat resembling the +teeth of a saw. These were employed in the coarser parts of the work, +and particularly in pricking in straight marks. Some presented their +points disposed in small figures, and being placed upon the body, +were, by a single blow of the hammer, made to leave their indelible +impression. I observed a few the handles of which were mysteriously +curved, as if intended to be introduced into the orifice of the ear, +with a view perhaps of beating the tattoo upon the tympanum. Altogether +the sight of these strange instruments recalled to mind that display +of cruel-looking mother-of-pearl-handled things which one sees in their +velvet-lined cases at the elbow of a dentist. + +The artist was not at this time engaged on an original sketch, his +subject being a venerable savage, whose tattooing had become somewhat +faded with age and needed a few repairs, and accordingly he was merely +employed in touching up the works of some of the old masters of the +Typee school, as delineated upon the human canvas before him. The parts +operated upon were the eyelids, where a longitudinal streak, like the +one which adorned Kory-Kory, crossed the countenance of the victim. + +In spite of all the efforts of the poor old man, sundry twitchings and +screwings of the muscles of the face denoted the exquisite sensibility +of these shutters to the windows of his soul, which he was now having +repainted. But the artist, with a heart as callous as that of an army +surgeon, continued his performance, enlivening his labours with a wild +chant, tapping away the while as merrily as a woodpecker. + +So deeply engaged was he in his work, that he had not observed our +approach, until, after having, enjoyed an unmolested view of the +operation, I chose to attract his attention. As soon as he perceived me, +supposing that I sought him in his professional capacity, he seized hold +of me in a paroxysm of delight, and was an eagerness to begin the work. +When, however, I gave him to understand that he had altogether mistaken +my views, nothing could exceed his grief and disappointment. But +recovering from this, he seemed determined not to credit my assertion, +and grasping his implements, he flourished them about in fearful +vicinity to my face, going through an imaginary performance of his art, +and every moment bursting into some admiring exclamation at the beauty +of his designs. + +Horrified at the bare thought of being rendered hideous for life if the +wretch were to execute his purpose upon me, I struggled to get away +from him, while Kory-Kory, turning traitor, stood by, and besought me +to comply with the outrageous request. On my reiterated refusals the +excited artist got half beside himself, and was overwhelmed with sorrow +at losing so noble an opportunity of distinguishing himself in his +profession. + +The idea of engrafting his tattooing upon my white skin filled him +with all a painter's enthusiasm; again and again he gazed into my +countenance, and every fresh glimpse seemed to add to the vehemence +of his ambition. Not knowing to what extremities he might proceed, +and shuddering at the ruin he might inflict upon my figure-head, I now +endeavoured to draw off his attention from it, and holding out my arm +in a fit of desperation, signed to him to commence operations. But he +rejected the compromise indignantly, and still continued his attack on +my face, as though nothing short of that would satisfy him. When his +forefinger swept across my features, in laying out the borders of those +parallel bands which were to encircle my countenance, the flesh fairly +crawled upon my bones. At last, half wild with terror and indignation, I +succeeded in breaking away from the three savages, and fled towards old +Marheyo's house, pursued by the indomitable artist, who ran after me, +implements in hand. Kory-Kory, however, at last interfered and drew him +off from the chase. + +This incident opened my eyes to a new danger; and I now felt convinced +that in some luckless hour I should be disfigured in such a manner as +never more to have the FACE to return to my countrymen, even should an +opportunity offer. + +These apprehensions were greatly increased by the desire which King +Mehevi and several of the inferior chiefs now manifested that I should +be tattooed. The pleasure of the king was first signified to me some +three days after my casual encounter with Karky the artist. Heavens! +what imprecations I showered upon that Karky. Doubtless he had plotted a +conspiracy against me and my countenance, and would never rest until his +diabolical purpose was accomplished. Several times I met him in various +parts of the valley, and, invariably, whenever he descried me, he came +running after me with his mallet and chisel, flourishing them about my +face as if he longed to begin. What an object he would have made of me! + +When the king first expressed his wish to me, I made known to him my +utter abhorrence of the measure, and worked myself into such a state of +excitement, that he absolutely stared at me in amazement. It evidently +surpassed his majesty's comprehension how any sober-minded and +sensible individual could entertain the least possible objection to so +beautifying an operation. + +Soon afterwards he repeated his suggestion, and meeting with a little +repulse, showed some symptoms of displeasure at my obduracy. On his a +third time renewing his request, I plainly perceived that something must +be done, or my visage was ruined for ever; I therefore screwed up my +courage to the sticking point, and declared my willingness to have both +arms tattooed from just above the wrist to the shoulder. His majesty was +greatly pleased at the proposition, and I was congratulating myself with +having thus compromised the matter, when he intimated that as a thing of +course my face was first to undergo the operation. I was fairly driven +to despair; nothing but the utter ruin of my 'face divine', as the +poets call it, would, I perceived, satisfy the inexorable Mehevi and his +chiefs, or rather, that infernal Karky, for he was at the bottom of it +all. + +The only consolation afforded me was a choice of patterns: I was at +perfect liberty to have my face spanned by three horizontal bars, after +the fashion of my serving-man's; or to have as many oblique stripes +slanting across it; or if, like a true courtier, I chose to model my +style on that of royalty, I might wear a sort of freemason badge upon +my countenance in the shape of a mystic triangle. However, I would have +none of these, though the king most earnestly impressed upon my mind +that my choice was wholly unrestricted. At last, seeing my unconquerable +repugnance, he ceased to importune me. + +But not so some other of the savages. Hardly a day passed but I was +subjected to their annoying requests, until at last my existence +became a burden to me; the pleasures I had previously enjoyed no longer +afforded me delight, and all my former desire to escape from the valley +now revived with additional force. + +A fact which I soon afterwards learned augmented my apprehension. The +whole system of tattooing was, I found, connected with their religion; +and it was evident, therefore, that they were resolved to make a convert +of me. + +In the decoration of the chiefs it seems to be necessary to exercise the +most elaborate pencilling; while some of the inferior natives looked +as if they had been daubed over indiscriminately with a house-painter's +brush. I remember one fellow who prided himself hugely upon a great +oblong patch, placed high upon his back, and who always reminded me of +a man with a blister of Spanish flies, stuck between his shoulders. +Another whom I frequently met had the hollow of his eyes tattooed in two +regular squares and his visual organs being remarkably brilliant, they +gleamed forth from out this setting like a couple of diamonds inserted +in ebony. + +Although convinced that tattooing was a religious observance, still the +nature of the connection between it and the superstitious idolatry of +the people was a point upon which I could never obtain any information. +Like the still more important system of the 'Taboo', it always appeared +inexplicable to me. + +There is a marked similarity, almost an identity, between the religious +institutions of most of the Polynesian islands, and in all exists the +mysterious 'Taboo', restricted in its uses to a greater or less extent. +So strange and complex in its arrangements is this remarkable system, +that I have in several cases met with individuals who, after residing +for years among the islands in the Pacific, and acquiring a considerable +knowledge of the language, have nevertheless been altogether unable to +give any satisfactory account of its operations. Situated as I was +in the Typee valley, I perceived every hour the effects of this +all-controlling power, without in the least comprehending it. Those +effects were, indeed, wide-spread and universal, pervading the most +important as well as the minutest transactions of life. The savage, in +short, lives in the continual observance of its dictates, which guide +and control every action of his being. + +For several days after entering the valley I had been saluted at least +fifty times in the twenty-four hours with the talismanic word 'Taboo' +shrieked in my ears, at some gross violation of its provisions, of which +I had unconsciously been guilty. The day after our arrival I happened to +hand some tobacco to Toby over the head of a native who sat between +us. He started up, as if stung by an adder; while the whole company, +manifesting an equal degree of horror, simultaneously screamed out +'Taboo!' I never again perpetrated a similar piece of ill-manners, +which, indeed, was forbidden by the canons of good breeding, as well as +by the mandates of the taboo. But it was not always so easy to perceive +wherein you had contravened the spirit of this institution. I was many +times called to order, if I may use the phrase, when I could not for the +life of me conjecture what particular offence I had committed. + +One day I was strolling through a secluded portion of the valley, and +hearing the musical sound of the cloth-mallet at a little distance, I +turned down a path that conducted me in a few moments to a house where +there were some half-dozen girls employed in making tappa. This was an +operation I had frequently witnessed, and had handled the bark in all +the various stages of its preparation. On the present occasion the +females were intent upon their occupation, and after looking up and +talking gaily to me for a few moments, they resumed their employment. I +regarded them for a while in silence, and then carelessly picking up a +handful of the material that lay around, proceeded unconsciously to pick +it apart. While thus engaged, I was suddenly startled by a scream, like +that of a whole boarding-school of young ladies just on the point of +going into hysterics. Leaping up with the idea of seeing a score of +Happar warriors about to perform anew the Sabine atrocity, I found +myself confronted by the company of girls, who, having dropped their +work, stood before me with starting eyes, swelling bosoms, and fingers +pointed in horror towards me. + +Thinking that some venomous reptile must be concealed in the bark which +I held in my hand, I began cautiously to separate and examine it. Whilst +I did so the horrified girls re-doubled their shrieks. Their wild cries +and frightened motions actually alarmed me, and throwing down the tappa, +I was about to rush from the house, when in the same instant their +clamours ceased, and one of them, seizing me by the arm, pointed to the +broken fibres that had just fallen from my grasp, and screamed in my +ears the fatal word Taboo! + +I subsequently found out that the fabric they were engaged in making was +of a peculiar kind, destined to be worn on the heads of the females, and +through every stage of its manufacture was guarded by a rigorous taboo, +which interdicted the whole masculine gender from even so much as +touching it. + +Frequently in walking through the groves I observed bread-fruit and +cocoanut trees, with a wreath of leaves twined in a peculiar fashion +about their trunks. This was the mark of the taboo. The trees +themselves, their fruit, and even the shadows they cast upon the ground, +were consecrated by its presence. In the same way a pipe, which the king +had bestowed upon me, was rendered sacred in the eyes of the natives, +none of whom could I ever prevail upon to smoke from it. The bowl was +encircled by a woven band of grass, somewhat resembling those Turks' +heads occasionally worked in the handles of our whip-stalks. + +A similar badge was once braided about my wrist by the royal hand +of Mehevi himself, who, as soon as he had concluded the operation, +pronounced me 'Taboo'. This occurred shortly after Toby's disappearance; +and, were it not that from the first moment I had entered the valley +the natives had treated me with uniform kindness, I should have supposed +that their conduct afterwards was to be ascribed to the fact that I had +received this sacred investiture. + +The capricious operations of the taboo are not its least remarkable +feature: to enumerate them all would be impossible. Black hogs--infants +to a certain age--women in an interesting situation--young men while the +operation of tattooing their faces is going on--and certain parts of the +valley during the continuance of a shower--are alike fenced about by the +operation of the taboo. + +I witnessed a striking instance of its effects in the bay of Tior, +my visit to which place has been alluded to in a former part of this +narrative. On that occasion our worthy captain formed one of the party. +He was a most insatiable sportsman. Outward bound, and off the pitch of +Cape Horn, he used to sit on the taffrail, and keep the steward loading +three or four old fowling pieces, with which he would bring down +albatrosses, Cape pigeons, jays, petrels, and divers other marine fowl, +who followed chattering in our wake. The sailors were struck aghast at +his impiety, and one and all attributed our forty days' beating about +that horrid headland to his sacrilegious slaughter of these inoffensive +birds. + +At Tior he evinced the same disregard for the religious prejudices of +the islanders, as he had previously shown for the superstitions of the +sailors. Having heard that there were a considerable number of fowls in +the valley the progeny of some cocks and hens accidentally left there by +an English vessel, and which, being strictly tabooed, flew about almost +in a wild state--he determined to break through all restraints, and +be the death of them. Accordingly, he provided himself with a most +formidable looking gun, and announced his landing on the beach by +shooting down a noble cock that was crowing what proved to be his own +funeral dirge, on the limb of an adjoining tree. 'Taboo', shrieked the +affrighted savages. 'Oh, hang your taboo,' says the nautical sportsman; +'talk taboo to the marines'; and bang went the piece again, and down +came another victim. At this the natives ran scampering through the +groves, horror-struck at the enormity of the act. + +All that afternoon the rocky sides of the valley rang with successive +reports, and the superb plumage of many a beautiful fowl was ruffled by +the fatal bullet. Had it not been that the French admiral, with a large +party, was then in the glen, I have no doubt that the natives, although +their tribe was small and dispirited, would have inflicted summary +vengeance upon the man who thus outraged their most sacred institutions; +as it was, they contrived to annoy him not a little. + +Thirsting with his exertions, the skipper directed his steps to +a stream; but the savages, who had followed at a little distance, +perceiving his object, rushed towards him and forced him away from its +bank--his lips would have polluted it. Wearied at last, he sought to +enter a house that he might rest for a while on the mats; its inmates +gathered tumultuously about the door and denied him admittance. He +coaxed and blustered by turns, but in vain; the natives were neither +to be intimidated nor appeased, and as a final resort he was obliged +to call together his boat's crew, and pull away from what he termed the +most infernal place he ever stepped upon. + +Lucky was it for him and for us that we were not honoured on our +departure by a salute of stones from the hands of the exasperated Tiors. +In this way, on the neighbouring island of Ropo, were killed, but a few +weeks previously, and for a nearly similar offence, the master and three +of the crew of the K---. + +I cannot determine with anything approaching to certainty, what power +it is that imposes the taboo. When I consider the slight disparity +of condition among the islanders--the very limited and inconsiderable +prerogatives of the king and chiefs--and the loose and indefinite +functions of the priesthood, most of whom were hardly to be +distinguished from the rest of their countrymen, I am wholly at a loss +where to look for the authority which regulates this potent institution. +It is imposed upon something today, and withdrawn tomorrow; while its +operations in other cases are perpetual. Sometimes its restrictions only +affect a single individual--sometimes a particular family--sometimes +a whole tribe; and in a few instances they extend not merely over the +various clans on a single island, but over all the inhabitants of an +entire group. In illustration of this latter peculiarity, I may cite +the law which forbids a female to enter a canoe--a prohibition which +prevails upon all the northern Marquesas Islands. + +The word itself (taboo) is used in more than one signification. It +is sometimes used by a parent to his child, when in the exercise +of parental authority he forbids it to perform a particular action. +Anything opposed to the ordinary customs of the islanders, although not +expressly prohibited, is said to be 'taboo'. + +The Typee language is one very difficult to be acquired; it bears a +close resemblance to the other Polynesian dialects, all of which show a +common origin. The duplication of words, as 'lumee lumee', 'poee poee', +'muee muee', is one of their peculiar features. But another, and a more +annoying one, is the different senses in which one and the same word is +employed; its various meanings all have a certain connection, which +only makes the matter more puzzling. So one brisk, lively little word +is obliged, like a servant in a poor family, to perform all sorts of +duties; for instance, one particular combination of syllables expresses +the ideas of sleep, rest, reclining, sitting, leaning, and all other +things anywise analogous thereto, the particular meaning being shown +chiefly by a variety of gestures and the eloquent expression of the +countenance. + +The intricacy of these dialects is another peculiarity. In the +Missionary College at Lahainaluna, on Mowee, one of the Sandwich +Islands, I saw a tabular exhibition of a Hawiian verb, conjugated +through all its moods and tenses. It covered the side of a considerable +apartment, and I doubt whether Sir William Jones himself would not have +despaired of mastering it. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE + +STRANGE CUSTOM OF THE ISLANDERS--THEIR CHANTING, AND THE PECULIARITY OF +THEIR VOICE--RAPTURE OF THE KING AT FIRST HEARING A SONG--A NEW DIGNITY +CONFERRED ON THE AUTHOR--MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS IN THE VALLEY--ADMIRATION +OF THE SAVAGES AT BEHOLDING A PUGILISTIC PERFORMANCE--SWIMMING +INFANT--BEAUTIFUL TRESSES OF THE GIRLS--OINTMENT FOR THE HAIR + +SADLY discursive as I have already been, I must still further entreat +the reader's patience, as I am about to string together, without any +attempt at order, a few odds and ends of things not hitherto mentioned, +but which are either curious in themselves or peculiar to the Typees. + +There was one singular custom observed in old Marheyo's domestic +establishment, which often excited my surprise. Every night, before +retiring, the inmates of the house gathered together on the mats, and +so squatting upon their haunches, after the universal practice of +these islanders, would commence a low, dismal and monotonous chant, +accompanying the voice with the instrumental melody produced by two +small half-rotten sticks tapped slowly together, a pair of which +were held in the hands of each person present. Thus would they employ +themselves for an hour or two, sometimes longer. Lying in the gloom +which wrapped the further end of the house, I could not avoid looking +at them, although the spectacle suggested nothing but unpleasant +reflection. The flickering rays of the 'armor' nut just served to reveal +their savage lineaments, without dispelling the darkness that hovered +about them. + +Sometimes when, after falling into a kind of doze, and awaking suddenly +in the midst of these doleful chantings, my eye would fall upon the +wild-looking group engaged in their strange occupation, with their naked +tattooed limbs, and shaven heads disposed in a circle, I was almost +tempted to believe that I gazed upon a set of evil beings in the act of +working at a frightful incantation. + +What was the meaning or purpose of this custom, whether it was practiced +merely as a diversion, or whether it was a religious exercise, a sort of +family prayers, I never could discover. + +The sounds produced by the natives on these occasions were of a most +singular description; and had I not actually been present, I never would +have believed that such curious noises could have been produced by human +beings. + +To savages generally is imputed a guttural articulation. This however, +is not always the case, especially among the inhabitants of the +Polynesian Archipelago. The labial melody with which the Typee girls +carry on an ordinary conversation, giving a musical prolongation to the +final syllable of every sentence, and chirping out some of the words +with a liquid, bird-like accent, was singularly pleasing. + +The men however, are not quite so harmonious in their utterance, and +when excited upon any subject, would work themselves up into a sort of +wordy paroxysm, during which all descriptions of rough-sided sounds +were projected from their mouths, with a force and rapidity which was +absolutely astonishing. + + . . . . . . . . + +Although these savages are remarkably fond of chanting, still they +appear to have no idea whatever of singing, at least as the art is +practised in other nations. + +I shall never forget the first time I happened to roar out a stave +in the presence of noble Mehevi. It was a stanza from the 'Bavarian +broom-seller'. His Typeean majesty, with all his court, gazed upon me in +amazement, as if I had displayed some preternatural faculty which Heaven +had denied to them. The King was delighted with the verse; but the +chorus fairly transported him. At his solicitation I sang it again and +again, and nothing could be more ludicrous than his vain attempts to +catch the air and the words. The royal savage seemed to think that by +screwing all the features of his face into the end of his nose he +might possibly succeed in the undertaking, but it failed to answer the +purpose; and in the end he gave it up, and consoled himself by listening +to my repetition of the sounds fifty times over. + +Previous to Mehevi's making the discovery, I had never been aware that +there was anything of the nightingale about me; but I was now promoted +to the place of court-minstrel, in which capacity I was afterwards +perpetually called upon to officiate. + + . . . . . . . . + +Besides the sticks and the drums, there are no other musical instruments +among the Typees, except one which might appropriately be denominated a +nasal flute. It is somewhat longer than an ordinary fife; is made of +a beautiful scarlet-coloured reed; and has four or five stops, with +a large hole near one end, which latter is held just beneath the left +nostril. The other nostril being closed by a peculiar movement of the +muscles about the nose, the breath is forced into the tube, and produces +a soft dulcet sound which is varied by the fingers running at random +over the stops. This is a favourite recreation with the females and one +in which Fayaway greatly excelled. Awkward as such an instrument may +appear, it was, in Fayaway's delicate little hands, one of the most +graceful I have ever seen. A young lady, in the act of tormenting a +guitar strung about her neck by a couple of yards of blue ribbon, is not +half so engaging. + + . . . . . . . . + +Singing was not the only means I possessed of diverting the royal Mehevi +and his easy-going subject. Nothing afforded them more pleasure than to +see me go through the attitude of pugilistic encounter. As not one of +the natives had soul enough in him to stand up like a man, and allow me +to hammer away at him, for my own personal gratification and that of +the king, I was necessitated to fight with an imaginary enemy, whom I +invariably made to knock under to my superior prowess. Sometimes when +this sorely battered shadow retreated precipitately towards a group of +the savages, and, following him up, I rushed among them dealing my +blows right and left, they would disperse in all directions much to the +enjoyment of Mehevi, the chiefs, and themselves. + +The noble art of self-defence appeared to be regarded by them as the +peculiar gift of the white man; and I make little doubt that they +supposed armies of Europeans were drawn up provided with nothing else +but bony fists and stout hearts, with which they set to in column, and +pummelled one another at the word of command. + + . . . . . . . . + +One day, in company with Kory-Kory, I had repaired to the stream for the +purpose of bathing, when I observed a woman sitting upon a rock in +the midst of the current, and watching with the liveliest interest the +gambols of something, which at first I took to be an uncommonly large +species of frog that was sporting in the water near her. Attracted by +the novelty of the sight, I waded towards the spot where she sat, and +could hardly credit the evidence of my senses when I beheld a little +infant, the period of whose birth could not have extended back many +days, paddling about as if it had just risen to the surface, after being +hatched into existence at the bottom. Occasionally, the delighted parent +reached out her hand towards it, when the little thing, uttering a faint +cry, and striking out its tiny limbs, would sidle for the rock, and the +next moment be clasped to its mother's bosom. This was repeated again +and again, the baby remaining in the stream about a minute at a time. +Once or twice it made wry faces at swallowing a mouthful of water, and +choked a spluttered as if on the point of strangling. At such times +however, the mother snatched it up and by a process scarcely to be +mentioned obliged it to eject the fluid. For several weeks afterwards +I observed this woman bringing her child down to the stream regularly +every day, in the cool of the morning and evening and treating it to a +bath. No wonder that the South Sea Islanders are so amphibious a race, +when they are thus launched into the water as soon as they see the +light. I am convinced that it is as natural for a human being to swim as +it is for a duck. And yet in civilized communities how many able-bodied +individuals die, like so many drowning kittens, from the occurrence of +the most trivial accidents! + + . . . . . . . . + +The long luxuriant and glossy tresses of the Typee damsels often +attracted my admiration. A fine head of hair is the pride and joy of +every woman's heart. Whether against the express will of Providence, it +is twisted upon the crown of the head and there coiled away like a rope +on a ship's deck; whether it be stuck behind the ears and hangs down +like the swag of a small window-curtain; or whether it be permitted to +flow over the shoulders in natural ringlets, it is always the pride of +the owner, and the glory of the toilette. + +The Typee girls devote much of their time to the dressing of their fair +and redundant locks. After bathing, as they sometimes do five or six +times every day, the hair is carefully dried, and if they have been in +the sea, invariably washed in fresh water, and anointed with a highly +scented oil extracted from the meat of the cocoanut. This oil is +obtained in great abundance by the following very simple process: + +A large vessel of wood, with holes perforated in the bottom, is filled +with the pounded meat, and exposed to the rays of the sun. As the +oleaginous matter exudes, it falls in drops through the apertures into a +wide-mouthed calabash placed underneath. After a sufficient quantity has +thus been collected, the oil undergoes a purifying process, and is then +poured into the small spherical shells of the nuts of the moo-tree, +which are hollowed out to receive it. These nuts are then hermetically +sealed with a resinous gum, and the vegetable fragrance of their green +rind soon imparts to the oil a delightful odour. After the lapse of a +few weeks the exterior shell of the nuts becomes quite dry and hard, and +assumes a beautiful carnation tint; and when opened they are found to +be about two-thirds full of an ointment of a light yellow colour and +diffusing the sweetest perfume. This elegant little odorous globe would +not be out of place even upon the toilette of a queen. Its merits as a +preparation for the hair are undeniable--it imparts to it a superb gloss +and a silky fineness. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO + +APPREHENSIONS OF EVIL--FRIGHTFUL DISCOVERY--SOME REMARKS +ON CANNIBALISM--SECOND BATTLE WITH THE HAPPARS--SAVAGE +SPECTACLE--MYSTERIOUS FEAST--SUBSEQUENT DISCLOSURES + +FROM the time of my casual encounter with Karky the artist, my life was +one of absolute wretchedness. Not a day passed but I was persecuted by +the solicitations of some of the natives to subject myself to the odious +operation of tattooing. Their importunities drove me half wild, for I +felt how easily they might work their will upon me regarding this or +anything else which they took into their heads. Still, however, the +behaviour of the islanders towards me was as kind as ever. Fayaway was +quite as engaging; Kory-Kory as devoted; and Mehevi the king just as +gracious and condescending as before. But I had now been three months in +their valley, as nearly as I could estimate; I had grown familiar with +the narrow limits to which my wandering had been confined; and I began +bitterly to feel the state of captivity in which I was held. There +was no one with whom I could freely converse; no one to whom I could +communicate my thoughts; no one who could sympathize with my sufferings. +A thousand times I thought how much more endurable would have been my +lot had Toby still been with me. But I was left alone, and the thought +was terrible to me. Still, despite my griefs, I did all in my power +to appear composed and cheerful, well knowing that by manifesting any +uneasiness, or any desire to escape, I should only frustrate my object. + +It was during the period I was in this unhappy frame of mind that the +painful malady under which I had been labouring--after having almost +completely subsided--began again to show itself, and with symptoms as +violent as ever. This added calamity nearly unmanned me; the recurrence +of the complaint proved that without powerful remedial applications +all hope of cure was futile; and when I reflected that just beyond the +elevations, which bound me in, was the medical relief I needed, and that +although so near, it was impossible for me to avail myself of it, the +thought was misery. + +In this wretched situation, every circumstance which evinced the +savage nature of the beings at whose mercy I was, augmented the fearful +apprehensions that consumed me. An occurrence which happened about this +time affected me most powerfully. + +I have already mentioned that from the ridge-pole of Marheyo's house +were suspended a number of packages enveloped in tappa. Many of these I +had often seen in the hands of the natives, and their contents had been +examined in my presence. But there were three packages hanging +very nearly over the place where I lay, which from their remarkable +appearance had often excited my curiosity. Several times I had asked +Kory-Kory to show me their contents, but my servitor, who, in almost +every other particular had acceded to my wishes, refused to gratify me +in this. + +One day, returning unexpectedly from the 'Ti', my arrival seemed to +throw the inmates of the house into the greatest confusion. They were +seated together on the mats, and by the lines which extended from the +roof to the floor I immediately perceived that the mysterious packages +were for some purpose or another under inspection. The evident alarm +the savages betrayed filled me with forebodings of evil, and with an +uncontrollable desire to penetrate the secret so jealously guarded. +Despite the efforts of Marheyo and Kory-Kory to restrain me, I forced +my way into the midst of the circle, and just caught a glimpse of three +human heads, which others of the party were hurriedly enveloping in the +coverings from which they had been taken. + +One of the three I distinctly saw. It was in a state of perfect +preservation, and from the slight glimpse I had of it, seemed to have +been subjected to some smoking operation which had reduced it to the +dry, hard, and mummy-like appearance it presented. The two long scalp +locks were twisted up into balls upon the crown of the head in the same +way that the individual had worn them during life. The sunken cheeks +were rendered yet more ghastly by the rows of glistening teeth which +protruded from between the lips, while the sockets of the eyes--filled +with oval bits of mother-of-pearl shell, with a black spot in the +centre--heightened the hideousness of its aspect. + +Two of the three were heads of the islanders; but the third, to my +horror, was that of a white man. Although it had been quickly removed +from my sight, still the glimpse I had of it was enough to convince me +that I could not be mistaken. + +Gracious God! what dreadful thoughts entered my head; in solving this +mystery perhaps I had solved another, and the fate of my lost companion +might be revealed in the shocking spectacle I had just witnessed. I +longed to have torn off the folds of cloth and satisfied the awful +doubts under which I laboured. But before I had recovered from the +consternation into which I had been thrown, the fatal packages were +hoisted aloft, and once more swung over my head. The natives now +gathered round me tumultuously, and laboured to convince me that what +I had just seen were the heads of three Happar warriors, who had been +slain in battle. This glaring falsehood added to my alarm, and it was +not until I reflected that I had observed the packages swinging from +their elevation before Toby's disappearance, that I could at all recover +my composure. + +But although this horrible apprehension had been dispelled, I had +discovered enough to fill me, in my present state of mind, with the most +bitter reflections. It was plain that I had seen the last relic of some +unfortunate wretch, who must have been massacred on the beach by the +savages, in one of those perilous trading adventures which I have before +described. + +It was not, however, alone the murder of the stranger that overcame me +with gloom. I shuddered at the idea of the subsequent fate his inanimate +body might have met with. Was the same doom reserved for me? Was I +destined to perish like him--like him perhaps, to be devoured and my +head to be preserved as a fearful memento of the events? My imagination +ran riot in these horrid speculations, and I felt certain that the +worst possible evils would befall me. But whatever were my misgivings, I +studiously concealed them from the islanders, as well as the full extent +of the discovery I had made. + +Although the assurances which the Typees had often given me, that they +never eat human flesh, had not convinced me that such was the case, yet, +having been so long a time in the valley without witnessing anything +which indicated the existence of the practice, I began to hope that it +was an event of very rare occurrence, and that I should be spared the +horror of witnessing it during my stay among them: but, alas, these +hopes were soon destroyed. + +It is a singular fact, that in all our accounts of cannibal tribes we +have seldom received the testimony of an eye-witness account to this +revolting practice. The horrible conclusion has almost always been +derived from the second-hand evidence of Europeans, or else from the +admissions of the savages themselves, after they have in some degree +become civilized. The Polynesians are aware of the detestation in which +Europeans hold this custom, and therefore invariably deny its existence, +and with the craft peculiar to savages, endeavour to conceal every trace +of it. + +The excessive unwillingness betrayed by the Sandwich Islanders, even at +the present day, to allude to the unhappy fate of Cook, has often been +remarked. And so well have they succeeded in covering the event with +mystery, that to this very hour, despite all that has been said and +written on the subject, it still remains doubtful whether they wreaked +upon his murdered body the vengeance they sometimes inflicted upon their +enemies. + +At Kealakekau, the scene of that tragedy, a strip of ship's copper +nailed against an upright post in the ground used to inform +the traveller that beneath reposed the 'remains' of the great +circumnavigator. But I am strongly inclined to believe not only the +corpse was refused Christian burial, but that the heart which was +brought to Vancouver some time after the event, and which the Hawaiians +stoutly maintained was that of Captain Cook, was no such thing; and that +the whole affair was a piece of imposture which was sought to be palmed +off upon the credulous Englishman. + +A few years since there was living on the island of Maui (one of the +Sandwich group) an old chief, who, actuated by a morbid desire for +notoriety, gave himself out among the foreign residents of the place +as the living tomb of Captain Cook's big toe!--affirming that at the +cannibal entertainment which ensued after the lamented Briton's death, +that particular portion of his body had fallen to his share. His +indignant countrymen actually caused him to be prosecuted in the native +courts, on a charge nearly equivalent to what we term defamation of +character; but the old fellow persisting in his assertion, and no +invalidating proof being adduced, the plaintiffs were cast in the suit, +and the cannibal reputation of the defendant firmly established. This +result was the making of his fortune; ever afterwards he was in the +habit of giving very profitable audiences to all curious travellers who +were desirous of beholding the man who had eaten the great navigator's +great toe. + +About a week after my discovery of the contents of the mysterious +packages, I happened to be at the Ti, when another war-alarm was +sounded, and the natives rushing to their arms, sallied out to resist +a second incursion of the Happar invaders. The same scene was again +repeated, only that on this occasion I heard at least fifteen reports of +muskets from the mountains during the time that the skirmish lasted. +An hour or two after its termination, loud paeans chanted through the +valley announced the approach of the victors. I stood with Kory-Kory +leaning against the railing of the pi-pi awaiting their advance, when +a tumultuous crowd of islanders emerged with wild clamours from +the neighbouring groves. In the midst of them marched four men, one +preceding the other at regular intervals of eight or ten feet, with +poles of a corresponding length, extending from shoulder to shoulder, +to which were lashed with thongs of bark three long narrow bundles, +carefully wrapped in ample coverings of freshly plucked palm-leaves, +tacked together with slivers of bamboo. Here and there upon these green +winding-sheets might be seen the stains of blood, while the warriors who +carried the frightful burdens displayed upon their naked limbs similar +sanguinary marks. The shaven head of the foremost had a deep gash upon +it, and the clotted gore which had flowed from the wound remained in dry +patches around it. The savage seemed to be sinking under the weight +he bore. The bright tattooing upon his body was covered with blood +and dust; his inflamed eyes rolled in their sockets, and his whole +appearance denoted extraordinary suffering and exertion; yet sustained +by some powerful impulse, he continued to advance, while the throng +around him with wild cheers sought to encourage him. The other three men +were marked about the arms and breasts with several slight wounds, which +they somewhat ostentatiously displayed. + +These four individuals, having been the most active in the late +encounter, claimed the honour of bearing the bodies of their slain +enemies to the Ti. Such was the conclusion I drew from my own +observations, and, as far as I could understand, from the explanation +which Kory-Kory gave me. + +The royal Mehevi walked by the side of these heroes. He carried in one +hand a musket, from the barrel of which was suspended a small canvas +pouch of powder, and in the other he grasped a short javelin, which he +held before him and regarded with fierce exultation. This javelin he had +wrested from a celebrated champion of the Happars, who had ignominiously +fled, and was pursued by his foes beyond the summit of the mountain. + +When within a short distance of the Ti, the warrior with the wounded +head, who proved to be Narmonee, tottered forward two or three steps, +and fell helplessly to the ground; but not before another had caught the +end of the pole from his shoulder, and placed it upon his own. + +The excited throng of islanders, who surrounded the person of the king +and the dead bodies of the enemy, approached the spot where I stood, +brandishing their rude implements of warfare, many of which were bruised +and broken, and uttering continual shouts of triumph. When the crowd +drew up opposite the Ti, I set myself to watch their proceedings most +attentively; but scarcely had they halted when my servitor, who had left +my side for an instant, touched my arm and proposed our returning to +Marheyo's house. To this I objected; but, to my surprise, Kory-Kory +reiterated his request, and with an unusual vehemence of manner. Still, +however, I refused to comply, and was retreating before him, as in his +importunity he pressed upon me, when I felt a heavy hand laid upon my +shoulder, and turning round, encountered the bulky form of Mow-Mow, a +one-eyed chief, who had just detached himself from the crowd below, and +had mounted the rear of the pi-pi upon which we stood. His cheek had +been pierced by the point of a spear, and the wound imparted a still +more frightful expression to his hideously tattooed face, already +deformed by the loss of an eye. The warrior, without uttering a +syllable, pointed fiercely in the direction of Marheyo's house, while +Kory-Kory, at the same time presenting his back, desired me to mount. + +I declined this offer, but intimated my willingness to withdraw, and +moved slowly along the piazza, wondering what could be the cause of this +unusual treatment. A few minutes' consideration convinced me that the +savages were about to celebrate some hideous rite in connection with +their peculiar customs, and at which they were determined I should not +be present. I descended from the pi-pi, and attended by Kory-Kory, who +on this occasion did not show his usual commiseration for my lameness, +but seemed only anxious to hurry me on, walked away from the place. As I +passed through the noisy throng, which by this time completely environed +the Ti, I looked with fearful curiosity at the three packages, which now +were deposited upon the ground; but although I had no doubt as to their +contents, still their thick coverings prevented my actually detecting +the form of a human body. + +The next morning, shortly after sunrise, the same thundering sounds +which had awakened me from sleep on the second day of the Feast of +Calabashes, assured me that the savages were on the eve of celebrating +another, and, as I fully believed, a horrible solemnity. + +All the inmates of the house, with the exception of Marheyo, his son, +and Tinor, after assuming their gala dresses, departed in the direction +of the Taboo Groves. + +Although I did not anticipate a compliance with my request, still, with +a view of testing the truth of my suspicions, I proposed to Kory-Kory +that, according to our usual custom in the morning, we should take a +stroll to the Ti: he positively refused; and when I renewed the request, +he evinced his determination to prevent my going there; and, to divert +my mind from the subject, he offered to accompany me to the stream. We +accordingly went, and bathed. On our coming back to the house, I was +surprised to find that all its inmates had returned, and were lounging +upon the mats as usual, although the drums still sounded from the +groves. + +The rest of the day I spent with Kory-Kory and Fayaway, wandering about +a part of the valley situated in an opposite direction from the Ti, +and whenever I so much as looked towards that building, although it was +hidden from view by intervening trees, and at the distance of more than +a mile, my attendant would exclaim, 'Taboo, taboo!' + +At the various houses where we stopped, I found many of the inhabitants +reclining at their ease, or pursuing some light occupation, as if +nothing unusual were going forward; but amongst them all I did not +perceive a single chief or warrior. When I asked several of the people +why they were not at the 'Hoolah Hoolah' (the feast), their uniformly +answered the question in a manner which implied that it was not intended +for them, but for Mehevi, Narmonee, Mow-Mow, Kolor, Womonoo, Kalow, +running over, in their desire to make me comprehend their meaning, the +names of all the principal chiefs. + +Everything, in short, strengthened my suspicions with regard to the +nature of the festival they were now celebrating; and which amounted +almost to a certainty. While in Nukuheva I had frequently been informed +that the whole tribe were never present at these cannibal banquets, but +the chiefs and priests only; and everything I now observed agreed with +the account. + +The sound of the drums continued without intermission the whole day, and +falling continually upon my ear, caused me a sensation of horror which I +am unable to describe. On the following day, hearing none of those +noisy indications of revelry, I concluded that the inhuman feast was +terminated; and feeling a kind of morbid curiosity to discover whether +the Ti might furnish any evidence of what had taken place there, I +proposed to Kory-Kory to walk there. To this proposition he replied +by pointing with his finger to the newly risen sun, and then up to the +zenith, intimating that our visit must be deferred until noon. Shortly +after that hour we accordingly proceeded to the Taboo Groves, and as +soon as we entered their precincts, I looked fearfully round in, quest +of some memorial of the scene which had so lately been acted there; but +everything appeared as usual. On reaching the Ti, we found Mehevi and a +few chiefs reclining on the mats, who gave me as friendly a reception as +ever. No allusions of any kind were made by them to the recent events; +and I refrained, for obvious reasons, from referring to them myself. + +After staying a short time I took my leave. In passing along the piazza, +previously to descending from the pi-pi, I observed a curiously carved +vessel of wood, of considerable size, with a cover placed over it, of +the same material, and which resembled in shape a small canoe. It was +surrounded by a low railing of bamboos, the top of which was scarcely +a foot from the ground. As the vessel had been placed in its present +position since my last visit, I at once concluded that it must have +some connection with the recent festival, and, prompted by a curiosity +I could not repress, in passing it I raised one end of the cover; at the +same moment the chiefs, perceiving my design, loudly ejaculated, 'Taboo! +taboo!' + +But the slight glimpse sufficed; my eyes fell upon the disordered +members of a human skeleton, the bones still fresh with moisture, and +with particles of flesh clinging to them here and there! + +Kory-Kory, who had been a little in advance of me, attracted by +the exclamations of the chiefs, turned round in time to witness the +expression of horror on my countenance. He now hurried towards me, +pointing at the same time to the canoe, and exclaiming rapidly, +'Puarkee! puarkee!' (Pig, pig). I pretended to yield to the deception, +and repeated the words after him several times, as though acquiescing +in what he said. The other savages, either deceived by my conduct +or unwilling to manifest their displeasure at what could not now be +remedied, took no further notice of the occurrence, and I immediately +left the Ti. + +All that night I lay awake, revolving in my mind the fearful situation +in which I was placed. The last horrid revelation had now been made, and +the full sense of my condition rushed upon my mind with a force I had +never before experienced. + +Where, thought I, desponding, is there the slightest prospect of escape? +The only person who seemed to possess the ability to assist me was the +stranger Marnoo; but would he ever return to the valley? and if he did, +should I be permitted to hold any communication with him? It seemed as +if I were cut off from every source of hope, and that nothing remained +but passively to await whatever fate was in store for me. A thousand +times I endeavoured to account for the mysterious conduct of the +natives. + +For what conceivable purpose did they thus retain me a captive? What +could be their object in treating me with such apparent kindness, and +did it not cover some treacherous scheme? Or, if they had no other +design than to hold me a prisoner, how should I be able to pass away my +days in this narrow valley, deprived of all intercourse with civilized +beings, and for ever separated from friends and home? + +One only hope remained to me. The French could not long defer a visit +to the bay, and if they should permanently locate any of their troops +in the valley, the savages could not for any length of time conceal my +existence from them. But what reason had I to suppose that I should be +spared until such an event occurred, an event which might be postponed +by a hundred different contingencies? + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE + +THE STRANGER AGAIN ARRIVES IN THE VALLEY--SINGULAR INTERVIEW WITH +HIM--ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE--FAILURE--MELANCHOLY SITUATION--SYMPATHY OF +MARHEYO + +'MARNOO, Marnoo pemi!' Such were the welcome sounds which fell upon my +ear some ten days after the events related in the preceding chapter. +Once more the approach of the stranger was heralded, and the +intelligence operated upon me like magic. Again I should be able to +converse with him in my own language; and I resolve at all hazards to +concert with him some scheme, however desperate, to rescue me from a +condition that had now become insupportable. + +As he drew near, I remembered with many misgivings the inauspicious +termination of our former interview, and when he entered the house, I +watched with intense anxiety the reception he met with from its inmates. +To my joy, his appearance was hailed with the liveliest pleasure; and +accosting me kindly, he seated himself by my side, and entered into +conversation with the natives around him. It soon appeared however, +that on this occasion he had not any intelligence of importance to +communicate. I inquired of him from whence he had just come? He replied +from Pueearka, his native valley, and that he intended to return to it +the same day. + +At once it struck me that, could I but reach that valley under his +protection, I might easily from thence reach Nukuheva by water; and +animated by the prospect which this plan held, out I disclosed it in +a few brief words to the stranger, and asked him how it could be best +accomplished. My heart sunk within me, when in his broken English he +answered me that it could never be effected. 'Kanaka no let you go +nowhere,' he said; 'you taboo. Why you no like to stay? Plenty moee-moee +(sleep)--plenty ki-ki (eat)--plenty wahenee (young girls)--Oh, very good +place Typee! Suppose you no like this bay, why you come? You no hear +about Typee? All white men afraid Typee, so no white men come.' + +These words distressed me beyond belief; and when I had again related to +him the circumstances under which I had descended into the valley, and +sought to enlist his sympathies in my behalf by appealing to the bodily +misery I had endure, he listened with impatience, and cut me short by +exclaiming passionately, 'Me no hear you talk any more; by by Kanaka +get mad, kill you and me too. No you see he no want you to speak at +all?--you see--ah! by by you no mind--you get well, he kill you, eat +you, hang you head up there, like Happar Kanaka.--Now you listen--but no +talk any more. By by I go;--you see way I go--Ah! then some night Kanaka +all moee-moee (sleep)--you run away, you come Pueearka. I speak Pueearka +Kanaka--he no harm you--ah! then I take you my canoe Nukuheva--and you +run away ship no more.' With these words, enforced by a vehemence of +gesture I cannot describe, Marnoo started from my side, and immediately +engaged in conversation with some of the chiefs who had entered the +house. + +It would have been idle for me to have attempted resuming the interview +so peremptorily terminated by Marnoo, who was evidently little disposed +to compromise his own safety by any rash endeavour to ensure mine. +But the plan he had suggested struck me as one which might possibly be +accomplished, and I resolved to act upon it as speedily as possible. + +Accordingly, when he arose to depart, I accompanied him with the natives +outside of the house, with a view of carefully noting the path he +would take in leaving the valley. Just before leaping from the pi-pi he +clasped my hand, and looking significantly at me, exclaimed, 'Now you +see--you do what I tell you--ah! then you do good;--you no do so--ah! +then you die.' The next moment he waved his spear to the islanders, and +following the route that conducted to a defile in the mountains lying +opposite the Happar side, was soon out of sight. + +A mode of escape was now presented to me, but how was I to avail myself +of it? I was continually surrounded by the savages; I could not stir +from one house to another without being attended by some of them; and +even during the hours devoted to slumber, the slightest movement which I +made seemed to attract the notice of those who shared the mats with me. +In spite of these obstacles, however, I determined forthwith to make the +attempt. To do so with any prospect of success, it was necessary that +I should have at least two hours start before the islanders should +discover my absence; for with such facility was any alarm spread through +the valley, and so familiar, of course, were the inhabitants with the +intricacies of the groves, that I could not hope, lame and feeble as I +was, and ignorant of the route, to secure my escape unless I had this +advantage. It was also by night alone that I could hope to accomplish my +object, and then only by adopting the utmost precaution. + +The entrance to Marheyo's habitation was through a low narrow opening +in its wicker-work front. This passage, for no conceivable reason that I +could devise, was always closed after the household had retired to rest, +by drawing a heavy slide across it, composed of a dozen or more bits of +wood, ingeniously fastened together by seizings of sinnate. When any of +the inmates chose to go outside, the noise occasioned by the removing of +this rude door awakened every body else; and on more than one occasion +I had remarked that the islanders were nearly as irritable as more +civilized beings under similar circumstances. + +The difficulty thus placed in my way I, determined to obviate in the +following manner. I would get up boldly in the course of the night, and +drawing the slide, issue from the house, and pretend that my object was +merely to procure a drink from the calabash, which always stood +without the dwelling on the corner of the pi-pi. On re-entering I would +purposely omit closing the passage after me, and trusting that the +indolence of the savages would prevent them from repairing my neglect, +would return to my mat, and waiting patiently until all were again +asleep, I would then steal forth, and at once take the route to +Pueearka. + +The very night which followed Marnoo's departure, I proceeded to put +this project into execution. About midnight, as I imagined, I arose and +drew the slide. The natives, just as I had expected, started up, while +some of them asked, 'Arware poo awa, Tommo?' (where are you going, +Tommo?) 'Wai' (water) I laconically answered, grasping the calabash. On +hearing my reply they sank back again, and in a minute or two I returned +to my mat, anxiously awaiting the result of the experiment. + +One after another the savages, turning restlessly, appeared to resume +their slumbers, and rejoicing at the stillness which prevailed, I was +about to rise again from my couch, when I heard a slight rustling--a +dark form was intercepted between me and the doorway--the slide was +drawn across it, and the individual, whoever he was, returned to +his mat. This was a sad blow to me; but as it might have aroused the +suspicions of the islanders to have made another attempt that night, I +was reluctantly obliged to defer it until the next. Several times after +I repeated the same manoeuvre, but with as little success as before. +As my pretence for withdrawing from the house was to allay my thirst, +Kory-Kory either suspecting some design on my part, or else prompted +by a desire to please me, regularly every evening placed a calabash of +water by my side. + +Even, under these inauspicious circumstances I again and again renewed +the attempt, but when I did so, my valet always rose with me, as if +determined I should not remove myself from his observation. For +the present, therefore, I was obliged to abandon the attempt; but I +endeavoured to console myself with the idea that by this mode I might +yet effect my escape. + +Shortly after Marnoo's visit I was reduced to such a state that it was +with extreme difficulty I could walk, even with the assistance of a +spear, and Kory-Kory, as formerly, was obliged to carry me daily to the +stream. + +For hours and hours during the warmest part of the day I lay upon my +mat, and while those around me were nearly all dozing away in careless +ease, I remained awake, gloomily pondering over the fate which it +appeared now idle for me to resist, when I thought of the loved friends +who were thousands and thousands of miles from the savage island in +which I was held a captive, when I reflected that my dreadful fate would +for ever be concealed from them, and that with hope deferred they might +continue to await my return long after my inanimate form had blended +with the dust of the valley--I could not repress a shudder of anguish. + +How vividly is impressed upon my mind every minute feature of the scene +which met my view during those long days of suffering and sorrow. At my +request my mats were always spread directly facing the door, opposite +which, and at a little distance, was the hut of boughs that Marheyo was +building. + +Whenever my gentle Fayaway and Kory-Kory, laying themselves down beside +me, would leave me awhile to uninterrupted repose, I took a strange +interest in the slightest movements of the eccentric old warrior. All +alone during the stillness of the tropical mid-day, he would pursue his +quiet work, sitting in the shade and weaving together the leaflets of +his cocoanut branches, or rolling upon his knee the twisted fibres of +bark to form the cords with which he tied together the thatching of +his tiny house. Frequently suspending his employment, and noticing my +melancholy eye fixed upon him, he would raise his hand with a gesture +expressive of deep commiseration, and then moving towards me slowly, +would enter on tip-toes, fearful of disturbing the slumbering natives, +and, taking the fan from my hand, would sit before me, swaying it gently +to and fro, and gazing earnestly into my face. + +Just beyond the pi-pi, and disposed in a triangle before the entrance +of the house, were three magnificent bread-fruit trees. At this moment I +can recap to my mind their slender shafts, and the graceful inequalities +of their bark, on which my eye was accustomed to dwell day after day in +the midst of my solitary musings. It is strange how inanimate objects +will twine themselves into our affections, especially in the hour of +affliction. Even now, amidst all the bustle and stir of the proud and +busy city in which I am dwelling, the image of those three trees seems +to come as vividly before my eyes as if they were actually present, and +I still feel the soothing quiet pleasure which I then had in watching +hour after hour their topmost boughs waving gracefully in the breeze. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR + +THE ESCAPE + +NEARLY three weeks had elapsed since the second visit of Marnoo, and it +must have been more than four months since I entered the valley, when +one day about noon, and whilst everything was in profound silence, +Mow-Mow, the one-eyed chief, suddenly appeared at the door, and leaning +towards me as I lay directly facing him, said in a low tone, 'Toby pemi +ena' (Toby has arrived here). Gracious heaven! What a tumult of emotions +rushed upon me at this startling intelligence! Insensible to the pain +that had before distracted me, I leaped to my feet, and called wildly +to Kory-Kory who was reposing by my side. The startled islanders sprang +from their mats; the news was quickly communicated to them; and the +next moment I was making my way to the Ti on the back of Kory-Kory; and +surrounded by the excited savages. + +All that I could comprehend of the particulars which Mow-Mow rehearsed +to his audience as we proceeded, was that my long-lost companion had +arrived in a boat which had just entered the bay. These tidings made +me most anxious to be carried at once to the sea, lest some untoward +circumstance should prevent our meeting; but to this they would not +consent, and continued their course towards the royal abode. As we +approached it, Mehevi and several chiefs showed themselves from the +piazza, and called upon us loudly to come to them. + +As soon as we had approached, I endeavoured to make them understand that +I was going down to the sea to meet Toby. To this the king objected, and +motioned Kory-Kory to bring me into the house. It was in vain to resist; +and in a few moments I found myself within the Ti, surrounded by a noisy +group engaged in discussing the recent intelligence. Toby's name was +frequently repeated, coupled with violent exclamations of astonishment. +It seemed as if they yet remained in doubt with regard to the fact of +his arrival, at at every fresh report that was brought from the shore +they betrayed the liveliest emotions. + +Almost frenzied at being held in this state of suspense, I passionately +besought Mehevi to permit me to proceed. Whether my companion had +arrived or not, I felt a presentiment that my own fate was about to be +decided. Again and again I renewed my petition to Mehevi. He regarded me +with a fixed and serious eye, but at length yielding to my importunity, +reluctantly granted my request. + +Accompanied by some fifty of the natives, I now rapidly continued my +journey; every few moments being transferred from the back of one +to another, and urging my bearer forward all the while with earnest +entreaties. As I thus hurried forward, no doubt as to the truth of the +information I had received ever crossed my mind. + +I was alive only to the one overwhelming idea, that a chance of +deliverance was now afforded me, if the jealous opposition of the +savages could be overcome. + +Having been prohibited from approaching the sea during the whole of my +stay in the valley, I had always associated with it the idea of escape. +Toby too--if indeed he had ever voluntarily deserted me--must have +effected this flight by the sea; and now that I was drawing near to +it myself, I indulged in hopes which I had never felt before. It was +evident that a boat had entered the bay, and I saw little reason to +doubt the truth of the report that it had brought my companion. Every +time therefore that we gained an elevation, I looked eagerly around, +hoping to behold him. In the midst of an excited throng, who by their +violent gestures and wild cries appeared to be under the influence of +some excitement as strong as my own, I was now borne along at a rapid +trot, frequently stooping my head to avoid the branches which crossed +the path, and never ceasing to implore those who carried me to +accelerate their already swift pace. + +In this manner we had proceeded about four or five miles, when we were +met by a party of some twenty islanders, between whom and those who +accompanied me ensued an animated conference. Impatient of the delay +occasioned by this interruption, I was beseeching the man who carried me +to proceed without his loitering companions, when Kory-Kory, running +to my side, informed me, in three fatal words, that the news had all +proved, false--that Toby had not arrived--'Toby owlee pemi'. Heaven only +knows how, in the state of mind and body I then was, I ever sustained +the agony which this intelligence caused me; not that the news was +altogether unexpected; but I had trusted that the fact might not have +been made known until we should have arrived upon the beach. As it was, +I at once foresaw the course the savages would pursue. They had only +yielded thus far to my entreaties, that I might give a joyful welcome to +my long-lost comrade; but now that it was known he had not arrived they +would at once oblige me to turn back. + +My anticipations were but too correct. In spite of the resistance I +made, they carried me into a house which was near the spot, and left me +upon the mats. Shortly afterwards several of those who had accompanied +me from the Ti, detaching themselves from the others, proceeded in +the direction of the sea. Those who remained--among whom were Marheyo, +Mow-Mow, Kory-Kory, and Tinor--gathered about the dwelling, and appeared +to be awaiting their return. + +This convinced me that strangers--perhaps some of my own countrymen--had +for some cause or other entered the bay. Distracted at the idea of their +vicinity, and reckless of the pain which I suffered, I heeded not the +assurances of the islanders, that there were no boats at the beach, but +starting to my feet endeavoured to gain the door. Instantly the passage +was blocked up by several men, who commanded me to resume my seat. The +fierce looks of the irritated savages admonished me that I could gain +nothing by force, and that it was by entreaty alone that I could hope to +compass my object. + +Guided by this consideration, I turned to Mow-Mow, the only chief +present whom I had been much in the habit of seeing, and carefully +concealing, my real design, tried to make him comprehend that I still +believed Toby to have arrived on the shore, and besought him to allow me +to go forward to welcome him. + +To all his repeated assertions, that my companion had not been seen, +I pretended to turn a deaf ear, while I urged my solicitations with an +eloquence of gesture which the one-eyed chief appeared unable to resist. +He seemed indeed to regard me as a forward child, to whose wishes he had +not the heart to oppose force, and whom he must consequently humour. He +spoke a few words to the natives, who at once retreated from the door, +and I immediately passed out of the house. + +Here I looked earnestly round for Kory-Kory; but that hitherto faithful +servitor was nowhere to be seen. Unwilling to linger even for a single +instant when every moment might be so important, I motioned to a +muscular fellow near me to take me upon his back; to my surprise he +angrily refused. I turned to another, but with a like result. A third +attempt was as unsuccessful, and I immediately perceived what had +induced Mow-Mow to grant my request, and why the other natives conducted +themselves in so strange a manner. It was evident that the chief had +only given me liberty to continue my progress towards the sea, because +he supposed that I was deprived of the means of reaching it. + +Convinced by this of their determination to retain me a captive, I +became desperate; and almost insensible to the pain which I suffered, +I seized a spear which was leaning against the projecting eaves of the +house, and supporting myself with it, resumed the path that swept by +the dwelling. To my surprise, I was suffered to proceed alone; all +the natives remaining in front of the house, and engaging in earnest +conversation, which every moment became more loud and vehement; and to +my unspeakable delight, I perceived that some difference of opinion +had arisen between them; that two parties, in short, were formed, and +consequently that in their divided counsels there was some chance of my +deliverance. + +Before I had proceeded a hundred yards I was again surrounded by the +savages, who were still in all the heat of argument, and appeared every +moment as if they would come to blows. In the midst of this tumult +old Marheyo came to my side, and I shall never forget the benevolent +expression of his countenance. He placed his arm upon my shoulder, and +emphatically pronounced the only two English words I had taught him +'Home' and 'Mother'. I at once understood what he meant, and eagerly +expressed my thanks to him. Fayaway and Kory-Kory were by his side, both +weeping violently; and it was not until the old man had twice repeated +the command that his son could bring himself to obey him, and take me +again upon his back. The one-eyed chief opposed his doing so, but he was +overruled, and, as it seemed to me, by some of his own party. + +We proceeded onwards, and never shall I forget the ecstasy I felt when I +first heard the roar of the surf breaking upon the beach. Before long +I saw the flashing billows themselves through the opening between the +trees. Oh glorious sight and sound of ocean! with what rapture did I +hail you as familiar friends! By this time the shouts of the crowd +upon the beach were distinctly audible, and in the blended confusion +of sounds I almost fancied I could distinguish the voices of my own +countrymen. + +When we reached the open space which lay between the groves and the sea, +the first object that met my view was an English whale-boat, lying with +her bow pointed from the shore, and only a few fathoms distant from it. +It was manned by five islanders, dressed in shirt tunics of calico. My +first impression was that they were in the very act of pulling out from +the bay; and that, after all my exertions, I had come too late. My soul +sunk within me: but a second glance convinced me that the boat was only +hanging off to keep out of the surf; and the next moment I heard my own +name shouted out by a voice from the midst of the crowd. + +Looking in the direction of the sound, I perceived, to my indescribable +joy, the tall figure of Karakoee, an Oahu Kanaka, who had often been +aboard the 'Dolly', while she lay in Nukuheva. He wore the green +shooting-jacket with gilt buttons, which had been given to him by an +officer of the Reine Blanche--the French flag-ship--and in which I had +always seen him dressed. I now remembered the Kanaka had frequently told +me that his person was tabooed in all the valleys of the island, and the +sight of him at such a moment as this filled my heart with a tumult of +delight. + +Karakoee stood near the edge of the water with a large roll of +cotton-cloth thrown over one arm, and holding two or three canvas bags +of powder, while with the other hand he grasped a musket, which he +appeared to be proffering to several of the chiefs around him. But they +turned with disgust from his offers and seemed to be impatient at +his presence, with vehement gestures waving him off to his boat, and +commanding him to depart. + +The Kanaka, however, still maintained his ground, and I at once +perceived that he was seeking to purchase my freedom. Animated by the +idea, I called upon him loudly to come to me; but he replied, in broken +English, that the islanders had threatened to pierce him with their +spears, if he stirred a foot towards me. At this time I was still +advancing, surrounded by a dense throng of the natives, several of whom +had their hands upon me, and more than one javelin was threateningly +pointed at me. Still I perceived clearly that many of those least +friendly towards me looked irresolute and anxious. I was still some +thirty yards from Karakoee when my farther progress was prevented by the +natives, who compelled me to sit down upon the ground, while they still +retained their hold upon my arms. The din and tumult now became tenfold, +and I perceived that several of the priests were on the spot, all of +whom were evidently urging Mow-Mow and the other chiefs to prevent my +departure; and the detestable word 'Roo-ne! Roo-ne!' which I had heard +repeated a thousand times during the day, was now shouted out on every +side of me. Still I saw that the Kanaka continued his exertions in my +favour--that he was boldly debating the matter with the savages, and was +striving to entice them by displaying his cloth and powder, and snapping +the lock of his musket. But all he said or did appeared only to augment +the clamours of those around him, who seemed bent upon driving him into +the sea. + +When I remembered the extravagant value placed by these people upon the +articles which were offered to them in exchange for me, and which +were so indignantly rejected, I saw a new proof of the same fixed +determination of purpose they had all along manifested with regard +to me, and in despair, and reckless of consequences, I exerted all my +strength, and shaking myself free from the grasp of those who held me, I +sprang upon my feet and rushed towards Karakoee. + +The rash attempt nearly decided my fate; for, fearful that I might slip +from them, several of the islanders now raised a simultaneous shout, +and pressing upon Karakoee, they menaced him with furious gestures, and +actually forced him into the sea. Appalled at their violence, the poor +fellow, standing nearly to the waist in the surf, endeavoured to pacify +them; but at length fearful that they would do him some fatal violence, +he beckoned to his comrades to pull in at once, and take him into the +boat. + +It was at this agonizing moment, when I thought all hope was ended, that +a new contest arose between the two parties who had accompanied me to +the shore; blows were struck, wounds were given, and blood flowed. In +the interest excited by the fray, every one had left me except Marheyo, +Kory-Kory and poor dear Fayaway, who clung to me, sobbing indignantly. +I saw that now or never was the moment. Clasping my hands together, I +looked imploringly at Marheyo, and move towards the now almost deserted +beach. The tears were in the old man's eyes, but neither he nor +Kory-Kory attempted to hold me, and I soon reached the Kanaka, who had +anxiously watched my movements; the rowers pulled in as near as they +dared to the edge of the surf; I gave one parting embrace to Fayaway, +who seemed speechless with sorrow, and the next instant I found myself +safe in the boat, and Karakoee by my side, who told the rowers at once +to give way. Marheyo and Kory-Kory, and a great many of the women, +followed me into the water, and I was determined, as the only mark of +gratitude I could show, to give them the articles which had been brought +as my ransom. I handed the musket to Kory-Kory, with a rapid gesture +which was equivalent to a 'Deed of Gift'; threw the roll of cotton to +old Marheyo, pointing as I did so to poor Fayaway, who had retired from +the edge of the water and was sitting down disconsolate on the shingles; +and tumbled the powder-bags out to the nearest young ladies, all of whom +were vastly willing to take them. This distribution did not occupy ten +seconds, and before it was over the boat was under full way; the Kanaka +all the while exclaiming loudly against what he considered a useless +throwing away of valuable property. + +Although it was clear that my movements had been noticed by several of +the natives, still they had not suspended the conflict in which they +were engaged, and it was not until the boat was above fifty yards from +the shore that Mow-Mow and some six or seven other warriors rushed into +the sea and hurled their javelins at us. Some of the weapons passed +quite as close to us as was desirable, but no one was wounded, and the +men pulled away gallantly. But although soon out of the reach of the +spears, our progress was extremely slow; it blew strong upon the shore, +and the tide was against us; and I saw Karakoee, who was steering the +boat, give many a look towards a jutting point of the bay round which we +had to pass. + +For a minute or two after our departure, the savages, who had formed +into different groups, remained perfectly motionless and silent. All +at-once the enraged chief showed by his gestures that he had resolved +what course he would take. Shouting loudly to his companions, and +pointing with his tomahawk towards the headland, he set off at full +speed in that direction, and was followed by about thirty of the +natives, among whom were several of the priests, all yelling out +'Roo-ne! Roo-ne!' at the very top of their voices. Their intention was +evidently to swim off from the headland and intercept us in our course. +The wind was freshening every minute, and was right in our teeth, and it +was one of those chopping angry seas in which it is so difficult to +row. Still the chances seemed in our favour, but when we came within a +hundred yards of the point, the active savages were already dashing into +the water, and we all feared that within five minutes' time we should +have a score of the infuriated wretches around us. If so our doom +was sealed, for these savages, unlike the feeble swimmer of civilized +countries, are, if anything, more formidable antagonists in the water +than when on the land. It was all a trial of strength; our natives +pulled till their oars bent again, and the crowd of swimmers shot +through the water despite its roughness, with fearful rapidity. + +By the time we had reached the headland, the savages were spread right +across our course. Our rowers got out their knives and held them ready +between their teeth, and I seized the boat-hook. We were all aware that +if they succeeded in intercepting us they would practise upon us the +manoeuvre which has proved so fatal to many a boat's crew in these seas. +They would grapple the oars, and seizing hold of the gunwhale, capsize +the boat, and then we should be entirely at their mercy. + +After a few breathless moments discerned Mow-Mow. The athletic islander, +with his tomahawk between his teeth, was dashing the water before him +till it foamed again. He was the nearest to us, and in another instant +he would have seized one of the oars. Even at the moment I felt horror +at the act I was about to commit; but it was no time for pity or +compunction, and with a true aim, and exerting all my strength, I dashed +the boat-hook at him. It struck him just below the throat, and forced +him downwards. I had no time to repeat the blow, but I saw him rise +to the surface in the wake of the boat, and never shall I forget the +ferocious expression of his countenance. + +Only one other of the savages reached the boat. He seized the gunwhale, +but the knives of our rowers so mauled his wrists, that he was forced to +quit his hold, and the next minute we were past them all, and in safety. +The strong excitement which had thus far kept me up, now left me, and I +fell back fainting into the arms of Karakoee. + + . . . . . . . . + +The circumstances connected with my most unexpected escape may be very +briefly stated. The captain of an Australian vessel, being in distress +for men in these remote seas, had put into Nukuheva in order to recruit +his ship's company; but not a single man was to be obtained; and the +barque was about to get under weigh, when she was boarded by Karakoee, +who informed the disappointed Englishman that an American sailor +was detained by the savages in the neighbouring bay of Typee; and he +offered, if supplied with suitable articles of traffic, to undertake his +release. The Kanaka had gained his intelligence from Marnoo, to whom, +after all, I was indebted for my escape. The proposition was acceded to; +and Karakoee, taking with him five tabooed natives of Nukuheva, again +repaired aboard the barque, which in a few hours sailed to that part of +the island, and threw her main-top-sail aback right off the entrance +to the Typee bay. The whale-boat, manned by the tabooed crew, pulled +towards the head of the inlet, while the ship lay 'off and on' awaiting +its return. + +The events which ensued have already been detailed, and little more +remains to be related. On reaching the 'Julia' I was lifted over the +side, and my strange appearance and remarkable adventure occasioned the +liveliest interest. Every attention was bestowed upon me that humanity +could suggest. But to such a state was I reduced, that three months +elapsed before I recovered my health. + +The mystery which hung over the fate of my friend and companion Toby has +never been cleared up. I still remain ignorant whether he succeeded in +leaving the valley, or perished at the hands of the islanders. + + + + +THE STORY OF TOBY + +THE morning my comrade left me, as related in the narrative, he was +accompanied by a large party of the natives, some of them carrying fruit +and hogs for the purposes of traffic, as the report had spread that +boats had touched at the bay. + +As they proceeded through the settled parts of the valley, numbers +joined them from every side, running with animated cries from every +pathway. So excited were the whole party, that eager as Toby was to gain +the beach, it was almost as much as he could do to keep up with them. +Making the valley ring with their shouts, they hurried along on a swift +trot, those in advance pausing now and then, and flourishing their +weapons to urge the rest forward. + +Presently they came to a place where the paths crossed a bend of the +main stream of the valley. Here a strange sound came through the grove +beyond, and the Islanders halted. It was Mow-Mow, the one-eyed chief, +who had gone on before; he was striking his heavy lance against the +hollow bough of a tree. + +This was a signal of alarm;--for nothing was now heard but shouts +of 'Happar! Happar!'--the warriors tilting with their spears and +brandishing them in the air, and the women and boys shouting to each +other, and picking up the stones in the bed of the stream. In a moment +or two Mow-Mow and two or three other chiefs ran out from the grove, and +the din increased ten fold. + +Now, thought Toby, for a fray; and being unarmed, he besought one of the +young men domiciled with Marheyo for the loan of his spear. But he was +refused; the youth roguishly telling him that the weapon was very good +for him (the Typee), but that a white man could fight much better with +his fists. + +The merry humour of this young wag seemed to be shared by the rest, for +in spite of their warlike cries and gestures, everybody was capering +and laughing, as if it was one of the funniest things in the world to be +awaiting the flight of a score or two of Happar javelins from an ambush +in the thickets. + +While my comrade was in vain trying to make out the meaning of all this, +a good number of the natives separated themselves from the rest and ran +off into the grove on one side, the others now keeping perfectly still, +as if awaiting the result. After a little while, however, Mow-Mow, who +stood in advance, motioned them to come on stealthily, which they did, +scarcely rustling a leaf. Thus they crept along for ten or fifteen +minutes, every now and then pausing to listen. + +Toby by no means relished this sort of skulking; if there was going to +be a fight, he wanted it to begin at once. But all in good time,--for +just then, as they went prowling into the thickest of the wood, terrific +howls burst upon them on all sides, and volleys of darts and stones flew +across the path. Not an enemy was to be seen, and what was still more +surprising, not a single man dropped, though the pebbles fell among the +leaves like hail. + +There was a moment's pause, when the Typees, with wild shrieks, flung +themselves into the covert, spear in hand; nor was Toby behindhand. +Coming so near getting his skull broken by the stones, and animated by +an old grudge he bore the Happars, he was among the first to dash at +them. As he broke his way through the underbush, trying, as he did +so, to wrest a spear from a young chief, the shouts of battle all of a +sudden ceased, and the wood was as still as death. The next moment, the +party who had left them so mysteriously rushed out from behind every +bush and tree, and united with the rest in long and merry peals of +laughter. + +It was all a sham, and Toby, who was quite out of breath with +excitement, was much incensed at being made a fool of. + +It afterwards turned out that the whole affair had been concerted for +his particular benefit, though with what precise view it would be hard +to tell. My comrade was the more enraged at this boys' play, since it +had consumed so much time, every moment of which might be precious. +Perhaps, however, it was partly intended for this very purpose; and he +was led to think so, because when the natives started again, he observed +that they did not seem to be in so great a hurry as before. At last, +after they had gone some distance, Toby, thinking all the while that +they never would get to the sea, two men came running towards them, +and a regular halt ensued, followed by a noisy discussion, during which +Toby's name was often repeated. All this made him more and more anxious +to learn what was going on at the beach; but it was in vain that he now +tried to push forward; the natives held him back. + +In a few moments the conference ended, and many of them ran down the +path in the direction of the water, the rest surrounding Toby, and +entreating him to 'Moee', or sit down and rest himself. As an additional +inducement, several calabashes of food, which had been brought along, +were now placed on the ground, and opened, and pipes also were lighted. +Toby bridled his impatience a while, but at last sprang to his feet +and dashed forward again. He was soon overtaken nevertheless, and again +surrounded, but without further detention was then permitted to go down +to the sea. + +They came out upon a bright green space between the groves and the +water, and close under the shadow of the Happar mountain, where a path +was seen winding out of sight through a gorge. + +No sign of a boat, however, was beheld, nothing but a tumultuous crowd +of men and women, and some one in their midst, earnestly talking to +them. As my comrade advanced, this person came forward and proved to +be no stranger. He was an old grizzled sailor, whom Toby and myself had +frequently seen in Nukuheva, where he lived an easy devil-may-care life +in the household of Mowanna the king, going by the name of 'Jimmy'. +In fact he was the royal favourite, and had a good deal to say in his +master's councils. He wore a Manilla hat and a sort of tappa morning +gown, sufficiently loose and negligent to show the verse of a song +tattooed upon his chest, and a variety of spirited cuts by native +artists in other parts of his body. He sported a fishing rod in his +hand, and carried a sooty old pipe slung about his neck. + +This old rover having retired from active life, had resided in Nukuheva +some time--could speak the language, and for that reason was frequently +employed by the French as an interpreter. He was an arrant old gossip +too; for ever coming off in his canoe to the ships in the bay, and +regaling their crews with choice little morsels of court scandal--such, +for instance, as a shameful intrigue of his majesty with a Happar +damsel, a public dancer at the feasts--and otherwise relating some +incredible tales about the Marquesas generally. I remember in particular +his telling the Dolly's crew what proved to be literally a cock-and-bull +story, about two natural prodigies which he said were then on the +island. One was an old monster of a hermit, having a marvellous +reputation for sanctity, and reputed a famous sorcerer, who lived away +off in a den among the mountains, where he hid from the world a +great pair of horns that grew out of his temples. Notwithstanding his +reputation for piety, this horrid old fellow was the terror of all the +island round, being reported to come out from his retreat, and go a +man-hunting every dark night. Some anonymous Paul Pry, too, coming down +the mountain, once got a peep at his den, and found it full of bones. In +short, he was a most unheard-of monster. + +The other prodigy Jimmy told us about was the younger son of a chief, +who, although but just turned of ten, had entered upon holy orders, +because his superstitious countrymen thought him especially intended +for the priesthood from the fact of his having a comb on his head like +a rooster. But this was not all; for still more wonderful to relate, the +boy prided himself upon his strange crest, being actually endowed with a +cock's voice, and frequently crowing over his peculiarity. + +But to return to Toby. The moment he saw the old rover on the beach, he +ran up to him, the natives following after, and forming a circle round +them. + +After welcoming him to the shore, Jimmy went on to tell him how that he +knew all about our having run away from the ship, and being among the +Typees. Indeed, he had been urged by Mowanna to come over to the valley, +and after visiting his friends there, to bring us back with him, his +royal master being exceedingly anxious to share with him the reward +which had been held out for our capture. He, however, assured Toby that +he had indignantly spurned the offer. + +All this astonished my comrade not a little, as neither of us had +entertained the least idea that any white man ever visited the Typees +sociably. But Jimmy told him that such was the case nevertheless, +although he seldom came into the bay, and scarcely ever went back +from the beach. One of the priests of the valley, in some way or other +connected with an old tattooed divine in Nukuheva, was a friend of his, +and through him he was 'taboo'. + +He said, moreover, that he was sometimes employed to come round to the +bay, and engage fruit for ships lying in Nukuheva. In fact, he was now +on that very errand, according to his own account, having just come +across the mountains by the way of Happar. By noon of the next day the +fruit would be heaped up in stacks on the beach, in readiness for the +boats which he then intended to bring into the bay. + +Jimmy now asked Toby whether he wished to leave the island--if he did, +there was a ship in want of men lying in the other harbour, and he would +be glad to take him over, and see him on board that very day. + +'No,' said Toby, 'I cannot leave the island unless my comrade goes with +me. I left him up the valley because they would not let him come down. +Let us go now and fetch him.' + +'But how is he to cross the mountain with us,' replied Jimmy, 'even if +we get him down to the beach? Better let him stay till tomorrow, and I +will bring him round to Nukuheva in the boats.' + +'That will never do,' said Toby, 'but come along with me now, and let +us get him down here at any rate,' and yielding to the impulse of the +moment, he started to hurry back into the valley. But hardly was his +back turned, when a dozen hands were laid on him, and he learned that he +could not go a step further. + +It was in vain that he fought with them; they would not hear of his +stirring from the beach. Cut to the heart at this unexpected repulse, +Toby now conjured the sailor to go after me alone. But Jimmy replied, +that in the mood the Typees then were they would not permit him so to +do, though at the same time he was not afraid of their offering him any +harm. + +Little did Toby then think, as he afterwards had good reason to suspect, +that this very Jimmy was a heartless villain, who, by his arts, had just +incited the natives to restrain him as he was in the act of going after +me. Well must the old sailor have known, too, that the natives would +never consent to our leaving together, and he therefore wanted to get +Toby off alone, for a purpose which he afterwards made plain. Of all +this, however, my comrade now knew nothing. + +He was still struggling with the islanders when Jimmy again came up to +him, and warned him against irritating them, saying that he was only +making matters worse for both of us, and if they became enraged, there +was no telling what might happen. At last he made Toby sit down on a +broken canoe by a pile of stones, upon which was a ruinous little shrine +supported by four upright poles, and in front partly screened by a net. +The fishing parties met there, when they came in from the sea, for their +offerings were laid before an image, upon a smooth black stone within. +This spot Jimmy said was strictly 'taboo', and no one would molest or +come near him while he stayed by its shadow. The old sailor then went +off, and began speaking very earnestly to Mow-Mow and some other chiefs, +while all the rest formed a circle round the taboo place, looking +intently at Toby, and talking to each other without ceasing. + +Now, notwithstanding what Jimmy had just told him, there presently came +up to my comrade an old woman, who seated herself beside him on the +canoe. + +'Typee motarkee?' said she. 'Motarkee nuee,' said Toby. + +She then asked him whether he was going to Nukuheva; he nodded yes; and +with a plaintive wail and her eyes filling with tears she rose and left +him. + +This old woman, the sailor afterwards said, was the wife of an aged king +of a small island valley, communicating by a deep pass with the country +of the Typees. The inmates of the two valleys were related to each other +by blood, and were known by the same name. The old woman had gone down +into the Typee valley the day before, and was now with three chiefs, her +sons, on a visit to her kinsmen. + +As the old king's wife left him, Jimmy again came up to Toby, and told +him that he had just talked the whole matter over with the natives, and +there was only one course for him to follow. They would not allow him to +go back into the valley, and harm would certainly come to both him and +me, if he remained much longer on the beach. 'So,' said he, 'you and I +had better go to Nukuheva now overland, and tomorrow I will bring Tommo, +as they call him, by water; they have promised to carry him down to the +sea for me early in the morning, so that there will be no delay.' + +'No, no,' said Toby desperately, 'I will not leave him that way; we must +escape together.' + +'Then there is no hope for you,' exclaimed the sailor, 'for if I leave +you here on the beach, as soon as I am gone you will be carried back +into the valley, and then neither of you will ever look upon the +sea again.' And with many oaths he swore that if he would only go to +Nukuheva with him that day, he would be sure to have me there the very +next morning. + +'But how do you know they will bring him down to the beach tomorrow, +when they will not do so today?' said Toby. But the sailor had many +reasons, all of which were so mixed up with the mysterious customs +of the islanders, that he was none the wiser. Indeed, their conduct, +especially in preventing him from returning into the valley, was +absolutely unaccountable to him; and added to everything else, was the +bitter reflection, that the old sailor, after all, might possibly be +deceiving him. And then again he had to think of me, left alone with the +natives, and by no means well. If he went with Jimmy, he might at least +hope to procure some relief for me. But might not the savages who had +acted so strangely, hurry me off somewhere before his return? Then, even +if he remained, perhaps they would not let him go back into the valley +where I was. + +Thus perplexed was my poor comrade; he knew not what to do, and his +courageous spirit was of no use to him now. There he was, all by +himself, seated upon the broken canoe--the natives grouped around him at +a distance, and eyeing him more and more fixedly. 'It is getting late: +said Jimmy, who was standing behind the rest. 'Nukuheva is far off, and +I cannot cross the Happar country by night. You see how it is;--if you +come along with me, all will be well; if you do not, depend upon it, +neither of you will ever escape.' + +'There is no help for it,' said Toby, at last, with a heavy heart, 'I +will have to trust you,' and he came out from the shadow of the little +shrine, and cast a long look up the valley. + +'Now keep close to my side,' said the sailor, 'and let us be moving +quickly.' Tinor and Fayaway here appeared; the kindhearted old woman +embracing Toby's knees, and giving way to a flood of tears; while +Fayaway, hardly less moved, spoke some few words of English she had +learned, and held up three fingers before him--in so many days he would +return. + +At last Jimmy pulled Toby out of the crowd, and after calling to a +young Typee who was standing by with a young pig in his arms, all three +started for the mountains. + +'I have told them that you are coming back again,' said the old fellow, +laughing, as they began the ascent, 'but they'll have to wait a long +time.' Toby turned, and saw the natives all in motion--the girls waving +their tappas in adieu, and the men their spears. As the last figure +entered the grove with one arm raised, and the three fingers spread, his +heart smote him. + +As the natives had at last consented to his going, it might have been, +that some of them, at least, really counted upon his speedy return; +probably supposing, as indeed he had told them when they were coming +down the valley, that his only object in leaving them was to procure the +medicines I needed. This, Jimmy also must have told them. And as they +had done before, when my comrade, to oblige me, started on his perilous +journey to Nukuheva, they looked upon me, in his absence, as one of two +inseparable friends who was a sure guaranty for the other's return. +This is only my own supposition, however, for as to all their strange +conduct, it is still a mystery. + +'You see what sort of a taboo man I am,' said the sailor, after for some +time silently following the path which led up the mountain. 'Mow-Mow +made me a present of this pig here, and the man who carries it will +go right through Happar, and down into Nukuheva with us. So long as he +stays by me he is safe, and just so it will be with you, and tomorrow +with Tommo. Cheer up, then, and rely upon me, you will see him in the +morning.' + +The ascent of the mountain was not very difficult, owing to its being +near to the sea, where the island ridges are comparatively low; the +path, too, was a fine one, so that in a short time all three were +standing on the summit with the two valleys at their feet. The white +cascade marking the green head of the Typee valley first caught Toby's +eye; Marheyo's house could easily be traced by them. + +As Jimmy led the way along the ridge, Toby observed that the valley of +the Happars did not extend near so far inland as that of the Typees. +This accounted for our mistake in entering the latter valley as we had. + +A path leading down from the mountain was soon seen, and, following it, +the party were in a short time fairly in the Happar valley. + +'Now,' said Jimmy, as they hurried on, 'we taboo men have wives in all +the bays, and I am going to show you the two I have here.' + +So, when they came to the house where he said they lived,--which was +close by the base of the mountain in a shady nook among the groves--he +went in, and was quite furious at finding it empty--the ladies, had gone +out. However, they soon made their appearance, and to tell the truth, +welcomed Jimmy quite cordially, as well as Toby, about whom they were +very inquisitive. Nevertheless, as the report of their arrival spread, +and the Happars began to assemble, it became evident that the appearance +of a white stranger among them was not by any means deemed so wonderful +an event as in the neighbouring valley. + +The old sailor now bade his wives prepare something to eat, as he must +be in Nukuheva before dark. A meal of fish, bread-fruit, and bananas, +was accordingly served up, the party regaling themselves on the mats, in +the midst of a numerous company. + +The Happars put many questions to Jimmy about Toby; and Toby himself +looked sharply at them, anxious to recognize the fellow who gave him the +wound from which he was still suffering. But this fiery gentleman, so +handy with his spear, had the delicacy, it seemed, to keep out of view. +Certainly the sight of him would not have been any added inducement to +making a stay in the valley,--some of the afternoon loungers in Happar +having politely urged Toby to spend a few days with them,--there was a +feast coming on. He, however, declined. + +All this while the young Typee stuck to Jimmy like his shadow, and +though as lively a dog as any of his tribe, he was now as meek as +a lamb, never opening his mouth except to eat. Although some of the +Happars looked queerly at him, others were more civil, and seemed +desirous of taking him abroad and showing him the valley. But the Typee +was not to be cajoled in that way. How many yards he would have to +remove from Jimmy before the taboo would be powerless, it would be hard +to tell, but probably he himself knew to a fraction. + +On the promise of a red cotton handkerchief, and something else which he +kept secret, this poor fellow had undertaken a rather ticklish journey, +though, as far as Toby could ascertain, it was something that had never +happened before. + +The island-punch--arva--was brought in at the conclusion of the repast, +and passed round in a shallow calabash. + +Now my comrade, while seated in the Happar house, began to feel more +troubled than ever at leaving me; indeed, so sad did he feel that he +talked about going back to the valley, and wanted Jimmy to escort him +as far as the mountains. But the sailor would not listen to him, and, by +way of diverting his thoughts, pressed him to drink of the arva. Knowing +its narcotic nature, he refused; but Jimmy said he would have something +mixed with it, which would convert it into an innocent beverage that +would inspirit them for the rest of their journey. So at last he was +induced to drink of it, and its effects were just as the sailor had +predicted; his spirits rose at once, and all his gloomy thoughts left +him. + +The old rover now began to reveal his true character, though he was +hardly suspected at the time. 'If I get you off to a ship,' said he, +'you will surely give a poor fellow something for saving you.' In short, +before they left the house, he made Toby promise that he would give him +five Spanish dollars if he succeeded in getting any part of his wages +advanced from the vessel, aboard of which they were going; Toby, +moreover, engaging to reward him still further, as soon as my +deliverance was accomplished. + +A little while after this they started again, accompanied by many of the +natives, and going up the valley, took a steep path near its head, +which led to Nukuheva. Here the Happars paused and watched them as they +ascended the mountain, one group of bandit-looking fellows, shaking +their spears and casting threatening glances at the poor Typee, whose +heart as well as heels seemed much the lighter when he came to look down +upon them. + +On gaining the heights once more, their way led for a time along several +ridges covered with enormous ferns. At last they entered upon a wooded +tract, and here they overtook a party of Nukuheva natives, well armed, +and carrying bundles of long poles. Jimmy seemed to know them all very +well, and stopped for a while, and had a talk about the 'Wee-Wees', as +the people of Nukuheva call the Monsieurs. + +The party with the poles were King Mowanna's men, and by his orders they +had been gathering them in the ravines for his allies the French. + +Leaving these fellows to trudge on with their loads, Toby and his +companions now pushed forward again, as the sun was already low in the +west. They came upon the valleys of Nukuheva on one side of the bay, +where the highlands slope off into the sea. The men-of-war were still +lying in the harbour, and as Toby looked down upon them, the strange +events which had happened so recently, seemed all a dream. + +They soon descended towards the beach, and found themselves in Jimmy's +house before it was well dark. Here he received another welcome from +his Nukuheva wives, and after some refreshments in the shape of cocoanut +milk and poee-poee, they entered a canoe (the Typee of course going +along) and paddled off to a whaleship which was anchored near the shore. +This was the vessel in want of men. Our own had sailed some time before. +The captain professed great pleasure at seeing Toby, but thought from +his exhausted appearance that he must be unfit for duty. However, he +agreed to ship him, as well as his comrade, as soon as he should arrive. +Toby begged hard for an armed boat, in which to go round to Typee and +rescue me, notwithstanding the promises of Jimmy. But this the captain +would not hear of, and told him to have patience, for the sailor would +be faithful to his word. When, too, he demanded the five silver dollars +for Jimmy, the captain was unwilling to give them. But Toby insisted +upon it, as he now began to think that Jimmy might be a mere mercenary, +who would be sure to prove faithless if not well paid. Accordingly he +not only gave him the money, but took care to assure him, over and over +again, that as soon as he brought me aboard he would receive a still +larger sum. + +Before sun-rise the next day, Jimmy and the Typee started in two of the +ship's boats, which were manned by tabooed natives. Toby, of course, was +all eagerness to go along, but the sailor told him that if he did, it +would spoil all; so, hard as it was, he was obliged to remain. + +Towards evening he was on the watch, and descried the boats turning the +headland and entering the bay. He strained his eyes, and thought he saw +me; but I was not there. Descending from the mast almost distracted, he +grappled Jimmy as he struck the deck, shouting in a voice that startled +him, 'Where is Tommo?' The old fellow faltered, but soon recovering, +did all he could to soothe him, assuring him that it had proved to be +impossible to get me down to the shore that morning; assigning many +plausible reasons, and adding that early on the morrow he was going to +visit the bay again in a French boat, when, if he did not find me on the +beach--as this time he certainly expected to--he would march right back +into the valley, and carry me away at all hazards. He, however, again +refused to allow Toby to accompany him. Now, situated as Toby was, his +sole dependence for the present was upon this Jimmy, and therefore he +was fain to comfort himself as well as he could with what the old sailor +told him. The next morning, however, he had the satisfaction of seeing +the French boat start with Jimmy in it. Tonight, then, I will see him, +thought Toby; but many a long day passed before he ever saw Tommo again. +Hardly was the boat out of sight, when the captain came forward and +ordered the anchor weighed; he was going to sea. + +Vain were all Toby's ravings--they were disregarded; and when he came to +himself, the sails were set, and the ship fast leaving the land. + +... 'Oh!' said he to me at our meeting, 'what sleepless nights were +mine. Often I started from my hammock, dreaming you were before me, and +upbraiding me for leaving you on the island.' + + . . . . . . . + +There is little more to be related. Toby left this vessel at New +Zealand, and after some further adventures, arrived home in less than +two years after leaving the Marquesas. He always thought of me as +dead--and I had every reason to suppose that he too was no more; but a +strange meeting was in store for us, one which made Toby's heart all the +lighter. + + + + +NOTE. + +The author was more than two years in the South Seas, after escaping +from the valley, as recounted in the last chapter. Some time after +returning home the foregoing narrative was published, though it was +little thought at the time that this would be the means of revealing +the existence of Toby, who had long been given up for lost. But so it +proved. + +The story of his escape supplies a natural sequel to the adventure, and +as such it is now added to the volume. It was related to the author by +Toby himself, not ten days since. + +New York, July, 1846. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Typee, by Herman Melville + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TYPEE *** + +***** This file should be named 1900.txt or 1900.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/0/1900/ + +Produced by Dianne Bean + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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The interval, with the exception +of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author +tossing about on the wide ocean. Sailors are the only class of +men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many +things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to +them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows. Yet, +notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of +curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages +have often served, when 'spun as a yarn,' not only to relieve the +weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest +sympathies of the author's shipmates. He has been, therefore, +led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those +who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure. + +In his account of the singular and interesting people among whom +he was thrown, it will be observed that he chiefly treats of +their more obvious peculiarities; and, in describing their +customs, refrains in most cases from entering into explanations +concerning their origin and purposes. As writers of travels +among barbarous communities are generally very diffuse on these +subjects, he deems it right to advert to what may be considered a +culpable omission. No one can be more sensible than the author +of his deficiencies in this and many other respects; but when the +very peculiar circumstances in which he was placed are +understood, he feels assured that all these omissions will be +excused. + +In very many published narratives no little degree of attention +is bestowed upon dates; but as the author lost all knowledge of +the days of the week, during the occurrence of the scenes herein +related, he hopes that the reader will charitably pass over his +shortcomings in this particular. + +In the Polynesian words used in this volume,--except in those +cases where the spelling has been previously determined by +others,--that form of orthography has been employed, which might +be supposed most easily to convey their sound to a stranger. In +several works descriptive of the islands in the Pacific, many of +the most beautiful combinations of vocal sounds have been +altogether lost to the ear of the reader by an over-attention to +the ordinary rules of spelling. + +There are a few passages in the ensuing chapters which may be +thought to bear rather bard upon a reverend order of men, the +account of whose proceedings in different quarters of the globe-- +transmitted to us through their own hands--very generally, and +often very deservedly, receives high commendation. Such passages +will be found, however, to be based upon facts admitting of no +contradiction, and which have come immediately under the writer's +cognizance. The conclusions deduced from these facts are +unavoidable, and in stating them the author has been influenced +by no feeling of animosity, either to the individuals themselves, +or to that glorious cause which has not always been served by the +proceedings of some of its advocates. + +The great interest with which the important events lately +occurring at the Sandwich, Marquesas, and Society Islands, have +been regarded in America and England, and indeed throughout the +world, will, he trusts, justify a few otherwise unwarrantable +digressions. + +There are some things related in the narrative which will be +sure to appear strange, or perhaps entirely incomprehensible, to +the reader; but they cannot appear more so to him than they did +to the author at the time. He has stated such matters just as +they occurred, and leaves every one to form his own opinion +concerning them; trusting that his anxious desire to speak the +unvarnished truth will gain for him the confidence of his +readers. 1846. + + + +INTRODUCTION TO THE EDITION OF 1892. + +BY ARTHUR STEDMAN. + +OF the trinity of American authors whose births made the year +1819 a notable one in our literary history,--Lowell, Whitman, and +Melville,--it is interesting to observe that the two latter were +both descended, on the fathers' and mothers' sides respectively, +from have families of British New England and Dutch New York +extraction. Whitman and Van Velsor, Melville and Gansevoort, +were the several combinations which produced these men; and it is +easy to trace in the life and character of each author the +qualities derived from his joint ancestry. Here, however, the +resemblance ceases, for Whitman's forebears, while worthy country +people of good descent, were not prominent in public or private +life. Melville, on the other hand, was of distinctly patrician +birth, his paternal and maternal grandfathers having been leading +characters in the Revolutionary War; their descendants still +maintaining a dignified social position. + +Allan Melville, great-grandfather of Herman Melville, removed +from Scotland to America in 1748, and established himself as a +merchant in Boston. His son, Major Thomas Melville, was a leader +in the famous 'Boston Tea Party' of 1773 and afterwards became an +officer in the Continental Army. He is reported to have been a +Conservative in all matters except his opposition to unjust +taxation, and he wore the old-fashioned cocked hat and +knee-breeches until his death, in 1832, thus becoming the +original of Doctor Holmes's poem,'The Last Leaf'. Major +Melville's son Allan, the father of Herman, was an importing +merchant,--first in Boston, and later in New York. He was a man +of much culture, and was an extensive traveller for his time. He +married Maria Gansevoort, daughter of General Peter Gansevoort, +best known as 'the hero of Fort Stanwix.' This fort was situated +on the present site of Rome, N.Y.; and there Gansevoort, with a +small body of men, held in check reinforcements on their way to +join Burgoyne, until the disastrous ending of the latter's +campaign of 1777 was insured. The Gansevoorts, it should be said, +were at that time and subsequently residents of Albany, N.Y. + +Herman Melville was born in New York on August 1,1819, and +received his early education in that city. There he imbibed his +first love of adventure, listening, as be says in 'Redburn,' +while his father 'of winter evenings, by the well-remembered +sea-coal fire in old Greenwich Street, used to tell my brother +and me of the monstrous waves at sea, mountain high, of the masts +bending like twigs, and all about Havre and Liverpool.' The +death of his father in reduced circumstances necessitated the +removal of his mother and the family of eight brothers and +sisters to the village of Lansingburg, on the Hudson River. +There Herman remained until 1835, when he attended the Albany +Classical School for some months. Dr. Charles E. West, the +well-known Brooklyn educator, was then in charge of the school, +and remembers the lad's deftness in English composition, and his +struggles with mathematics. + +The following year was passed at Pittsfield, Mass., where he +engaged in work on his uncle's farm, long known as the 'Van +Schaack place.' This uncle was Thomas Melville, president of the +Berkshire Agricultural Society, and a successful gentleman +farmer. + +Herman's roving disposition, and a desire to support himself +independently of family assistance, soon led him to ship as cabin +boy in a New York vessel bound for Liverpool. He made the +voyage, visited London, and returned in the same ship. 'Redburn: +His First Voyage,' published in 1849, is partly founded on the +experiences of this trip, which was undertaken with the full +consent of his relatives, and which seems to have satisfied his +nautical ambition for a time. As told in the book, Melville met +with more than the usual hardships of a sailor-boy's first +venture. It does not seem difficult in 'Redburn' to separate the +author's actual experiences from those invented by him, this +being the case in some of his other writings. + +A good part of the succeeding three years, from 1837 to 1840, was +occupied with school-teaching. While so engaged at Greenbush, +now East Albany, N.Y., he received the munificent salary of 'six +dollars a quarter and board.' He taught for one term at +Pittsfield, Mass., 'boarding around' with the families of his +pupils, in true American fashion, and easily suppressing, on one +memorable occasion, the efforts of his larger scholars to +inaugurate a rebellion by physical force. + +I fancy that it was the reading of Richard Henry Dana's 'Two +Years Before the Mast' which revived the spirit of adventure in +Melville's breast. That book was published in 1840, and was at +once talked of everywhere. Melville must have read it at the +time, mindful of his own experience as a sailor. At any rate, he +once more signed a ship's articles, and on January 1, 1841, +sailed from New Bedford harbour in the whaler Acushnet, bound for +the Pacific Ocean and the sperm fishery. He has left very little +direct information as to the events of this eighteen months' +cruise, although his whaling romance, 'Moby Dick; or, the Whale,' +probably gives many pictures of life on board the Acushnet. In +the present volume he confines himself to a general account of +the captain's bad treatment of the crew, and of his +non-fulfilment of agreements. Under these considerations, +Melville decided to abandon the vessel on reaching the Marquesas +Islands; and the narrative of 'Typee' begins at this point. +However, he always recognised the immense influence the voyage +had had upon his career, and in regard to its results has said in +'Moby Dick,'-- + +'If I shall ever deserve any real repute in that small but high +hushed world which I might not be unreasonably ambitious of; if +hereafter I shall do anything that on the whole a man might +rather have done than to have left undone . . . .then here I +prospectively ascribe all the honour and the glory to whaling; +for a whale-ship was my Yale College and my Harvard.' + +The record, then, of Melville's escape from the Dolly, otherwise +the Acushnet, the sojourn of his companion Toby and himself in +the Typee Valley on the island of Nukuheva, Toby's mysterious +disappearance, and Melville's own escape, is fully given in the +succeeding pages; and rash indeed would he be who would enter +into a descriptive contest with these inimitable pictures of +aboriginal life in the 'Happy Valley.' So great an interest has +always centred in the character of Toby, whose actual existence +has been questioned, that I am glad to be able to declare him an +authentic personage, by name Richard T. Greene. He was enabled +to discover himself again to Mr. Melville through the publication +of the present volume, and their acquaintance was renewed, +lasting for quite a long period. I have seen his portrait,--a +rare old daguerrotype,--and some of his letters to our author. +One of his children was named for the latter, but Mr. Melville +lost trace of him in recent years. + +With the author's rescue from what Dr. T. M. Coan has styled his +'anxious paradise,' 'Typee' ends, and its sequel, 'Omoo,' begins. +Here, again, it seems wisest to leave the remaining adventures in +the South Seas to the reader's own discovery, simply stating +that, after a sojourn at the Society Islands, Melville shipped +for Honolulu. There he remained for four months, employed as a +clerk. He joined the crew of the American frigate United States, +which reached Boston, stopping on the way at one of the Peruvian +ports, in October of 1844. Once more was a narrative of his +experiences to be preserved in 'White Jacket; or, the World in a +Man-of-War.' Thus, of Melville's four most important books, +three, 'Typee,' 'Omoo,' and 'White-Jacket,' are directly auto +biographical, and 'Moby Dick' is partially so; while the less +important 'Redburn' is between the two classes in this respect. +Melville's other prose works, as will be shown, were, with some +exceptions, unsuccessful efforts at creative romance. + +Whether our author entered on his whaling adventures in the South +Seas with a determination to make them available for literary +purposes, may never be certainly known. There was no such +elaborate announcement or advance preparation as in some later +cases. I am inclined to believe that the literary prospect was +an after-thought, and that this insured a freshness and +enthusiasm of style not otherwise to be attained. Returning to +his mother's home at Lansingburg, Melville soon began the writing +of 'Typee,' which was completed by the autumn of 1845. Shortly +after this his older brother, Gansevoort Melville, sailed for +England as secretary of legation to Ambassador McLane, and the +manuscript was intrusted to Gansevoort for submission to John +Murray. Its immediate acceptance and publication followed in +1846. 'Typee' was dedicated to Chief Justice Lemuel Shaw of +Massachusetts, an old friendship between the author's family and +that of Justice Shaw having been renewed about this time. Mr. +Melville became engaged to Miss Elizabeth Shaw, the only daughter +of the Chief Justice, and their marriage followed on August 4, +1847, in Boston. + +The wanderings of our nautical Othello were thus brought to a +conclusion. Mr. and Mrs. Melville resided in New York City until +1850, when they purchased a farmhouse at Pittsfield, their farm +adjoining that formerly owned by Mr. Melville's uncle, which had +been inherited by the latter's son. The new place was named +'Arrow Head,' from the numerous Indian antiquities found in the +neighbourhood. The house was so situated as to command an +uninterrupted view of Greylock Mountain and the adjacent hills. +Here Melville remained for thirteen years, occupied with his +writing, and managing his farm. An article in Putnam's Monthly +entitled 'I and My Chimney,' another called 'October Mountain,' +and the introduction to the 'Piazza Tales,' present faithful +pictures of Arrow Head and its surroundings. In a letter to +Nathaniel Hawthorne, given in 'Nathaniel Hawthorne and His Wife,' +his daily life is set forth. The letter is dated June 1, 1851. + +'Since you have been here I have been building some shanties of +houses (connected with the old one), and likewise some shanties +of chapters and essays. I have been ploughing and sowing and +raising and printing and praying, and now begin to come out upon +a less bristling time, and to enjoy the calm prospect of things +from a fair piazza at the north of the old farmhouse here. Not +entirely yet, though, am I without something to be urgent with. +The 'Whale' is only half through the press; for, wearied with the +long delays of the printers, and disgusted with the heat and dust +of the Babylonish brick-kiln of New York, I came back to the +country to feel the grass, and end the book reclining on it, if I +may.' + +Mr. Hawthorne, who was then living in the red cottage at Lenox, +had a week at Arrow Head with his daughter Una the previous +spring. It is recorded that the friends 'spent most of the time +in the barn, bathing in the early spring sunshine, which streamed +through the open doors, and talking philosophy.' According to +Mr. J. E. A. Smith's volume on the Berkshire Hills, these +gentlemen, both reserved in nature, though near neighbours and +often in the same company, were inclined to be shy of each other, +partly, perhaps, through the knowledge that Melville had written +a very appreciative review of 'Mosses from an Old Manse' for the +New York Literary World, edited by their mutual friends, the +Duyckincks. 'But one day,' writes Mr. Smith, 'it chanced that +when they were out on a picnic excursion, the two were compelled +by a thundershower to take shelter in a narrow recess of the +rocks of Monument Mountain. Two hours of this enforced +intercourse settled the matter. They learned so much of each +other's character, . . . that the most intimate friendship for +the future was inevitable.' A passage in Hawthorne's 'Wonder +Book' is noteworthy as describing the number of literary +neighbours in Berkshire:-- + +'For my part, I wish I had Pegasus here at this moment,' said the +student. 'I would mount him forthwith, and gallop about the +country within a circumference of a few miles, making literary +calls on my brother authors. Dr. Dewey would be within ray +reach, at the foot of the Taconic. In Stockbridge, yonder, is +Mr. James [G. P. R. James], conspicuous to all the world on his +mountain-pile of history and romance. Longfellow, I believe, is +not yet at the Oxbow, else the winged horse would neigh at him. +But here in Lenox I should find our most truthful novelist [Miss +Sedgwick], who has made the scenery and life of Berkshire all her +own. On the hither side of Pittsfield sits Herman Melville, +shaping out the gigantic conception of his 'White Whale,' while +the gigantic shadow of Greylock looms upon him from his study +window. Another bound of my flying steed would bring me to the +door of Holmes, whom I mention last, because Pegasus would +certainly unseat me the next minute, and claim the poet as his +rider.' + +While at Pittsfield, Mr. Melville was induced to enter the +lecture field. From 1857 to 1860 he filled many engagements in +the lyceums, chiefly speaking of his adventures in the South +Seas. He lectured in cities as widely apart as Montreal, +Chicago, Baltimore, and San Francisco, sailing to the last-named +place in 1860, by way of Cape Horn, on the Meteor, commanded, by +his younger brother, Captain Thomas Melville, afterward governor +of the 'Sailor's Snug Harbor' at Staten Island, N.Y. Besides his +voyage to San Francisco, he had, in 1849 and 1856, visited +England, the Continent, and the Holy Land, partly to superintend +the publication of English editions of his works, and partly for +recreation. + +A pronounced feature of Melville's character was his +unwillingness to speak of himself, his adventures, or his +writings in conversation. He was, however, able to overcome this +reluctance on the lecture platform. Our author's tendency to +philosophical discussion is strikingly set forth in a letter from +Dr. Titus Munson Coan to the latter's mother, written while a +student at Williams College over thirty years ago, and +fortunately preserved by her. Dr. Coan enjoyed the friendship +and confidence of Mr. Melville during most of his residence in +New York. The letter reads:-- + +'I have made my first literary pilgrimage, a call upon Herman +Melville,the renowned author of 'Typee,' etc. He lives in a +spacious farmhouse about two miles from Pittsfield, a weary walk +through the dust. But it as well repaid. I introduced myself as +a Hawaiian-American, and soon found myself in full tide of talk, +or rather of monologue. But he would not repeat the experiences +of which I had been reading with rapture in his books. In vain I +sought to hear of Typee and those paradise islands, but he +preferred to pour forth his philosophy and his theories of life. +The shade of Aristotle arose like a cold mist between myself and +Fayaway. We have quite enough of deep philosophy at Williams +College, and I confess I was disappointed in this trend of the +talk. But what a talk it was! Melville is transformed from a +Marquesan to a gypsy student, the gypsy element still remaining +strong within him. And this contradiction gives him the air of +one who has suffered from opposition, both literary and social. +With his liberal views, he is apparently considered by the good +people of Pittsfield as little better than a cannibal or a +'beach-comber.' His attitude seemed to me something like that of +Ishmael; but perhaps I judged hastily. I managed to draw him out +very freely on everything but the Marquesas Islands, and when I +left him he was in full tide of discourse on all things sacred +and profane. But he seems to put away the objective side of his +life, and to shut himself up in this cold north as a cloistered +thinker.' + +I have been told by Dr. Coan that his father, the Rev. Titus +Coan, of the Hawaiian Islands, personally visited the Marquesas +group, found the Typee Valley, and verified in all respects the +statements made in 'Typee.' It is known that Mr. Melville from +early manhood indulged deeply in philosophical studies, and his +fondness for discussing such matters is pointed out by Hawthorne +also, in the 'English Note Books.' This habit increased as he +advanced in years, if possible. + +The chief event of the residence in Pittsfield was the completion +and publication of 'Moby Dick; or, the Whale,' in 1851. How many +young men have been drawn to sea by this book is a question of +interest. Meeting with Mr. Charles Henry Webb ('John Paul') the +day after Mr. Melville's death, I asked him if he were not +familiar with that author's writings. He replied that 'Moby +Dick' was responsible for his three years of life before the mast +when a lad, and added that while 'gamming' on board another +vessel he had once fallen in with a member of the boat's crew +which rescued Melville from his friendly imprisonment among the +Typees. + +While at Pittsfield, besides his own family, Mr. Melville's +mother and sisters resided with him. As his four children grew +up he found it necessary to obtain for them better facilities for +study than the village school afforded; and so, several years +after, the household was broken up, and he removed with his wife +and children to the New York house that was afterwards his home. +This house belonged to his brother Allan, and was exchanged for +the estate at Pittsfield. In December, 1866, he was appointed by +Mr. H. A. Smyth, a former travelling companion in Europe, a +district officer in the New York Custom House. He held the +position until 1886, preferring it to in-door clerical work, and +then resigned, the duties becoming too arduous for his failing +strength. + +In addition to his philosophical studies, Mr. Melville was much +interested in all matters relating to the fine arts, and devoted +most of his leisure hours to the two subjects. A notable +collection of etchings and engravings from the old masters was +gradually made by him, those from Claude's paintings being a +specialty. After he retired from the Custom House, his tall, +stalwart figure could be seen almost daily tramping through the +Fort George district or Central Park, his roving inclination +leading him to obtain as much out-door life as possible. His +evenings were spent at home with his books, his pictures, and his +family, and usually with them alone; for, in spite of the +melodramatic declarations of various English gentlemen, +Melville's seclusion in his latter years, and in fact throughout +his life, was a matter of personal choice. More and more, as he +grew older, he avoided every action on his part, and on the part +of his family, that might tend to keep his name and writings +before the public. A few friends felt at liberty to visit the +recluse, and were kindly welcomed, but he himself sought no one. +His favorite companions were his grandchildren, with whom he +delighted to pass his time, and his devoted wife, who was a +constant assistant and adviser in his literary work, chiefly done +at this period for his own amusement. To her he addressed his +last little poem, the touching 'Return of the Sire de Nesle.' +Various efforts were made by the New York literary colony to draw +him from his retirement, but without success. It has been +suggested that he might have accepted a magazine editorship, but +this is doubtful, as he could not bear business details or +routine work of any sort. His brother Allan was a New York +lawyer, and until his death, in 1872, managed Melville's affairs +with ability, particularly the literary accounts. + +During these later years he took great pleasure in a friendly +correspondence with Mr. W. Clark Russell. Mr. Russell had taken +many occasions to mention Melville's sea-tales, his interest in +them, and his indebtedness to them. The latter felt impelled to +write Mr. Russell in regard to one of his newly published novels, +and received in answer the following letter: + July 21, 1886. + +MY DEAR Mr. MELVILLE, Your letter has given me a very great and +singular pleasure. Your delightful books carry the imagination +into a maritime period so remote that, often as you have been in +my mind, I could never satisfy myself that you were still amongst +the living. I am glad, indeed, to learn from Mr. Toft that you +are still hale and hearty, and I do most heartily wish you many +years yet of health and vigour. + +Your books I have in the American edition. I have 'Typee, +'Omoo,' 'Redburn,' and that noble piece 'Moby Dick.' These are +all I have been able to obtain. There have been many editions of +your works in this country, particularly the lovely South Sea +sketches; but the editions are not equal to those of the American +publishers. Your reputation here is very great. It is hard to +meet a man whose opinion as a reader is worth leaving who does +not speak of your works in such terms as he might hesitate to +employ, with all his patriotism, toward many renowned English +writers. + +Dana is, indeed, great. There is nothing in literature more +remarkable than the impression produced by Dana's portraiture of +the homely inner life of a little brig's forecastle. + +I beg that you will accept my thanks for the kindly spirit in +which you have read my books. I wish it were in my power to +cross the Atlantic, for you assuredly would be the first whom it +would be my happiness to visit. + +The condition of my right hand obliges me to dictate this to my +son; but painful as it is to me to hold a pen, I cannot suffer +this letter to reach the hands of a man of so admirable genitis +as Herman Melville without begging him to believe me to be, with +my own hand, his most respectful and hearty admirer, +W. Clark Russell. + +It should be noted here that Melville's increased reputation in +England at the period of this letter was chiefly owing to a +series of articles on his work written by Mr. Russell. I am +sorry to say that few English papers made more than a passing +reference to Melville's death. The American press discussed his +life and work in numerous and lengthy reviews. At the same time, +there always has been a steady sale of his books in England, and +some of them never have been out of print in that country since +the publication of 'Typee.' One result of this friendship +between the two authors was the dedication of new volumes to each +other in highly complimentary terms--Mr. Melville's 'John Marr +and Other Sailors,' of which twenty-five copies only were +printed, on the one hand, and Mr. Russell's 'An Ocean Tragedy,' +on the other, of which many thousand have been printed, not to +mention unnumbered pirated copies. + +Beside Hawthorne, Mr. Richard Henry Stoddard, of American +writers, specially knew and appreciated Herman Melville. Mr. +Stoddard was connected with the New York dock department at the +time of Mr. Melville's appointment to a custom-house position, +and they at once became acquainted. For a good many years, +during the period in which our author remained in seclusion, much +that appeared in print in America concerning Melville came from +the pen of Mr. Stoddard. Nevertheless, the sailor author's +presence in New York was well known to the literary guild. He +was invited to join in all new movements, but as often felt +obliged to excuse himself from doing so. The present writer +lived for some time within a short distance of his house, but +found no opportunity to meet him until it became necessary to +obtain his portrait for an anthology in course of publication. +The interview was brief, and the interviewer could not help +feeling although treated with pleasant courtesy, that more +important matters were in hand than the perpetuation of a +romancer's countenance to future generations; but a friendly +family acquaintance grew up from the incident, and will remain an +abiding memory. + +Mr. Melville died at his home in New York City early on the +morning of September 28, 1891. His serious illness had lasted a +number of months, so that the end came as a release. True to his +ruling passion, philosophy had claimed him to the last, a set of +Schopenhauer's works receiving his attention when able to study; +but this was varied with readings in the 'Mermaid Series' of old +plays, in which he took much pleasure. His library, in addition +to numerous works on philosophy and the fine arts, was composed +of standard books of all classes, including, of course, a +proportion of nautical literature. Especially interesting are +fifteen or twenty first editions of Hawthorne's books inscribed +to Mr. and Mrs. Melville by the author and his wife. + +The immediate acceptance of 'Typee' by John Murray was followed +by an arrangement with the London agent of an American publisher, +for its simultaneous publication in the United States. I +understand that Murray did not then publish fiction. At any +rate, the book was accepted by him on the assurance of Gansevoort +Melville that it contained nothing not actually experienced by +his brother. Murray brought it out early in 1846, in his +Colonial and Home Library, as 'A Narrative of a Four Months' +Residence among the Natives of a Valley of the Marquesas Islands; +or, a Peep at Polynesian Life,' or, more briefly, 'Melville's +Marquesas Islands.' It was issued in America with the author's +own title, 'Typee,' and in the outward shape of a work of +fiction. Mr. Melville found himself famous at once. Many +discussions were carried on as to the genuineness of the author's +name and the reality of the events portrayed, but English and +American critics alike recognised the book's importance as a +contribution to literature. + +Melville, in a letter to Hawthorne, speaks of himself as having +no development at all until his twenty-fifth year, the time of +his return from the Pacific; but surely the process of +development must have been well advanced to permit of so virile +and artistic a creation as 'Typee.' While the narrative does not +always run smoothly, yet the style for the most part is graceful +and alluring, so that we pass from one scene of Pacific +enchantment to another quite oblivious of the vast amount of +descriptive detail which is being poured out upon us. It is the +varying fortune of the hero which engrosses our attention. We +follow his adventures with breathless interest, or luxuriate with +him in the leafy bowers of the 'Happy Valley,' surrounded by +joyous children of nature. When all is ended, we then for the +first time realise that we know these people and their ways as if +we too had dwelt among them. + +I do not believe that 'Typee' will ever lose its position as a +classic of American Literature. The pioneer in South Sea +romance- -for the mechanical descriptions of earlier voyagers are +not worthy of comparison--this book has as yet met with no +superior, even in French literature; nor has it met with a rival +in any other language than the French. The character of +'Fayaway,' and, no less, William S. Mayo's 'Kaloolah,' the +enchanting dreams of many a youthful heart, will retain their +charm; and this in spite of endless variations by modern +explorers in the same domain. A faint type of both characters +may be found in the Surinam Yarico of Captain John Gabriel +Stedman, whose 'Narrative of a Five Years' Expedition' appeared +in 1796. + +'Typee,' as written, contained passages reflecting with +considerable severity on the methods pursued by missionaries in +the South Seas. The manuscript was printed in a complete form in +England, and created much discussion on this account, Melville +being accused of bitterness; but he asserted his lack of +prejudice. The passages referred to were omitted in the first +and all subsequent American editions. They have been restored in +the present issue, which is complete save for a few paragraphs +excluded by written direction of the author. I have, with the +consent of his family, changed the long and cumbersome sub-title +of the book, calling it a 'Real-Romance of the South Seas,' as +best expressing its nature. + +The success of his first volume encouraged Melville to proceed in +his work, and 'Omoo,' the sequel to 'Typee,' appeared in England +and America in l847. Here we leave, for the most part, the +dreamy pictures of island life, and find ourselves sharing the +extremely realistic discomforts of a Sydney whaler in the early +forties. The rebellious crew's experiences in the Society Islands +are quite as realistic as events on board ship and very +entertaining, while the whimsical character, Dr. Long Ghost, next +to Captain Ahab in 'Moby Dick,' is Melville's most striking +delineation. The errors of the South Sea missions are pointed +out with even more force than in 'Typee,' and it is a fact that +both these books have ever since been of the greatest value to +outgoing missionaries on account of the exact information +contained in them with respect to the islanders. + +Melville's power in describing and investing with romance scenes +and incidents witnessed and participated in by himself, and his +frequent failure of success as an inventor of characters and +situations, were early pointed out by his critics. More recently +Mr. Henry S. Salt has drawn the same distinction very carefully +in an excellent article contributed to the Scottish Art Review. +In a prefatory note to 'Mardi' (1849), Melville declares that, as +his former books have been received as romance instead of +reality, he will now try his hand at pure fiction. 'Mardi' may +be called a splendid failure. It must have been soon after the +completion of 'Omoo' that Melville began to study the writings of +Sir Thomas Browne. Heretofore our author's style was rough in +places, but marvellously simple and direct. 'Mardi' is burdened +with an over-rich diction, which Melville never entirely outgrew. +The scene of this romance, which opens well, is laid in the South +Seas, but everything soon becomes overdrawn and fantastical, and +the thread of the story loses itself in a mystical allegory. + +'Redburn,' already mentioned, succeeded 'Mardi' in the same year, +and was a partial return to the author's earlier style. In +'White-Jacket; or, the World in a Man-of-War' (1850), Melville +almost regained it. This book has no equal as a picture of life +aboard a sailing man-of-war, the lights and shadows of naval +existence being well contrasted. + +With 'Moby Dick; or, the Whale' (1851), Melville reached the +topmost notch of his fame. The book represents, to a certain +extent, the conflict between the author's earlier and later +methods of composition, but the gigantic conception of the 'White +Whale,' as Hawthorne expressed it, permeates the whole work, and +lifts it bodily into the highest domain of romance. 'Moby Dick' +contains an immense amount of information concerning the habits +of the whale and the methods of its capture, but this is +characteristically introduced in a way not to interfere with the +narrative. The chapter entitled 'Stubb Kills a Whale' ranks with +the choicest examples of descriptive literature. + +'Moby Dick' appeared, and Melville enjoyed to the full the +enhanced reputation it brought him. He did not, however, take +warning from 'Mardi,' but allowed himself to plunge more deeply +into the sea of philosophy and fantasy. + +'Pierre; or, the Ambiguities' (1852) was published, and there +ensued a long series of hostile criticisms, ending with a severe, +though impartial, article by Fitz-James O'Brien in Putnam's +Monthly. About the same time the whole stock of the author's +books was destroyed by fire, keeping them out of print at a +critical moment; and public interest, which until then had been +on the increase, gradually began to diminish. + +After this Mr. Melville contributed several short stories to +Putnam's Monthly and Harper's Magazine. Those in the former +periodical were collected in a volume as Piazza Tales (1856); and +of these 'Benito Cereno' and 'The Bell Tower' are equal to his +best previous efforts. + +'Israel Potter: His Fifty Years of Exile' (1855), first printed +as a serial in Putnam's, is an historical romance of the American +Revolution, based on the hero's own account of his adventures, as +given in a little volume picked up by Mr. Melville at a +book-stall. The story is well told, but the book is hardly +worthy of the author of 'Typee.' 'The Confidence Man' (1857), +his last serious effort in prose fiction, does not seem to +require criticism. + +Mr. Melville's pen had rested for nearly ten years, when it was +again taken up to celebrate the events of the Civil War. 'Battle +Pieces and Aspects of the War' appeared in 1866. Most of these +poems originated, according to the author, in an impulse imparted +by the fall of Richmond; but they have as subjects all the chief +incidents of the struggle. The best of them are "The Stone +Fleet,' 'In the Prison Pen,' 'The College Colonel,' 'The March to +the Sea,' 'Running the Batteries,' and 'Sheridan at Cedar Creek.' +Some of these had a wide circulation in the press, and were +preserved in various anthologies. 'Clarel, a Poem and Pilgrimage +in the Holy Land' (1876), is a long mystical poem requiring, as +some one has said, a dictionary, a cyclopaedia, and a copy of the +Bible for its elucidation. in the two privately printed volumes, +the arrangement of which occupied Mr. Melville during his last +illness, there are several fine lyrics. The titles of these +books are, 'John Marr and Other Sailors' (1888), and 'Timoleon' +(1891). + + There is no question that Mr. Melville's absorption in +philosophical studies was quite as responsible as the failure of +his later books for his cessation from literary productiveness. +That he sometimes realised the situation will be seen by a +passage in 'Moby Dick':-- + +'Didn't I tell you so?' said Flask. 'Yes, you'll soon see this +right whale's head hoisted up opposite that parmacetti's.' + +'In good time Flask's saying proved true. As before, the Pequod +steeply leaned over towards the sperm whale's head, now, by the +counterpoise of both heads, she regained her own keel, though +sorely strained, you may well believe. So, when on one side you +hoist in Locke's head, you go over that way; but now, on the +other side, hoist in Kant's and you come back again; but in very +poor plight. Thus, some minds forever keep trimming boat. Oh, +ye foolish! throw all these thunderheads overboard, and then you +will float right and light.' + +Mr. Melville would have been more than mortal if he had been +indifferent to his loss of popularity. Yet he seemed contented +to preserve an entirely independent attitude, and to trust to the +verdict of the future. The smallest amount of activity would +have kept him before the public; but his reserve would not permit +this. That reinstatement of his reputation cannot be doubted. + +In the editing of this reissue of 'Melville's Works,' I have been +much indebted to the scholarly aid of Dr. Titus Munson Coan, +whose familiarity with the languages of the Pacific has enabled +me to harmonise the spelling of foreign words in 'Typee' and +'Omoo,' though without changing the phonetic method of printing +adopted by Mr. Melville. Dr. Coan has also been most helpful +with suggestions in other directions. Finally, the delicate +fancy of La Fargehas supplemented the immortal pen-portrait of +the Typee maiden with a speaking impersonation of her beauty. + +New York, June, 1892. + + + +TYPEE + +CHAPTER ONE + +THE SEA--LONGINGS FOR SHORE--A LAND-SICK SHIP--DESTINATION OF THE +VOYAGERS--THE MARQUESAS--ADVENTURE OF A MISSIONARY'S WIFE AMONG +THE SAVAGES--CHARACTERISTIC ANECDOTE OF THE QUEEN OF NUKUHEVA + +Six months at sea! Yes, reader, as I live, six months out of +sight of land; cruising after the sperm-whale beneath the +scorching sun of the Line, and tossed on the billows of the +wide-rolling Pacific--the sky above, the sea around, and nothing +else! Weeks and weeks ago our fresh provisions were all +exhausted. There is not a sweet potato left; not a single yam. +Those glorious bunches of bananas, which once decorated our stern +and quarter-deck, have, alas, disappeared! and the delicious +oranges which hung suspended from our tops and stays--they, too, +are gone! Yes, they are all departed, and there is nothing left +us but salt-horse and sea-biscuit. Oh! ye state-room sailors, +who make so much ado about a fourteen-days' passage across the +Atlantic; who so pathetically relate the privations and hardships +of the sea, where, after a day of breakfasting, lunching, dining +off five courses, chatting, playing whist, and drinking +champagne-punch, it was your hard lot to be shut up in little +cabinets of mahogany and maple, and sleep for ten hours, with +nothing to disturb you but 'those good-for-nothing tars, shouting +and tramping overhead',--what would ye say to our six months out +of sight of land? + +Oh! for a refreshing glimpse of one blade of grass--for a snuff +at the fragrance of a handful of the loamy earth! Is there +nothing fresh around us? Is there no green thing to be seen? +Yes, the inside of our bulwarks is painted green; but what a vile +and sickly hue it is, as if nothing bearing even the semblance of +verdure could flourish this weary way from land. Even the bark +that once clung to the wood we use for fuel has been gnawed off +and devoured by the captain's pig; and so long ago, too, that the +pig himself has in turn been devoured. + +There is but one solitary tenant in the chicken-coop, once a gay +and dapper young cock, bearing him so bravely among the coy hens. + +But look at him now; there he stands, moping all the day long on +that everlasting one leg of his. He turns with disgust from the +mouldy corn before him, and the brackish water in his little +trough. He mourns no doubt his lost companions, literally +snatched from him one by one, and never seen again. But his days +of mourning will be few for Mungo, our black cook, told me +yesterday that the word had at last gone forth, and poor Pedro's +fate was sealed. His attenuated body will be laid out upon the +captain's table next Sunday, and long before night will be buried +with all the usual ceremonies beneath that worthy individual's +vest. Who would believe that there could be any one so cruel as +to long for the decapitation of the luckless Pedro; yet the +sailors pray every minute, selfish fellows, that the miserable +fowl may be brought to his end. They say the captain will never +point the ship for the land so long as he has in anticipation a +mess of fresh meat. This unhappy bird can alone furnish it; and +when he is once devoured, the captain will come to his senses. I +wish thee no harm, Pedro; but as thou art doomed, sooner or +later, to meet the fate of all thy race; and if putting a period +to thy existence is to be the signal for our deliverance, +why--truth to speak--I wish thy throat cut this very moment; for, +oh! how I wish to see the living earth again! The old ship +herself longs to look out upon the land from her hawse-holes once +more, and Jack Lewis said right the other day when the captain +found fault with his steering. + +'Why d'ye see, Captain Vangs,' says bold Jack, 'I'm as good a +helmsman as ever put hand to spoke; but none of us can steer the +old lady now. We can't keep her full and bye, sir; watch her +ever so close, she will fall off and then, sir, when I put the +helm down so gently, and try like to coax her to the work, she +won't take it kindly, but will fall round off again; and it's all +because she knows the land is under the lee, sir, and she won't +go any more to windward.' Aye, and why should she, Jack? didn't +every one of her stout timbers grow on shore, and hasn't she +sensibilities; as well as we? + +Poor old ship! Her very looks denote her desires! how +deplorably she appears! The paint on her sides, burnt up by the +scorching sun, is puffed out and cracked. See the weeds she +trails along with her, and what an unsightly bunch of those +horrid barnacles has formed about her stern-piece; and every time +she rises on a sea, she shows her copper torn away, or hanging in +jagged strips. + +Poor old ship! I say again: for six months she has been rolling +and pitching about, never for one moment at rest. But courage, +old lass, I hope to see thee soon within a biscuit's toss of the +merry land, riding snugly at anchor in some green cove, and +sheltered from the boisterous winds. + + . . . . . . + +'Hurra, my lads! It's a settled thing; next week we shape our +course to the Marquesas!' The Marquesas! What strange visions +of outlandish things does the very name spirit up! Naked +houris--cannibal banquets--groves of cocoanut--coral +reefs--tattooed chiefs--and bamboo temples; sunny valleys planted +with bread-fruit-trees--carved canoes dancing on the flashing +blue waters--savage woodlands guarded by horrible +idols--HEATHENISH RITES AND HUMAN SACRIFICES. + +Such were the strangely jumbled anticipations that haunted me +during our passage from the cruising ground. I felt an +irresistible curiosity to see those islands which the olden +voyagers had so glowingly described. + +The group for which we were now steering (although among the +earliest of European discoveries in the South Seas, having been +first visited in the year 1595) still continues to be tenanted by +beings as strange and barbarous as ever. The missionaries sent +on a heavenly errand, had sailed by their lovely shores, and had +abandoned them to their idols of wood and stone. How interesting +the circumstances under which they were discovered! In the +watery path of Mendanna, cruising in quest of some region of +gold, these isles had sprung up like a scene of enchantment, and +for a moment the Spaniard believed his bright dream was realized. + +In honour of the Marquess de Mendoza, then viceroy of Peru--under +whose auspices the navigator sailed--he bestowed upon them the +name which denoted the rank of his patron, and gave to the world +on his return a vague and magnificent account of their beauty. +But these islands, undisturbed for years, relapsed into their +previous obscurity; and it is only recently that anything has +been known concerning them. Once in the course of a half +century, to be sure, some adventurous rover would break in upon +their peaceful repose. and astonished at the unusual scene, +would be almost tempted to claim the merit of a new discovery. + +Of this interesting group, but little account has ever been +given, if we except the slight mention made of them in the +sketches of South-Sea voyages. Cook, in his repeated +circumnavigations of the globe, barely touched at their shores; +and all that we know about them is from a few general narratives. + +Among these, there are two that claim particular notice. +Porter's 'Journal of the Cruise of the U.S. frigate Essex, in +the Pacific, during the late War', is said to contain some +interesting particulars concerning the islanders. This is a +work, however, which I have never happened to meet with; and +Stewart, the chaplain of the American sloop of war Vincennes, has +likewise devoted a portion of his book, entitled 'A Visit to the +South Seas', to the same subject. + +Within the last few, years American and English vessels engaged +in the extensive whale fisheries of the Pacific have +occasionally, when short of provisions, put into the commodious +harbour which there is in one of the islands; but a fear of the +natives, founded on the recollection of the dreadful fate which +many white men have received at their hands, has deterred their +crews from intermixing with the population sufficiently to gain +any insight into their peculiar customs and manners. + +The Protestant Missions appear to have despaired of reclaiming +these islands from heathenism. The usage they have in every case +received from the natives has been such as to intimidate the +boldest of their number. Ellis, in his 'Polynesian Researches', +gives some interesting accounts of the abortive attempts made by +the ''Tahiti Mission'' to establish a branch Mission upon certain +islands of the group. A short time before my visit to the +Marquesas, a somewhat amusing incident took place in connection +with these efforts, which I cannot avoid relating. + +An intrepid missionary, undaunted by the ill-success that had +attended all previous endeavours to conciliate the savages, and +believing much in the efficacy of female influence, introduced +among them his young and beautiful wife, the first white woman +who had ever visited their shores. The islanders at first gazed +in mute admiration at so unusual a prodigy, and seemed inclined +to regard it as some new divinity. But after a short time, +becoming familiar with its charming aspect, and jealous of the +folds which encircled its form, they sought to pierce the sacred +veil of calico in which it was enshrined, and in the +gratification of their curiosity so far overstepped the limits of +good breeding, as deeply to offend the lady's sense of decorum. +Her sex once ascertained, their idolatry was changed into +contempt and there was no end to the contumely showered upon her +by the savages, who were exasperated at the deception which they +conceived had been practised upon them. To the horror of her +affectionate spouse, she was stripped of her garments, and given +to understand that she could no longer carry on her deceits with +impunity. The gentle dame was not sufficiently evangelical to +endure this, and, fearful of further improprieties, she forced +her husband to relinquish his undertaking, and together they +returned to Tahiti. + +Not thus shy of exhibiting her charms was the Island Queen +herself, the beauteous wife of Movianna, the king of Nukuheva. +Between two and three years after the adventures recorded in this +volume, I chanced, while aboard of a man-of-war to touch at these +islands. The French had then held possession of the Marquesas +some time, and already prided themselves upon the beneficial +effects of their jurisdiction, as discernible in the deportment +of the natives. To be sure, in one of their efforts at reform +they had slaughtered about a hundred and fifty of them at +Whitihoo--but let that pass. At the time I mention, the French +squadron was rendezvousing in the bay of Nukuheva, and during an +interview between one of their captains and our worthy Commodore, +it was suggested by the former, that we, as the flag-ship of the +American squadron, should receive, in state, a visit from the +royal pair. The French officer likewise represented, with +evident satisfaction, that under their tuition the king and queen +had imbibed proper notions of their elevated station, and on all +ceremonious occasions conducted themselves with suitable dignity. +Accordingly, preparations were made to give their majesties a +reception on board in a style corresponding with their rank. + +One bright afternoon, a gig, gaily bedizened with streamers, was +observed to shove off from the side of one of the French +frigates, and pull directly for our gangway. In the stem sheets +reclined Mowanna and his consort. As they approached, we paid +them all the honours clue to royalty;--manning our yards, firing +a salute, and making a prodigious hubbub. + +They ascended the accommodation ladder, were greeted by the +Commodore, hat in hand, and passing along the quarter-deck, the +marine guard presented arms, while the band struck up 'The King +of the Cannibal Islands'. So far all went well. The French +officers grimaced and smiled in exceedingly high spirits, +wonderfully pleased with the discreet manner in which these +distinguished personages behaved themselves. + +Their appearance was certainly calculated to produce an effect. +His majesty was arrayed in a magnificent military uniform, stiff +with gold lace and embroidery, while his shaven crown was +concealed by a huge chapeau bras, waving with ostrich plumes. +There was one slight blemish, however, in his appearance. A +broad patch of tattooing stretched completely across his face, in +a line with his eyes, making him look as if he wore a huge pair +of goggles; and royalty in goggles suggested some ludicrous +ideas. But it was in the adornment of the fair person of his +dark-complexioned spouse that the tailors of the fleet had +evinced the gaiety of their national taste. She was habited in a +gaudy tissue of scarlet cloth, trimmed with yellow silk, which, +descending a little below the knees, exposed to view her bare +legs, embellished with spiral tattooing, and somewhat resembling +two miniature Trajan's columns. Upon her head was a fanciful +turban of purple velvet, figured with silver sprigs, and +surmounted by a tuft of variegated feathers. + +The ship's company, crowding into the gangway to view the sight, +soon arrested her majesty's attention. She singled out from +their number an old salt, whose bare arms and feet, and exposed +breast, were covered with as many inscriptions in India ink as +the lid of an Egyptian sarcophagus. Notwithstanding all the sly +hints and remonstrances of the French officers, she immediately +approached the man, and pulling further open the bosom of his +duck frock, and rolling up the leg of his wide trousers, she +gazed with admiration at the bright blue and vermilion pricking +thus disclosed to view. She hung over the fellow, caressing him, +and expressing her delight in a variety of wild exclamations and +gestures. The embarrassment of the polite Gauls at such an +unlooked-for occurrence may be easily imagined, but picture their +consternation, when all at once the royal lady, eager to display +the hieroglyphics on her own sweet form, bent forward for a +moment, and turning sharply round, threw up the skirt of her +mantle and revealed a sight from which the aghast Frenchmen +retreated precipitately, and tumbling into their boats, fled the +scene of so shocking a catastrophe. + + + +CHAPTER TWO + +PASSAGE FROM THE CRUISING GROUND TO THE MARQUESAS--SLEEPY TIMES +ABOARD SHIP--SOUTH SEA SCENERY--LAND HO--THE FRENCH SQUADRON +DISCOVERED AT ANCHOR IN THE BAY OF NUKUHEVA--STRANGE PILOT-- +ESCORT OF CANOES--A FLOTILLA OF COCOANUTS--SWIMMING VISITORS--THE +DOLLY BOARDED BY THEM--STATE OF AFFAIRS THAT ENSUE + +I CAN never forget the eighteen or twenty days during which the +light trade-winds were silently sweeping us towards the islands. +In pursuit of the sperm whale, we had been cruising on the line +some twenty degrees to the westward of the Gallipagos; and all +that we had to do, when our course was determined on, was to +square in the yards and keep the vessel before the breeze, and +then the good ship and the steady gale did the rest between them. +The man at the wheel never vexed the old lady with any +superfluous steering, but comfortably adjusting his limbs at the +tiller, would doze away by the hour. True to her work, the Dolly +headed to her course, and like one of those characters who always +do best when let alone, she jogged on her way like a veteran old +sea-pacer as she was. + +What a delightful, lazy, languid time we had whilst we were thus +gliding along! There was nothing to be done; a circumstance that +happily suited our disinclination to do anything. We abandoned +the fore-peak altogether, and spreading an awning over the +forecastle, slept, ate, and lounged under it the live-long day. +Every one seemed to be under the influence of some narcotic. +Even the officers aft, whose duty required them never to be +seated while keeping a deck watch, vainly endeavoured to keep on +their pins; and were obliged invariably to compromise the matter +by leaning up against the bulwarks, and gazing abstractedly over +the side. Reading was out of the question; take a book in your +hand, and you were asleep in an instant. + +Although I could not avoid yielding in a great measure to the +general languor, still at times I contrived to shake off the +spell, and to appreciate the beauty of the scene around me. The +sky presented a clear expanse of the most delicate blue, except +along the skirts of the horizon, where you might see a thin +drapery of pale clouds which never varied their form or colour. +The long, measured, dirge-like well of the Pacific came rolling +along, with its surface broken by little tiny waves, sparkling in +the sunshine. Every now and then a shoal of flying fish, scared +from the water under the bows, would leap into the air, and fall +the next moment like a shower of silver into the sea. Then you +would see the superb albicore, with his glittering sides, sailing +aloft, and often describing an arc in his descent, disappear on +the surface of the water. Far off, the lofty jet of the whale +might be seen, and nearer at hand the prowling shark, that +villainous footpad of the seas, would come skulking along, and, +at a wary distance, regard us with his evil eye. At times, some +shapeless monster of the deep, floating on the surface, would, as +we approached, sink slowly into the blue waters, and fade away +from the sight. But the most impressive feature of the scene was +the almost unbroken silence that reigned over sky and water. +Scarcely a sound could be heard but the occasional breathing of +the grampus, and the rippling at the cut-water. + +As we drew nearer the land, I hailed with delight the appearance +of innumerable sea-fowl. Screaming and whirling in spiral +tracks, they would accompany the vessel, and at times alight on +our yards and stays. That piratical-looking fellow, +appropriately named the man-of-war's-hawk, with his blood-red +bill and raven plumage, would come sweeping round us in gradually +diminishing circles, till you could distinctly mark the strange +flashings of his eye; and then, as if satisfied with his +observation, would sail up into the air and disappear from the +view. Soon, other evidences of our vicinity to the land were +apparent, and it was not long before the glad announcement of its +being in sight was heard from aloft,--given with that peculiar +prolongation of sound that a sailor loves--'Land ho!' + +The captain, darting on deck from the cabin, bawled lustily for +his spy-glass; the mate in still louder accents hailed the +masthead with a tremendous 'where-away?' The black cook thrust +his woolly head from the galley, and Boatswain, the dog, leaped +up between the knight-heads, and barked most furiously. Land ho! +Aye, there it was. A hardly perceptible blue irregular outline, +indicating the bold contour of the lofty heights of Nukuheva. + +This island, although generally called one of the Marquesas, is +by some navigators considered as forming one of a distinct +cluster, comprising the islands of Ruhooka, Ropo, and Nukuheva; +upon which three the appellation of the Washington Group has been +bestowed. They form a triangle, and lie within the parallels of +8 degrees 38" and 9 degrees 32" South latitude and 139 degrees +20" and 140 degrees 10" West longitude from Greenwich. With how +little propriety they are to be regarded as forming a separate +group will be at once apparent, when it is considered that they +lie in the immediate vicinity of the other islands, that is to +say, less than a degree to the northwest of them; that their +inhabitants speak the Marquesan dialect, and that their laws, +religion, and general customs are identical. The only reason why +they were ever thus arbitrarily distinguished may be attributed +to the singular fact, that their existence was altogether unknown +to the world until the year 1791, when they were discovered by +Captain Ingraham, of Boston, Massachusetts, nearly two centuries +after the discovery of the adjacent islands by the agent of the +Spanish Viceroy. Notwithstanding this, I shall follow the +example of most voyagers, and treat of them as forming part and +parcel of Marquesas. + +Nukuheva is the most important of these islands, being the only +one at which ships are much in the habit of touching, and is +celebrated as being the place where the adventurous Captain +Porter refitted his ships during the late war between England and +the United States, and whence he sallied out upon the large +whaling fleet then sailing under the enemy's flag in the +surrounding seas. This island is about twenty miles in length +and nearly as many in breadth. It has three good harbours on its +coast; the largest and best of which is called by the people +living in its vicinity 'Taiohae', and by Captain Porter was +denominated Massachusetts Bay. Among the adverse tribes dwelling +about the shores of the other bays, and by all voyagers, it is +generally known by the name bestowed upon the island +itself--Nukuheva. Its inhabitants have become somewhat +corrupted, owing to their recent commerce with Europeans, but so +far as regards their peculiar customs and general mode of life, +they retain their original primitive character, remaining very +nearly in the same state of nature in which they were first +beheld by white men. The hostile clans, residing in the more +remote sections of the island, and very seldom holding any +communication with foreigners, are in every respect unchanged +from their earliest known condition. + +In the bay of Nukuheva was the anchorage we desired to reach. We +had perceived the loom of the mountains about sunset; so that +after running all night with a very light breeze, we found +ourselves close in with the island the next morning, but as the +bay we sought lay on its farther side, we were obliged to sail +some distance along the shore, catching, as we proceeded, short +glimpses of blooming valleys, deep glens, waterfalls, and waving +groves hidden here and there by projecting and rocky headlands, +every moment opening to the view some new and startling scene of +beauty. + +Those who for the first time visit the South Sea, generally are +surprised at the appearance of the islands when beheld from the +sea. From the vague accounts we sometimes have of their beauty, +many people are apt to picture to themselves enamelled and softly +swelling plains, shaded over with delicious groves, and watered +by purling brooks, and the entire country but little elevated +above the surrounding ocean. The reality is very different; bold +rock-bound coasts, with the surf beating high against the lofty +cliffs, and broken here and there into deep inlets, which open to +the view thickly-wooded valleys, separated by the spurs of +mountains clothed with tufted grass, and sweeping down towards +the sea from an elevated and furrowed interior, form the +principal features of these islands. + +Towards noon we drew abreast the entrance go the harbour, and at +last we slowly swept by the intervening promontory, and entered +the bay of Nukuheva. No description can do justice to its +beauty; but that beauty was lost to me then, and I saw nothing +but the tri-coloured flag of France trailing over the stern of +six vessels, whose black hulls and bristling broadsides +proclaimed their warlike character. There they were, floating in +that lovely bay, the green eminences of the shore looking down so +tranquilly upon them, as if rebuking the sternness of their +aspect. To my eye nothing could be more out of keeping than the +presence of these vessels; but we soon learnt what brought them +there. The whole group of islands had just been taken possession +of by Rear-Admiral Du Petit Thouars, in the name of the +invincible French nation. + +This item of information was imparted to us by a most +extraordinary individual, a genuine South-Sea vagabond, who came +alongside of us in a whale-boat as soon as we entered the bay, +and, by the aid of some benevolent persons at the gangway, was +assisted on board, for our visitor was in that interesting stage +of intoxication when a man is amiable and helpless. Although he +was utterly unable to stand erect or to navigate his body across +the deck, he still magnanimously proffered his services to pilot +the ship to a good and secure anchorage. Our captain, however, +rather distrusted his ability in this respect, and refused to +recognize his claim to the character he assumed; but our +gentleman was determined to play his part, for, by dint of much +scrambling, he succeeded in getting into the weather-quarter +boat, where he steadied himself by holding on to a shroud, and +then commenced issuing his commands with amazing volubility and +very peculiar gestures. Of course no one obeyed his orders; but +as it was impossible to quiet him, we swept by the ships of the +squadron with this strange fellow performing his antics in full +view of all the French officers. + +We afterwards learned that our eccentric friend had been a +lieutenant in the English navy; but having disgraced his flag by +some criminal conduct in one of the principal ports on the main, +he had deserted his ship, and spent many years wandering among +the islands of the Pacific, until accidentally being at Nukuheva +when the French took possession of the place, he had been +appointed pilot of the harbour by the newly constituted +authorities. + +As we slowly advanced up the bay, numerous canoes pushed off from +the surrounding shores, and we were soon in the midst of quite a +flotilla of them, their savage occupants struggling to get aboard +of us, and jostling one another in their ineffectual attempts. +Occasionally the projecting out-riggers of their slight shallops +running foul of one another, would become entangled beneath the +water, threatening to capsize the canoes, when a scene of +confusion would ensue that baffles description. Such strange +outcries and passionate gesticulations I never certainly heard or +saw before. You would have thought the islanders were on the +point of flying at each other's throats, whereas they were only +amicably engaged in disentangling their boats. + +Scattered here and there among the canoes might be seen numbers +of cocoanuts floating closely together in circular groups, and +bobbing up and down with every wave. By some inexplicable means +these cocoanuts were all steadily approaching towards the ship. +As I leaned curiously over the side, endeavouring to solve their +mysterious movements, one mass far in advance of the rest +attracted my attention. In its centre was something I could take +for nothing else than a cocoanut, but which I certainly +considered one of the most extraordinary specimens of the fruit I +had ever seen. It kept twirling and dancing about among the rest +in the most singular manner, and as it drew nearer I thought it +bore a remarkable resemblance to the brown shaven skull of one of +the savages. Presently it betrayed a pair of eyes, and soon I +became aware that what I had supposed to have been one of the +fruit was nothing else than the head of an islander, who had +adopted this singular method of bringing his produce to market. +The cocoanuts were all attached to one another by strips of the +husk, partly torn from the shell and rudely fastened together. +Their proprietor inserting his head into the midst of them, +impelled his necklace of cocoanuts through the water by striking +out beneath the surface with his feet. + +I was somewhat astonished to perceive that among the number of +natives that surrounded us, not a single female was to be seen. +At that time I was ignorant of the fact that by the operation of +the 'taboo' the use of canoes in all parts of the island is +rigorously prohibited to the entire sex, for whom it is death +even to be seen entering one when hauled on shore; consequently, +whenever a Marquesan lady voyages by water, she puts in +requisition the paddles of her own fair body. + +We had approached within a mile and a half perhaps of this foot +of the bay, when some of the islanders, who by this time had +managed to scramble aboard of us at the risk of swamping their +canoes, directed our attention to a singular commotion in the +water ahead of the vessel. At first I imagined it to be produced +by a shoal of fish sporting on the surface, but our savage +friends assured us that it was caused by a shoal of 'whinhenies' +(young girls), who in this manner were coming off from the shore +to welcome is. As they drew nearer, and I watched the rising and +sinking of their forms, and beheld the uplifted right arm bearing +above the water the girdle of tappa, and their long dark hair +trailing beside them as they swam, I almost fancied they could be +nothing else than so many mermaids--and very like mermaids they +behaved too. + +We were still some distance from the beach, and under slow +headway, when we sailed right into the midst of these swimming +nymphs, and they boarded us at every quarter; many seizing hold +of the chain-plates and springing into the chains; others, at the +peril of being run over by the vessel in her course, catching at +the bob-stays, and wreathing their slender forms about the ropes, +hung suspended in the air. All of them at length succeeded in +getting up the ship's side, where they clung dripping with the +brine and glowing from the bath, their jet-black tresses +streaming over their shoulders, and half enveloping their +otherwise naked forms. There they hung, sparkling with savage +vivacity, laughing gaily at one another, and chattering away with +infinite glee. Nor were they idle the while, for each one +performed the simple offices of the toilette for the other. +Their luxuriant locks, wound up and twisted into the smallest +possible compass, were freed from the briny element; the whole +person carefully dried, and from a little round shell that passed +from hand to hand, anointed with a fragrant oil: their adornments +were completed by passing a few loose folds of white tappa, in a +modest cincture, around the waist. Thus arrayed they no longer +hesitated, but flung themselves lightly over the bulwarks, and +were quickly frolicking about the decks. Many of them went +forward, perching upon the headrails or running out upon the +bowsprit, while others seated themselves upon the taffrail, or +reclined at full length upon the boats. What a sight for us +bachelor sailors! How avoid so dire a temptation? For who could +think of tumbling these artless creatures overboard, when they +had swum miles to welcome us? + +Their appearance perfectly amazed me; their extreme youth, the +light clear brown of their complexions, their delicate features, +and inexpressibly graceful figures, their softly moulded limbs, +and free unstudied action, seemed as strange as beautiful. + +The Dolly was fairly captured; and never I will say was vessel +carried before by such a dashing and irresistible party of +boarders! The ship taken, we could not do otherwise than yield +ourselves prisoners, and for the whole period that she remained +in the bay, the Dolly, as well as her crew, were completely in +the hands of the mermaids. + +In the evening after we had come to an anchor the deck was +illuminated with lanterns, and this picturesque band of sylphs, +tricked out with flowers, and dressed in robes of variegated +tappa, got up a ball in great style. These females are +passionately fond of dancing, and in the wild grace and spirit of +the style excel everything I have ever seen. The varied dances +of the Marquesan girls are beautiful in the extreme, but there is +an abandoned voluptuousness in their character which I dare not +attempt to describe. + + + +CHAPTER THREE + +SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LATE OPERATIONS OF THE FRENCH AT THE +MARQUESAS--PRUDENT CONDUCT OF THE ADMIRAL--SENSATION PRODUCED BY +THE ARRIVAL OF THE STRANGERS--THE FIRST HORSE SEEN BY THE +ISLANDERS--REFLECTIONS--MISERABLE SUBTERFUGE OF THE +FRENCH--DIGRESSION CONCERNING TAHITI--SEIZURE OF THE ISLAND BY +THE ADMIRAL--SPIRITED CONDUCT OF AN ENGLISH LADY + +IT was in the summer of 1842 that we arrived at the islands; the +French had then held possession of them for several weeks. +During this time they had visited some of the principal places in +the group, and had disembarked at various points about five +hundred troops. These were employed in constructing works of +defence, and otherwise providing against the attacks of the +natives, who at any moment might be expected to break out in open +hostility. The islanders looked upon the people who made this +cavalier appropriation of their shores with mingled feelings of +fear and detestation. They cordially hated them; but the +impulses of their resentment were neutralized by their dread of +the floating batteries, which lay with their fatal tubes +ostentatiously pointed, not at fortifications and redoubts, but +at a handful of bamboo sheds, sheltered in a grove of cocoanuts! +A valiant warrior doubtless, but a prudent one too, was this same +Rear-Admiral Du Petit Thouars. Four heavy, doublebanked frigates +and three corvettes to frighten a parcel of naked heathen into +subjection! Sixty-eight pounders to demolish huts of cocoanut +boughs, and Congreve rockets to set on fire a few canoe sheds! + +At Nukuheva, there were about one hundred soldiers ashore. They +were encamped in tents, constructed of the old sails and spare +spars of the squadron, within the limits of a redoubt mounted +with a few nine-pounders, and surrounded with a fosse. Every +other day, these troops were marched out in martial array, to a +level piece of ground in the vicinity, and there for hours went +through all sorts of military evolutions, surrounded by flocks of +the natives, who looked on with savage admiration at the show, +and as savage a hatred of the actors. A regiment of the Old +Guard, reviewed on a summer's day in the Champs Elysees, could +not have made a more critically correct appearance. The +officers' regimentals, resplendent with gold lace and embroidery +as if purposely calculated to dazzle the islanders, looked as if +just unpacked from their Parisian cases. + +The sensation produced by the presence of the strangers had not +in the least subsided at the period of our arrival at the +islands. The natives still flocked in numbers about the +encampment, and watched with the liveliest curiosity everything +that was going forward. A blacksmith's forge, which had been set +up in the shelter of a grove near the beach, attracted so great a +crowd, that it required the utmost efforts of the sentries posted +around to keep the inquisitive multitude at a sufficient distance +to allow the workmen to ply their vocation. But nothing gained +so large a share of admiration as a horse, which had been brought +from Valparaiso by the Achille, one of the vessels of the +squadron. The animal, a remarkably fine one, had been taken +ashore, and stabled in a hut of cocoanut boughs within the +fortified enclosure. Occasionally it was brought out, and, being +gaily caparisoned, was ridden by one of the officers at full +speed over the hard sand beach. This performance was sure to be +hailed with loud plaudits, and the 'puarkee nuee' (big hog) was +unanimously pronounced by the islanders to be the most +extraordinary specimen of zoology that had ever come under their +observation. + +The expedition for the occupation of the Marquesas had sailed +from Brest in the spring of 1842, and the secret of its +destination was solely in the possession of its commander. No +wonder that those who contemplated such a signal infraction of +the rights of humanity should have sought to veil the enormity +from the eyes of the world. And yet, notwithstanding their +iniquitous conduct in this and in other matters, the French have +ever plumed themselves upon being the most humane and polished of +nations. A high degree of refinement, however, does not seem to +subdue our wicked propensities so much after all; and were +civilization itself to be estimated by some of its results, it +would seem perhaps better for what we call the barbarous part of +the world to remain unchanged. + +One example of the shameless subterfuges under which the French +stand prepared to defend whatever cruelties they may hereafter +think fit to commit in bringing the Marquesan natives into +subjection is well worthy of being recorded. On some flimsy +pretext or other Mowanna, the king of Nukuheva, whom the invaders +by extravagant presents cajoled over to their interests, and move +about like a mere puppet, has been set up as the rightful +sovereign of the entire island--the alleged ruler by prescription +of various clans, who for ages perhaps have treated with each +other as separate nations. To reinstate this much-injured prince +in the assumed dignities of his ancestors, the disinterested +strangers have come all the way from France: they are determined +that his title shall be acknowledged. If any tribe shall refuse +to recognize the authority of the French, by bowing down to the +laced chapeau of Mowanna, let them abide the consequences of +their obstinacy. Under cover of a similar pretence, have the +outrages and massacres at Tahiti the beautiful, the queen of the +South Seas, been perpetrated. + +On this buccaneering expedition, Rear Admiral Du Petit Thouars, +leaving the rest of his squadron at the Marquesas,--which had +then been occupied by his forces about five months--set sail for +the doomed island in the Reine Blanche frigate. On his arrival, +as an indemnity for alleged insults offered to the flag of his +country, he demanded some twenty or thirty thousand dollars to be +placed in his hands forthwith, and in default of payment, +threatened to land and take possession of the place. + +The frigate, immediately upon coming to an anchor, got springs on +her cables, and with he guns; cast loose and her men at their +quarters, lay in the circular basin of Papeete, with her +broadside bearing upon the devoted town; while her numerous +cutters, hauled in order alongside, were ready to effect a +landing, under cover of her batteries. She maintained this +belligerent attitude for several days, during which time a series +of informal negotiations were pending, and wide alarm spread over +the island. Many of the Tahitians were at first disposed to +resort to arms, and drive the invaders from their shores; but +more pacific and feebler counsels ultimately prevailed. The +unfortunate queen Pomare, incapable of averting the impending +calamity, terrified at the arrogance of the insolent Frenchman, +and driven at last to despair, fled by night in a canoe to Emio. + +During the continuance of the panic there occurred an instance of +feminine heroism that I cannot omit to record. + +In the grounds of the famous missionary consul, Pritchard, then +absent in London, the consular flag of Britain waved as usual +during the day, from a lofty staff planted within a few yards of +the beach, and in full view of the frigate. One morning an +officer, at the head of a party of men, presented himself at the +verandah of Mr Pritchard's house, and inquired in broken English +for the lady his wife. The matron soon made her appearance; and +the polite Frenchman, making one of his best bows, and playing +gracefully with the aiguillettes that danced upon his breast, +proceeded in courteous accents to deliver his mission. 'The +admiral desired the flag to be hauled down--hoped it would be +perfectly agreeable--and his men stood ready to perform the +duty.' 'Tell the Pirate your master,' replied the spirited +Englishwoman, pointing to the staff, 'that if he wishes to strike +these colours, he must come and perform the act himself; I will +suffer no one else to do it.' The lady then bowed haughtily and +withdrew into the house. As the discomfited officer slowly +walked away, he looked up to the flag, and perceived that the +cord by which it was elevated to its place, led from the top of +the staff, across the lawn, to an open upper window of the +mansion, where sat the lady from whom he had just parted, +tranquilly engaged in knitting. Was that flag hauled down? Mrs +Pritchard thinks not; and Rear-Admiral Du Petit Thouars is +believed to be of the same opinion. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR + +STATE OF AFFAIRS ABOARD THE SHIP--CONTENTS OF HER LARDER--LENGTH +OF SOUTH SEAMEN'S VOYAGES--ACCOUNT OF A FLYING +WHALE-MAN--DETERMINATION TO LEAVE THE VESSEL--THE BAY OF +NUKUHEVA--THE TYPEES--INVASION OF THEIR VALLEY BY PORTER -- +REFLECTIONS -- GLEN OF TIOR--INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE OLD KING AND +THE FRENCH ADMIRAL + +OUR ship had not been many days in the harbour of Nukuheva before +I came to the determination of leaving her. That my reasons for +resolving to take this step were numerous and weighty, may be +inferred from the fact that I chose rather to risk my fortunes +among the savages of the island than to endure another voyage on +board the Dolly. To use the concise, pointblank phrase of the +sailors. I had made up my mind to 'run away'. Now as a meaning +is generally attached to these two words no way flattering to the +individual to whom they are applied, it behoves me, for the sake +of my own character, to offer some explanation of my conduct. + +When I entered on board the Dolly, I signed as a matter of course +the ship's articles, thereby voluntarily engaging and legally +binding myself to serve in a certain capacity for the period of +the voyage; and, special considerations apart, I was of course +bound to fulfill the agreement. But in all contracts, if one +party fail to perform his share of the compact, is not the other +virtually absolved from his liability? Who is there who will not +answer in the affirmative? + +Having settled the principle, then, let me apply it to the +particular case in question. In numberless instances had not +only the implied but the specified conditions of the articles +been violated on the part of the ship in which I served. The +usage on board of her was tyrannical; the sick had been inhumanly +neglected; the provisions had been doled out in scanty allowance; +and her cruises were unreasonably protracted. The captain was +the author of the abuses; it was in vain to think that he would +either remedy them, or alter his conduct, which was arbitrary and +violent in the extreme. His prompt reply to all complaints and +remonstrances was--the butt-end of a handspike, so convincingly +administered as effectually to silence the aggrieved party. + +To whom could we apply for redress? We had left both law and +equity on the other side of the Cape; and unfortunately, with a +very few exceptions, our crew was composed of a parcel of +dastardly and meanspirited wretches, divided among themselves, +and only united in enduring without resistance the unmitigated +tyranny of the captain. It would have been mere madness for any +two or three of the number, unassisted by the rest, to attempt +making a stand against his ill usage. They would only have +called down upon themselves the particular vengeance of this +'Lord of the Plank', and subjected their shipmates to additional +hardships. + +But, after all, these things could have been endured awhile, had +we entertained the hope of being speedily delivered from them by +the due completion of the term of our servitude. But what a +dismal prospect awaited us in this quarter! The longevity of +Cape Horn whaling voyages is proverbial, frequently extending +over a period of four or five years. + +Some long-haired, bare-necked youths, who, forced by the united +influences of Captain Marryatt and hard times, embark at +Nantucket for a pleasure excursion to the Pacific, and whose +anxious mothers provide them, with bottled milk for the occasion, +oftentimes return very respectable middle-aged gentlemen. + +The very preparations made for one of these expeditions are +enough to frighten one. As the vessel carries out no cargo, her +hold is filled with provisions for her own consumption. The +owners, who officiate as caterers for the voyage, supply the +larder with an abundance of dainties. Delicate morsels of beef +and pork, cut on scientific principles from every part of the +animal, and of all conceivable shapes and sizes, are carefully +packed in salt, and stored away in barrels; affording a +never-ending variety in their different degrees of toughness, and +in the peculiarities of their saline properties. Choice old +water too, decanted into stout six-barrel-casks, and two pints of +which is allowed every day to each soul on board; together with +ample store of sea-bread, previously reduced to a state of +petrifaction, with a view to preserve it either from decay or +consumption in the ordinary mode, are likewise provided for the +nourishment and gastronomic enjoyment of the crew. + +But not to speak of the quality of these articles of sailors' +fare, the abundance in which they are put onboard a whaling +vessel is almost incredible. Oftentimes, when we had occasion to +break out in the hold, and I beheld the successive tiers of casks +and barrels, whose contents were all destined to be consumed in +due course by the ship's company, my heart has sunk within me. + +Although, as a general case, a ship unlucky in falling in with +whales continues to cruise after them until she has barely +sufficient provisions remaining to take her home, turning round +then quietly and making the best of her way to her friends, yet +there are instances when even this natural obstacle to the +further prosecution of the voyage is overcome by headstrong +captains, who, bartering the fruits of their hard-earned toils +for a new supply of provisions in some of the ports of Chili or +Peru, begin the voyage afresh with unabated zeal and +perseverance. It is in vain that the owners write urgent letters +to him to sail for home, and for their sake to bring back the +ship, since it appears he can put nothing in her. Not he. He +has registered a vow: he will fill his vessel with good sperm +oil, or failing to do so, never again strike Yankee soundings. + +I heard of one whaler, which after many years' absence was given +up for lost. The last that had been heard of her was a shadowy +report of her having touched at some of those unstable islands in +the far Pacific, whose eccentric wanderings are carefully noted +in each new edition of the South-Sea charts. After a long +interval, however, 'The Perseverance'--for that was her name--was +spoken somewhere in the vicinity of the ends of the earth, +cruising along as leisurely as ever, her sails all bepatched and +be quilted with rope-yarns, her spars fished with old pipe +staves, and her rigging knotted and spliced in every possible +direction. Her crew was composed of some twenty venerable +Greenwich-pensioner-looking old salts, who just managed to hobble +about deck. The ends of all the running ropes, with the +exception of the signal halyards and poop-down-haul, were rove +through snatch-blocks,and led to the capstan or windlass, so that +not a yard was braced or a sad set without the assistance of +machinery. + +Her hull was encrusted with barnacles, which completely encased +her. Three pet sharks followed in her wake, and every day came +alongside to regale themselves from the contents of the cook's +bucket, which were pitched over to them. A vast shoal of bonetas +and albicores always kept her company. + +Such was the account I heard of this vessel and the remembrance +of it always haunted me; what eventually became of her I never +learned; at any rate: he never reached home, and I suppose she is +still regularly tacking twice in the twenty-four hours somewhere +off Desolate Island, or the Devil's-Tail Peak. + +Having said thus much touching the usual length of these voyages, +when I inform the reader that ours had as it were just commenced, +we being only fifteen months out, and even at that time hailed as +a late arrival and boarded for news, he will readily perceive +that there was little to encourage one in looking forward to the +future, especially as I had always had a presentiment that we +should make an unfortunate voyage, and our experience so far had +justified the expectation. + +I may here state, and on my faith as an honest man, that though +more than three years have elapsed since I left this same +identical vessel, she still continues; in the Pacific, and but a +few days since I saw her reported in the papers as having touched +at the Sandwich Islands previous to going on the coast of Japan. + +But to return to my narrative. Placed in these circumstances +then, with no prospect of matters mending if I remained aboard +the Dolly, I at once made up my mind to leave her: to be sure it +was rather an inglorious thing to steal away privily from those +at whose hands I had received wrongs and outrages that I could +not resent; but how was such a course to be avoided when it was +the only alternative left me? Having made up my mind, I +proceeded to acquire all the information I could obtain relating +to the island and its inhabitants, with a view of shaping my +plans of escape accordingly. The result of these inquiries I +will now state, in order that the ensuing narrative may be the +better understood. + +The bay of Nukuheva in which we were then lying is an expanse of +water not unlike in figure the space included within the limits +of a horse-shoe. It is, perhaps, nine miles in circumference. +You approach it from the sea by a narrow entrance, flanked on +each side by two small twin islets which soar conically to the +height of some five hundred feet. From these the shore recedes +on both hands, and describes a deep semicircle. + +From the verge of the water the land rises uniformly on all +sides, with green and sloping acclivities, until from gently +rolling hill-sides and moderate elevations it insensibly swells +into lofty and majestic heights, whose blue outlines, ranged all +around, close in the view. The beautiful aspect of the shore is +heightened by deep and romantic glens, which come down to it at +almost equal distances, all apparently radiating from a common +centre, and the upper extremities of which are lost to the eye +beneath the shadow of the mountains. Down each of these little +valleys flows a clear stream, here and there assuming the form of +a slender cascade, then stealing invisibly along until it bursts +upon the sight again in larger and more noisy waterfalls, and at +last demurely wanders along to the sea. + +The houses of the natives, constructed of the yellow bamboo, +tastefully twisted together in a kind of wicker-work, and +thatched with the long tapering leaves of the palmetto, are +scattered irregularly along these valleys beneath the shady +branches of the cocoanut trees. + +Nothing can exceed the imposing scenery of this bay. Viewed from +our ship as she lay at anchor in the middle of the harbour, it +presented the appearance of a vast natural amphitheatre in decay, +and overgrown with vines, the deep glens that furrowed it's sides +appearing like enormous fissures caused by the ravages of time. +Very often when lost in admiration at its beauty, I have +experienced a pang of regret that a scene so enchanting should be +hidden from the world in these remote seas, and seldom meet the +eyes of devoted lovers of nature. + +Besides this bay the shores of the island are indented by several +other extensive inlets, into which descend broad and verdant +valleys. These are inhabited by as many distinct tribes of +savages, who, although speaking kindred dialects of a common +language, and having the same religion and laws, have from time +immemorial waged hereditary warfare against each other. The +intervening mountains generally two or three thousand feet above +the level of the sea geographically define the territories of +each of these hostile tribes, who never cross them, save on some +expedition of war or plunder. Immediately adjacent to Nukuheva, +and only separated from it by the mountains seen from the +harbour, lies the lovely valley of Happar, whose inmates cherish +the most friendly relations with the inhabitants of Nukuheva. On +the other side of Happar, and closely adjoining it, is the +magnificent valley of the dreaded Typees, the unappeasable +enemies of both these tribes. + +These celebrated warriors appear to inspire the other islanders +with unspeakable terrors. Their very name is a frightful one; +for the word 'Typee' in the Marquesan dialect signifies a lover +of human flesh. It is rather singular that the title should have +been bestowed upon them exclusively, inasmuch as the natives of +all this group are irreclaimable cannibals. The name may, +perhaps, have been given to denote the peculiar ferocity of this +clan, and to convey a special stigma along with it. + +These same Typees enjoy a prodigious notoriety all over the +islands. The natives of Nukuheva would frequently recount in +pantomime to our ship's company their terrible feats, and would +show the marks of wounds they had received in desperate +encounters with them. When ashore they would try to frighten us +by pointing, to one of their own number, and calling him a Typee, +manifesting no little surprise that we did not take to our heels +at so terrible an announcement. It was quite amusing, too, to +see with what earnestness they disclaimed all cannibal +propensities on their own part, while they denounced their +enemies--the Typees--as inveterate gourmandizers of human flesh; +but this is a peculiarity to which I shall hereafter have +occasion to allude. + +Although I was convinced that the inhabitants of our bay were as +arrant cannibals as any of the other tribes on the island, still +I could not but feel a particular and most unqualified repugnance +to the aforesaid Typees. Even before visiting the Marquesas, I +had heard from men who had touched at the group on former voyages +some revolting stories in connection with these savages; and +fresh in my remembrance was the adventure of the master of the +Katherine, who only a few months previous, imprudently venturing +into this bay in an armed boat for the purpose of barter, was +seized by the natives, carried back a little distance into their +valley, and was only saved from a cruel death by the intervention +of a young girl, who facilitated his escape by night along the +beach to Nukuheva. + +I had heard too of an English vessel that many years ago, after a +weary cruise, sought to enter the bay of Nukuheva, and arriving +within two or three miles of the land, was met by a large canoe +filled with natives, who offered to lead the way to the place of +their destination. The captain, unacquainted with the localities +of the island, joyfully acceded to the proposition--the canoe +paddled on, the ship followed. She was soon conducted to a +beautiful inlet, and dropped her anchor in its waters beneath the +shadows of the lofty shore. That same night the perfidious +Typees, who had thus inveigled her into their fatal bay, flocked +aboard the doomed vessel by hundreds, and at a given signal +murdered every soul on board. + +I shall never forget the observation of one of our crew as we +were passing slowly by the entrance of the bay in our way to +Nukuheva. As we stood gazing over the side at the verdant +headlands, Ned, pointing with his hand in the direction of the +treacherous valley, exclaimed, 'There--there's Typee. Oh, the +bloody cannibals, what a meal they'd make of us if we were to +take it into our heads to land! but they say they don't like +sailor's flesh, it's too salt. I say, maty, how should you like +to be shoved ashore there, eh?' I little thought, as I shuddered +at the question, that in the space of a few weeks I should +actually be a captive in that self-same valley. + +The French, although they had gone through the ceremony of +hoisting their colours for a few hours at all the principal +places of the group, had not as yet visited the bay of Typee, +anticipating a fierce resistance on the part of the savages +there, which for the present at least they wished to avoid. +Perhaps they were not a little influenced in the adoption of this +unusual policy from a recollection of the warlike reception given +by the Typees to the forces of Captain Porter, about the year +1814, when that brave and accomplished officer endeavoured to +subjugate the clan merely to gratify the mortal hatred of his +allies the Nukuhevas and Happars. + +On that occasion I have been told that a considerable detachment +of sailors and marines from the frigate Essex, accompanied by at +least two thousand warriors of Happar and Nukuheva, landed in +boats and canoes at the head of the bay, and after penetrating a +little distance into the valley, met with the stoutest resistance +from its inmates. Valiantly, although with much loss, the Typees +disputed every inch of ground, and after some hard fighting +obliged their assailants to retreat and abandon their design of +conquest. + +The invaders, on their march back to the sea, consoled themselves +for their repulse by setting fire to every house and temple in +their route; and a long line of smoking ruins defaced the +once-smiling bosom of the valley, and proclaimed to its pagan +inhabitants the spirit that reigned in the breasts of Christian +soldiers. Who can wonder at the deadly hatred of the Typees to +all foreigners after such unprovoked atrocities? + +Thus it is that they whom we denominate 'savages' are made to +deserve the title. When the inhabitants of some sequestered +island first descry the 'big canoe' of the European rolling +through the blue waters towards their shores, they rush down to +the beach in crowds, and with open arms stand ready to embrace +the strangers. Fatal embrace! They fold to their bosom the +vipers whose sting is destined to poison all their joys; and the +instinctive feeling of love within their breast is soon converted +into the bitterest hate. + +The enormities perpetrated in the South Seas upon some of the +inoffensive islanders will nigh pass belief. These things are +seldom proclaimed at home; they happen at the very ends of the +earth; they are done in a corner, and there are none to reveal +them. But there is, nevertheless, many a petty trader that has +navigated the Pacific whose course from island to island might be +traced by a series of cold-blooded robberies, kidnappings, and +murders, the iniquity of which might be considered almost +sufficient to sink her guilty timbers to the bottom of the sea. + +Sometimes vague accounts of such thing's reach our firesides, and +we coolly censure them as wrong, impolitic, needlessly severe, +and dangerous to the crews of other vessels. How different is +our tone when we read the highly-wrought description of the +massacre of the crew of the Hobomak by the Feejees; how we +sympathize for the unhappy victims, and with what horror do we +regard the diabolical heathens, who, after all, have but avenged +the unprovoked injuries which they have received. We breathe +nothing but vengeance, and equip armed vessels to traverse +thousands of miles of ocean in order to execute summary +punishment upon the offenders. On arriving at their destination, +they burn, slaughter, and destroy, according to the tenor of +written instructions, and sailing away from the scene of +devastation, call upon all Christendom to applaud their courage +and their justice. + +How often is the term 'savages' incorrectly applied! None really +deserving of it were ever yet discovered by voyagers or by +travellers. They have discovered heathens and barbarians whom by +horrible cruelties they have exasperated into savages. It may be +asserted without fear of contradictions that in all the cases of +outrages committed by Polynesians, Europeans have at some time or +other been the aggressors, and that the cruel and bloodthirsty +disposition of some of the islanders is mainly to be ascribed to +the influence of such examples. + +But to return. Owing to the mutual hostilities of the different +tribes I have mentioned, the mountainous tracts which separate +their respective territories remain altogether uninhabited; the +natives invariably dwelling in the depths of the valleys, with a +view of securing themselves from the predatory incursions of +their enemies, who often lurk along their borders, ready to cut +off any imprudent straggler, or make a descent upon the inmates +of some sequestered habitation. I several times met with very +aged men, who from this cause had never passed the confines of +their native vale, some of them having never even ascended midway +up the mountains in the whole course of their lives, and who, +accordingly had little idea of the appearance of any other part +of the island, the whole of which is not perhaps more than sixty +miles in circuit. The little space in which some of these clans +pass away their days would seem almost incredible. + +The glen of the Tior will furnish a curious illustration of this. + +The inhabited part is not more than four miles in length, and +varies in breadth from half a mile to less than a quarter. The +rocky vine-clad cliffs on one side tower almost perpendicularly +from their base to the height of at least fifteen hundred feet; +while across the vale--in striking contrast to the scenery +opposite--grass-grown elevations rise one above another in +blooming terraces. Hemmed in by these stupendous barriers, the +valley would be altogether shut out from the rest of the world, +were it not that it is accessible from the sea at one end, and by +a narrow defile at the other. + +The impression produced upon the mind, when I first visited this +beautiful glen, will never be obliterated. + +I had come from Nukuheva by water in the ship's boat, and when we +entered the bay of Tior it was high noon. The heat had been +intense, as we had been floating upon the long smooth swell of +the ocean, for there was but little wind. The sun's rays had +expended all their fury upon us; and to add to our discomfort, we +had omitted to supply ourselves with water previous to starting. +What with heat and thirst together, I became so impatient to get +ashore, that when at last we glided towards it, I stood up in the +bow of the boat ready for a spring. As she shot two-thirds of +her length high upon the beach, propelled by three or four strong +strokes of the oars, I leaped among a parcel of juvenile savages, +who stood prepared to give us a kind reception; and with them at +my heels, yelling like so many imps, I rushed forward across the +open ground in the vicinity of the sea, and plunged, diver +fashion, into the recesses of the first grove that offered. + +What a delightful sensation did I experience! I felt as if +floating in some new element, while all sort of gurgling, +trickling, liquid sounds fell upon my ear. People may say what +they will about the refreshing influences of a coldwater bath, +but commend me when in a perspiration to the shade baths of Tior, +beneath the cocoanut trees, and amidst the cool delightful +atmosphere which surrounds them. + +How shall I describe the scenery that met my eye, as I looked out +from this verdant recess! The narrow valley, with its steep and +close adjoining sides draperied with vines, and arched overhead +with a fret-work of interlacing boughs, nearly hidden from view +by masses of leafy verdure, seemed from where I stood like an +immense arbour disclosing its vista to the eye, whilst as I +advanced it insensibly widened into the loveliest vale eye ever +beheld. + +It so happened that the very day I was in Tior the French +admiral, attended by all the boats of his squadron, came down in +state from Nukuheva to take formal possession of the place. He +remained in the valley about two hours, during which time he had +a ceremonious interview with the king. The patriarch-sovereign +of Tior was a man very far advanced in years; but though age had +bowed his form and rendered him almost decrepid, his gigantic +frame retained its original magnitude and grandeur of appearance. + +He advanced slowly and with evident pain, assisting his tottering +steps with the heavy warspear he held in his hand, and attended +by a group of grey-bearded chiefs, on one of whom he occasionally +leaned for support. The admiral came forward with head uncovered +and extended hand, while the old king saluted him by a stately +flourish of his weapon. The next moment they stood side by side, +these two extremes of the social scale,--the polished, splendid +Frenchman, and the poor tattooed savage. They were both tall and +noble-looking men; but in other respects how strikingly +contrasted! Du Petit Thouars exhibited upon his person all the +paraphernalia of his naval rank. He wore a richly decorated +admiral's frock-coat, a laced chapeau bras, and upon his breast +were a variety of ribbons and orders; while the simple islander, +with the exception of a slight cincture about his loins, appeared +in all the nakedness of nature. + +At what an immeasurable distance, thought I, are these two beings +removed from each other. In the one is shown the result of long +centuries of progressive Civilization and refinement, which have +gradually converted the mere creature into the semblance of all +that is elevated and grand; while the other, after the lapse of +the same period, has not advanced one step in the career of +improvement, 'Yet, after all,' quoth I to myself, 'insensible as +he is to a thousand wants, and removed from harassing cares, may +not the savage be the happier man of the two?' Such were the +thoughts that arose in my mind as I gazed upon the novel +spectacle before me. In truth it was an impressive one, and +little likely to be effaced. I can recall even now with vivid +distinctiness every feature of the scene. The umbrageous shades +where the interview took place--the glorious tropical vegetation +around--the picturesque grouping of the mingled throng of +soldiery and natives--and even the golden-hued bunch of bananas +that I held in my hand at the time, and of which I occasionally +partook while making the aforesaid philosophical reflections. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE + +THOUGHTS PREVIOUS TO ATTEMPTING AN ESCAPE--TOBY, A FELLOW SAILOR, +AGREES TO SHARE THE ADVENTURE--LAST NIGHT ABOARD THE SHIP + +HAVING fully resolved to leave the vessel clandestinely, and +having acquired all the knowledge concerning the bay that I could +obtain under the circumstances in which I was placed, I now +deliberately turned over in my mind every plan to escape that +suggested itself, being determined to act with all possible +prudence in an attempt where failure would be attended with so +many disagreeable consequences. The idea of being taken and +brought back ignominiously to the ship was so inexpressibly +repulsive to me, that I was determined by no hasty and imprudent +measures to render such an event probable. + +I knew that our worthy captain, who felt, such a paternal +solicitude for the welfare of his crew, would not willingly +consent that one of his best hands should encounter the perils of +a sojourn among the natives of a barbarous island; and I was +certain that in the event of my disappearance, his fatherly +anxiety would prompt him to offer, by way of a reward, yard upon +yard of gaily printed calico for my apprehension. He might even +have appreciated my services at the value of a musket, in which +case I felt perfectly certain that the whole population of the +bay would be immediately upon my track, incited by the prospect +of so magnificent a bounty. + +Having ascertained the fact before alluded to, that the +islanders,--from motives of precaution, dwelt altogether in the +depths of the valleys, and avoided wandering about the more +elevated portions of the shore, unless bound on some expedition +of war or plunder, I concluded that if I could effect unperceived +a passage to the mountain, I might easily remain among them, +supporting myself by such fruits as came in my way until the +sailing of the ship, an event of which I could not fail to be +immediately apprised, as from my lofty position I should command +a view of the entire harbour. + +The idea pleased me greatly. It seemed to combine a great deal +of practicability with no inconsiderable enjoyment in a quiet +way; for how delightful it would be to look down upon the +detested old vessel from the height of some thousand feet, and +contrast the verdant scenery about me with the recollection of +her narrow decks and gloomy forecastle! Why, it was really +refreshing even to think of it; and so I straightway fell to +picturing myself seated beneath a cocoanut tree on the brow of +the mountain, with a cluster of plantains within easy reach, +criticizing her nautical evolutions as she was working her way +out of the harbour. + +To be sure there was one rather unpleasant drawback to these +agreeable anticipations--the possibility of falling in with a +foraging party of these same bloody-minded Typees, whose +appetites, edged perhaps by the air of so elevated a region, +might prompt them to devour one. This, I must confess, was a +most disagreeable view of the matter. + +Just to think of a party of these unnatural gourmands taking it +into their heads to make a convivial meal of a poor devil, who +would have no means of escape or defence: however, there was no +help for it. I was willing to encounter some risks in order to +accomplish my object, and counted much upon my ability to elude +these prowling cannibals amongst the many coverts which the +mountains afforded. Besides, the chances were ten to one in my +favour that they would none of them quit their own fastnesses. + +I had determined not to communicate my design of withdrawing from +the vessel to any of my shipmates, and least of all to solicit +any one to accompany me in my flight. But it so happened one +night, that being upon deck, revolving over in my mind various +plans of escape, I perceived one of the ship's company leaning +over the bulwarks, apparently plunged in a profound reverie. He +was a young fellow about my own age, for whom I had all along +entertained a great regard; and Toby, such was the name by which +he went among us, for his real name he would never tell us, was +every way worthy of it. He was active, ready and obliging, of +dauntless courage, and singularly open and fearless in the +expression of his feelings. I had on more than one occasion got +him out of scrapes into which this had led him; and I know not +whether it was from this cause, or a certain congeniality of +sentiment between us, that he had always shown a partiality for +my society. We had battled out many a long watch together, +beguiling the weary hours with chat, song, and story, mingled +with a good many imprecations upon the hard destiny it seemed our +common fortune to encounter. + +Toby, like myself, had evidently moved in a different sphere of +life, and his conversation at times betrayed this, although he +was anxious to conceal it. He was one of that class of rovers +you sometimes meet at sea, who never reveal their origin, never +allude to home, and go rambling over the world as if pursued by +some mysterious fate they cannot possibly elude. + +There was much even in the appearance of Toby calculated to draw +me towards him, for while the greater part of the crew were as +coarse in person as in mind, Toby was endowed with a remarkably +prepossessing exterior. Arrayed in his blue frock and duck +trousers, he was as smart a looking sailor as ever stepped upon a +deck; he was singularly small and slightly made, with great +flexibility of limb. His naturally dark complexion had been +deepened by exposure to the tropical sun, and a mass of jetty +locks clustered about his temples, and threw a darker shade into +his large black eyes. He was a strange wayward being, moody, +fitful, and melancholy--at times almost morose. He had a quick +and fiery temper too, which, when thoroughly roused, transported +him into a state bordering on delirium. + +It is strange the power that a mind of deep passion has over +feebler natures. I have seen a brawny, fellow, with no lack of +ordinary courage, fairly quail before this slender stripling, +when in one of his curious fits. But these paroxysms seldom +occurred, and in them my big-hearted shipmate vented the bile +which more calm-tempered individuals get rid of by a continual +pettishness at trivial annoyances. + +No one ever saw Toby laugh. I mean in the hearty abandonment of +broad-mouthed mirth. He did smile sometimes, it is true; and +there was a good deal of dry, sarcastic humour about him, which +told the more from the imperturbable gravity of his tone and +manner. + +Latterly I had observed that Toby's melancholy had greatly +increased, and I had frequently seen him since our arrival at the +island gazing wistfully upon the shore, when the remainder of the +crew would be rioting below. I was aware that he entertained a +cordial detestation of the ship, and believed that, should a fair +chance of escape present itself, he would embrace it willingly. + +But the attempt was so perilous in the place where we then lay, +that I supposed myself the only individual on board the ship who +was sufficiently reckless to think of it. In this, however, I +was mistaken. + +When I perceived Toby leaning, as I have mentioned, against the +bulwarks and buried in thought, it struck me at once that the +subject of his meditations might be the same as my own. And if +it be so, thought I, is he not the very one of all my shipmates +whom I would choose: for the partner of my adventure? and why +should I not have some comrade with me to divide its dangers and +alleviate its hardships? Perhaps I might be obliged to lie +concealed among the mountains for weeks. In such an event what a +solace would a companion be? + +These thoughts passed rapidly through my mind, and I wondered why +I had not before considered the matter in this light. But it was +not too late. A tap upon the shoulder served to rouse Toby from +his reverie; I found him ripe for the enterprise, and a very few +words sufficed for a mutual understanding between us. In an +hour's time we had arranged all the preliminaries, and decided +upon our plan of action. We then ratified our engagement with an +affectionate wedding of palms, and to elude suspicion repaired +each to his hammock, to spend the last night on board the Dolly. + +The next day the starboard watch, to which we both belonged, was +to be sent ashore on liberty; and, availing ourselves of this +opportunity, we determined, as soon after landing as possible, to +separate ourselves from the rest of the men without exciting +their suspicions, and strike back at once for the mountains. +Seen from the ship, their summits appeared inaccessible, but here +and there sloping spurs extended from them almost into the sea, +buttressing the lofty elevations with which they were connected, +and forming those radiating valleys I have before described. One +of these ridges, which appeared more practicable than the rest, +we determined to climb, convinced that it would conduct us to the +heights beyond. Accordingly, we carefully observed its bearings +and locality from the ship, so that when ashore we should run no +chance of missing it. + +In all this the leading object we had in view was to seclude +ourselves from sight until the departure of the vessel; then to +take our chance as to the reception the Nukuheva natives might +give us; and after remaining upon the island as long as we found +our stay agreeable, to leave it the first favourable opportunity +that offered. + + + +CHAPTER SIX + +A SPECIMEN OF NAUTICAL ORATORY--CRITICISMS OF THE SAILORS--THE +STARBOARD WATCH ARE GIVEN A HOLIDAY--THE ESCAPE TO THE MOUNTAINS + +EARLY the next morning the starboard watch were mustered upon the +quarter-deck, and our worthy captain, standing in the cabin +gangway, harangued us as follows:-- + +'Now, men, as we are just off a six months' cruise, and have got +through most all our work in port here, I suppose you want to go +ashore. Well, I mean to give your watch liberty today, so you +may get ready as soon all you please, and go; but understand +this, I am going to give you liberty because I suppose you would +growl like so many old quarter gunners if I didn't; at the same +time, if you'll take my advice, every mother's son of you will +stay aboard and keep out of the way of the bloody cannibals +altogether. Ten to one, men, if you go ashore, you will get into +some infernal row, and that will be the end of you; for if those +tattooed scoundrels get you a little ways back into their +valleys, they'll nab you--that you may be certain of. Plenty of +white men have gone ashore here and never been seen any more. +There was the old Dido, she put in here about two years ago, and +sent one watch off on liberty; they never were heard of again for +a week--the natives swore they didn't know where they were--and +only three of them ever got back to the ship again, and one with +his face damaged for life, for the cursed heathens tattooed a +broad patch clean across his figure-head. But it will be no use +talking to you, for go you will, that I see plainly; so all I +have to say is, that you need not blame me if the islanders make +a meal of you. You may stand some chance of escaping them +though, if you keep close about the French encampment,--and are +back to the ship again before sunset. Keep that much in your +mind, if you forget all the rest I've been saying to you. There, +go forward: bear a hand and rig yourselves, and stand by for a +call. At two bells the boat will be manned to take you off, and +the Lord have mercy on you!' + +Various were the emotions depicted upon the countenances of the +starboard watch whilst listening to this address; but on its +conclusion there was a general move towards the forecastle, and +we soon were all busily engaged in getting ready for the holiday +so auspiciously announced by the skipper. During these +preparations his harangue was commented upon in no very measured +terms; and one of the party, after denouncing him as a lying old +son of a seacook who begrudged a fellow a few hours' liberty, +exclaimed with an oath, 'But you don't bounce me out of my +liberty, old chap, for all your yarns; for I would go ashore if +every pebble on the beach was a live coal, and every stick a +gridiron, and the cannibals stood ready to broil me on landing.' + +The spirit of this sentiment was responded to by all hands, and +we resolved that in spite of the captain's croakings we would +make a glorious day of it. + +But Toby and I had our own game to play, and we availed ourselves +of the confusion which always reigns among a ship's company +preparatory to going ashore, to confer together and complete our +arrangements. As our object was to effect as rapid a flight as +possible to the mountains, we determined not to encumber +ourselves with any superfluous apparel; and accordingly, while +the rest were rigging themselves out with some idea of making a +display, we were content to put on new stout duck trousers, +serviceable pumps, and heavy Havre-frocks, which with a Payta hat +completed our equipment. + +When our shipmates wondered at this, Toby exclaimed in his odd +grave way that the rest might do, as they liked, but that he for +one preserved his go-ashore traps for the Spanish main, where the +tie of a sailor's neckerchief might make some difference; but as +for a parcel of unbreeched heathen, he wouldn't go to the bottom +of his chest for any of them, and was half disposed to appear +among them in buff himself. The men laughed at what they thought +was one of his strange conceits, and so we escaped suspicion. + +It may appear singular that we should have been thus on our guard +with our own shipmates; but there were some among us who, had +they possessed the least inkling of our project, would, for a +paltry hope of reward, have immediately communicated it to the +captain. + +As soon as two bells were struck, the word was passed for the +liberty-men to get into the boat. I lingered behind in the +forecastle a moment to take a parting glance at its familiar +features, and just as I was about to ascend to the deck my eye +happened to light on the bread-barge and beef-kid, which +contained the remnants of our last hasty meal. Although I had +never before thought of providing anything in the way of food for +our expedition, as I fully relied upon the fruits of the island +to sustain us wherever we might wander, yet I could not resist +the inclination I felt to provide luncheon from the relics before +me. Accordingly I took a double handful of those small, broken, +flinty bits of biscuit which generally go by the name of +'midshipmen's nuts', and thrust them into the bosom of my frock +in which same simple receptacle I had previously stowed away +several pounds of tobacco and a few yards of cotton +cloth--articles with which I intended to purchase the good-will +of the natives, as soon as we should appear among them after the +departure of our vessel. + +This last addition to my stock caused a considerable protuberance +in front, which I abated in a measure by shaking the bits of +bread around my waist, and distributing the plugs of tobacco +among the folds of the garment. Hardly had I completed these +arrangements when my name was sung out by a dozen voices, and I +sprung upon the deck, where I found all the party in the boat, +and impatient to shove off. I dropped over the side and seated +myself with the rest of the watch in the stem sheets, while the +poor larboarders shipped their oars, and commenced pulling us +ashore. This happened to be the rainy season at the islands, and +the heavens had nearly the whole morning betokened one of those +heavy showers which during this period so frequently occur. The +large drops fell bubbling into the water shortly after our +leaving the ship, and by the time we had affected a landing it +poured down in torrents. We fled for shelter under cover of an +immense canoe-house which stood hard by the beach, and waited for +the first fury of the storm to pass. + +It continued, however, without cessation; and the monotonous +beating of the rain over head began to exert a drowsy influence +upon the men, who, throwing themselves here and there upon the +large war-canoes, after chatting awhile, all fell asleep. + +This was the opportunity we desired, and Toby and I availed +ourselves of it at once by stealing out of the canoe-house and +plunging into the depths of an extensive grove that was in its +rear. After ten minutes' rapid progress we gained an open space +from which we could just descry the ridge we intended to mount +looming dimly through the mists of the tropical shower, and +distant from us, as we estimated, something more than a mile. +Our direct course towards it lay through a rather populous part +of the bay; but desirous as we were of evading the natives and +securing an unmolested retreat to the mountains, we determined, +by taking a circuit through some extensive thickets, to avoid +their vicinity altogether. + +The heavy rain that still continued to fall without intermission +favoured our enterprise, as it drove the islanders into their +houses, and prevented any casual meeting with them. Our heavy +frocks soon became completely saturated with water, and by their +weight, and that of the articles we had concealed beneath them, +not a little impeded our progress. But it was no time to pause +when at any moment we might be surprised by a body of the +savages, and forced at the very outset to relinquish our +undertaking. + +Since leaving the canoe-house we had scarcely exchanged a single +syllable with one another; but when we entered a second narrow +opening in the wood, and again caught sight of the ridge before +us, I took Toby by the arm, and pointing along its sloping +outline to the lofty heights at its extremity, said in a low +tone, 'Now, Toby, not a word, nor a glance backward, till we +stand on the summit of yonder mountain--so no more lingering but +let us shove ahead while we can, and in a few hours' time we may +laugh aloud. You are the lightest and.the nimblest, so lead on, +and I will follow.' + +'All right, brother,' said Toby, 'quick's our play; only lets +keep close together, that's all;' and so saying with a bound like +a young roe, he cleared a brook which ran across our path, and +rushed forward with a quick step. + +When we arrived within a short distance of the ridge, we were +stopped by a mass of tall yellow reeds, growing together as +thickly as they could stand, and as tough and stubborn as so many +rods of steel; and we perceived, to our chagrin, that they +extended midway up the elevation we proposed to ascend. + +For a moment we gazed about us in quest of a more practicable +route; it was, however, at once apparent that there was no +resource but to pierce this thicket of canes at all hazards. We +now reversed our order of march, I, being the heaviest, taking +the lead, with a view of breaking a path through the obstruction, +while Toby fell into the rear. + +Two or three times I endeavoured to insinuate myself between the +canes, and by dint of coaxing and bending them to make some +progress; but a bull-frog might as well have tried to work a +passage through the teeth of a comb, and I gave up the attempt in +despair. + +Half wild with meeting an obstacle we had so little anticipated, +I threw myself desperately against it, crushing to the ground the +canes with which I came in contact, and, rising to my feet again, +repeated the action with like effect. Twenty minutes of this +violent exercise almost exhausted me, but it carried us some way +into the thicket; when Toby, who had been reaping the benefit of +my labours by following close at my heels, proposed to become +pioneer in turn, and accordingly passed ahead with a view of +affording me a respite from my exertions. As however with his +slight frame he made but bad work of it, I was soon obliged to +resume my old place again. On we toiled, the perspiration +starting from our bodies in floods, our limbs torn and lacerated +with the splintered fragments of the broken canes, until we had +proceeded perhaps as far as the middle of the brake, when +suddenly it ceased raining, and the atmosphere around us became +close and sultry beyond expression. The elasticity of the reeds +quickly recovering from the temporary pressure of our bodies, +caused them to spring back to their original position; so that +they closed in upon us as we advanced, and prevented the +circulation of little air which might otherwise have reached us. +Besides this, their great height completely shut us out from the +view of surrounding objects, and we were not certain but that we +might have been going all the time in a wrong direction. + +Fatigued with my long-continued efforts, and panting for breath, +I felt myself completely incapacitated for any further exertion. +I rolled up the sleeve of my frock, and squeezed the moisture it +contained into my parched mouth. But the few drops I managed to +obtain gave me little relief, and I sank down for a moment with a +sort of dogged apathy, from which I was aroused by Toby, who had +devised a plan to free us from the net in which we had become +entangled. + +He was laying about him lustily with his sheath-knive, lopping +the canes right and left, like a reaper, and soon made quite a +clearing around us. This sight reanimated me; and seizing my own +knife, I hacked and hewed away without mercy. But alas! the +farther we advanced the thicker and taller, and apparently the +more interminable, the reeds became. + +I began to think we were fairly snared, and had almost made up my +mind that without a pair of wings we should never be able to +escape from the toils; when all at once I discerned a peep of +daylight through the canes on my right, and, communicating the +joyful tidings to Toby, we both fell to with fresh spirit, and +speedily opening the passage towards it we found ourselves clear +of perplexities, and in the near vicinity of the ridge. After +resting for a few moments we began the ascent, and after a little +vigorous climbing found ourselves close to its summit. Instead +however of walking along its ridge, where we should have been in +full view of the natives in the vales beneath, and at a point +where they could easily intercept us were they so inclined, we +cautiously advanced on one side, crawling on our hands and knees, +and screened from observation by the grass through which we +glided, much in the fashion of a couple of serpents. After an +hour employed in this unpleasant kind of locomotion, we started +to our feet again and pursued our way boldly along the crest of +the ridge. + +This salient spur of the lofty elevations that encompassed the +bay rose with a sharp angle from the valleys at its base, and +presented, with the exception of a few steep acclivities, the +appearance of a vast inclined plane, sweeping down towards the +sea from the heights in the distance. We had ascended it near +the place of its termination and at its lowest point, and now saw +our route to the mountains distinctly defined along its narrow +crest, which was covered with a soft carpet of verdure, and was +in many parts only a few feet wide. + +Elated with the success which had so far attended our enterprise, +and invigorated by the refreshing atmosphere we now inhaled, Toby +and I in high spirits were making our way rapidly along the +ridge, when suddenly from the valleys below which lay on either +side of us we heard the distant shouts of the natives, who had +just descried us, and to whom our figures, brought in bold relief +against the sky, were plainly revealed. + +Glancing our eyes into these valleys, we perceived their savage +inhabitants hurrying to and fro, seemingly under the influence of +some sudden alarm, and appearing to the eye scarcely bigger than +so many pigmies; while their white thatched dwellings, dwarfed by +the distance, looked like baby-houses. As we looked down upon +the islanders from our lofty elevation, we experienced a sense of +security; feeling confident that, should they undertake a +pursuit, it would, from the start we now had, prove entirely +fruitless, unless they followed us into the mountains, where we +knew they cared not to venture. + +However, we thought it as well to make the most of our time; and +accordingly, where the ground would admit of it, we ran swiftly +along the summit of the ridge, until we were brought to a stand +by a steep cliff, which at first seemed to interpose an effectual +barrier to our farther advance. By dint of much hard scrambling +however, and at some risk to our necks, we at last surmounted it, +and continued our fight with unabated celerity. + +We had left the beach early in the morning, and after an +uninterrupted, though at times difficult and dangerous ascent, +during which we had never once turned our faces to the sea, we +found ourselves, about three hours before sunset, standing on the +top of what seemed to be the highest land on the island, an +immense overhanging cliff composed of basaltic rocks, hung round +with parasitical plants. We must have been more than three +thousand feet above the level of the sea, and the scenery viewed +from this height was magnificent. + +The lonely bay of Nukuheva, dotted here and there with the black +hulls of the vessels composing the French squadron, lay reposing +at the base of a circular range of elevations, whose verdant +sides, perforated with deep glens or diversified with smiling +valleys, formed altogether the loveliest view I ever beheld, and +were I to live a hundred years, I shall never forget the feeling +of admiration which I then experienced. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN + +THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN--DISAPPOINTMENT--INVENTORY OF +ARTICLES BROUGHT FROM THE SHIP--DIVISION OF THE STOCK OF +BREAD--APPEARANCE OF THE INTERIOR OF THE ISLAND--A DISCOVERY--A +RAVINE AND WATERFALLS--A SLEEPLESS NIGHT--FURTHER DISCOVERIES--MY +ILLNESS--A MARQUESAN LANDSCAPE + +MY curiosity had been not a little raised with regard to the +description of country we should meet on the other side of the +mountains; and I had supposed, with Toby, that immediately on +gaining the heights we should be enabled to view the large bays +of Happar and Typee reposing at our feet on one side, in the same +way that Nukuheva lay spread out below on the other. But here we +were disappointed. Instead of finding the mountain we had +ascended sweeping down in the opposite direction into broad and +capacious valleys, the land appeared to retain its general +elevation, only broken into a series of ridges and inter-vales +which so far as the eye could reach stretched away from us, with +their precipitous sides covered with the brightest verdure, and +waving here and there with the foliage of clumps of woodland; +among which, however, we perceived none of those trees upon whose +fruit we had relied with such certainty. + +This was a most unlooked-for discovery, and one that promised to +defeat our plans altogether, for we could not think of descending +the mountain on the Nukuheva side in quest of food. Should we +for this purpose be induced to retrace our steps, we should run +no small chance of encountering the natives, who in that case, if +they did nothing worse to us, would be certain to convey us back +to the ship for the sake of the reward in calico and trinkets, +which we had no doubt our skipper would hold out to them as an +inducement to our capture. + +What was to be done? The Dolly would not sail perhaps for ten +days, and how were we to sustain life during this period? I +bitterly repented our improvidence in not providing ourselves, as +we easily might have done, with a supply of biscuits. With a +rueful visage I now bethought me of the scanty handful of bread I +had stuffed into the bosom of my frock, and felt somewhat +desirous to ascertain what part of it had weathered the rather +rough usage it had experienced in ascending the mountain. I +accordingly proposed to Toby that we should enter into a joint +examination of the various articles we had brought from the ship. + +With this intent we seated ourselves upon the grass; and a little +curious to see with what kind of judgement my companion had +filled his frock--which I remarked seemed about as well lined as +my own--I requested him to commence operations by spreading out +its contents. + +Thrusting his hand, then, into the bosom of this capacious +receptacle, he first brought to light about a pound of tobacco, +whose component parts still adhered together, the whole outside +being covered with soft particles of sea-bread. Wet and +dripping, it had the appearance of having been just recovered +from the bottom of the sea. But I paid slight attention to a +substance of so little value to us in our present situation, as +soon as I perceived the indications it gave of Toby's foresight +in laying in a supply of food for the expedition. + +I eagerly inquired what quantity he had brought with him, when +rummaging once more beneath his garment, he produced a small +handful of something so soft, pulpy, and discoloured, that for a +few moments he was as much puzzled as myself to tell by what +possible instrumentality such a villainous compound had become +engendered in his bosom. I can only describe it as a hash of +soaked bread and bits of tobacco, brought to a doughy consistency +by the united agency of perspiration and rain. But repulsive as +it might otherwise have been, I now regarded it as an invaluable +treasure, and proceeded with great care to transfer this +paste-like mass to a large leaf which I had plucked from a bush +beside me. Toby informed me that in the morning he had placed +two whole biscuits in his bosom, with a view of munching them, +should he feel so inclined, during our flight. These were now +reduced to the equivocal substance which I had just placed on the +leaf. + +Another dive into the frock brought to view some four or five +yards of calico print, whose tasteful pattern was rather +disfigured by the yellow stains of the tobacco with which it had +been brought in contact. In drawing this calico slowly from his +bosom inch by inch, Toby reminded me of a juggler performing the +feat of the endless ribbon. The next cast was a small one, being +a sailor's little 'ditty bag', containing needles, thread, and +other sewing utensils, then came a razor-case, followed by two or +three separate plugs of negro-head, which were fished up from the +bottom of the now empty receptacle. These various matters, being +inspected, I produced the few things which I had myself brought. + +As might have been anticipated from the state of my companion's +edible supplies, I found my own in a deplorable condition, and +diminished to a quantity that would not have formed half a dozen +mouthfuls for a hungry man who was partial enough to tobacco not +to mind swallowing it. A few morsels of bread, with a fathom or +two of white cotton cloth, and several pounds of choice pigtail, +composed the extent of my possessions. + +Our joint stock of miscellaneous articles were now made up into a +compact bundle, which it was agreed we should carry alternately. +But the sorry remains of the biscuit were not to be disposed of +so summarily: the precarious circumstances in which we were +placed made us regard them as something on which very probably, +depended the fate of our adventure. After a brief discussion, in +which we both of us expressed our resolution of not descending +into the bay until the ship's departure, I suggested to my +companion that little of it as there was, we should divide the +bread into six equal portions, each of which should be a day's +allowance for both of us. This proposition he assented to; so I +took the silk kerchief from my neck, and cutting it with my knife +into half a dozen equal pieces, proceeded to make an exact +division. + +At first, Toby with a degree of fastidiousness that seemed to me +ill-timed, was for picking out the minute particles of tobacco +with which the spongy mass was mixed; but against this proceeding +I protested, as by such an operation we must have greatly +diminished its quantity. + +When the division was accomplished, we found that a day's +allowance for the two was not a great deal more than what a +table-spoon might hold. Each separate portion we immediately +rolled up in the bit of silk prepared for it, and joining them +all together into a small package, I committed them, with solemn +injunctions of fidelity, to the custody of Toby. For the +remainder of that day we resolved to fast, as we had been +fortified by a breakfast in the morning; and now starting again +to our feet, we looked about us for a shelter during the night, +which, from the appearance of the heavens, promised to be a dark +and tempestuous one. + +There was no place near us which would in any way answer our +purpose, so turning our backs upon Nukuheva, we commenced +exploring the unknown regions which lay upon the other side of +the mountain. + +In this direction, as far as our vision extended, not a sign of +life, nor anything that denoted even the transient residence of +man, could be seen. The whole landscape seemed one unbroken +solitude, the interior of the island having apparently been +untenanted since the morning of the creation; and as we advanced +through this wilderness, our voices sounded strangely in our +ears, as though human accents had never before disturbed the +fearful silence of the place, interrupted only by the low +murmurings of distant waterfalls. + +Our disappointment, however, in not finding the various fruits +with which we had intended to regale ourselves during our stay in +these wilds, was a good deal lessened by the consideration that +from this very circumstance we should be much less exposed to a +casual meeting with the savage tribes about us, who we knew +always dwelt beneath the shadows of those trees which supplied +them with food. + +We wandered along, casting eager glances into every bush we +passed, until just as we had succeeded in mounting one of the +many ridges that intersected the ground, I saw in the grass +before me something like an indistinctly traced footpath, which +appeared to lead along the top of the ridge, and to descend--with +it into a deep ravine about half a mile in advance of us. + +Robinson Crusoe could not have been more startled at the +footprint in the sand than we were at this unwelcome discovery. +My first impulse was to make as rapid a retreat as possible, and +bend our steps in some other direction; but our curiosity to see +whither this path might lead, prompted us to pursue it. So on we +went, the track becoming more and more visible the farther we +proceeded, until it conducted us to the verge of the ravine, +where it abruptly terminated. + +'And so,' said Toby, peering down into the chasm, 'everyone that +travels this path takes a jump here, eh?' + +'Not so,' said I, 'for I think they might manage to descend +without it; what say you,--shall we attempt the feat?' + +'And what, in the name of caves and coal-holes, do you expect to +find at the bottom of that gulf but a broken neck--why it looks +blacker than our ship's hold, and the roar of those waterfalls +down there would batter one's brains to pieces.' + +'Oh, no, Toby,' I exclaimed, laughing; 'but there's something to +be seen here, that's plain, or there would have been no path, and +I am resolved to find out what it is.' + +'I will tell you what, my pleasant fellow,' rejoined Toby +quickly, 'if you are going to pry into everything you meet with +here that excites your curiosity, you will marvellously soon get +knocked on the head; to a dead certainty you will come bang upon +a party of these savages in the midst of your discovery-makings, +and I doubt whether such an event would particularly delight you, +just take my advice for once, and let us 'bout ship and steer in +some other direction; besides, it's getting late and we ought to +be mooring ourselves for the night.' + +'That is just the thing I have been driving at,' replied I; 'and +I am thinking that this ravine will exactly answer our purpose, +for it is roomy, secluded, well watered, and may shelter us from +the weather.' + +'Aye, and from sleep too, and by the same token will give us sore +throats, and rheumatisms into the bargain,' cried Toby, with +evident dislike at the idea. + +'Oh, very well then, my lad,' said I, 'since you will not +accompany me, here I go alone. You will see me in the morning;' +and advancing to the edge of the cliff upon which we had been +standing, I proceeded to lower myself down by the tangled roots +which clustered about all the crevices of the rock. As I had +anticipated, Toby, in spite of his previous remonstrances, +followed my example, and dropping himself with the activity of a +squirrel from point to point, he quickly outstripped me and +effected a landing at the bottom before I had accomplished +two-thirds of the descent. + +The sight that now greeted us was one that will ever be vividly +impressed upon my mind. Five foaming streams, rushing through as +many gorges, and swelled and turbid by the recent rains, united +together in one mad plunge of nearly eighty feet, and fell with +wild uproar into a deep black pool scooped out of the gloomy +looking rocks that lay piled around, and thence in one collected +body dashed down a narrow sloping channel which seemed to +penetrate into the very bowels of the earth. Overhead, vast +roots of trees hung down from the sides of the ravine dripping +with moisture, and trembling with the concussions produced by the +fall. It was now sunset, and the feeble uncertain light that +found its way into these caverns and woody depths heightened +their strange appearance, and reminded us that in a short time we +should find ourselves in utter darkness. + +As soon as I had satisfied my curiosity by gazing at this scene, +I fell to wondering how it was that what we had taken for a path +should have conducted us.to so singular a place, and began to +suspect that after all I might have been deceived in supposing it +to have been a trick formed by the islanders. This was rather an +agreeable reflection than otherwise, for it diminished our dread +of accidentally meeting with any of them, and I came to the +conclusion that perhaps we could not have selected a more secure +hiding-place than this very spot we had so accidentally hit upon. + +Toby agreed with me in this view of the matter, and we +immediately began gathering together the limbs of trees which lay +scattered about, with the view of constructing a temporary hut +for the night. This we were obliged to build close to the foot +of the cataract, for the current of water extended very nearly to +the sides of the gorge. The few moments of light that remained +we employed in covering our hut with a species of broad-bladed +grass that grew in every fissure of the ravine. Our hut, if it +deserved to be called one, consisted of six or eight of the +straightest branches we could find laid obliquely against the +steep wall of rock, with their lower ends within a foot of the +stream. Into the space thus covered over we managed to crawl, +and dispose our wearied bodies as best we could. + +Shall I ever forget that horrid night! As for poor Toby, I could +scarcely get a word out of him. It would have been some +consolation to have heard his voice, but he lay shivering the +live-long night like a man afflicted with the palsy, with his +knees drawn up to his head, while his back was supported against +the dripping side of the rock. During this wretched night there +seemed nothing wanting to complete the perfect misery of our +condition. The rain descended in such torrents that our poor +shelter proved a mere mockery. In vain did I try to elude the +incessant streams that poured upon me; by protecting one part I +only exposed another, and the water was continually finding some +new opening through which to drench us. + +I have had many a ducking in the course of my life, and in +general cared little about it; but the accumulated horrors of +that night, the deathlike coldness of the place, the appalling +darkness and the dismal sense of our forlorn condition, almost +unmanned me. + +It will not be doubted that the next morning we were early +risers, and as soon as I could catch the faintest glimpse of +anything like daylight I shook my companion by the arm, and told +him it was sunrise. Poor Toby lifted up his head, and after a +moment's pause said, in a husky voice, 'Then, shipmate, my +toplights have gone out, for it appears darker now with my eyes +open that it did when they were shut.' + +'Nonsense!' exclaimed I; 'You are not awake yet.' + +'Awake!' roared Toby in a rage, 'awake! You mean to insinuate +I've been asleep, do you? It is an insult to a man to suppose he +could sleep in such an infernal place as this.' + +By the time I had apologized to my friend for having misconstrued +his silence, it had become somewhat more light, and we crawled +out of our lair. The rain had ceased, but everything around us +was dripping with moisture. We stripped off our saturated +garments, and wrung them as dry as we could. We contrived to +make the blood circulate in our benumbed limbs by rubbing them +vigorously with our hands; and after performing our ablutions in +the stream, and putting on our still wet clothes, we began to +think it advisable to break our long fast, it being now +twenty-four hours since we had tasted food. + +Accordingly our day's ration was brought out, and seating +ourselves on a detached fragment of rock, we proceeded to discuss +it. First we divided it into two equal portions, and carefully +rolling one of them up for our evening's repast, divided the +remainder again as equally as possible, and then drew lots for +the first choice. I could have placed the morsel that fell to my +share upon the tip of my finger; but notwithstanding this I took +care that it should be full ten minutes before I had swallowed +the last crumb. What a true saying it is that 'appetite +furnishes the best sauce.' There was a flavour and a relish to +this small particle of food that under other circumstances it +would have been impossible for the most delicate viands to have +imparted. A copious draught of the pure water which flowed at +our feet served to complete the meal, and after it we rose +sensibly refreshed, and prepared for whatever might befall us. + +We now carefully examined the chasm in which we had passed the +night. We crossed the stream, and gaining the further side of +the pool I have mentioned, discovered proofs that the spot must +have been visited by some one but a short time previous to our +arrival. Further observation convinced us that it had been +regularly frequented, and, as we afterwards conjectured from +particular indications, for the purpose of obtaining a certain +root, from which the natives obtained a kind of ointment. + +These discoveries immediately determined us to abandon a place +which had presented no inducement for us to remain, except the +promise of security; and as we looked about us for the means of +ascending again into the upper regions, we at last found a +practicable part of the rock, and half an hour's toil carried us +to the summit of the same cliff from which the preceding evening +we had descended. + +I now proposed to Toby that instead of rambling about the island, +exposing ourselves to discovery at every turn, we should select +some place as our fixed abode for as long a period as our food +should hold out, build ourselves a comfortable hut, and be as +prudent and circumspect as possible. To all this my companion +assented, and we at once set about carrying the plan into +execution. + +With this view, after exploring without success a little glen +near us, we crossed several of the ridges of which I have before +spoken; and about noon found ourselves ascending a long and +gradually rising slope, but still without having discovered any +place adapted to our purpose. Low and heavy clouds betokened an +approaching storm, and we hurried on to gain a covert in a clump +of thick bushes, which appeared to terminate the long ascent. We +threw ourselves under the lee of these bushes, and pulling up the +long grass that grew around, covered ourselves completely with +it, and awaited the shower. + +But it did not come as soon as we had expected, and before many +minutes my companion was fast asleep, and I was rapidly falling +into the same state of happy forgetfulness. Just at this +juncture, however, down came the rain with the violence that put +all thoughts of slumber to flight. Although in some measure +sheltered, our clothes soon became as wet as ever; this, after +all the trouble we had taken to dry them, was provoking enough: +but there was no help for it; and I recommend all adventurous +youths who abandon vessels in romantic islands during the rainy +season to provide themselves with umbrellas. + +After an hour or so the shower passed away. My companion slept +through it all, or at least appeared so to do; and now that it +was over I had not the heart to awaken him. As I lay on my back +completely shrouded with verdure, the leafy branches drooping +over me, my limbs buried in grass, I could not avoid comparing +our situation with that of the interesting babes in the wood. +Poor little sufferers!--no wonder their constitutions broke down +under the hardships to which they were exposed. + +During the hour or two spent under the shelter of these bushes, I +began to feel symptoms which I at once attributed to the exposure +of the preceding night. Cold shiverings and a burning fever +succeeded one another at intervals, while one of my legs was +swelled to such a degree, and pained me so acutely, that I half +suspected I had been bitten by some venomous reptile, the +congenial inhabitant of the chasm from which we had lately +emerged. I may here remark by the way--what I subsequently +gleamed--that all the islands of Polynesia enjoy the reputation, +in common with the Hibernian isle, of being free from the +presence of any vipers; though whether Saint Patrick ever visited +them, is a question I shall not attempt to decide. + +As the feverish sensation increased upon me I tossed about, still +unwilling to disturb my slumbering companion, from whose side I +removed two or three yards. I chanced to push aside a branch, +and by so doing suddenly disclosed to my view a scene which even +now I can recall with all the vividness of the first impression. +Had a glimpse of the gardens of Paradise been revealed to me, I +could scarcely have been more ravished with the sight. + +From the spot where I lay transfixed with surprise and delight, I +looked straight down into the bosom of a valley, which swept away +in long wavy undulations to the blue waters in the distance. +Midway towards the sea, and peering here and there amidst the +foliage, might be seen the palmetto-thatched houses of its +inhabitants glistening in the sun that had bleached them to a +dazzling whiteness. The vale was more than three leagues in +length, and about a mile across at its greatest width. + +On either side it appeared hemmed in by steep and green +acclivities, which, uniting near the spot where I lay, formed an +abrupt and semicircular termination of grassy cliffs and +precipices hundreds of feet in height, over which flowed +numberless small cascades. But the crowning beauty of the +prospect was its universal verdure; and in this indeed consists, +I believe, the peculiar charm of every Polynesian landscape. +Everywhere below me, from the base of the precipice upon whose +very verge I had been unconsciously reposing, the surface of the +vale presented a mass of foliage, spread with such rich profusion +that it was impossible to determine of what description of trees +it consisted. + +But perhaps there was nothing about the scenery I beheld more +impressive than those silent cascades, whose slender threads of +water, after leaping down the steep cliffs, were lost amidst the +rich herbage of the valley. + +Over all the landscape there reigned the most hushed repose, +which I almost feared to break, lest, like the enchanted gardens +in the fairy tale, a single syllable might dissolve the spell. +For a long time, forgetful alike of my own situation, and the +vicinity of my still slumbering companion, I remained gazing +around me, hardly able to comprehend by what means I had thus +suddenly been made a spectator of such a scene. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT + +THE IMPORTANT QUESTION, TYPEE OR HAPPAR?--A WILD GOOSE CHASE--MY +SUFFERINGS--DISHEARTENING SITUATION--A NIGHT IN A RAVINE--MORNING +MEAL--HAPPY IDEA OF TOBY--JOURNEY TOWARDS THE VALLEY + +RECOVERING from my astonishment at the beautiful scene before me, +I quickly awakened Toby, and informed him of the discovery I had +made. Together we now repaired to the border of the precipice, +and my companion's admiration was equal to my own. A little +reflection, however, abated our surprise at coming so +unexpectedly upon this valley, since the large vales of Happar +and Typee, lying upon this side of Nukuheva, and extending a +considerable distance from the sea towards the interior, must +necessarily terminate somewhere about this point. + +The question now was as to which of those two places we were +looking down upon. Toby insisted that it was the abode of the +Happar, and I that it was tenanted by their enemies the ferocious +Typees. To be sure I was not entirely convinced by my own +arguments, but Toby's proposition to descend at once into the +valley, and partake of the hospitality of its inmates, seemed to +me to be risking so much upon the strength of a mere supposition, +that I resolved to oppose it until we had more evidence to +proceed upon. + +The point was one of vital importance, as the natives of Happar +were not only at peace with Nukuheva, but cultivated with its +inhabitants the most friendly relations, and enjoyed besides a +reputation for gentleness and humanity which led us to expect +from them, if not a cordial reception, at least a shelter during +the short period we should remain in their territory. + +On the other hand, the very name of Typee struck a panic into my +heart which I did not attempt to disguise. The thought of +voluntarily throwing ourselves into the hands of these cruel +savages, seemed to me an act of mere madness; and almost equally +so the idea of venturing into the valley, uncertain by which of +these two tribes it was inhabited. That the vale at our feet was +tenanted by one of them, was a point that appeared to us past all +doubt, since we knew that they resided in this quarter, although +our information did not enlighten us further. + +My companion, however, incapable of resisting the tempting +prospect which the place held out of an abundant supply of food +and other means of enjoyment, still clung to his own +inconsiderate view of the subject, nor could all my reasoning +shake it. When I reminded him that it was impossible for either +of us to know anything with certainty, and when I dwelt upon the +horrible fate we should encounter were we rashly to descend into +the valley, and discover too late the error we had committed, he +replied by detailing all the evils of our present condition, and +the sufferings we must undergo should we continue to remain where +we then were. + +Anxious to draw him away from the subject, if possible--for I saw +that it would be in vain to attempt changing his mind--I directed +his attention to a long bright unwooded tract of land which, +sweeping down from the elevations in the interior, descended into +the valley before us. I then suggested to him that beyond this +ridge might lie a capacious and untenanted valley, abounding with +all manner of delicious fruits; for I had heard that there were +several such upon the island, and proposed that we should +endeavour to reach it, and if we found our expectations realized +we should at once take refuge in it and remain there as long as +we pleased. + +He acquiesced in the suggestion; and we immediately, therefore, +began surveying the country lying before us, with a view of +determining upon the best route for us to pursue; but it +presented little choice, the whole interval being broken into +steep ridges, divided by dark ravines, extending in parallel +lines at right angles to our direct course. All these we would +be obliged to cross before we could hope to arrive at our +destination. + +A weary journey! But we decided to undertake it, though, for my +own part, I felt little prepared to encounter its fatigues, +shivering and burning by turns with the ague and fever; for I +know not how else to describe the alternate sensations I +experienced, and suffering not a little from the lameness which +afflicted me. Added to this was the faintness consequent on our +meagre diet--a calamity in which Toby participated to the same +extent as myself. + +These circumstances, however, only augmented my anxiety to reach +a place which promised us plenty and repose, before I should be +reduced to a state which would render me altogether unable to +perform the journey. Accordingly we now commenced it by +descending the almost perpendicular side of a steep and narrow +gorge, bristling with a thick growth of reeds. Here there was +but one mode for us to adopt. We seated ourselves upon the +ground, and guided our descent by catching at the canes in our +path. This velocity with which we thus slid down the side of the +ravine soon brought us to a point where we could use our feet, +and in a short time we arrived at the edge of the torrent, which +rolled impetuously along the bed of the chasm. + +After taking a refreshing draught from the water of the stream, +we addressed ourselves to a much more difficult undertaking than +the last. Every foot of our late descent had to be regained in +ascending the opposite side of the gorge--an operation rendered +the less agreeable from the consideration that in these +perpendicular episodes we did not progress a hundred yards on our +journey. But, ungrateful as the task was, we set about it with +exemplary patience, and after a snail-like progress of an hour or +more, had scaled perhaps one half of the distance, when the fever +which had left me for a while returned with such violence, and +accompanied by so raging a thirst, that it required all the +entreaties of Toby to prevent me from losing all the fruits of my +late exertion, by precipitating myself madly down the cliffs we +had just climbed, in quest of the water which flowed so +temptingly at their base. At the moment all my hopes and fears +appeared to be merged in this one desire, careless of the +consequences that might result from its gratification. I am +aware of no feeling, either of pleasure or of pain, that so +completely deprives one of an power to resist its impulses, as +this same raging thirst. + +Toby earnestly conjured me to continue the ascent, assuring me +that a little more exertion would bring us to the summit, and +that then in less than five minutes we should find ourselves at +the brink of the stream, which must necessarily flow on the other +side of the ridge. + +'Do not,' he exclaimed, 'turn back, now that we have proceeded +thus far; for I tell you that neither of us will have the courage +to repeat the attempt, if once more we find ourselves looking up +to where we now are from the bottom of these rocks!' + +I was not yet so perfectly beside myself as to be heedless of +these representations, and therefore toiled on, ineffectually +endeavouring to appease the thirst which consumed me, by thinking +that in a short time I should be able to gratify it to my heart's +content. + +At last we gained the top of the second elevation, the loftiest +of those I have described as. extending in parallel lines +between us and the valley we desired to reach. It commanded a +view of the whole intervening distance; and, discouraged as I was +by other circumstances, this prospect plunged me into the very +depths of despair. Nothing but dark and fearful chasms, +separated by sharp-crested and perpendicular ridges as far as the +eye could reach. Could we have stepped from summit to summit of +these steep but narrow elevations we could easily have +accomplished the distance; but we must penetrate to the bottom of +every yawning gulf, and scale in succession every one of the +eminences before us. Even Toby, although not suffering as I did, +was not proof against the disheartening influences of the sight. + +But we did not long stand to contemplate it, impatient as I was +to reach the waters of the torrent which flowed beneath us. With +an insensibility to danger which I cannot call to mind without +shuddering, we threw ourselves down the depths of the ravine, +startling its savage solitudes with the echoes produced by the +falling fragments of rock we every moment dislodged from their +places, careless of the insecurity of our footing, and reckless +whether the slight roots and twigs we clutched at sustained us +for the while, or treacherously yielded to our grasp. For my own +part, I scarcely knew whether I was helplessly falling from the +heights above, or whether the fearful rapidity with which I +descended was an act of my own volition. + +In a few minutes we reached the foot of the gorge, and kneeling +upon a small ledge of dripping rocks, I bent over to the stream. +What a delicious sensation was I now to experience! I paused for +a second to concentrate all my capabilities of enjoyment, and +then immerged my lips in the clear element before me. Had the +apples of Sodom turned to ashes in my mouth, I could not have +felt a more startling revulsion. A single drop of the cold fluid +seemed to freeze every drop of blood in my body; the fever that +had been burning in my veins gave place on the instant to +death-like chills, which shook me one after another like so many +shocks of electricity, while the perspiration produced by my late +violent exertions congealed in icy beads upon my forehead. My +thirst was gone, and I fairly loathed the water. Starting to my +feet, the sight of those dank rocks, oozing forth moisture at +every crevice, and the dark stream shooting along its dismal +channel, sent fresh chills through my shivering frame, and I felt +as uncontrollable a desire to climb up towards the genial +sunlight as I before had to descend the ravine. + +After two hours' perilous exertions we stood upon the summit of +another ridge, and it was with difficulty I could bring myself to +believe that we had ever penetrated the black and yawning chasm +which then gaped at our feet. Again we gazed upon the prospect +which the height commanded, but it was just as depressing as the +one which had before met our eyes. I now felt that in our +present situation it was in vain for us to think of ever +overcoming the obstacles in our way, and I gave up all thoughts +of reaching the vale which lay beyond this series of impediments; +while at the same time I could not devise any scheme to extricate +ourselves from the difficulties in which we were involved. + +The remotest idea of returning to Nukuheva, unless assured of our +vessel's departure, never once entered my mind, and indeed it was +questionable whether we could have succeeded in reaching it, +divided as we were from the bay by a distance we could not +compute, and perplexed too in our remembrance of localities by +our recent wanderings. Besides, it was unendurable the thought +of retracing our steps and rendering all our painful exertions of +no avail. + +There is scarcely anything when a man is in difficulties that he +is more disposed to look upon with abhorrence than a rightabout +retrograde movement--a systematic going over of the already +trodden ground: and especially if he has a love of adventure, +such a course appears indescribably repulsive, so long as there +remains the least hope to be derived from braving untried +difficulties. + +It was this feeling that prompted us to descend the opposite side +of the elevation we had just scaled, although with what definite +object in view it would have been impossible for either of us to +tell. + +Without exchanging a syllable upon the subject, Toby and myself +simultaneously renounced the design which had lured us thus +far--perceiving in each other's countenances that desponding +expression which speaks more eloquently than words. + +Together we stood towards the close of this weary day in the +cavity of the third gorge we had entered, wholly incapacitated +for any further exertion, until restored to some degree of +strength by food and repose. + +We seated ourselves upon the least uncomfortable spot we could +select, and Toby produced from the bosom of his frock the sacred +package. In silence we partook of the small morsel of +refreshment that had been left from the morning's repast, and +without once proposing to violate the sanctity of our engagement +with respect to the remainder, we rose to our feet, and proceeded +to construct some sort of shelter under which we might obtain the +sleep we so greatly needed. + +Fortunately the spot was better adapted to our purpose than the +one in which we had passed the last wretched night. We cleared +away the tall reeds from the small but almost level bit of +ground, and twisted them into a low basket-like hut, which we +covered with a profusion of long thick leaves, gathered from a +tree near at hand. We disposed them thickly all around, +reserving only a slight opening that barely permitted us to crawl +under the shelter we had thus obtained. + +These deep recesses, though protected from the winds that assail +the summits of their lofty sides, are damp and chill to a degree +that one would hardly anticipate in such a climate; and being +unprovided with anything but our woollen frocks and thin duck +trousers to resist the cold of the place, we were the more +solicitous to render our habitation for the night as comfortable +as we could. Accordingly, in addition to what we had already +done, we plucked down all the leaves within our reach and threw +them in a heap over our little hut, into which we now crept, +raking after us a reserved supply to form our couch. + +That night nothing but the pain I suffered prevented me from +sleeping most refreshingly. As it was, I caught two or three +naps, while Toby slept away at my side as soundly as though he +had been sandwiched between two Holland sheets. Luckily it did +not rain, and we were preserved from the misery which a heavy +shower would have occasioned us. In the morning I was awakened +by the sonorous voice of my companion ringing in my ears and +bidding me rise. I crawled out from our heap of leaves, and was +astonished at the change which a good night's rest had wrought in +his appearance. He was as blithe and joyous as a young bird, and +was staying the keenness of his morning's appetite by chewing the +soft bark of a delicate branch he held in his hand, and he +recommended the like to me as an admirable antidote against the +gnawings of hunger. + +For my own part, though feeling materially better than I had done +the preceding evening, I could not look at the limb that had +pained me so violently at intervals during the last twenty-four +hours, without experiencing a sense of alarm that I strove in +vain to shake off. Unwilling to disturb the flow of my comrade's +spirits, I managed to stifle the complaints to which I might +otherwise have given vent, and calling upon him good-humouredly +to speed our banquet, I prepared myself for it by washing in the +stream. This operation concluded, we swallowed, or rather +absorbed, by a peculiar kind of slow sucking process, our +respective morsels of nourishment, and then entered into a +discussion as to the steps is was necessary for us to pursue. + +'What's to be done now?' inquired I, rather dolefully. + +'Descend into that same valley we descried yesterday.' rejoined +Toby, with a rapidity and loudness of utterance that almost led +me to suspect he had been slyly devouring the broadside of an ox +in some of the adjoining thickets. 'What else,' he continued, +'remains for us to do but that, to be sure? Why, we shall both +starve to a certainty if we remain here; and as to your fears of +those Typees--depend upon it, it is all nonsense.' + +'It is impossible that the inhabitants of such a lovely place as +we saw can be anything else but good fellows; and if you choose +rather to perish with hunger in one of these soppy caverns, I for +one prefer to chance a bold descent into the valley, and risk the +consequences'. + +'And who is to pilot us thither,' I asked, 'even if we should +decide upon the measure you propose? Are we to go again up and +down those precipices that we crossed yesterday, until we reach +the place we started from, and then take a flying leap from the +cliffs to the valley?' + +'Faith, I didn't think of that,' said Toby; 'sure enough, both +sides of the valley appeared to be hemmed in by precipices, +didn't they?' + +'Yes,' answered I, 'as steep as the sides of a line-of-battle +ship, and about a hundred times as high.' My companion sank his +head upon his breast, and remained for a while in deep thought. +Suddenly he sprang to his feet, while his eyes lighted up with +that gleam of intelligence that marks the presence of some bright +idea. + +'Yes, yes,' he exclaimed; 'the streams all run in the same +direction, and must necessarily flow into the valley before they +reach the sea; all we have to do is just to follow this stream, +and sooner or later it will lead us into the vale.' + +'You are right, Toby,' I exclaimed, 'you are right; it must +conduct us thither, and quickly too; for, see with what a steep +inclination the water descends.' + +'It does, indeed,' burst forth my companion, overjoyed at my +verification of his theory, 'it does indeed; why, it is as plain +as a pike-staff. Let us proceed at once; come, throw away all +those stupid ideas about the Typees, and hurrah for the lovely +valley of the Happars.' + +'You will have it to be Happar, I see, my dear fellow; pray +Heaven you may not find yourself deceived,' observed I, with a +shake of my head. + +'Amen to all that, and much more,' shouted Toby, rushing forward; +'but Happar it is, for nothing else than Happar can it be. So +glorious a valley--such forests of bread-fruit trees--such groves +of cocoanut--such wilderness of guava-bushes! Ah! shipmate! +don't linger behind: in the name of all delightful fruits, I am +dying to be at them. Come on, come on; shove ahead, there's a +lively lad; never mind the rocks; kick them out of the way, as I +do; and tomorrow, old fellow, take my word for it, we shall be in +clover. Come on;' and so saying, he dashed along the ravine like +a madman, forgetting my inability to keep up with him. In a few +minutes, however, the exuberance of his spirits abated, and, +pausing for a while, he permitted me to overtake him. + + + +CHAPTER NINE + +PERILOUS PASSAGE OF THE RAVINE--DESCENT INTO THE VALLEY + +The fearless confidence of Toby was contagious, and I began to +adopt the Happar side of the question. I could not, however, +overcome a certain feeling of trepidation as we made our way +along these gloomy solitudes. Our progress, at first +comparatively easy, became more and more difficult. The bed of +the watercourse was covered with fragments of broken rocks, which +had fallen from above, offering so many obstructions to the +course of the rapid stream, which vexed and fretted about +them,--forming at intervals small waterfalls, pouring over into +deep basins, or splashing wildly upon heaps of stones. + +From the narrowness of the gorge, and the steepness of its sides, +there was no mode of advancing but by wading through the water; +stumbling every moment over the impediments which lay hidden +under its surface, or tripping against the huge roots of trees. +But the most annoying hindrance we encountered was from a +multitude of crooked boughs, which, shooting out almost +horizontally from the sides of the chasm, twisted themselves +together in fantastic masses almost to the surface of the stream, +affording us no passage except under the low arches which they +formed. Under these we were obliged to crawl on our hands and +feet, sliding along the oozy surface of the rocks, or slipping +into the deep pools, and with scarce light enough to guide us. +Occasionally we would strike our heads against some projecting +limb of a tree; and while imprudently engaged in rubbing the +injured part, would fall sprawling amongst filthy fragments, +cutting and bruising ourselves, whilst the unpitying waters +flowed over our prostrate bodies. Belzoni, worming himself +through the subterranean passages of the Egyptian catacombs, +could not have met with great impediments than those we here +encountered. But we struggled against them manfully, well +knowing our only hope lay in advancing. + +Towards sunset we halted at a spot where we made preparations for +passing the night. Here we constructed a hut, in much the same +way as before, and crawling into it, endeavoured to forget our +sufferings. My companion, I believe, slept pretty soundly; but +at day break, when we rolled out of our dwelling, I felt nearly +disqualified for any further efforts. Toby prescribed as a +remedy for my illness the contents of one of our little silk +packages, to be taken at once in a single dose. To this species +of medical treatment, however, I would by no means accede, much +as he insisted upon it; and so we partook of our usual morsel, +and silently resumed our journey. It was now the fourth day +since we left Nukuheva, and the gnawings of hunger became +painfully acute. We were fain to pacify them by chewing the +tender bark of roots and twigs, which, if they did not afford us +nourishment, were at least sweet and pleasant to the taste. + +Our progress along the steep watercourse was necessarily slow, +and by noon we had not advanced more than a mile. It was +somewhere near this part of the day that the noise of falling +waters, which we had faintly caught in the early morning, became +more distinct; and it was not long before we were arrested by a +rocky precipice of nearly a hundred feet in depth, that extended +all across the channel, and over which the wild stream poured in +an unbroken leap. On each hand the walls of the ravine presented +their overhanging sides both above and below the fall, affording +no means whatever of avoiding the cataract by taking a circuit +round it. + +'What's to be done now, Toby?' said I. + +'Why,' rejoined he, 'as we cannot retreat, I suppose we must keep +shoving along.' + +'Very true, my dear Toby; but how do you purpose accomplishing +that desirable object?' + +'By jumping from the top of the fall, if there be no other way,' +unhesitatingly replied my companion: 'it will be much the +quickest way of descent; but as you are not quite as active as I +am, we will try some other way.' + +And, so saying, he crept cautiously along and peered over into +the abyss, while I remained wondering by what possible means we +could overcome this apparently insuperable obstruction. As soon +as my companion had completed his survey, I eagerly inquired the +result. + +'The result of my observations you wish to know, do you?' began +Toby, deliberately, with one of his odd looks: 'well, my lad, the +result of my observations is very quickly imparted. It is at +present uncertain which of our two necks will have the honour to +be broken first; but about a hundred to one would be a fair bet +in favour of the man who takes the first jump.' + +'Then it is an impossible thing, is it?' inquired I gloomily. + +'No, shipmate; on the contrary, it is the easiest thing in life: +the only awkward point is the sort of usage which our unhappy +limbs may receive when we arrive at the bottom, and what sort of +travelling trim we shall be in afterwards. But follow me now, +and I will show you the only chance we have.' With this he +conducted me to the verge of the cataract, and pointed along the +side of the ravine to a number of curious looking roots, some +three or four inches in thickness, and several feet long, which, +after twisting among the fissures of the rock, shot +perpendicularly from it and ran tapering to a point in the air, +hanging over the gulf like so many dark icicles. They covered +nearly the entire surface of one side of the gorge, the lowest of +them reaching even to the water. Many were moss grown and +decayed, with their extremities snapped short off, and those in +the immediate vicinity of the fall were slippery with moisture. + +Toby's scheme, and it was a desperate one, was to entrust +ourselves to these treacherous-looking roots, and by slipping +down from one to another to gain the bottom. + +'Are you ready to venture it?' asked Toby, looking at me +earnestly but without saying a word as to the practicability of +the plan. + +'I am,' was my reply; for I saw it was our only resource if we +wished to advance, and as for retreating, all thoughts of that +sort had been long abandoned. + +After I had signified my assent, Toby, without uttering a a +single word, crawled along the dripping ledge until he gained a +point from whence he could just reach one of the largest of the +pendant roots; he shook it--it quivered in his grasp, and when he +let it go it twanged in the air like a strong, wire sharply +struck. Satisfied by his scrutiny, my light limbed companion +swung himself nimbly upon it, and twisting his legs round it in +sailor fashion, slipped down eight or ten feet, where his weight +gave it a motion not un-like that of a pendulum. He could not +venture to descend any further; so holding on with one hand, he +with the other shook one by one all the slender roots around him, +and at last, finding one which he thought trustworthy, shifted +him self to it and continued his downward progress. + +So far so well; but I could not avoid comparing my heavier frame +and disabled condition with his light figure and remarkable +activity; but there was no help for it, and in less than a +minute's time I was swinging directly over his head. As soon as +his upturned eyes caught a glimpse of me, he exclaimed in his +usual dry tone, for the danger did not seem to daunt him in the +least, 'Mate, do me the kindness not to fall until I get out of +your way;' and then swinging himself more on one side, he +continued his descent. In the mean time I cautiously transferred +myself from the limb down which I had been slipping to a couple +of others that were near it, deeming two strings to my bow better +than one, and taking care to test their strength before I trusted +my weight to them. + +On arriving towards the end of the second stage in this vertical +journey, and shaking the long roots which were round me, to my +consternation they snapped off one after another like so many +pipe stems, and fell in fragments against the side of the gulf, +splashing at last into the waters beneath. + +As one after another the treacherous roots yielded to my grasp, +and fell into the torrent, my heart sunk within me. The branches +on which I was suspended over the yawning chasm swang to and fro +in the air, and I expected them every moment to snap in twain. +Appalled at the dreadful fate that menaced me, I clutched +frantically at the only large root which remained near me, but in +vain; I could not reach it, though my fingers were within a few +inches of it. Again and again I tried to reach it, until at +length, maddened with the thought of my situation, I swayed +myself violently by striking my foot against the side of the +rock, and at the instant that I approached the large root caught +desperately at it, and transferred myself to it. It vibrated +violently under the sudden weight, but fortunately did not give +way. + +My brain grew dizzy with the idea of the frightful risk I had +just run, and I involuntarily closed my eyes to shut out the view +of the depth beneath me. For the instant I was safe, and I +uttered a devout ejaculation of thanksgiving for my escape. + +'Pretty well done,' shouted Toby underneath me; 'you are nimbler +than I thought you to be--hopping about up there from root to +root like any young squirrel. As soon as you have diverted +yourself sufficiently, I would advise you to proceed.' + +'Aye, aye, Toby, all in good time: two or three more such famous +roots as this, and I shall be with you.' + +The residue of my downward progress was comparatively easy; the +roots were in greater abundance, and in one or two places jutting +out points of rock assisted me greatly. In a few moments I was +standing by the side of my companion. + +Substituting a stout stick for the one I had thrown aside at the +top of the precipice, we now continued our course along the bed +of the ravine. Soon we were saluted by a sound in advance, that +grew by degrees louder and louder, as the noise of the cataract +we were leaving behind gradually died on our ears. + +'Another precipice for us, Toby.' + +'Very good; we can descend them, you know--come on.' + +Nothing indeed appeared to depress or intimidate this intrepid +fellow. Typees or Niagaras, he was as ready to engage one as the +other, and I could not avoid a thousand times congratulating +myself upon having such a companion in an enterprise like the +present. + +After an hour's painful progress, we reached the verge of another +fall, still loftier than the preceding and flanked both above and +below with the same steep masses of rock, presenting, however, +here and there narrow irregular ledges, supporting a shallow +soil, on which grew a variety of bushes and trees, whose bright +verdure contrasted beautifully with the foamy waters that flowed +between them. + +Toby, who invariably acted as pioneer, now proceeded to +reconnoitre. On his return, he reported that the shelves of rock +on our right would enable us to gain with little risk the bottom +of the cataract. Accordingly, leaving the bed of the stream at +the very point where it thundered down, we began crawling along +one of those sloping ledges until it carried us to within a few +feet of another that inclined downwards at a still sharper angle, +and upon which, by assisting each other we managed to alight in +safety. We warily crept along this, steadying ourselves by the +naked roots of the shrubs that clung to every fissure. As we +proceeded, the narrow path became still more contracted, +rendering it difficult for us to maintain our footing, until +suddenly, as we reached an angle of the wall of rock where we had +expected it to widen, we perceived to our consternation that a +yard or two further on it abruptly terminated at a place we could +not possibly hope to pass. + +Toby as usual led the van, and in silence I waited to learn from +him how he proposed to extricate us from this new difficulty. + +'Well, my boy,' I exclaimed, after the expiration of several +minutes, during which time my companion had not uttered a word, +'what's to be done now?' + +He replied in a tranquil tone, that probably the best thing we +could do in our present strait was to get out of it as soon as +possible. + +'Yes, my dear Toby, but tell me how we are to get out of it.' + +'Something in this sort of style,' he replied, and at the same +moment to my horror he slipped sideways off the rocks and, as I +then thought, by good fortune merely, alighted among the +spreading branches of a species of palm tree, that shooting its +hardy roots along a ledge below, curved its trunk upwards into +the air, and presented a thick mass of foliage about twenty feet +below the spot where we had thus suddenly been brought to a +standstill. I involuntarily held my breath, expecting to see the +form of my companion, after being sustained for a moment by the +branches of the tree, sink through their frail support, and fall +headlong to the bottom. To my surprise and joy, however, he +recovered himself, and disentangling his limbs from the fractured +branches, he peered out from his leafy bed, and shouted lustily, +'Come on, my hearty there is no other alternative!' and with this +he ducked beneath the foliage, and slipping down the trunk, stood +in a moment at least fifty feet beneath me, upon the broad shelf +of rock from which sprung the tree he had descended. + +What would I not have given at that moment to have been by his +side. The feat he had just accomplished seemed little less than +miraculous, and I could hardly credit the evidence of my senses +when I saw the wide distance that a single daring act had so +suddenly placed between us. + +Toby's animating 'come on' again sounded in my ears, and dreading +to lose all confidence in myself if I remained meditating upon +the step, I once more gazed down to assure myself of the relative +bearing of the tree and my own position, and then closing my eyes +and uttering one comprehensive ejaculation of prayer, I inclined +myself over towards the abyss, and after one breathless instant +fell with a crash into the tree, the branches snapping and +cracking with my weight, as I sunk lower and lower among them, +until I was stopped by coming in contact with a sturdy limb. + +In a few moments I was standing at the foot of the tree +manipulating myself all over with a view of ascertaining the +extent of the injuries I had received. To my surprise the only +effects of my feat were a few slight contusions too trifling to +care about. The rest of our descent was easily accomplished, and +in half an hour after regaining the ravine we had partaken of our +evening morsel, built our hut as usual, and crawled under its +shelter. + +The next morning, in spite of our debility and the agony of +hunger under which we were now suffering, though neither of us +confessed to the fact, we struggled along our dismal and still +difficult and dangerous path, cheered by the hope of soon +catching a glimpse of the valley before us, and towards evening +the voice of a cataract which had for some time sounded like a +low deep bass to the music of the smaller waterfalls, broke upon +our ears in still louder tones, and assured us that we were +approaching its vicinity. + +That evening we stood on the brink of a precipice, over which the +dark stream bounded in one final leap of full 300 feet. The +sheer descent terminated in the region we so long had sought. On +each side of the fall, two lofty and perpendicular bluffs +buttressed the sides of the enormous cliff, and projected into +the sea of verdure with which the valley waved, and a range of +similar projecting eminences stood disposed in a half circle +about the head if the vale. A thick canopy of trees hung over +the very verge of the fall, leaving an arched aperture for the +passage of the waters, which imparted a strange picturesqueness +to the scene. + +The valley was now before us; but instead of being conducted into +its smiling bosom by the gradual descent of the deep watercourse +we had thus far pursued, all our labours now appeared to have +been rendered futile by its abrupt termination. But, bitterly +disappointed, we did not entirely despair. + +As it was now near sunset we determined to pass the night where +we were, and on the morrow, refreshed by sleep, and by eating at +one meal all our stock of food, to accomplish a descent into the +valley, or perish in the attempt. + +We laid ourselves down that night on a spot, the recollection of +which still makes me shudder. A small table of rock which +projected over the precipice on one side of the stream, and was +drenched by the spray of the fall, sustained a huge trunk of a +tree which must have been deposited there by some heavy freshet. +It lay obliquely, with one end resting on the rock and the other +supported by the side of the ravine. against it we placed in a +sloping direction a number of the half decayed boughs that were +strewn about, and covering the whole with twigs and leaves, +awaited the morning's light beneath such shelter as it afforded. + + + During the whole of this night the continual roaring of the +cataract--the dismal moaning of the gale through the trees--the +pattering of the rain, and the profound darkness, affected my +spirits to a degree which nothing had ever before produced. Wet, +half famished, and chilled to the heart with the dampness of the +place, and nearly wild with the pain I endured, I fairly cowered +down to the earth under this multiplication of hardships, and +abandoned myself to frightful anticipations of evil; and my +companion, whose spirit at last was a good deal broken, scarcely +uttered a word during the whole night. + +At length the day dawned upon us, and rising from our miserable +pallet, we stretched our stiffened joints, and after eating all +that remained of our bread, prepared for the last stage of our +journey. I will not recount every hair-breadth escape, and +every fearful difficulty that occurred before we succeeded in +reaching the bosom of the valley. As I have already described +similar scenes, it will be sufficient to say that at length, +after great toil and great dangers, we both stood with no limbs +broken at the head of that magnificent vale which five days +before had so suddenly burst upon my sight, and almost beneath +the shadow of those very cliffs from whose summits we had gazed +upon the prospect. + + + +CHAPTER TEN + +THE HEAD OF THE VALLEY--CAUTIOUS ADVANCE--A +PATH--FRUIT--DISCOVERY OF TWO OF THE NATIVES--THEIR SINGULAR +CONDUCT--APPROACH TOWARDS THE INHABITED PARTS OF THE +VALE--SENSATION PRODUCED BY OUR APPEARANCE--RECEPTION AT THE +HOUSE OF ONE OF THE NATIVES + +HOW to obtain the fruit which we felt convinced must grow near at +hand was our first thought. + +Typee or Happar? A frightful death at the hands of the fiercest +of cannibals, or a kindly reception from a gentler race of +savages? Which? But it was too late now to discuss a question +which would so soon be answered. + +The part of the valley in which we found ourselves appeared to be +altogether uninhabited. An almost impenetrable thicket extended +from side to side, without presenting a single plant affording +the nourishment we had confidently calculated upon; and with this +object, we followed the course of the stream, casting quick +glances as we proceeded into the thick jungles on each hand. My +companion--to whose solicitations I had yielded in descending +into the valley--now that the step was taken, began to manifest a +degree of caution I had little expected from him. He proposed +that in the event of our finding an adequate supply of fruit, we +should remain in this unfrequented portion of the country--where +we should run little chance of being surprised by its occupants, +whoever they might be--until sufficiently recruited to resume our +journey; when laying a store of food equal to our wants, we might +easily regain the bay of Nukuheva, after the lapse of a +sufficient interval to ensure the departure of our vessel. + +I objected strongly to this proposition, plausible as it was, as +the difficulties of the route would be almost insurmountable, +unacquainted as we were with the general bearings of the country, +and I reminded my companion of the hardships which we had already +encountered in our uncertain wanderings; in a word, I said that +since we had deemed it advisable to enter the valley, we ought +manfully to face the consequences, whatever they might be; the +more especially as I was convinced there was no alternative left +us but to fall in with the natives at once, and boldly risk the +reception they might give us; and that as to myself, I felt the +necessity of rest and shelter, and that until I had obtained +them, I should be wholly unable to encounter such sufferings as +we had lately passed through. To the justice of these +observations Toby somewhat reluctantly assented. + +We were surprised that, after moving as far as we had along the +valley, we should still meet with the same impervious thickets; +and thinking, that although the borders of the stream might be +lined for some distance with them, yet beyond there might be more +open ground, I requested Toby to keep a bright look-out upon one +side, while I did the same on the other, in order to discover +some opening in the bushes, and especially to watch for the +slightest appearance of a path or anything else that might +indicate the vicinity of the islanders. + +What furtive and anxious glances we cast into those dim-looking +shadows! With what apprehensions we proceeded, ignorant at what +moment we might be greeted by the javelin of some ambushed +savage. At last my companion paused, and directed my attention +to a narrow opening in the foliage. We struck into it, and it +soon brought us by an indistinctly traced path to a comparatively +clear space, at the further end of which we descried a number of +the trees, the native name of which is 'annuee', and which bear a +most delicious fruit. W hat a race! I hobbling over the ground +like some decrepid wretch, and Toby leaping forward like a +greyhound. He quickly cleared one of the trees on which there +were two or three of the fruit, but to our chagrin they proved to +be much decayed; the rinds partly opened by the birds, and their +hearts half devoured. However, we quickly despatched them, and +no ambrosia could have been more delicious. + +We looked about us uncertain whither to direct our steps, since +the path we had so far followed appeared to be lost in the open +space around us. At last we resolved to enter a grove near at +hand, and had advanced a few rods, when, just upon its skirts, I +picked up a slender bread-fruit shoot perfectly green, and with +the tender. bark freshly stripped from it. It was still +slippery with moisture, and appeared as if it had been but that +moment thrown aside. I said nothing, but merely held it up to +Toby, who started at this undeniable evidence of the vicinity of +the savages. + +The plot was now thickening.--A short distance further lay a +little faggot of the same shoots bound together with a strip of +bark. Could it have been thrown down by some solitary native, +who, alarmed at seeing us, had hurried forward to carry the +tidings of our approach to his countrymen?--Typee or Happar?--But +it was too late to recede, so we moved on slowly, my companion in +advance casting eager glances under the trees on each side, until +all at once I saw him recoil as if stung by an adder. Sinking on +his knee, he waved me off with one hand, while with the other he +held aside some intervening leaves, and gazed intently at some +object. + +Disregarding his injunction, I quickly approached him and caught +a glimpse of two figures partly hidden by the dense foliage; they +were standing close together, and were perfectly motionless. +They must have previously perceived us, and withdrawn into the +depths of the wood to elude our observation. + +My mind was at once made up. Dropping my staff, and tearing open +the package of things we had brought from the ship, I unrolled +the cotton cloth, and holding it in one hand picked with the +other a twig from the bushes beside me, and telling Toby to +follow my example, I broke through the covert and advanced, +waving the branch in token of peace towards the shrinking forms +before me. They were a boy and a girl, slender and graceful, and +completely naked, with the exception of a slight girdle of bark, +from which depended at opposite points two of the russet leaves +of the bread-fruit tree. An arm of the boy, half screened from +sight by her wild tresses, was thrown about the neck of the girl, +while with the other he held one of her hands in his; and thus +they stood together, their heads inclined forward, catching the +faint noise we made in our progress, and with one foot in +advance, as if half inclined to fly from our presence. + +As we drew near, their alarm evidently increased. Apprehensive +that they might fly from us altogether, I stopped short and +motioned them to advance and receive the gift I extended towards +them, but they would not; I then uttered a few words of their +language with which I was acquainted, scarcely expected that they +would understand me, but to show that we had not dropped from the +clouds upon them. This appeared to give them a little +confidence, so I approached nearer, presenting the cloth with one +hand, and holding the bough with the other, while they slowly +retreated. At last they suffered us to approach so near to them +that we were enabled to throw the cotton cloth across their +shoulders, giving them to understand that it was theirs, and by a +variety of gestures endeavouring to make them understand that we +entertained the highest possible regard for them. + +The frightened pair now stood still, whilst we endeavoured to +make them comprehend the nature of our wants. In doing this Toby +went through with a complete series of pantomimic +illustrations--opening his mouth from ear to ear, and thrusting +his fingers down his throat, gnashing his teeth and rolling his +eyes about, till I verily believe the poor creatures took us for +a couple of white cannibals who were about to make a meal of +them. When, however, they understood us, they showed no +inclination to relieve our wants. At this juncture it began to +rain violently, and we motioned them to lead us to some place of +shelter. With this request they appeared willing to comply, but +nothing could evince more strongly the apprehension with which +they regarded us, than the way in which, whilst walking before +us, they kept their eyes constantly turned back to watch every +movement we made, and even our very looks. + +'Typee or Happar, Toby?' asked I as we walked after them. + +'Of course Happar,' he replied, with a show of confidence which +was intended to disguise his doubts. + +'We shall soon know,' I exclaimed; and at the same moment I +stepped forward towards our guides, and pronouncing the two names +interrogatively and pointing to the lowest part of the valley, +endeavoured to come to the point at once. They repeated the +words after me again and again, but without giving any peculiar +emphasis to either, so that I was completely at a loss to +understand them; for a couple of wilier young things than we +afterwards found them to have been on this particular occasion +never probably fell in any traveller's way. + +More and more curious to ascertain our fate, I now threw together +in the form of a question the words 'Happar' and 'Motarkee', the +latter being equivalent to the word 'good'. The two natives +interchanged glances of peculiar meaning with one another at +this, and manifested no little surprise; but on the repetition of +the question after some consultation together, to the great joy +of Toby, they answered in the affirmative. Toby was now in +ecstasies, especially as the young savages continued to reiterate +their answer with great energy, as though desirous of impressing +us with the idea that being among the Happars, we ought to +consider ourselves perfectly secure. + +Although I had some lingering doubts, I feigned great delight +with Toby at this announcement, while my companion broke out into +a pantomimic abhorrence of Typee, and immeasurable love for the +particular valley in which we were; our guides all the while +gazing uneasily at one another as if at a loss to account for our +conduct. + +They hurried on, and we followed them; until suddenly they set up +a strange halloo, which was answered from beyond the grove +through which we were passing, and the next moment we entered +upon some open ground, at the extremity of which we descried a +long, low hut, and in front of it were several young girls. As +soon as they perceived us they fled with wild screams into the +adjoining thickets, like so many startled fawns. A few moments +after the whole valley resounded with savage outcries, and the +natives came running towards us from every direction. + +Had an army of invaders made an irruption into their territory +they could not have evinced greater excitement. We were soon +completely encircled by a dense throng, and in their eager desire +to behold us they almost arrested our progress; an equal number +surrounded our youthful guides, who with amazing volubility +appeared to be detailing the circumstances which had attended +their meeting with us. Every item of intelligence appeared to +redouble the astonishment of the islanders, and they gazed at us +with inquiring looks. + +At last we reached a large and handsome building of bamboos, and +were by signs told to enter it, the natives opening a lane for us +through which to pass; on entering without ceremony, we threw our +exhausted frames upon the mats that covered the floor. In a +moment the slight tenement was completely full of people, whilst +those who were unable to obtain admittance gazed at us through +its open cane-work. + +It was now evening, and by the dim light we could just discern +the savage countenances around us, gleaming with wild curiosity +and wonder; the naked forms and tattooed limbs of brawny +warriors, with here and there the slighter figures of young +girls, all engaged in a perfect storm of conversation, of which +we were of course the one only theme, whilst our recent guides +were fully occupied in answering the innumerable questions which +every one put to them. Nothing can exceed the fierce +gesticulation of these people when animated in conversation, and +on this occasion they gave loose to all their natural vivacity, +shouting and dancing about in a manner that well nigh intimidated +us. + +Close to where we lay, squatting upon their haunches, were some +eight or ten noble-looking chiefs--for such they subsequently +proved to be--who, more reserved than the rest, regarded us with +a fixed and stern attention, which not a little discomposed our +equanimity. One of them in particular, who appeared to be the +highest in rank, placed himself directly facing me, looking at me +with a rigidity of aspect under which I absolutely quailed. He +never once opened his lips, but maintained his severe expression +of countenance, without turning his face aside for a single +moment. Never before had I been subjected to so strange and +steady a glance; it revealed nothing of the mind of the savage, +but it appeared to be reading my own. + +After undergoing this scrutiny till I grew absolutely nervous, +with a view of diverting it if possible, and conciliating the +good opinion of the warrior, I took some tobacco from the bosom +of my frock and offered it to him. He quietly rejected the +proffered gift, and, without speaking, motioned me to return it +to its place. + +In my previous intercourse with the natives of Nukuheva and Tior, +I had found that the present of a small piece of tobacco would +have rendered any of them devoted to my service. Was this act of +the chief a token of his enmity? Typee or Happar? I asked +within myself. I started, for at the same moment this identical +question was asked by the strange being before me. I turned to +Toby, the flickering light of a native taper showed me his +countenance pale with trepidation at this fatal question. I +paused for a second, and I know not by what impulse it was that I +answered 'Typee'. The piece of dusky statuary nodded in +approval, and then murmured 'Motarkee!' 'Motarkee,' said I, +without further hesitation 'Typee motarkee.' + +What a transition! The dark figures around us leaped to their +feet, clapped their hands in transport, and shouted again and +again the talismanic syllables, the utterance of which appeared +to have settled everything. + +When this commotion had a little subsided, the principal chief +squatted once more before me, and throwing himself into a sudden +rage, poured forth a string of philippics, which I was at no loss +to understand, from the frequent recurrence of the word Happar, +as being directed against the natives of the adjoining valley. +In all these denunciations my companion and I acquiesced, while +we extolled the character of the warlike Typees. To be sure our +panegyrics were somewhat laconic, consisting in the repetition of +that name, united with the potent adjective 'motarkee'. But this +was sufficient, and served to conciliate the good will of the +natives, with whom our congeniality of sentiment on this point +did more towards inspiring a friendly feeling than anything else +that could have happened. + +At last the wrath of the chief evaporated, and in a few moments +he was as placid as ever. Laying his hand upon his breast, he +gave me to understand that his name was 'Mehevi', and that, in +return, he wished me to communicate my appellation. I hesitated +for an instant, thinking that it might be difficult for him to +pronounce my real name, and then with the most praiseworthy +intentions intimated that I was known as 'Tom'. But I could not +have made a worse selection; the chief could not master it. +'Tommo,' 'Tomma', 'Tommee', everything but plain 'Tom'. As he +persisted in garnishing the, word with an additional syllable, I +compromised the matter with him at the word 'Tommo'; and by that +name I went during the entire period of my stay in the valley. +The same proceeding was gone through with Toby, whose mellifluous +appellation was more easily caught. + +An exchange of names is equivalent to a ratification of good will +and amity among these simple people; and as we were aware of this +fact, we were delighted that it had taken place on the present +occasion. + +Reclining upon our mats, we now held a kind of levee, giving +audience to successive troops of the natives, who introduced +themselves to us by pronouncing their respective names, and +retired in high good humour on receiving ours in return. During +this ceremony the greatest merriment prevailed nearly every +announcement on the part of the islanders being followed by a +fresh sally of gaiety, which induced me to believe that some of +them at least were innocently diverting the company at our +expense, by bestowing upon themselves a string of absurd titles, +of the humour of which we were of course entirely ignorant. + +All this occupied about an hour, when the throng having a little +diminished, I turned to Mehevi and gave him to understand that we +were in need of food and sleep. Immediately the attentive chief +addressed a few words to one of the crowd, who disappeared, and +returned in a few moments with a calabash of 'poee-poee', and two +or three young cocoanuts stripped of their husks, and with their +shells partly broken. We both of us forthwith placed one of +these natural goblets to our lips, and drained it in a moment of +the refreshing draught it contained. The poee-poee was then +placed before us, and even famished as I was, I paused to +consider in what manner to convey it to my mouth. + +This staple article of food among the Marquese islanders is +manufactured from the produce of the bread-fruit tree. It +somewhat resembles in its plastic nature our bookbinders' paste, +is of a yellow colour, and somewhat tart to the taste. + +Such was the dish, the merits of which I was now eager to +discuss. I eyed it wistfully for a moment, and then, unable any +longer to stand on ceremony, plunged my hand into the yielding +mass, and to the boisterous mirth of the natives drew it forth +laden with the poee-poee, which adhered in lengthy strings to +every finger. So stubborn was its consistency, that in conveying +my heavily-weighted hand to my mouth, the connecting links almost +raised the calabash from the mats on which it had been placed. +This display of awkwardness--in which, by-the-bye, Toby kept me +company--convulsed the bystanders with uncontrollable laughter. + +As soon as their merriment had somewhat subsided, Mehevi, +motioning us to be attentive, dipped the forefinger of his right +hand in the dish, and giving it a rapid and scientific twirl, +drew it out coated smoothly with the preparation. With a second +peculiar flourish he prevented the poee-poee from dropping to the +ground as he raised it to his mouth, into which the finger was +inserted and drawn forth perfectly free from any adhesive matter. + +This performance was evidently intended for our instruction; so I +again essayed the feat on the principles inculcated, but with +very ill success. + +A starving man, however, little heeds conventional proprieties, +especially on a South-Sea Island, and accordingly Toby and I +partook of the dish after our own clumsy fashion, beplastering +our faces all over with the glutinous compound, and daubing our +hands nearly to the wrist. This kind of food is by no means +disagreeable to the palate of a European, though at first the +mode of eating it may be. For my own part, after the lapse of a +few days I became accustomed to its singular flavour, and grew +remarkably fond of it. + +So much for the first course; several other dishes followed it, +some of which were positively delicious. We concluded our +banquet by tossing off the contents of two more young cocoanuts, +after which we regaled ourselves with the soothing fumes of +tobacco, inhaled from a quaintly carved pipe which passed round +the circle. + +During the repast, the natives eyed us with intense curiosity, +observing our minutest motions, and appearing to discover +abundant matter for comment in the most trifling occurrence. +Their surprise mounted the highest, when we began to remove our +uncomfortable garments, which were saturated with rain. They +scanned the whiteness of our limbs, and seemed utterly unable to +account for the contrast they presented to the swarthy hue of our +faces embrowned from a six months' exposure to the scorching sun +of the Line. They felt our skin, much in the same way that a +silk mercer would handle a remarkably fine piece of satin; and +some of them went so far in their investigation as to apply the +olfactory organ. + +Their singular behaviour almost led me to imagine that they never +before had beheld a white man; but a few moments' reflection +convinced me that this could not have been the case; and a more +satisfactory reason for their conduct has since suggested itself +to my mind. + +Deterred by the frightful stories related of its inhabitants, +ships never enter this bay, while their hostile relations with +the tribes in the adjoining valleys prevent the Typees from +visiting that section of the island where vessels occasionally +lie. At long intervals, however, some intrepid captain will +touch on the skirts of the bay, with two or three armed boats' +crews and accompanied by interpreters. The natives who live near +the sea descry the strangers long before they reach their waters, +and aware of the purpose for which they come, proclaim loudly the +news of their approach. By a species of vocal telegraph the +intelligence reaches the inmost recesses of the vale in an +inconceivably short space of time, drawing nearly its whole +population down to the beach laden with every variety of fruit. +The interpreter, who is invariably a 'tabooed Kanaka'*, leaps +ashore with the goods intended for barter, while the boats, with +their oars sloped, and every man on his thwart, lie just outside +the surf, heading off the shore, in readiness at the first +untoward event to escape to the open sea. As soon as the traffic +is concluded, one of the boats pulls in under cover of the +muskets of the others, the fruit is quickly thrown into her, and +the transient visitors precipitately retire from what they justly +consider so dangerous a vicinity. + +* The word 'Kanaka' is at the present day universally used in the +South Seas by Europeans to designate the Islanders. In the +various dialects of the principal groups it is simply a sexual +designation applied to the males; but it is now used by the +natives in their intercourse with foreigners in the same sense in +which the latter employ it. + +A 'Tabooed Kanaka' is an islander whose person has been made to a +certain extent sacred by the operation of a singular custom +hereafter to be explained. + + + +The intercourse occurring with Europeans being so restricted, no +wonder that the inhabitants of the valley manifested so much +curiosity with regard to us, appearing as we did among them under +such singular circumstances. I have no doubt that we were the +first white men who ever penetrated thus far back into their +territories, or at least the first who had ever descended from +the head of the vale. What had brought us thither must have +appeared a complete mystery to them, and from our ignorance of +the language it was impossible for us to enlighten them. In +answer to inquiries which the eloquence of their gestures enabled +us to comprehend, all that we could reply was, that we had come +from Nukuheva, a place, be it remembered, with which they were at +open war. This intelligence appeared to affect them with the +most lively emotions. 'Nukuheva motarkee?' they asked. Of +course we replied most energetically in the negative. + +Then they plied us with a thousand questions, of which we could +understand nothing more than that they had reference to the +recent movements of the French, against whom they seemed to +cherish the most fierce hatred. So eager were they to obtain +information on this point, that they still continued to propound +their queries long after we had shown that we were utterly unable +to answer them. Occasionally we caught some indistinct idea of +their meaning, when we would endeavour by every method in our +power to communicate the desired intelligence. At such times +their gratification was boundless, and they would redouble their +efforts to make us comprehend them more perfectly. But all in +vain; and in the end they looked at us despairingly, as if we +were the receptacles of invaluable information; but how to come +at it they knew not. + +After a while the group around us gradually dispersed, and we +were left about midnight (as we conjectured) with those who +appeared to be permanent residents of the house. These +individuals now provided us with fresh mats to lie upon, covered +us with several folds of tappa, and then extinguishing the tapers +that had been burning, threw themselves down beside us, and after +a little desultory conversation were soon sound asleep. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN + +MIDNIGHT REFLECTIONS--MORNING VISITORS--A WARRIOR IN COSTUME--A +SAVAGE AESCULAPIUS--PRACTICE OF THE HEALING ART--BODY SERVANT--A +DWELLING-HOUSE OF THE VALLEY DESCRIBED--PORTRAITS OF ITS INMATES + +VARIOUS and conflicting were the thoughts which oppressed me +during the silent hours that followed the events related in the +preceding chapter. Toby, wearied with the fatigues of the day, +slumbered heavily by my side; but the pain under which I was +suffering effectually prevented my sleeping, and I remained +distressingly alive to all the fearful circumstances of our +present situation. Was it possible that, after all our +vicissitudes, we were really in the terrible valley of Typee, and +at the mercy of its inmates, a fierce and unrelenting tribe of +savages? Typee or Happar? I shuddered when I reflected that +there was no longer any room for doubt; and that, beyond all hope +of escape, we were now placed in those very circumstances from +the bare thought of which I had recoiled with such abhorrence but +a few days before. What might not be our fearful destiny? To be +sure, as yet we had been treated with no violence; nay, had been +even kindly and hospitably entertained. But what dependence +could be placed upon the fickle passions which sway the bosom of +a savage? His inconstancy and treachery are proverbial. Might +it not be that beneath these fair appearances the islanders +covered some perfidious design, and that their friendly reception +of us might only precede some horrible catastrophe? How strongly +did these forebodings spring up in my mind as I lay restlessly +upon a couch of mats surrounded by the dimly revealed forms of +those whom I so greatly dreaded! + +From the excitement of these fearful thoughts I sank towards +morning into an uneasy slumber; and on awaking, with a start, in +the midst of an appalling dream, looked up into the eager +countenance of a number of the natives, who were bending over me. + +It was broad day; and the house was nearly filled with young +females, fancifully decorated with flowers, who gazed upon me as +I rose with faces in which childish delight and curiosity were +vividly portrayed. After waking Toby, they seated themselves +round us on the mats, and gave full play to that prying +inquisitiveness which time out of mind has been attributed to the +adorable sex. + +As these unsophisticated young creatures were attended by no +jealous duennas, their proceedings were altogether informal, and +void of artificial restraint. Long and minute was the +investigation with which they honoured us, and so uproarious +their mirth, that I felt infinitely sheepish; and Toby was +immeasurably outraged at their familiarity. + +These lively young ladies were at the same time wonderfully +polite and humane; fanning aside the insects that occasionally +lighted on our brows; presenting us with food; and +compassionately regarding me in the midst of my afflictions. But +in spite of all their blandishments, my feelings of propriety +were exceedingly shocked, for I could but consider them as having +overstepped the due limits of female decorum. + +Having diverted themselves to their hearts' content, our young +visitants now withdrew, and gave place to successive troops of +the other sex, who continued flocking towards the house until +near noon; by which time I have no doubt that the greater part of +the inhabitants of the valley had bathed themselves in the light +of our benignant countenances. + +At last, when their numbers began to diminish, a superb-looking +warrior stooped the towering plumes of his head-dress beneath +the low portal, and entered the house. I saw at once that he was +some distinguished personage, the natives regarding him with the +utmost deference, and making room for him as he approached. His +aspect was imposing. The splendid long drooping tail-feathers of +the tropical bird, thickly interspersed with the gaudy plumage of +the cock, were disposed in an immense upright semicircle upon his +head, their lower extremities being fixed in a crescent of +guinea-heads which spanned the forehead. Around his neck were +several enormous necklaces of boar's tusks, polished like ivory, +and disposed in such a manner as that the longest and largest +were upon his capacious chest. Thrust forward through the large +apertures in his ears were two small and finely-shaped sperm +whale teeth, presenting their cavities in front, stuffed with +freshly-plucked leaves, and curiously wrought at the other end +into strange little images and devices. These barbaric trinkets, +garnished in this manner at their open extremities, and tapering +and curving round to a point behind the ear, resembled not a +little a pair of cornucopias. + +The loins of the warrior were girt about with heavy folds of a +dark-coloured tappa, hanging before and behind in clusters of +braided tassels, while anklets and bracelets of curling human +hair completed his unique costume. In his right hand he grasped +a beautifully carved paddle-spear, nearly fifteen feet in length, +made of the bright koar-wood, one end sharply pointed, and the +other flattened like an oar-blade. Hanging obliquely from his +girdle by a loop of sinnate was a richly decorated pipe; the +slender reed forming its stem was coloured with a red pigment, +and round it, as well as the idol-bowl, fluttered little +streamers of the thinnest tappa. + +But that which was most remarkable in the appearance of this +splendid islander was the elaborate tattooing displayed on every +noble limb. All imaginable lines and curves and figures were +delineated over his whole body, and in their grotesque variety +and infinite profusion I could only compare them to the crowded +groupings of quaint patterns we sometimes see in costly pieces of +lacework. The most simple and remarkable of all these ornaments +was that which decorated the countenance of the chief. Two broad +stripes of tattooing, diverging from the centre of his shaven +crown, obliquely crossed both eyes--staining the lids--to a +little below each ear, where they united with another stripe +which swept in a straight line along the lips and formed the base +of the triangle. The warrior, from the excellence of his +physical proportions, might certainly have been regarded as one +of Nature's noblemen, and the lines drawn upon his face may +possibly have denoted his exalted rank. + +This warlike personage, upon entering the house, seated himself +at some distance from the spot where Toby and myself reposed, +while the rest of the savages looked alternately from us to him, +as if in expectation of something they were disappointed in not +perceiving. Regarding the chief attentively, I thought his +lineaments appeared familiar to me. As soon as his full face was +turned upon me, and I again beheld its extraordinary +embellishment, and met the strange gaze to which I had been +subjected the preceding night, I immediately, in spite of the +alteration in his appearance, recognized the noble Mehevi. On +addressing him, he advanced at once in the most cordial manner, +and greeting me warmly, seemed to enjoy not a little the effect +his barbaric costume had produced upon me. + +I forthwith determined to secure, if possible, the good-will of +this individual, as I easily perceived he was a man of great +authority in his tribe, and one who might exert a powerful +influence upon our subsequent fate. In the endeavour I was not +repulsed; for nothing could surpass the friendliness he +manifested towards both my companion and myself. He extended his +sturdy limbs by our side, and endeavoured to make us comprehend +the full extent of the kindly feelings by which he was actuated. +The almost insuperable difficulty in communicating to one another +our ideas affected the chief with no little mortification. He +evinced a great desire to be enlightened with regard to the +customs and peculiarities of the far-off country we had left +behind us, and to which under the name of Maneeka he frequently +alluded. + +But that which more than any other subject engaged his attention +was the late proceedings of the 'Frannee' as he called the +French, in the neighbouring bay of Nukuheva. This seemed a +never-ending theme with him, and one concerning which he was +never weary of interrogating us. All the information we +succeeded in imparting to him on this subject was little more +than that we had seen six men-of-war lying in the hostile bay at +the time we had left it. When he received this intelligence, +Mehevi, by the aid of his fingers, went through a long numerical +calculation, as if estimating the number of Frenchmen the +squadron might contain. + +It was just after employing his faculties in this way that he +happened to notice the swelling in my limb. He immediately +examined it with the utmost attention, and after doing so, +despatched a boy who happened to be standing by with some +message. + +After the lapse of a few moments the stripling re-entered the +house with an aged islander, who might have been taken for old +Hippocrates himself. His head was as bald as the polished +surface of a cocoanut shell, which article it precisely resembled +in smoothness and colour, while a long silvery beard swept almost +to his girdle of bark. Encircling his temples was a bandeau of +the twisted leaves of the Omoo tree, pressed closely over the +brows to shield his feeble vision from the glare of the sun. His +tottering steps were supported by a long slim staff, resembling +the wand with which a theatrical magician appears on the stage, +and in one hand he carried a freshly plaited fan of the green +leaflets of the cocoanut tree. A flowing robe of tappa, knotted +over the shoulder, hung loosely round his stooping form, and +heightened the venerableness of his aspect. + +Mehevi, saluting this old gentleman, motioned him to a seat +between us, and then uncovering my limb, desired him to examine +it. The leech gazed intently from me to Toby, and then proceeded +to business. After diligently observing the ailing member, he +commenced manipulating it; and on the supposition probably that +the complaint had deprived the leg of all sensation, began to +pinch and hammer it in such a manner that I absolutely roared +with pain. Thinking that I was as capable of making an +application of thumps and pinches to the part as any one else, I +endeavoured to resist this species of medical treatment. But it +was not so easy a matter to get out of the clutches of the old +wizard; he fastened on the unfortunate limb as if it were +something for which he had been long seeking, and muttering some +kind of incantation continued his discipline, pounding it after a +fashion that set me well nigh crazy; while Mehevi, upon the same +principle which prompts an affectionate mother to hold a +struggling child in a dentist's chair, restrained me in his +powerful grasp, and actually encouraged the wretch in this +infliction of torture. + +Almost frantic with rage and pain, I yelled like a bedlamite; +while Toby, throwing himself into all the attitudes of a +posture-master, vainly endeavoured to expostulate with the +natives by signs and gestures. To have looked at my companion, +as, sympathizing with my sufferings, he strove to put an end to +them, one would have thought that he was the deaf and dumb +alphabet incarnated. Whether my tormentor yielded to Toby's +entreaties, or paused from sheer exhaustion, I do not know; but +all at once he ceased his operations, and at the same time the +chief relinquishing his hold upon me, I fell back, faint and +breathless with the agony I had endured. + +My unfortunate limb was now left much in the same condition as a +rump-steak after undergoing the castigating process which +precedes cooking. My physician, having recovered from the +fatigues of his exertions, as if anxious to make amends for the +pain to which he had subjected me, now took some herbs out of a +little wallet that was suspended from his waist, and moistening +them in water, applied them to the inflamed part, stooping over +it at the same time, and either whispering a spell, or having a +little confidential chat with some imaginary demon located in the +calf of my leg. My limb was now swathed in leafy bandages, and +grateful to Providence for the cessation of hostilities, I was +suffered to rest. + +Mehevi shortly after rose to depart; but before he went he spoke +authoritatively to one of the natives whom he addressed as +Kory-Kory; and from the little I could understand of what took +place, pointed him out to me as a man whose peculiar business +thenceforth would be to attend upon my person. I am not certain +that I comprehended as much as this at the time, but the +subsequent conduct of my trusty body-servant fully assured me +that such must have been the case. + +I could not but be amused at the manner in which the chief +addressed me upon this occasion, talking to me for at least +fifteen or twenty minutes as calmly as if I could understand +every word that he said. I remarked this peculiarity very often +afterwards in many other of the islanders. + +Mehevi having now departed, and the family physician having +likewise made his exit, we were left about sunset with ten or +twelve natives, who by this time I had ascertained composed the +household of which Toby and I were members. As the dwelling to +which we had been first introduced was the place of my permanent +abode while I remained in the valley, and as I was necessarily +placed upon the most intimate footing with its occupants, I may +as well here enter into a little description of it and its +inhabitants. This description will apply also to nearly all the +other dwelling-places in the vale, and will furnish some idea of +the generality of the natives. + +Near one side of the valley, and about midway up the ascent of a +rather abrupt rise of ground waving with the richest verdure, a +number of large stones were laid in successive courses, to the +height of nearly eight feet, and disposed in such a manner that +their level surface corresponded in shape with the habitation +which was perched upon it. A narrow space, however, was reserved +in front of the dwelling, upon the summit of this pile of stones +(called by the natives a 'pi-pi'), which being enclosed by a +little picket of canes, gave it somewhat the appearance of a +verandah. The frame of the house was constructed of large +bamboos planted uprightly, and secured together at intervals by +transverse stalks of the light wood of the habiscus, lashed with +thongs of bark. The rear of the tenement--built up with +successive ranges of cocoanut boughs bound one upon another, with +their leaflets cunningly woven together--inclined a little from +the vertical, and extended from the extreme edge of the 'pi-pi' +to about twenty feet from its surface; whence the shelving +roof--thatched with the long tapering leaves of the +palmetto--sloped steeply off to within about five feet of the +floor; leaving the eaves drooping with tassel-like appendages +over the front of the habitation. This was constructed of light +and elegant canes in a kind of open screenwork, tastefully +adorned with bindings of variegated sinnate, which served to hold +together its various parts. The sides of the house were +similarly built; thus presenting three quarters for the +circulation of the air, while the whole was impervious to the +rain. + +In length this picturesque building was perhaps twelve yards, +while in breadth it could not have exceeded as many feet. So +much for the exterior; which, with its wire-like reed-twisted +sides, not a little reminded me of an immense aviary. + +Stooping a little, you passed. through a narrow aperture in its +front; and facing you, on entering, lay two long, perfectly +straight, and well-polished trunks of the cocoanut tree, +extending the full length of the dwelling; one of them placed +closely against the rear, and the other lying parallel with it +some two yards distant, the interval between them being spread +with a multitude of gaily-worked mats, nearly all of a different +pattern. This space formed the common couch and lounging place +of the natives, answering the purpose of a divan in Oriental +countries. Here would they slumber through the hours of the +night, and recline luxuriously during the greater part of the +day. The remainder of the floor presented only the cool shining +surfaces of the large stones of which the 'pi-pi' was composed. + +From the ridge-pole of the house hung suspended a number of large +packages enveloped in coarse tappa; some of which contained +festival dresses, and various other matters of the wardrobe, held +in high estimation. These were easily accessible by means of a +line, which, passing over the ridge-pole, had one end attached to +a bundle, while with the other, which led to the side of the +dwelling and was there secured, the package could be lowered or +elevated at pleasure. + +Against the farther wall of the house were arranged in tasteful +figures a variety of spears and javelins, and other implements of +savage warfare. Outside of the habitation, and built upon the +piazza-like area in its front, was a little shed used as a sort +of larder or pantry, and in which were stored various articles of +domestic use and convenience. A few yards from the pi-pi was a +large shed built of cocoanut boughs, where the process of +preparing the 'poee-poee' was carried on, and all culinary +operations attended to. + +Thus much for the house, and its appurtenances; and it will be +readily acknowledged that a more commodious and appropriate +dwelling for the climate and the people could not possibly be +devised. It was cool, free to admit the air, scrupulously clean, +and elevated above the dampness and impurities of the ground. + +But now to sketch the inmates; and here I claim for my tried +servitor and faithful valet Kory-Kory the precedence of a first +description. As his character will be gradually unfolded in the +course of my narrative, I shall for the present content myself +with delineating his personal appearance. Kory-Kory, though the +most devoted and best natured serving-man in the world, was, +alas! a hideous object to look upon. He was some twenty-five +years of age, and about six feet in height, robust and well made, +and of the most extraordinary aspect. His head was carefully +shaven with the exception of two circular spots, about the size +of a dollar, near the,top of the cranium, where the hair, +permitted to grow of an amazing length, was twisted up in two +prominent knots, that gave him the appearance of being decorated +with a pair of horns. His beard, plucked out by the root from +every other part of his face, was suffered to droop in hairy +pendants, two of which garnished his under lip, and an equal +number hung from the extremity of his chin. + +Kory-Kory, with a view of improving the handiwork of nature, and +perhaps prompted by a desire to add to the engaging expression of +his countenance, had seen fit to embellish his face with three +broad longitudinal stripes of tattooing, which, like those +country roads that go straight forward in defiance of all +obstacles, crossed his nasal organ, descended into the hollow of +his eyes, and even skirted the borders of his mouth. Each +completely spanned his physiognomy; one extending in a line with +his eyes, another crossing the face in the vicinity of the nose, +and the third sweeping along his lips from ear to ear. His +countenance thus triply hooped, as it were, with tattooing, +always reminded me of those unhappy wretches whom I have +sometimes observed gazing out sentimentally from behind the +grated bars of a prison window; whilst the entire body of my +savage valet, covered all over with representations of birds and +fishes, and a variety of most unaccountable-looking creatures, +suggested to me the idea of a pictorial museum of natural +history, or an illustrated copy of 'Goldsmith's Animated Nature.' + +But it seems really heartless in me to write thus of the poor +islander, when I owe perhaps to his unremitting attentions the +very existence I now enjoy. Kory-Kory, I mean thee no harm in +what I say in regard to thy outward adornings; but they were a +little curious to my unaccustomed sight, and therefore I dilate +upon them. But to underrate or forget thy faithful services is +something I could never be guilty of, even in the giddiest moment +of my life. + +The father of my attached follower was a native of gigantic +frame, and had once possessed prodigious physical powers; but the +lofty form was now yielding to the inroads of time, though the +hand of disease seemed never to have been laid upon the aged +warrior. Marheyo--for such was his name--appeared to have +retired from all active participation in the affairs of the +valley, seldom or never accompanying the natives in their various +expeditions; and employing the greater part of his time in +throwing up a little shed just outside the house, upon which he +was engaged to my certain knowledge for four months, without +appearing to make any sensible advance. I suppose the old +gentleman was in his dotage, for he manifested in various ways +the characteristics which mark this particular stage of life. + +I remember in particular his having a choice pair of +ear-ornaments, fabricated from the teeth of some sea-monster. +These he would alternately wear and take off at least fifty times +in the course of the day, going and coming from his little hut on +each occasion with all the tranquillity imaginable. Sometimes +slipping them through the slits in his ears, he would seize his +spear--which in length and slightness resembled a +fishing-pole--and go stalking beneath the shadows of the +neighbouring groves, as if about to give a hostile meeting to +some cannibal knight. But he would soon return again, and hiding +his weapon under the projecting eaves of the house, and rolling +his clumsy trinkets carefully in a piece of tappa, would resume +his more pacific operations as quietly as if he had never +interrupted them. + +But despite his eccentricities, Marheyo was a most paternal and +warm-hearted old fellow, and in this particular not a little +resembled his son Kory-Kory. The mother of the latter was the +mistress of the family, and a notable housewife, and a most +industrious old lady she was. If she did not understand the art +of making jellies, jams, custard, tea-cakes, and such like trashy +affairs, she was profoundly skilled in the mysteries of preparing +'amar', 'poee-poee', and 'kokoo', with other substantial matters. + +She was a genuine busy-body; bustling about the house like a +country landlady at an unexpected arrival; for ever giving the +young girls tasks to perform, which the little hussies as often +neglected; poking into every corner, and rummaging over bundles +of old tappa, or making a prodigious clatter among the +calabashes. Sometimes she might have been seen squatting upon +her haunches in front of a huge wooden basin, and kneading +poee-poee with terrific vehemence, dashing the stone pestle about +as if she would shiver the vessel into fragments; on other +occasions, galloping about the valley in search of a particular +kind of leaf, used in some of her recondite operations, and +returning home, toiling and sweating, with a bundle of it, under +which most women would have sunk. + +To tell the truth, Kory-Kory's mother was the only industrious +person in all the valley of Typee; and she could not have +employed herself more actively had she been left an exceedingly +muscular and destitute widow, with an inordinate ate supply of +young children, in the bleakest part of the civilized world. +There was not the slightest necessity for the greater portion of +the labour performed by the old lady: but she seemed to work from +some irresistible impulse; her limbs continually swaying to and +fro, as if there were some indefatigable engine concealed within +her body which kept her in perpetual motion. + +Never suppose that she was a termagant or a shrew for all this; +she had the kindliest heart in the world, and acted towards me in +particular in a truly maternal manner, occasionally putting some +little morsel of choice food,into my hand, some outlandish kind +of savage sweetmeat or pastry, like a doting mother petting a +sickly urchin with tarts and sugar plums. Warm indeed are my +remembrances of the dear, good, affectionate old Tinor! + +Besides the individuals I have mentioned, there belonged to the +household three young men, dissipated, good-for-nothing, +roystering blades of savages, who were either employed in +prosecuting love affairs with the maidens of the tribe, or grew +boozy on 'arva' and tobacco in the company of congenial spirits, +the scapegraces of the valley. + +Among the permanent inmates of the house were likewise several +lovely damsels, who instead of thrumming pianos and reading +hovels, like more enlightened young ladies, substituted for these +employments the manufacture of a fine species of tappa; but for +the greater portion of the time were skipping from house to +house, gadding and gossiping with their acquaintances. + +From the rest of these, however, I must except the beauteous +nymph Fayaway, who was my peculiar favourite. Her free pliant +figure was the very perfection of female grace and beauty. Her +complexion was a rich and mantling olive, and when watching the +glow upon her cheeks I could almost swear that beneath the +transparent medium there lurked the blushes of a faint vermilion. + +The face of this girl was a rounded oval, and each feature as +perfectly formed as the heart or imagination of man could desire. + +Her full lips, when parted with a smile, disclosed teeth of +dazzling whiteness and when her rosy mouth opened with a burst of +merriment, they looked like the milk-white seeds of the 'arta,' a +fruit of the valley, which, when cleft in twain, shows them +reposing in rows on each side, imbedded in the red and juicy +pulp. Her hair of the deepest brown, parted irregularly in the +middle, flowed in natural ringlets over her shoulders, and +whenever she chanced to stoop, fell over and hid from view her +lovely bosom. Gazing into the depths of her strange blue eyes, +when she was in a contemplative mood, they seemed most placid yet +unfathomable; but when illuminated by some lively emotion, they +beamed upon the beholder like stars. The hands of Fayaway were +as soft and delicate as those of any countess; for an entire +exemption from rude labour marks the girlhood and even prime of a +Typee woman's life. Her feet, though wholly exposed, were as +diminutive and fairly shaped as those which peep from beneath the +skirts of a Lima lady's dress. The skin of this young creature, +from continual ablutions and the use of mollifying ointments, was +inconceivably smooth and soft. + +I may succeed, perhaps, in particularizing some of the individual +features of Fayaway's beauty, but that general loveliness of +appearance which they all contributed to produce I will not +attempt to describe. The easy unstudied graces of a child of +nature like this, breathing from infancy an atmosphere of +perpetual summer, and nurtured by the simple fruits of the earth; +enjoying a perfect freedom from care and anxiety, and removed +effectually from all injurious tendencies, strike the eye in a +manner which cannot be pourtrayed. This picture is no fancy +sketch; it is drawn from the most vivid recollections of the +person delineated. + +Were I asked if the beauteous form of Fayaway was altogether free +from the hideous blemish of tattooing, I should be constrained to +answer that it was not. But the practitioners of the barbarous +art, so remorseless in their inflictions upon the brawny limbs of +the warriors of the tribe, seem to be conscious that it needs not +the resources of their profession to augment the charms of the +maidens of the vale. + +The females are very little embellished in this way, and Fayaway, +and all the other young girls of her age, were even less so than +those of their sex more advanced in years. The reason of this +peculiarity will be alluded to hereafter. All the tattooing that +the nymph in question exhibited upon her person may be easily +described. Three minute dots, no bigger than pin-heads, +decorated each lip, and at a little distance were not at all +discernible. Just upon the fall of the shoulder were drawn two +parallel lines half an inch apart, and perhaps three inches in +length, the interval being filled with delicately executed +figures. These narrow bands of tattooing, thus placed, always +reminded me of those stripes of gold lace worn by officers in +undress, and which are in lieu of epaulettes to denote their +rank. + +Thus much was Fayaway tattooed. The audacious hand which had +gone so far in its desecrating work stopping short, apparently +wanting the heart to proceed. + +But I have omitted to describe the dress worn by this nymph of +the valley. + +Fayaway--I must avow the fact--for the most part clung to the +primitive and summer garb of Eden. But how becoming the costume! + +It showed her fine figure to the best possible advantage; and +nothing could have been better adapted to her peculiar style of +beauty. On ordinary occasions she was habited precisely as I +have described the two youthful savages whom we had met on first +entering the valley. At other times, when rambling among the +groves, or visiting at the houses of her acquaintances, she wore +a tunic of white tappa, reaching from her waist to a little below +the knees; and when exposed for any length of time to the sun, +she invariably protected herself from its rays by a floating +mantle of--the same material, loosely gathered about the person. +Her gala dress will be described hereafter. + +As the beauties of our own land delight in bedecking themselves +with fanciful articles of jewellery, suspending them from their +ears, hanging them about their necks, and clasping them around +their wrists; so Fayaway and her companions were in the habit of +ornamenting themselves with similar appendages. + +Flora was their jeweller. Sometimes they wore necklaces of small +carnation flowers, strung like rubies upon a fibre of tappa, or +displayed in their ears a single white bud, the stem thrust +backward through the aperture, and showing in front the delicate +petals folded together in a beautiful sphere, and looking like a +drop of the purest pearl. Chaplets too, resembling in their +arrangement the strawberry coronal worn by an English peeress, +and composed of intertwined leaves and blossoms, often crowned +their temples; and bracelets and anklets of the same tasteful +pattern were frequently to be seen. Indeed, the maidens of the +island were passionately fond of flowers, and never wearied of +decorating their persons with them; a lovely trait in their +character, and one that ere long will be more fully alluded to. + +Though in my eyes, at least, Fayaway was indisputably the +loveliest female I saw in Typee, yet the description I have given +of her will in some measure apply to nearly all the youthful +portion of her sex in the valley. Judge ye then, reader, what +beautiful creatures they must have been. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE + +OFFICIOUSNESS OF KORY-KORY--HIS DEVOTION--A BATH IN THE +STREAM--WANT OF REFINEMENT OF THE TYPEE DAMSELS--STROLL WITH +MEHEVI--A TYPEE HIGHWAY--THE TABOO GROVES--THE HOOLAH HOOLAH +GROUND--THE TI--TIMEWORN SAVAGES--HOSPITALITY OF MEHEVI--MIDNIGHT +MUSINGS--ADVENTURES IN THE DARK--DISTINGUISHED HONOURS PAID TO +THE VISITORS--STRANGE PROCESSION AND RETURN TO THE HOUSE OF +MARHEYO + +WHEN Mehevi had departed from the house, as related in the +preceding chapter, Kory-Kory commenced the functions of the post +assigned him. He brought out, various kinds of food; and, as if +I were an infant, insisted upon feeding me with his own hands. +To this procedure I, of course, most earnestly objected, but in +vain; and having laid a calabash of kokoo before me, he washed +his fingers in a vessel of water, and then putting his hands into +the dish and rolling the food into little balls, put them one +after another into my mouth. All my remonstrances against this +measure only provoked so great a clamour on his part, that I was +obliged to acquiesce; and the operation of feeding being thus +facilitated, the meal was quickly despatched. As for Toby, he +was allowed to help himself after his own fashion. + +The repast over, my attendant arranged the mats for repose, and, +bidding me lie down, covered me with a large robe of tappa, at +the same time looking approvingly upon me, and exclaiming 'Ki-Ki, +nuee nuee, ah! moee moee motarkee' (eat plenty, ah! sleep very +good). The philosophy of this sentiment I did not pretend to +question; for deprived of sleep for several preceding nights, and +the pain of my limb having much abated, I now felt inclined to +avail myself of the opportunity afforded me. + +The next morning, on waking, I found Kory-Kory stretched out on +one side of me, while my companion lay upon the other. I felt +sensibly refreshed after a night of sound repose, and immediately +agreed to the proposition of my valet that I should repair to the +water and wash, although dreading the suffering that the exertion +might produce. From this apprehension, however, I was quickly +relieved; for Kory-Kory, leaping from the pi-pi, and then backing +himself up against it, like a porter in readiness to shoulder a +trunk, with loud vociferations and a superabundance of gestures, +gave me to understand that I was to mount upon his back and be +thus transported to the stream, which flowed perhaps two hundred +yards from the house. + +Our appearance upon the verandah in front of the habitation drew +together quite a crowd, who stood looking on and conversing with +one another in the most animated manner. They reminded one of a +group of idlers gathered about the door of a village tavern when +the equipage of some distinguished traveller is brought round +previously to his departure. As soon as I clasped my arms about +the neck of the devoted fellow, and he jogged off with me, the +crowd--composed chiefly of young girls and boys--followed after, +shouting and capering with infinite glee, and accompanied us to +the banks of the stream. + +On gaining it, Kory-Kory, wading up to his hips in the water, +carried me half way across, and deposited me on a smooth black +stone which rose a few inches above the surface. The amphibious +rabble at our heels plunged in after us, and climbing to the +summit of the grass-grown rocks with which the bed of the brook +was here and there broken, waited curiously to witness our +morning ablutions. + +Somewhat embarrassed by the presence of the female portion of the +company, and feeling my cheeks burning with bashful timidity, I +formed a primitive basin by joining my hands together, and cooled +my blushes in the water it contained; then removing my frock, +bent over and washed myself down to my waist in the stream. As +soon as Kory-Kory comprehended from my motions that this was to +be the extent of my performance, he appeared perfectly aghast +with astonishment, and rushing towards me, poured out a torrent +of words in eager deprecation of so limited an operation, +enjoining me by unmistakeable signs to immerse my whole body. To +this I was forced to consent; and the honest fellow regarding me +as a froward, inexperienced child, whom it was his duty to serve +at the risk of offending, lifted me from the rocks, and tenderly +bathed my limbs. This over, and resuming my seat, I could not +avoid bursting into admiration of the scene around me. + +From the verdant surfaces of the large stones that lay scattered +about, the natives were now sliding off into the water, diving +and ducking beneath the surface in all directions--the young +girls springing buoyantly into the air, and revealing their naked +forms to the waist, with their long tresses dancing about their +shoulders, their eyes sparkling like drops of dew in the sun, and +their gay laughter pealing forth at every frolicsome incident. +On the afternoon of the day that I took my first bath in the +valley, we received another visit from Mehevi. The noble savage +seemed to be in the same pleasant mood, and was quite as cordial +in his manner as before. After remaining about an hour, he rose +from the mats, and motioning to leave the house, invited Toby and +myself to accompany him. I pointed to my leg; but Mehevi in his +turn pointed to Kory-Kory, and removed that objection; so, +mounting upon the faithful fellow's shoulders again--like the old +man of the sea astride of Sindbad--I followed after the chief. + +The nature of the route we now pursued struck me more forcibly +than anything I had yet seen, as illustrating the indolent +disposition of the islanders. The path was obviously the most +beaten one in the valley, several others leading from each side +into it, and perhaps for successive generations it had formed the +principal avenue of the place. And yet, until I grew more +familiar with its impediments, it seemed as difficult to travel +as the recesses of a wilderness. Part of it swept around an +abrupt rise. of ground, the surface of which was broken by +frequent inequalities, and thickly strewn with projecting masses +of rocks, whose summits were often hidden from view by the +drooping foliage of the luxurious vegetation. Sometimes directly +over, sometimes evading these obstacles with a wide circuit, the +path wound along;--one moment climbing over a sudden eminence +smooth with continued wear, then descending on the other side +into a steep glen, and crossing the flinty channel of a brook. +Here it pursued the depths of a glade, occasionally obliging you +to stoop beneath vast horizontal branches; and now you stepped +over huge trunks and boughs that lay rotting across the track. + +Such was the grand thoroughfare of Typee. After proceeding a +little distance along it--Kory-Kory panting and blowing with the +weight of his burden--I dismounted from his back, and grasping +the long spear of Mehevi in my hand, assisted my steps over the +numerous obstacles of the road; preferring this mode of advance +to one which, from the difficulties of the way, was equally +painful to myself and my wearied servitor. + +Our journey was soon at an end; for, scaling a sudden height, we +came abruptly upon the place of our destination. I wish that it +were possible to sketch in words this spot as vividly as I +recollect it. + +Here were situated the Taboo groves of the valley--the scene of +many a prolonged feast, of many a horrid rite. Beneath the dark +shadows of the consecrated bread-fruit trees there reigned a +solemn twilight--a cathedral-like gloom. The frightful genius of +pagan worship seemed to brood in silence over the place, +breathing its spell upon every object around. Here and there, in +the depths of these awful shades, half screened from sight by +masses of overhanging foliage, rose the idolatrous altars of the +savages, built of enormous blocks of black and polished stone, +placed one upon another, without cement, to the height of twelve +or fifteen feet, and surmounted by a rustic open temple, enclosed +with a low picket of canes, within which might be seen, in +various stages of decay, offerings of bread-fruit and cocoanuts, +and the putrefying relics of some recent sacrifice. + +In the midst of the wood was the hallowed 'Hoolah Hoolah' +ground--set apart for the celebration of the fantastical +religious ritual of these people--comprising an extensive oblong +pi-pi, terminating at either end in a lofty terraced altar, +guarded by ranks of hideous wooden idols, and with the two +remaining sides flanked by ranges of bamboo sheds, opening +towards the interior of the quadrangle thus formed. Vast trees, +standing in the middle of this space, and throwing over it an +umbrageous shade, had their massive trunks built round with +slight stages, elevated a few feet above the ground, and railed +in with canes, forming so many rustic pulpits, from which the +priests harangued their devotees. + +This holiest of spots was defended from profanation by the +strictest edicts of the all-pervading 'taboo', which condemned to +instant death the sacrilegious female who should enter or touch +its sacred precincts, or even so much as press with her feet the +ground made holy by the shadows that it cast. + +Access was had to the enclosure through an embowered entrance, on +one side, facing a number of towering cocoanut trees, planted at +intervals along a level area of a hundred yards. At the further +extremity of this space was to be seen a building of considerable +size, reserved for the habitation of the priests and religious +attendants of the groves. + +In its vicinity was another remarkable edifice, built as usual +upon the summit of a pi-pi, and at least two hundred feet in +length, though not more than twenty in breadth. The whole front +of this latter structure was completely open, and from one end to +the other ran a narrow verandah, fenced in on the edge of the +pi-pi with a picket of canes. Its interior presented the +appearance of an immense lounging place, the entire floor being +strewn with successive layers of mats, lying between parallel +trunks of cocoanut trees, selected for the purpose from the +straightest and most symmetrical the vale afforded. + +To this building, denominated in the language of the natives the +'Ti', Mehevi now conducted us. Thus far we had been accompanied +by a troop of the natives of both sexes; but as soon as we +approached its vicinity, the females gradually separated +themselves from the crowd, and standing aloof, permitted us to +pass on. The merciless prohibitions of the taboo extended +likewise to this edifice, and were enforced by the same dreadful +penalty that secured the Hoolah-Hoolah ground from the imaginary +pollution of a woman's presence. + +On entering the house, I was surprised to see six muskets ranged +against the bamboo on one side, from the barrels of which +depended as many small canvas pouches, partly filled with powder. + +Disposed about these muskets, like the cutlasses that decorate +the bulkhead of a man-of-war's cabin, were a great variety of +rude spears and paddles, javelins, and war-clubs. This then, +said I to Toby, must be the armoury of the tribe. + +As we advanced further along the building, we were struck with +the aspect of four or five hideous old wretches, on whose +decrepit forms time and tattooing seemed,to have obliterated +every trace of humanity. Owing to the continued operation of +this latter process, which only terminates among the warriors of +the island after all the figures stretched upon their limbs in +youth have been blended together--an effect, however, produced +only in cases of extreme longevity--the bodies Of these men were +of a uniform dull green colour--the hue which the tattooing +gradually assumes as the individual advances in age. Their skin +had a frightful scaly appearance, which, united with its singular +colour, made their limbs not a little resemble dusty specimens of +verde-antique. Their flesh, in parts, hung upon them in huge +folds, like the overlapping plaits on the flank of a rhinoceros. +Their heads were completely bald, whilst their faces were +puckered into a thousand wrinkles, and they presented no vestige +of a beard. But the most remarkable peculiarity about them was +the appearance of their feet; the toes, like the radiating lines +of the mariner's compass, pointed to every quarter of the +horizon. This was doubtless attributable to the fact, that +during nearly a hundred years of existence the said toes never +had been subjected to any artificial confinement, and in their +old age, being averse to close neighbourhood, bid one another +keep open order. + +These repulsive-looking creatures appeared to have lost the use +of their lower limbs altogether; sitting upon the floor +cross-legged in a state of torpor. They never heeded us in the +least, scarcely looking conscious of our presence, while Mehevi +seated us upon the mats, and Kory-Kory gave utterance to some +unintelligible gibberish + +In a few moments a boy entered with a wooden trencher of +poee-poee; and in regaling myself with its contents I was obliged +again to submit to the officious intervention of my indefatigable +servitor. Various other dishes followed, the chief manifesting +the most hospitable importunity in pressing us to partake, and to +remove all bashfulness on our part, set us no despicable example +in his own person. + +The repast concluded, a pipe was lighted, which passed from mouth +to mouth, and yielding to its soporific influence, the quiet of +the place, and the deepening shadows of approaching night, my +companion and I sank into a kind of drowsy repose, while the +chief and Kory-Kory seemed to be slumbering beside us. + +I awoke from an uneasy nap, about midnight, as I supposed; and, +raising myself partly from the mat, became sensible that we were +enveloped in utter darkness. Toby lay still asleep, but our late +companions had disappeared. The only sound that interrupted the +silence of the place was the asthmatic breathing of the old men I +have mentioned, who reposed at a little distance from us. +Besides them, as well as I could judge, there was no one else in +the house. + +Apprehensive of some evil, I roused my comrade, and we were +engaged in a whispered conference concerning the unexpected +withdrawal of the natives when all at once, from the depths of +the grove, in full view of us where we lay, shoots of flame were +seen to rise, and in a few moments illuminated the surrounding +trees, casting, by contrast, into still deeper gloom the darkness +around us. + +While we continued gazing at this sight, dark figures appeared +moving to and fro before the flames; while others, dancing and +capering about, looked like so many demons. + +Regarding this new phenomenon with no small degree of +trepidation, I said to my companion, 'What can all this mean, +Toby?' + +'Oh, nothing,' replied he; 'getting the fire ready, I suppose.' + +'Fire!' exclaimed I, while my heart took to beating like a trip- +hammer, 'what fire?' + +'Why, the fire to cook us, to be sure, what else would the +cannibals be kicking up such a row about if it were not for +that?' + +'Oh, Toby! have done with your jokes; this is no time for them; +something is about to happen, I feel confident.' + +'Jokes, indeed?' exclaimed Toby indignantly. 'Did you ever hear +me joke? Why, for what do you suppose the devils have been +feeding us up in this kind of style during the last three days, +unless it were for something that you are too much frightened at +to talk about? Look at that Kory-Kory there!--has he not been +stuffing you with his confounded mushes, just in the way they +treat swine before they kill them? Depend upon it, we will be +eaten this blessed night, and there is the fire we shall be +roasted by.' + +This view of the matter was not at all calculated to allay my +apprehensions, and I shuddered when I reflected that we were +indeed at the mercy of a tribe of cannibals, and that the +dreadful contingency to which Toby had alluded was by no means +removed beyond the bounds of possibility. + +'There! I told you so! they are coming for us!' exclaimed my +companion the next moment, as the forms of four of the islanders +were seen in bold relief against the illuminated back-ground +mounting the pi-pi and approaching towards us. + +They came on noiselessly, nay stealthily, and glided along +through the gloom that surrounded us as if about to spring upon +some object they were fearful of disturbing before they should +make sure of it.--Gracious heaven! the horrible reflections +which crowded upon me that moment.--A cold sweat stood upon my +brow, and spell-bound with terror I awaited my fate! + +Suddenly the silence was broken by the well-remembered tones of +Mehevi, and at the kindly accents of his voice my fears were +immediately dissipated. 'Tommo, Toby, ki ki!' (eat). He had +waited to address us, until he had assured himself that we were +both awake, at which he seemed somewhat surprised. + +'Ki ki! is it?' said Toby in his gruff tones; 'Well, cook us +first, will you--but what's this?' he added, as another savage +appeared, bearing before him a large trencher of wood containing +some kind of steaming meat, as appeared from the odours it +diffused, and which he deposited at the feet of Mehevi. 'A baked +baby, I dare say I but I will have none of it, never mind what it +is.--A pretty fool I should make of myself, indeed, waked up here +in the middle of the night, stuffing and guzzling, and all to +make a fat meal for a parcel of booby-minded cannibals one of +these mornings!--No, I see what they are at very plainly, so I am +resolved to starve myself into a bunch of bones and gristle, and +then, if they serve me up, they are welcome! But I say, Tommo, +you are not going to eat any of that mess there, in the dark, are +you? Why, how can you tell what it is?' + +'By tasting it, to be sure,' said I, masticating a morsel that +Kory-Kory had just put in my mouth, 'and excellently good it is, +too, very much like veal.' + +'A baked baby, by the soul of Captain Cook!' burst forth Toby, +with amazing vehemence; 'Veal? why there never was a calf on the +island till you landed. I tell you you are bolting down +mouthfuls from a dead Happar's carcass, as sure as you live, and +no mistake!' + +Emetics and lukewarm water! What a sensation in the abdominal +region! Sure enough, where could the fiends incarnate have +obtained meat? But I resolved to satisfy myself at all hazards; +and turning to Mehevi, I soon made the ready chief understand +that I wished a light to be brought. When the taper came, I +gazed eagerly into the vessel, and recognized the mutilated +remains of a juvenile porker! 'Puarkee!' exclaimed Kory-Kory, +looking complacently at the dish; and from that day to this I +have never forgotten that such is the designation of a pig in the +Typee lingo. + +The next morning, after being again abundantly feasted by the +hospitable Mehevi, Toby and myself arose to depart. But the +chief requested us to postpone our intention. 'Abo, abo' (Wait, +wait), he said and accordingly we resumed our seats, while, +assisted by the zealous Kory-Kory, he appeared to be engaged in +giving directions to a number of the natives outside, who were +busily employed in making arrangements, the nature of which we +could not comprehend. But we were not left long in our +ignorance, for a few moments only had elapsed, when the chief +beckoned us to approach, and we perceived that he had been +marshalling a kind of guard of honour to escort us on our return +to the house of Marheyo. + +The procession was led off by two venerable-looking savages, each +provided with a spear, from the end of which streamed a pennon of +milk-white tappa. After them went several youths, bearing aloft +calabashes of poee-poee, and followed in their turn by four +stalwart fellows, sustaining long bamboos, from the tops of which +hung suspended, at least twenty feet from the ground, large +baskets of green bread-fruits. Then came a troop of boys, +carrying bunches of ripe bananas, and baskets made of the woven +leaflets of cocoanut boughs, filled with the young fruit of the +tree, the naked shells stripped of their husks peeping forth from +the verdant wicker-work that surrounded them. Last of all came a +burly islander, holding over his head a wooden trencher, in which +lay disposed the remnants of our midnight feast, hidden from +view, however, by a covering of bread-fruit leaves. + +Astonished as I was at this exhibition, I could not avoid smiling +at its grotesque appearance, and the associations it naturally +called up. Mehevi, it seemed, was bent on replenishing old +Marheyo's larder, fearful perhaps that without this precaution +his guests might not fare as well as they could desire. + +As soon as I descended from the pi-pi, the procession formed +anew, enclosing us in its centre; where I remained part of the +time, carried by Kory-Kory, and occasionally relieving him from +his burden by limping along with spear. When we moved off in +this order, the natives struck up a musical recitative, which +with various alternations, they continued until we arrived at the +place of our destination. + +As we proceeded on our way, bands of young girls, darting from +the surrounding groves, hung upon our skirts, and accompanied us +with shouts of merriment and delight, which almost drowned the +deep notes of the recitative. On approaching old Marheyo's +domicile, its inmates rushed out to receive us; and while the +gifts of Mehevi were being disposed of, the superannuated warrior +did the honours of his mansion with all the warmth of hospitality +evinced by an English squire when he regales his friends at some +fine old patrimonial mansion. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN + +ATTEMPT TO PROCURE RELIEF FROM NUKUHEVA--PERILOUS ADVENTURE OF +TOBY IN THE HAPPAR MOUNTAINS--ELOQUENCE OF KORY-KORY + +AMIDST these novel scenes a week passed away almost +imperceptibly. The natives, actuated by some mysterious impulse, +day after day redoubled their attentions to us. Their manner +towards us was unaccountable. Surely, thought I, they would not +act thus if they meant us any harm. But why this excess of +deferential kindness, or what equivalent can they imagine us +capable of rendering them for it? + +We were fairly puzzled. But despite the apprehensions I could +not dispel, the horrible character imputed to these Typees +appeared to be wholly undeserved. + +'Why, they are cannibals!' said Toby on one occasion when I +eulogized the tribe. 'Granted,' I replied, 'but a more humane, +gentlemanly and amiable set of epicures do not probably exist in +the Pacific.' + +But, notwithstanding the kind treatment we received, I was too +familiar with the fickle disposition of savages not to feel +anxious to withdraw from the valley, and put myself beyond the +reach of that fearful death which, under all these smiling +appearances, might yet menace us. But here there was an obstacle +in the way of doing so. It was idle for me to think of moving +from the place until I should have recovered from the severe +lameness that afflicted me; indeed my malady began seriously to +alarm me; for, despite the herbal remedies of the natives, it +continued to grow worse and worse. Their mild applications, +though they soothed the pain, did not remove the disorder, and I +felt convinced that without better aid I might anticipate long +and acute suffering. + +But how was this aid to be procured? From the surgeons of the +French fleet, which probably still lay in the bay of Nukuheva, it +might easily have been obtained, could I have made my case known +to them. But how could that be effected? + +At last, in the exigency to which I was reduced, I proposed to +Toby that he should endeavour to go round to Nukuheva, and if he +could not succeed in returning to the valley by water, in one of +the boats of the squadron, and taking me off, he might at least +procure me some proper medicines, and effect his return overland. + +My companion listened to me in silence, and at first did not +appear to relish the idea. The truth was, he felt impatient to +escape from the place, and wished to avail himself of our present +high favour with the natives to make good our retreat, before we +should experience some sudden alteration in their behaviour. As +he could not think of leaving me in my helpless condition, he +implored me to be of good cheer; assured me that I should soon be +better, and enabled in a few days to return with him to Nukuheva. + +Added to this, he could not bear the idea of again returning to +this dangerous place; and as for the expectation of persuading +the Frenchmen to detach a boat's crew for the purpose of rescuing +me from the Typees, he looked upon it as idle; and with arguments +that I could not answer, urged the improbability of their +provoking the hostilities of the clan by any such measure; +especially, as for the purpose of quieting its apprehensions, +they had as yet refrained from making any visit to the bay. 'And +even should they consent,' said Toby, 'they would only produce a +commotion in the valley, in which we might both be sacrificed by +these ferocious islanders.' This was unanswerable; but still I +clung to the belief that he might succeed in accomplishing the +other part of my plan; and at last I overcame his scruples, and +he agreed to make the attempt. + +As soon as we succeeded in making the natives understand our +intention, they broke out into the most vehement opposition to +the measure, and for a while I almost despaired of obtaining +their consent. At the bare thought of one of us leaving them, +they manifested the most lively concern. The grief and +consternation of Kory-Kory, in particular, was unbounded; he +threw himself into a perfect paroxysm of gestures which were +intended to convey to us not only his abhorrence of Nukuheva and +its uncivilized inhabitants, but also his astonishment that after +becoming acquainted with the enlightened Typees, we should evince +the least desire to withdraw, even for a time, from their +agreeable society. + +However, I overbore his objections by appealing to my lameness; +from which I assured the natives I should speedily recover if +Toby were permitted to obtain the supplies I needed. + +It was agreed that on the following morning my companion should +depart, accompanied by some one or two of the household, who +should point out to him an easy route, by which the bay might be +reached before sunset. + +At early dawn of the next day, our habitation was astir. One of +the young men mounted into an adjoining cocoanut tree, and threw +down a number of the young fruit, which old Marheyo quickly +stripped of the green husks, and strung together upon a short +pole. These were intended to refresh Toby on his route. + +The preparations being completed, with no little emotion I bade +my companion adieu. He promised to return in three days at +farthest; and, bidding me keep up my spirits in the interval, +turned round the corner of the pi-pi, and, under the guidance of +the venerable Marheyo, was soon out of sight. His departure +oppressed me with melancholy, and, re-entering the dwelling, I +threw myself almost in despair upon the matting of the floor. + +In two hours' time the old warrior returned, and gave me to +understand that after accompanying my companion a little +distance, and showing him the route, he had left him journeying +on his way. + +It was about noon of this same day, a season which these people +are wont to pass in sleep, that I lay in the house, surrounded by +its slumbering inmates, and painfully affected by the strange +silence which prevailed. All at once I thought I heard a faint +shout, as if proceeding from some persons in the depth of the +grove which extended in front of our habitation. + +The sounds grew louder and nearer, and gradually the whole valley +rang with wild outcries. The sleepers around me started to their +feet in alarm, and hurried outside to discover the cause of the +commotion. Kory-Kory, who had been the first to spring up, soon +returned almost breathless, and nearly frantic with the +excitement under which he seemed to be labouring. All that I +could understand from him was that some accident had happened to +Toby. Apprehensive of some dreadful calamity, I rushed out of +the house, and caught sight of a tumultuous crowd, who, with +shrieks and lamentations, were just emerging from the grove +bearing in their arms some object, the sight of which produced +all this transport of sorrow. As they drew near, the men +redoubled their cries, while the girls, tossing their bare arms +in the air, exclaimed plaintively, 'Awha! awha! Toby mukee +moee!'--Alas! alas! Toby is killed! + +In a moment the crowd opened, and disclosed the apparently +lifeless body of my companion home between two men, the head +hanging heavily against the breast of the foremost. The whole +face, neck, back, and bosom were covered with blood, which still +trickled slowly from a wound behind the temple. In the midst of +the greatest uproar and confusion the body was carried into the +house and laid on a mat. Waving the natives off to give room and +air, I bent eagerly over Toby, and, laying my hand upon the +breast, ascertained that the heart still beat. Overjoyed at +this, I seized a calabash of water, and dashed its contents upon +his face, then wiping away the blood, anxiously examined the +wound. It was about three inches long, and on removing the +clotted hair from about it, showed the skull laid completely +bare. Immediately with my knife I cut away the heavy locks, and +bathed the part repeatedly in water. + +In a few moments Toby revived, and opening his eyes for a +second--closed them again without speaking. Kory-Kory, who had +been kneeling beside me, now chafed his limbs gently with the +palms of his hands, while a young girl at his head kept fanning +him, and I still continued to moisten his lips and brow. Soon my +poor comrade showed signs of animation, and I succeeded in making +him swallow from a cocoanut shell a few mouthfuls of water. + +Old Tinor now appeared, holding in her hand some simples she had +gathered, the juice of which she by signs besought me to squeeze +into the wound. Having done so, I thought it best to leave Toby +undisturbed until he should have had time to rally his faculties. +Several times he opened his lips, but fearful for his safety I +enjoined silence. In the course of two or three hours, however, +he sat up, and was sufficiently recovered to tell me what had +occurred. + +'After leaving the house with Marheyo,' said Toby, 'we struck +across the valley, and ascended the opposite heights. Just +beyond them, my guide informed me, lay the valley of Happar, +while along their summits, and skirting the head of the vale, was +my route to Nukuheva. After mounting a little way up the +elevation my guide paused, and gave me to understand that he +could not accompany me any farther, and by various signs +intimated that he was afraid to approach any nearer the +territories of the enemies of his tribe. He however pointed out +my path, which now lay clearly before me, and bidding me +farewell, hastily descended the mountain. + +'Quite elated at being so near the Happars, I pushed up the +acclivity, and soon gained its summit. It tapered to a sharp +ridge, from whence I beheld both the hostile valleys. Here I sat +down and rested for a moment, refreshing myself with my +cocoanuts. I was soon again pursuing my way along the height, +when suddenly I saw three of the islanders, who must have just +come out of Happar valley, standing in the path ahead of me. +They were each armed with a heavy spear, and one from his +appearance I took to be a chief. They sung out something, I +could not understand what, and beckoned me to come on. + +'Without the least hesitation I advanced towards them, and had +approached within about a yard of the foremost, when, pointing +angrily into the Typee valley, and uttering some savage +exclamation, he wheeled round his weapon like lightning, and +struck me in a moment to the ground. The blow inflicted this +wound, and took away my senses. As soon as I came to myself, I +perceived the three islanders standing a little distance off, and +apparently engaged in some violent altercation respecting me. + +'My first impulse was to run for it; but, in endeavouring to +rise, I fell back, and rolled down a little grassy precipice. +The shock seemed to rally my faculties; so, starting to my feet, +I fled down the path I had just ascended. I had no need to look +behind me, for, from the yells I heard, I knew that my enemies +were in full pursuit. Urged on by their fearful outcries, and +heedless of the injury I had received--though the blood flowing +from the wound trickled over into my eyes and almost blinded +me--I rushed down the mountain side with the speed of the wind. +In a short time I had descended nearly a third of the distance, +and the savages had ceased their cries, when suddenly a terrific +howl burst upon my ear, and at the same moment a heavy javelin +darted past me as I fled, and stuck quivering in a tree close to +me. Another yell followed, and a second spear and a third shot +through the air within a few feet of my body, both of them +piercing the ground obliquely in advance of me. The fellows gave +a roar of rage and disappointment; but they were afraid, I +suppose, of coming down further into the Typee valley, and so +abandoned the chase. I saw them recover their weapons and turn +back; and I continued my descent as fast as I could. + +'What could have caused this ferocious attack on the part of +these Happars I could not imagine, unless it were that they had +seen me ascending the mountain with Marheyo, and that the mere +fact of coming from the Typee valley was sufficient to provoke +them. + +'As long as I was in danger I scarcely felt the wound I had +received; but when the chase was over I began to suffer from it. +I had lost my hat in the flight, and the run scorched my bare +head. I felt faint and giddy; but, fearful of falling to the +ground beyond the reach of assistance, I staggered on as well as +I could, and at last gained the level of the valley, and then +down I sank; and I knew nothing more until I found myself lying +upon these mats, and you stooping over me with the calabash of +water.' + +Such was Toby's account of this sad affair. I afterwards learned +that, fortunately, he had fallen close to a spot where the +natives go for fuel. A party of them caught sight of him as he +fell, and sounding the alarm, had lifted him up; and after +ineffectually endeavouring to restore him at the brook, had +hurried forward with him to the house. + +This incident threw a dark cloud over our prospects. It reminded +us that we were hemmed in by hostile tribes, whose territories we +could not hope to pass, on our route to Nukuheva, without +encountering the effects of their savage resentment. There +appeared to be no avenue opened to our escape but the sea, which +washed the lower extremities of the vale. + +Our Typee friends availed themselves of the recent disaster of +Toby to exhort us to a due appreciation of the blessings we +enjoyed among them, contrasting their own generous reception of +us with the animosity of their neighbours. They likewise dwelt +upon the cannibal propensities of the Happars, a subject which +they were perfectly aware could not fail to alarm us; while at +the same time they earnestly disclaimed all participation in so +horrid a custom. Nor did they omit to call upon us to admire the +natural loveliness of their own abode, and the lavish abundance +with which it produced all manner of luxuriant fruits; exalting +it in this particular above any of the surrounding valleys. + +Kory-Kory seemed to experience so heartfelt a desire to infuse +into our minds proper views on these subjects, that, assisted in +his endeavours by the little knowledge of the language we had +acquired, he actually made us comprehend a considerable part of +what he said. To facilitate our correct apprehension of his +meaning, he at first condensed his ideas into the smallest +possible compass. + +'Happar keekeeno nuee,' he exclaimed, 'nuee, nuee, ki ki +kannaka!--ah! owle motarkee!' which signifies, 'Terrible fellows +those Happars!--devour an amazing quantity of men!--ah, shocking +bad!' Thus far he explained himself by a variety of gestures, +during the performance of which he would dart out of the house, +and point abhorrently towards the Happar valley; running in to us +again with a rapidity that showed he was fearful he would lose +one part of his meaning before he could complete the other; and +continuing his illustrations by seizing the fleshy part of my arm +in his teeth, intimating by the operation that the people who +lived over in that direction would like nothing better than to +treat me in that manner. + +Having assured himself that we were fully enlightened on this +point, he proceeded to another branch of his subject. 'Ah! +Typee mortakee!--nuee, nuee mioree--nuee, nuee wai--nuee, nuee +poee-poee--nuee, nuee kokoo--ah! nuee, nuee kiki--ah! nuee, +nuee, nuee!' Which literally interpreted as before, would imply, +'Ah, Typee! isn't it a fine place though!--no danger of starving +here, I tell you!--plenty of bread-fruit--plenty of water--plenty +of pudding--ah! plenty of everything! ah! heaps, heaps heaps!' +All this was accompanied by a running commentary of signs and +gestures which it was impossible not to comprehend. + +As he continued his harangue, however, Kory-Kory, in emulation of +our more polished orators, began to launch out rather diffusely +into other branches of his subject, enlarging probably upon the +moral reflections it suggested; and proceeded in such a strain of +unintelligible and stunning gibberish, that he actually gave me +the headache for the rest of the day. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN + +A GREAT EVENT HAPPENS IN THE VALLEY--THE ISLAND +TELEGRAPH--SOMETHING BEFALLS TOBY--FAYAWAY DISPLAYS A TENDER +HEART--MELANCHOLY REFLECTIONS--MYSTERIOUS CONDUCT OF THE +ISLANDERS--DEVOTION OF KORY-KORY--A RURAL COUCH--A +LUXURY--KORY-KORY STRIKES A LIGHT A LA TYPEE + +IN the course of a few days Toby had recovered from the effects +of his adventure with the Happar warriors; the wound on his head +rapidly healing under the vegetable treatment of the good Tinor. +Less fortunate than my companion however, I still continued to +languish under a complaint, the origin and nature of which were +still a mystery. Cut off as I was from all intercourse with the +civilized world, and feeling the inefficacy of anything the +natives could do to relieve me; knowing, too, that so long as I +remained in my present condition, it would be impossible for me +to leave the valley, whatever opportunity might present itself; +and apprehensive that ere long we might be exposed to some +caprice on the part of the islanders, I now gave up all hopes of +recovery, and became a prey to the most gloomy thoughts. A deep +dejection fell upon me, which neither the friendly remonstrances +of my companion, the devoted attentions of Kory-Kory nor all the +soothing influences of Fayaway could remove. + +One morning as I lay on the mats in the house, plunged in +melancholy reverie, and regardless of everything around me, Toby, +who had left me about an hour, returned in haste, and with great +glee told me to cheer up and be of good heart; for he believed, +from what was going on among the natives, that there were boats +approaching the bay. + +These tidings operated upon me like magic. The hour of our +deliverance was at hand, and starting up, I was soon convinced +that something unusual was about to occur. The word 'botee! +botee!' was vociferated in all directions; and shouts were heard +in the distance, at first feebly and faintly; but growing louder +and nearer at each successive repetition, until they were caught +up by a fellow in a cocoanut tree a few yards off, who sounding +them in turn, they were reiterated from a neighbouring grove, and +so died away gradually from point to point, as the intelligence +penetrated into the farthest recess of the valley. This was the +vocal telegraph of the islanders; by means of which condensed +items of information could be carried in a very few minutes from +the sea to their remotest habitation, a distance of at least +eight or nine miles. On the present occasion it was in active +operation; one piece of information following another with +inconceivable rapidity. + +The greatest commotion now appeared to prevail. At every fresh +item of intelligence the natives betrayed the liveliest interest, +and redoubled the energy with which they employed themselves in +collecting fruit to sell to the expected visitors. Some were +tearing off the husks from cocoanuts; some perched in the trees +were throwing down bread-fruit to their companions, who gathered +them into heaps as they fell; while others were plying their +fingers rapidly in weaving leafen baskets in which to carry the +fruit. + +There were other matters too going on at the same time. Here you +would see a stout warrior polishing his spear with a bit of old +tappa, or adjusting the folds of the girdle about his waist; and +there you might descry a young damsel decorating herself with +flowers, as if having in her eye some maidenly conquest; while, +as in all cases of hurry and confusion in every part of the +world, a number of individuals kept hurrying to and fro, with +amazing vigour and perseverance, doing nothing themselves, and +hindering others. + +Never before had we seen the islanders in such a state of bustle +and excitement; and the scene furnished abundant evidence of the +fact--that it was only at long intervals any such events occur. + +When I thought of the length of time that might intervene before +a similar chance of escape would be presented, I bitterly +lamented that I had not the power of availing myself effectually +of the present opportunity. + +From all that we could gather, it appeared that the natives were +fearful of arriving too late upon the beach, unless they made +extraordinary exertions. Sick and lame as I was, I would have +started with Toby at once, had not Kory-Kory not only refused to +carry me, but manifested the most invincible repugnance to our +leaving the neighbourhood of the house. The rest of the savages +were equally opposed to our wishes, and seemed grieved and +astonished at the earnestness of my solicitations. I clearly +perceived that while my attendant avoided all appearance of +constraining my movements, he was nevertheless determined to +thwart my wishes. He seemed to me on this particular occasion, +as well as often afterwards, to be executing the orders of some +other person with regard to me, though at the same time feeling +towards me the most lively affection. + +Toby, who had made up his mind to accompany the islanders if +possible, as soon as they were in readiness to depart, and who +for that reason had refrained from showing the same anxiety that +I had done, now represented to me that it was idle for me to +entertain the hope of reaching the beach in time to profit by any +opportunity that might then be presented. + +'Do you not see,' said he, 'the savages themselves are fearful of +being too late, and I should hurry forward myself at once did I +not think that if I showed too much eagerness I should destroy +all our hopes of reaping any benefit from this fortunate event. +If you will only endeavour to appear tranquil or unconcerned, you +will quiet their suspicions, and I have no doubt they will then +let me go with them to the beach, supposing that I merely go out +of curiosity. Should I succeed in getting down to the boats, I +will make known the condition in which I have left you, and +measures may then be taken to secure our escape.' + +In the expediency of this I could not but acquiesce; and as the +natives had now completed their preparations, I watched with the +liveliest interest the reception that Toby's application might +meet with. As soon as they understood from my companion that I +intended to remain, they appeared to make no objection to his +proposition, and even hailed it with pleasure. Their singular +conduct on this occasion not a little puzzled me at the time, and +imparted to subsequent events an additional mystery. + +The islanders were now to be seen hurrying along the path which +led to the sea. I shook Toby warmly by the hand, and gave him my +Payta hat to shield his wounded head from the sun, as he had lost +his own. He cordially returned the pressure of my hand, and +solemnly promising to return as soon as the boats should leave +the shore, sprang from my side, and the next minute disappeared +in a turn of the grove. + +In spite of the unpleasant reflections that crowded upon my mind, +I could not but be entertained by the novel and animated sight +which by now met my view. One after another the natives crowded +along the narrow path, laden with every variety of fruit. Here, +you might have seen one, who, after ineffectually endeavouring to +persuade a surly porker to be conducted in leading strings, was +obliged at last to seize the perverse animal in his arms, and +carry him struggling against his naked breast, and squealing +without intermission. There went two, who at a little distance +might have been taken for the Hebrew spies, on their return to +Moses with the goodly bunch of grape. One trotted before the +other at a distance of a couple of yards, while between them, +from a pole resting on the shoulders, was suspended a huge +cluster of bananas, which swayed to and fro with the rocking gait +at which they proceeded. Here ran another, perspiring with his +exertions, and bearing before him a quantity of cocoanuts, who, +fearful of being too late, heeded not the fruit that dropped from +his basket, and appeared solely intent upon reaching his +destination, careless how many of his cocoanuts kept company with +him. + +In a short time the last straggler was seen hurrying on his way, +and the faint shouts of those in advance died insensibly upon the +ear. Our part of the valley now appeared nearly deserted by its +inhabitants, Kory-Kory, his aged father, and a few decrepit old +people, being all that were left. + +Towards sunset the islanders in small parties began to return +from the beach, and among them, as they drew near to the house, I +sought to descry the form of my companion. But one after another +they passed the dwelling, and I caught no glimpse of him. +Supposing, however, that he would soon appear with some of the +members of the household, I quieted my apprehensions, and waited +patiently to see him advancing in company with the beautiful +Fayaway. At last, I perceived Tinor coming forward, followed by +the girls and young men who usually resided in the house of +Marheyo; but with them came not my comrade, and, filled with a +thousand alarms, I eagerly sought to discover the cause of his +delay. + +My earnest questions appeared to embarrass the natives greatly. +All their accounts were contradictory: one giving me to +understand that Toby would be with me in a very short time; +another that he did not know where he was; while a third, +violently inveighing, against him, assured me that he had stolen +away, and would never come back. It appeared to me, at the time, +that in making these various statements they endeavoured to +conceal from me some terrible disaster, lest the knowledge of it +should overpower me. + +Fearful lest some fatal calamity had overtaken him, I sought out +young Fayaway, and endeavoured to learn from her, if possible, +the truth. + +This gentle being had early attracted my regard, not only from +her extraordinary beauty, but from the attractive cast of her +countenance, singularly expressive of intelligence and humanity. +Of all the natives she alone seemed to appreciate the effect +which the peculiarity of the circumstances in which we were +placed had produced upon the minds of my companion and myself. +In addressing me--especially when I lay reclining upon the mats +suffering from pain--there was a tenderness in her manner which +it was impossible to misunderstand or resist. Whenever she +entered the house, the expression of her face indicated the +liveliest sympathy for me; and moving towards the place where I +lay, with one arm slightly elevated in a gesture of pity, and her +large glistening eyes gazing intently into mine, she would murmur +plaintively, 'Awha! awha! Tommo,' and seat herself mournfully +beside me. + +Her manner convinced me that she deeply compassionated my +situation, as being removed from my country and friends, and +placed beyond the reach of all relief. Indeed, at times I was +almost led to believe that her mind was swayed by gentle impulses +hardly to be anticipated from one in her condition; that she +appeared to be conscious there were ties rudely severed, which +had once bound us to our homes; that there were sisters and +brothers anxiously looking forward to our return, who were, +perhaps, never more to behold us. + +In this amiable light did Fayaway appear m my eyes; and reposing +full confidence in her candour and intelligence, I now had +recourse to her, in the midst of my alarm, with regard to my +companion. + +My questions evidently distressed her. She looked round from one +to another of the bystanders, as if hardly knowing what answer to +give me. At last, yielding to my importunities, she overcame her +scruples, and gave me to understand that Toby had gone away with +the boats which had visited the bay, but had promised to return +at the expiration of three days. At first I accused him of +perfidiously deserting me; but as I grew more composed, I +upbraided myself for imputing so cowardly an action to him, and +tranquillized myself with the belief that he had availed himself, +of the opportunity to go round to Nukuheva, in order to make some +arrangement by which I could be removed from the valley. At any +rate, thought I, he will return with the medicines I require, and +then, as soon as I recover, there will be no difficulty in the +way of our departure. + +Consoling myself with these reflections, I lay down that night in +a happier frame of mind than I had done for some time. The next +day passed without any allusion to Toby on the part of the +natives, who seemed desirous of avoiding all reference to the +subject. This raised some apprehensions in my breast; but when +night came, I congratulated myself that the second day had now +gone by, and that on the morrow Toby would again be with me. But +the morrow came and went, and my companion did not appear. Ah! +thought I, he reckons three days from the morning of his +departure,--tomorrow he will arrive. But that weary day also +closed upon me, without his return. Even yet I would not +despair; I thought that something detained him--that he was +waiting for the sailing of a boat, at Nukuheva, and that in a day +or two at farthest I should see him again. But day after day of +renewed disappointment passed by; at last hope deserted me, and I +fell a victim to despair. + +Yes; thought I, gloomily, he has secured his own escape, and +cares not what calamity may befall his unfortunate comrade. Fool +that I was, to suppose that any one would willingly encounter the +perils of this valley, after having once got beyond its limits! +He has gone, and has left me to combat alone all the dangers by +which I am surrounded. Thus would I sometimes seek to derive a +desperate consolation from dwelling upon the perfidity of Toby: +whilst at other times I sunk under the bitter remorse which I +felt as having by my own imprudence brought upon myself the fate +which I was sure awaited me. + +At other times I thought that perhaps after all these treacherous +savages had made away with him, and thence the confusion into +which they were thrown by my questions, and their contradictory +answers, or he might be a captive in some other part of the +valley, or, more dreadful still, might have met with that fate at +which my very soul shuddered. But all these speculations were +vain; no tidings of Toby ever reached me; he had gone never to +return. + +The conduct of the islanders appeared inexplicable. All +reference to my lost comrade was carefully evaded, and if at any +time they were forced to make some reply to my frequent inquiries +on the subject, they would uniformly denounce him as an +ungrateful runaway, who had deserted his friend, and taken +himself off to that vile and detestable place Nukuheva. + +But whatever might have been his fate, now that he was gone the +natives multiplied their acts of kindness and attention towards +myself, treating me with a degree of deference which could hardly +have been surpassed had I been some celestial visitant. +Kory-Kory never for one moment left my side, unless it were to +execute my wishes. The faithful fellow, twice every day, in the +cool of the morning and in the evening, insisted upon carrying me +to the stream, and bathing me in its refreshing water. + +Frequently in the afternoon he would carry me to a particular +part of the stream, where the beauty of the scene produced a +soothing influence upon my mind. At this place the waters flowed +between grassy banks, planted with enormous bread-fruit trees, +whose vast branches interlacing overhead, formed a leafy canopy; +near the stream were several smooth black rocks. One of these, +projecting several feet above the surface of the,water, had upon +its summit a shallow cavity, which, filled with freshly-gathered +leaves, formed a delightful couch. + +Here I often lay for hours, covered with a gauze-like veil of +tappa, while Fayaway, seated beside me, and holding in her hand a +fan woven from the leaflets of a young cocoanut bough, brushed +aside the insects that occasionally lighted on my face, and +Kory-Kory. with a view of chasing away my melancholy, performed +a thousand antics in the water before us. + +As my eye wandered along this romantic stream, it would fall upon +the half-immersed figure of a beautiful girl, standing in the +transparent water, and catching in a little net a species of +diminutive shell-fish, of which these people are extraordinarily +fond. Sometimes a chattering group would be seated upon the edge +of a low rock in the midst of the brook, busily engaged in +thinning and polishing the shells of cocoanuts, by rubbing them +briskly with a small stone in the water, an operation which soon +converts them into a light and elegant drinking vessel, somewhat +resembling goblets made of tortoise shell. + +But the tranquillizing influence of beautiful scenery, and the +exhibition of human life under so novel and charming an aspect +were not my only sources of consolation. + +Every evening the girls of the house gathered about me on the +mats, and after chasing away Kory-Kory from my side--who +nevertheless, retired only to a little distance and watched their +proceedings with the most jealous attention--would anoint my +whole body with a fragrant oil, squeezed from a yellow root, +previously pounded between a couple of stones, and which in their +language is denominated 'aka'. And most refreshing and agreeable +are the juices of the 'aka', when applied to ones, limbs by the +soft palms of sweet nymphs, whose bright eyes are beaming upon +you with kindness; and I used to hail with delight the daily +recurrence of this luxurious operation, in which I forgot all my +troubles, and buried for the time every feeling of sorrow. + +Sometimes in the cool of the evening my devoted servitor would +lead me out upon the pi-pi in front of the house, and seating me +near its edge, protect my body from the annoyance of the insects +which occasionally hovered in the air, by wrapping me round with +a large roll of tappa. He then bustled about, and employed +himself at least twenty minutes in adjusting everything to secure +my personal comfort. + +Having perfected his arrangements, he would get my pipe, and, +lighting it, would hand it to me. Often he was obliged to strike +a light for the occasion, and as the mode he adopted was entirely +different from what I had ever seen or heard of before I will +describe it. + +A straight, dry, and partly decayed stick of the Hibiscus, about +six feet in length, and half as many inches in diameter, with a +small, bit of wood not more than a foot long, and scarcely an +inch wide, is as invariably to be met with in every house in +Typee as a box of lucifer matches in the corner of a kitchen +cupboard at home. + +The islander, placing the larger stick obliquely against some +object, with one end elevated at an angle of forty-five degrees, +mounts astride of it like an urchin about to gallop off upon a +cane, and then grasping the smaller one firmly in both hands, he +rubs its pointed end slowly up and down the extent of a few +inches on the principal suck, until at last he makes a narrow +groove in the wood, with an abrupt termination at the point +furthest from him, where all the dusty particles which the +friction creates are accumulated in a little heap. + +At first Kory-Kory goes to work quite leisurely, but gradually +quickens his pace, and waxing warm in the employment, drives the +stick furiously along the smoking channel, plying his hands to +and fro with amazing rapidity, the perspiration starting from +every pore. As he approaches the climax of his effort, he pants +and gasps for breath, and his eyes almost start from their +sockets with the violence of his exertions. This is the critical +stage of the operation; all his previous labours are vain if he +cannot sustain the rapidity of the movement until the reluctant +spark is produced. Suddenly he stops, becoming perfectly +motionless. His hands still retain their hold of the smaller +stick, which is pressed convulsively against the further end of +the channel among the fine powder there accumulated, as if he had +just pierced through and through some little viper that was +wriggling and struggling to escape from his clutches. The next +moment a delicate wreath of smoke curls spirally into the air, +the heap of dusty particles glows with fire, and Kory-Kory, +almost breathless, dismounts from his steed. + +This operation appeared to me to be the most laborious species of +work performed in Typee; and had I possessed a sufficient +intimacy with the language to have conveyed my ideas upon the +subject, I should certainly have suggested to the most +influential of the natives the expediency of establishing a +college of vestals to be centrally located in the valley, for the +purpose of keeping alive the indispensable article of fire; so as +to supersede the necessity of such a vast outlay of strength and +good temper, as were usually squandered on these occasions. +There might, however, be special difficulties in carrying this +plan into execution. + +What a striking evidence does this operation furnish of the wide +difference between the extreme of savage and civilized life. A +gentleman of Typee can bring up a numerous family of children and +give them all a highly respectable cannibal education, with +infinitely less toil and anxiety than he expends in the simple +process of striking a light; whilst a poor European artisan, who +through the instrumentality of a lucifer performs the same +operation in one second, is put to his wit's end to provide for +his starving offspring that food which the children of a +Polynesian father, without troubling their parents, pluck from +the branches of every tree around them. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN + +KINDNESS OF MARHEYO AND THE REST OF THE ISLANDERS--A FULL +DESCRIPTION OF THE BREAD- FRUIT TREE--DIFFERENT MODES OF +PREPARING THE FRUIT + +ALL the inhabitants of the valley treated me with great kindness; +but as to the household of Marheyo, with whom I was now +permanently domiciled, nothing could surpass their efforts to +minister to my comfort. To the gratification of my palate they +paid the most unwearied attention. They continually invited me +to partake of food, and when after eating heartily I declined the +viands they continued to offer me, they seemed to think that my +appetite stood in need of some piquant stimulant to excite its +activity. + +In pursuance of this idea, old Marheyo himself would hie him away +to the sea-shore by the break of day, for the purpose of +collecting various species of rare sea-weed; some of which among +these people are considered a great luxury. After a whole day +spent in this employment, he would return about nightfall with +several cocoanut shells filled with different descriptions of +kelp. In preparing these for use he manifested all the +ostentation of a professed cook, although the chief mystery of +the affair appeared to consist in pouring water in judicious +quantities upon the slimy contents of his cocoanut shells. + +The first time he submitted one of these saline salads to my +critical attention I naturally thought that anything collected at +such pains must possess peculiar merits; but one mouthful was a +complete dose; and great was the consternation of the old warrior +at the rapidity with which I ejected his Epicurean treat. + +How true it is, that the rarity of any particular article +enhances its value amazingly. In some part of the valley--I know +not where, but probably in the neighbourhood of the sea--the +girls were sometimes in the habit of procuring small quantities +of salt, a thimble-full or so being the result of the united +labours of a party of five or six employed for the greater part +of the day. This precious commodity they brought to the house, +enveloped in multitudinous folds of leaves; and as a special mark +of the esteem in which they held me, would spread an immense leaf +on the ground, and dropping one by one a few minute particles of +the salt upon it, invite me to taste them. + +From the extravagant value placed upon the article, I verily +believe, that with a bushel of common Liverpool salt all the real +estate in Typee might have been purchased. With a small pinch of +it in one hand, and a quarter section of a bread-fruit in the +other, the greatest chief in the valley would have laughed at all +luxuries of a Parisian table. + +The celebrity of the bread-fruit tree, and the conspicuous place +it occupies in a Typee bill of fare, induces me to give at some +length a general description of the tree, and the various modes +in which the fruit is prepared. + +The bread-fruit tree, in its glorious prime, is a grand and +towering object, forming the same feature in a Marquesan +landscape that the patriarchal elm does in New England scenery. +The latter tree it not a little resembles in height, in the wide +spread of its stalwart branches, and in its venerable and +imposing aspect. + +The leaves of the bread-fruit are of great size, and their edges +are cut and scolloped as fantastically as those of a lady's lace +collar. As they annually tend towards decay, they almost rival +in brilliant variety of their gradually changing hues the +fleeting shades of the expiring dolphin. The autumnal tints of +our American forests, glorious as they are, sink into nothing in +comparison with this tree. + +The leaf, in one particular stage, when nearly all the prismatic +colours are blended on its surface, is often converted by the +natives into a superb and striking bead-dress. The principal +fibre traversing its length being split open a convenient +distance, and the elastic sides of the aperture pressed apart, +the head is inserted between them, the leaf drooping on one side, +with its forward half turned jauntily up on the brows, and the +remaining part spreading laterally behind the ears. + +The fruit somewhat resembles in magnitude and general appearance +one of our citron melons of ordinary size; but, unlike the +citron, it has no sectional lines drawn along the outside. Its +surface is dotted all over with little conical prominences, +looking not unlike the knobs, on an antiquated church door. The +rind is perhaps an eighth of an inch in thickness; and denuded of +this at the time when it is in the greatest perfection, the fruit +presents a beautiful globe of white pulp, the whole of which may +be eaten, with the exception of a slender core, which is easily +removed. + +The bread-fruit, however, is never used, and is indeed altogether +unfit to be eaten, until submitted in one form or other to the +action of fire. + +The most simple manner in which this operation is performed, and +I think, the best, consists in placing any number of the freshly +plucked fruit, when in a particular state of greenness, among the +embers of a fire, in the same way that you would roast a potato. +After the lapse of ten or fifteen minutes, the green rind +embrowns and. cracks, showing through the fissures in its sides +the milk-white interior. As soon as it cools the rind drops off, +and you then have the soft round pulp in its purest and most +delicious state. Thus eaten, it has a mild and pleasing flavour. + +Sometimes after having been roasted in the fire, the natives +snatch it briskly from the embers, and permitting it to slip out +of the yielding rind into a vessel of cold water, stir up the +mixture, which they call 'bo-a-sho'. I never could endure this +compound, and indeed the preparation is not greatly in vogue +among the more polite Typees. + +There is one form, however, in which the fruit is occasionally +served, that renders it a dish fit for a king. As soon as it is +taken from the fire the exterior is removed, the core extracted, +and the remaining part is placed in a sort of shallow stone +mortar, and briskly worked with a pestle of the same substance. +While one person is performing this operation, another takes a +ripe cocoanut, and breaking it in halves, which they also do very +cleverly, proceeds to grate the juicy meat into fine particles. +This is done by means of a piece of mother-of-pearl shell, lashed +firmly to the extreme end of a heavy stick, with its straight +side accurately notched like a saw. The stick is sometimes a +grotesquely-formed limb of a tree, with three or four branches +twisting from its body like so many shapeless legs, and +sustaining it two or three feet from the ground. + +The native, first placing a calabash beneath the nose, as it +were, of his curious-looking log-steed, for the purpose of +receiving the grated fragments as they fall, mounts astride of it +as if it were a hobby-horse, and twirling the inside of his +hemispheres of cocoanut around the sharp teeth of the +mother-of-pearl shell, the pure white meat falls in snowy showers +into the receptacle provided. Having obtained a quantity for his +purpose, he places it in a bag made of the net-like fibrous +substance attached to all cocoanut trees, and compressing it over +the bread-fruit, which being now sufficiently pounded, is put +into a wooden bowl--extracts a thick creamy milk. The delicious +liquid soon bubbles round the fruit, and leaves it at last just +peeping above its surface. + +This preparation is called 'kokoo', and a most luscious +preparation it is. The hobby-horse and the pestle and mortar +were in great requisition during the time I remained in the house +of Marheyo, and Kory-Kory had frequent occasion to show his skill +in their use. + +But the great staple articles of food into which the bread-fruit +is converted by these natives are known respectively by the names +of Amar and Poee-Poee. + +At a certain season of the year, when the fruit of the hundred +groves of the valley has reached its maturity, and hangs in +golden spheres from every branch, the islanders assemble in +harvest groups, and garner in the abundance which surrounds them. + +The trees are stripped of their nodding burdens, which, easily +freed from the rind and core, are gathered together in capacious +wooden vessels, where the pulpy fruit is soon worked by a stone +pestle, vigorously applied, into a blended mass of a doughy +consistency, called by the natives 'Tutao'. This is then divided +into separate parcels, which, after being made up into stout +packages, enveloped in successive folds of leaves, and bound +round with thongs of bark, are stored away in large receptacles +hollowed in the earth, from whence they are drawn as occasion may +require. In this condition the Tutao sometimes remains for +years, and even is thought to improve by age. Before it is fit +to be eaten, however, it has to undergo an additional process. A +primitive oven is scooped in the ground, and its bottom being +loosely covered with stones, a large fire is kindled within it. +As soon as the requisite degree of heat is attained, the embers +are removed, and the surface of the stones being covered with +thick layers of leaves, one of the large packages of Tutao is +deposited upon them and overspread with another layer of leaves. +The whole is then quickly heaped up with earth, and forms a +sloping mound. + +The Tutao thus baked is called 'Amar'; the action of the oven +having converted it into an amber-coloured caky substance, a +little tart, but not at all disagreeable to the taste. + +By another and final process the 'Amar' is changed into +'Poee-Poee'. This transition is rapidly effected. The Amar is +placed in a vessel, and mixed with water until it gains a proper +pudding-like consistency, when, without further preparation, t is +in readiness for use. This is the form in which the 'Tutao' is +generally consumed. The singular mode of eating it I have +already described. + +Were it not that the bread-fruit is thus capable of being +preserved for a length of time, the natives might be reduced to a +state of starvation; for owing to some unknown cause the trees +sometimes fail to bear fruit; and on such occasions the islanders +chiefly depend upon the supplies they have been enabled to store +away. + +This stately tree, which is rarely met with upon the Sandwich +Islands, and then only of a very inferior quality, and at Tahiti +does not abound to a degree that renders its fruit the principal +article of food, attains its greatest excellence in the genial +climate of the Marquesan group, where it grows to an enormous +magnitude, and flourishes in the utmost abundance. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN + +MELANCHOLY CONDITION--OCCURRENCE AT THE TI--ANECDOTE OF +MARHEYO--SHAVING THE HEAD OF A WARRIOR + +IN looking back to this period, and calling to remembrance the +numberless proofs of kindness and respect which I received from +the natives of the valley, I can scarcely understand how it was +that, in the midst of so many consolatory circumstances, my mind +should still have been consumed by the most dismal forebodings, +and have remained a prey to the profoundest melancholy. It is +true that the suspicious circumstances which had attended the +disappearance of Toby were enough of themselves to excite +distrust with regard to the savages, in whose power I felt myself +to be entirely placed, especially when it was combined with the +knowledge that these very men, kind and respectful as they were +to me, were, after all, nothing better than a set of cannibals. + +But my chief source of anxiety, and that which poisoned every +temporary enjoyment, was the mysterious disease in my leg, which +still remained unabated. All the herbal applications of Tinor, +united with the severer discipline of the old leech, and the +affectionate nursing of Kory-Kory, had failed to relieve me. I +was almost a cripple, and the pain I endured at intervals was +agonizing. The unaccountable malady showed no signs of +amendment: on the contrary, its violence increased day by day, +and threatened the most fatal results, unless some powerful means +were employed to counteract it. It seemed as if I were destined +to sink under this grievous affliction, or at least that it would +hinder me from availing myself of any opportunity of escaping +from the valley. + +An incident which occurred as nearly as I can estimate about +three weeks after the disappearance of Toby, convinced me that +the natives, from some reason or other, would interpose every +possible obstacle to my leaving them. + +One morning there was no little excitement evinced by the people +near my abode, and which I soon discovered proceeded from a vague +report that boats, had been seen at a great distance approaching +the bay. Immediately all was bustle and animation. It so +happened that day that the pain I suffered having somewhat +abated, and feeling in much better spirits than usual, I had +complied with Kory-Kory's invitation to visit the chief Mehevi at +the place called the 'Ti', which I have before described as being +situated within the precincts of the Taboo Groves. These sacred +recesses were at no great distance from Marheyo's habitation, and +lay between it and the sea; the path that conducted to the beach +passing directly in front of the Ti, and thence skirting along +the border of the groves. + +I was reposing upon the mats, within the sacred building, in +company with Mehevi and several other chiefs, when the +announcement was first made. It sent a thrill of joy through my +whole frame;--perhaps Toby was about to return. I rose at once +to my feet, and my instinctive impulse was to hurry down to the +beach, equally regardless of the distance that separated me from +it, and of my disabled condition. As soon as Mehevi noticed the +effect the intelligence had produced upon me, and the impatience +I betrayed to reach the sea, his countenance assumed that +inflexible rigidity of expression which had so awed me on the +afternoon of our arrival at the house of Marheyo. As I was +proceeding to leave the Ti, he laid his hand upon my shoulder, +and said gravely, 'abo, abo' (wait, wait). Solely intent upon +the one thought that occupied my mind, and heedless of his +request, I was brushing past him, when suddenly he assumed a tone +of authority, and told me to 'moee' (sit down). Though struck by +the alteration in his demeanour, the excitement under which I +laboured was too strong to permit me to obey the unexpected +command, and I was still limping towards the edge of the pi-pi +with Kory-Kory clinging to one arm in his efforts to restrain me, +when the natives around started to their feet, ranged themselves +along the open front of the building, while Mehevi looked at me +scowlingly, and reiterated his commands still more sternly. + +It was at this moment, when fifty savage countenances were +glaring upon me, that I first truly experienced I was indeed a +captive in the valley. The conviction rushed upon me with +staggering force, and I was overwhelmed by this confirmation of +my worst fears. I saw at once that it was useless for me to +resist, and sick at heart, I reseated myself upon the mats, and +for the moment abandoned myself to despair. + +I now perceived the natives one after the other hurrying past the +Ti and pursuing the route that conducted to the sea. These +savages, thought I, will soon be holding communication with some +of my own countrymen perhaps, who with ease could restore me to +liberty did they know of the situation I was in. No language can +describe the wretchedness which I felt; and in the bitterness of +my soul I imprecated a thousand curses on the perfidious Toby, +who had thus abandoned me to destruction. It was in vain that +Kory-Kory tempted me with food, or lighted my pipe, or sought to +attract my attention by performing the uncouth antics that had +sometimes diverted me. I was fairly knocked down by this last +misfortune, which, much as I had feared it, I had never before +had the courage calmly to contemplate. + +Regardless of everything but my own sorrow, I remained in the Ti +for several hours, until shouts proceeding at intervals from the +groves beyond the house proclaimed the return of the natives from +the beach. + +Whether any boats visited the bay that morning or not, I never +could ascertain. The savages assured me that there had not--but +I was inclined to believe that by deceiving me in this particular +they sought to allay the violence of my grief. However that +might be, this incident showed plainly that the Typees intended +to hold me a prisoner. As they still treated me with the same +sedulous attention as before, I was utterly at a loss how to +account for their singular conduct. Had I been in a situation to +instruct them in any of the rudiments of the mechanic arts, or +had I manifested a disposition to render myself in any way useful +among them, their conduct might have been attributed to some +adequate motive, but as it was, the matter seemed to me +inexplicable. + +During my whole stay on the island there occurred but two or +three instances where the natives applied to me with the view of +availing themselves of my superior information; and these now +appear so ludicrous that I cannot forbear relating them. + +The few things we had brought from Nukuheva had been done up into +a small bundle which we had carried with us in our descent to the +valley. This bundle, the first night of our arrival, I had used +as a pillow, but on the succeeding morning, opening it for the +inspection of the natives, they gazed upon the miscellaneous +contents as though I had just revealed to them a casket of +diamonds, and they insisted that so precious a treasure should be +properly secured. A line was accordingly attached to it, and the +other end being passed over the ridge-pole of the house, it was +hoisted up to the apex of the roof, where it hung suspended +directly over the mats where I usually reclined. When I desired +anything from it I merely raised my finger to a bamboo beside me, +and taking hold of the string which was there fastened, lowered +the package. This was exceedingly handy, and I took care to let +the natives understand how much I applauded the invention. Of +this package the chief contents were a razor with its case, a +supply of needles and thread, a pound or two of tobacco and a few +yards of bright-coloured calico. + +I should have mentioned that shortly after Toby's disappearance, +perceiving the uncertainty of the time I might be obliged to +remain in the valley--if, indeed, I ever should escape from +it--and considering that my whole wardrobe consisted of a shirt +and a pair of trousers, I resolved to doff these garments at +once, in order to preserve them in a suitable condition for wear +should I again appear among civilized beings. I was consequently +obliged to assume the Typee costume, a little altered, however, +to suit my own views of propriety, and in which I have no doubt I +appeared to as much advantage as a senator of Rome enveloped in +the folds of his toga. A few folds of yellow tappa tucked about +my waist, descended to my feet in the style of a lady's +petticoat, only I did not have recourse to those voluminous +paddings in the rear with which our gentle dames are in the habit +of augmenting the sublime rotundity of their figures. This +usually comprised my in-door dress; whenever I walked out, I +superadded to it an ample robe of the same material, which +completely enveloped my person, and screened it from the rays of +the sun. + +One morning I made a rent in this mantle; and to show the +islanders with what facility it could be repaired, I lowered my +bundle, and taking from it a needle and thread, proceeded to +stitch up the opening. They regarded this wonderful application +of science with intense admiration; and whilst I was stitching +away, old Marheyo, who was one of the lookers-on, suddenly +clapped his hand to his forehead, and rushing to a corner of the +house, drew forth a soiled and tattered strip of faded calico +which he must have procured some time or other in traffic on the +beach--and besought me eagerly to exercise a little of my art +upon it. I willingly complied, though certainly so stumpy a +needle as mine never took such gigantic strides over calico +before. The repairs completed, old Marheyo gave me a paternal +hug; and divesting himself of his 'maro' (girdle), swathed the +calico about his loins, and slipping the beloved ornaments into +his ears, grasped his spear and sallied out of the house, like a +valiant Templar arrayed in a new and costly suit of armour. + +I never used my razor during my stay in the island, but although +a very subordinate affair, it had been vastly admired by the +Typees; and Narmonee, a great hero among them, who was +exceedingly precise in the arrangements of his toilet and the +general adjustment of is person, being the most accurately +tattooed and laboriously horrified individual in all the valley, +thought it would be a great advantage to have it applied to the +already shaven crown of his head. + +The implement they usually employ is a shark's tooth, which is +about as well adapted to the purpose as a one-pronged fork for +pitching hay. No wonder, then, that the acute Narmonee perceived +the advantage my razor possessed over the usual implement. +Accordingly, one day he requested as a personal favour that I +would just run over his head with the razor. In reply, I gave +him to understand that it was too dull, and could not be used to +any purpose without being previously sharpened. To assist my +meaning, I went through an imaginary honing process on the palm +of my hand. Narmonee took my meaning in an instant, and running +out of the house, returned the next moment with a huge rough mass +of rock as big as a millstone, and indicated to me that that was +exactly the thing I wanted. Of course there was nothing left for +me but to proceed to business, and I began scraping away at a +great rate. He writhed and wriggled under the infliction, but, +fully convinced of my skill, endured the pain like a martyr. + +Though I never saw Narmonee in battle I will, from what I then +observed, stake my life upon his courage and fortitude. Before +commencing operations, his head had presented a surface of short +bristling hairs, and by the time I had concluded my unskilful +operation it resembled not a little a stubble field after being +gone over with a harrow. However, as the chief expressed the +liveliest satisfaction at the result, I was too wise to dissent +from his opinion. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN + +IMPROVEMENT IN HEALTH AND SPIRITS--FELICITY OF THE TYPEES--THEIR +ENJOYMENTS COMPARED WITH THOSE OF MORE ENLIGHTENED +COMMUNITIES--COMPARATIVE WICKEDNESS OF CIVILIZED AND +UNENLIGHTENED PEOPLE--A SKIRMISH IN THE MOUNTAIN WITH THE +WARRIORS OF HAPPAR + +DAY after day wore on, and still there was no perceptible change +in the conduct of the islanders towards me. Gradually I lost all +knowledge of the regular recurrence of the days of the week, and +sunk insensibly into that kind of apathy which ensues after some +violent outburst of despair. My limb suddenly healed, the +swelling went down, the pain subsided, and I had every reason to +suppose I should soon completely recover from the affliction that +had so long tormented me. + +As soon as I was enabled to ramble about the valley in company +with the natives, troops of whom followed me whenever I sallied +out of the house, I began to experience an elasticity of mind +which placed me beyond the reach of those dismal forebodings to +which I had so lately been a prey. Received wherever I went with +the most deferential kindness; regaled perpetually with the most +delightful fruits; ministered to by dark-eyed nymphs, and +enjoying besides all the services of the devoted Kory-Kory, I +thought that, for a sojourn among cannibals, no man could have +well made a more agreeable one. + +To be sure there were limits set to my wanderings. Toward the +sea my progress was barred by an express prohibition of the +savages; and after having made two or three ineffectual attempts +to reach it, as much to gratify my curiousity as anything else, I +gave up the idea. It was in vain to think of reaching it by +stealth, since the natives escorted me in numbers wherever I +went, and not for one single moment that I can recall to mind was +I ever permitted to be alone. + +The green and precipitous elevations that stood ranged around the +head of the vale where Marheyo's habitation was situated +effectually precluded all hope of escape in that quarter, even if +I could have stolen away from the thousand eyes of the savages. + +But these reflections now seldom obtruded upon me; I gave myself +up to the passing hour, and if ever disagreeable thoughts arose +in my mind, I drove them away. When I looked around the verdant +recess in which I was buried, and gazed up to the summits of the +lofty eminence that hemmed me in, I was well disposed to think +that I was in the 'Happy Valley', and that beyond those heights +there was naught but a world of care and anxiety. As I extended +my wanderings in the valley and grew more familiar with the +habits of its inmates, I was fain to confess that, despite the +disadvantages of his condition, the Polynesian savage, surrounded +by all the luxurious provisions of nature, enjoyed an infinitely +happier, though certainly a less intellectual existence than the +self-complacent European. + +The naked wretch who shivers beneath the bleak skies, and starves +among the inhospitable wilds of Tierra-del-Fuego, might indeed be +made happier by civilization, for it would alleviate his physical +wants. But the voluptuous Indian, with every desire supplied, +whom Providence has bountifully provided with all the sources of +pure and natural enjoyment, and from whom are removed so many of +the ills and pains of life--what has he to desire at the hands of +Civilization? She may 'cultivate his mind--may elevate his +thoughts,'--these I believe are the established phrases--but will +he be the happier? Let the once smiling and populous Hawiian +islands, with their now diseased, starving, and dying natives, +answer the question. The missionaries may seek to disguise the +matter as they will, but the facts are incontrovertible; and the +devoutest Christian who visits that group with an unbiased mind, +must go away mournfully asking--'Are these, alas! the fruits of +twenty-five years of enlightening?' + +In a primitive state of society, the enjoyments of life, though +few and simple, are spread over a great extent, and are +unalloyed; but Civilization, for every advantage she imparts, +holds a hundred evils in reserve;--the heart-burnings, the +jealousies, the social rivalries, the family dissentions, and the +thousand self-inflicted discomforts of refined life, which make +up in units the swelling aggregate of human misery, are unknown +among these unsophisticated people. + +But it will be urged that these shocking unprincipled wretches +are cannibals. Very true; and a rather bad trait in their +character it must be allowed. But they are such only when they +seek to gratify the passion of revenge upon their enemies; and I +ask whether the mere eating of human flesh so very far exceeds in +barbarity that custom which only a few years since was practised +in enlightened England:--a convicted traitor, perhaps a man found +guilty of honesty, patriotism, and suchlike heinous crimes, had +his head lopped off with a huge axe, his bowels dragged cut and +thrown into a fire; while his body, carved into four quarters, +was with his head exposed upon pikes, and permitted to rot and +fester among the public haunts of men! + +The fiend-like skill we display in the invention of all manner of +death-dealing engines, the vindictiveness with which we carry on +our wars, and the misery and desolation that follow in their +train, are enough of themselves to distinguish the white +civilized man as the most ferocious animal on the face of the +earth. + +His remorseless cruelty is seen in many of the institutions of +our own favoured land. There is one in particular lately adopted +in one of the States of the Union, which purports to have been +dictated by the most merciful considerations. To destroy our +malefactors piece-meal, drying up in their veins, drop by drop, +the blood we are too chicken-hearted to shed by a single blow +which would at once put a period to their sufferings, is deemed +to be infinitely preferable to the old-fashioned punishment of +gibbeting--much less annoying to the victim, and more in +accordance with the refined spirit of the age; and yet how feeble +is all language to describe the horrors we inflict upon these +wretches, whom we mason up in the cells of our prisons, and +condemn to perpetual solitude in the very heart of our +population. + +But it is needless to multiply the examples of civilized +barbarity; they far exceed in the amount of misery they cause the +crimes which we regard with such abhorrence in our less +enlightened fellow-creatures. + +The term 'Savage' is, I conceive, often misapplied, and indeed, +when I consider the vices, cruelties, and enormities of every +kind that spring up in the tainted atmosphere of a feverish +civilization, I am inclined to think that so far as the relative +wickedness of the parties is concerned, four or five Marquesan +Islanders sent to the United States as Missionaries might be +quite as useful as an equal number of Americans despatched to the +Islands in a similar capacity. + +I once heard it given as an instance of the frightful depravity +of a certain tribe in the Pacific that they had no word in their +language to express the idea of virtue. The assertion was +unfounded; but were it otherwise, it might be met by stating that +their language is almost entirely destitute of terms to express +the delightful ideas conveyed by our endless catalogue of +civilized crimes. + +In the altered frame of mind to which I have referred, every +object that presented itself to my notice in the valley struck me +in a new light, and the opportunities I now enjoyed of observing +the manners of its inmates, tended to strengthen my favourable +impressions. One peculiarity that fixed my admiration was the +perpetual hilarity reigning through the whole extent of the vale. + +There seemed to be no cares, griefs, troubles, or vexations, in +all Typee. The hours tripped along as gaily as the laughing +couples down a country dance. + +There were none of those thousand sources of irritation that the +ingenuity of civilized man has created to mar his own felicity. +There were no foreclosures of mortgages, no protested notes, no +bills payable, no debts of honour in Typee; no unreasonable +tailors and shoemakers perversely bent on being paid; no duns of +any description and battery attorneys, to foment discord, backing +their clients up to a quarrel, and then knocking their heads +together; no poor relations, everlastingly occupying the spare +bed-chamber, and diminishing the elbow room at the family table; +no destitute widows with their children starving on the cold +charities of the world; no beggars; no debtors' prisons; no proud +and hard-hearted nabobs in Typee; or to sum up all in one +word--no Money! 'That root of all evil' was not to be found in +the valley. + +In this secluded abode of happiness there were no cross old +women, no cruel step-dames, no withered spinsters, no lovesick +maidens, no sour old bachelors, no inattentive husbands, no +melancholy young men, no blubbering youngsters, and no squalling +brats. All was mirth, fun and high good humour. Blue devils, +hypochondria, and doleful dumps, went and hid themselves among +the nooks and crannies of the rocks. + +Here you would see a parcel of children frolicking together the +live-long day, and no quarrelling, no contention, among them. +The same number in our own land could not have played together +for the space of an hour without biting or scratching one +another. There you might have seen a throng of young females, +not filled with envyings of each other's charms, nor displaying +the ridiculous affectations of gentility, nor yet moving in +whalebone corsets, like so many automatons, but free, +inartificially happy, and unconstrained. + +There were some spots in that sunny vale where they would +frequently resort to decorate themselves with garlands of +flowers. To have seen them reclining beneath the shadows of one +of the beautiful groves; the ground about them strewn with +freshly gathered buds and blossoms, employed in weaving chaplets +and necklaces, one would have thought that all the train of Flora +had gathered together to keep a festival in honour of their +mistress. + +With the young men there seemed almost always some matter of +diversion or business on hand that afforded a constant variety of +enjoyment. But whether fishing, or carving canoes, or polishing +their ornaments, never was there exhibited the least sign of +strife or contention among them. As for the warriors, they +maintained a tranquil dignity of demeanour, journeying +occasionally from house to house, where they were always sure to +be received with the attention bestowed upon distinguished +guests. The old men, of whom there were many in the vale, seldom +stirred from their mats, where they would recline for hours and +hours, smoking and talking to one another with all the garrulity +of age. + +But the continual happiness, which so far as I was able to judge +appeared to prevail in the valley, sprang principally from that +all-pervading sensation which Rousseau has told us be at one time +experienced, the mere buoyant sense of a healthful physical +existence. And indeed in this particular the Typees had ample +reason to felicitate themselves, for sickness was almost unknown. + +During the whole period of my stay I saw but one invalid among +them; and on their smooth skins you observed no blemish or mark +of disease. + +The general repose, however, upon which I have just been +descanting, was broken in upon about this time by an event which +proved that the islanders were not entirely exempt from those +occurrences which disturb the quiet of more civilized +communities. + +Having now been a considerable time in the valley, I began to +feel surprised that the violent hostility subsisting between its +inhabitants, and those of the adjoining bay of Happar, should +never have manifested itself in any warlike encounter. Although +the valiant Typees would often by gesticulations declare their +undying hatred against their enemies, and the disgust they felt +at their cannibal propensities; although they dilated upon the +manifold injuries they had received at their hands, yet with a +forbearance truly commendable, they appeared to sit down under +their grievances, and to refrain from making any reprisals. The +Happars, entrenched behind their mountains, and never even +showing themselves on their summits, did not appear to me to +furnish adequate cause for that excess of animosity evinced +towards them by the heroic tenants of our vale, and I was +inclined to believe that the deeds of blood attributed to them +had been greatly exaggerated. + +On the other hand, as the clamours of war had not up to this +period disturbed the serenity of the tribe, I began to distrust +the truth of those reports which ascribed so fierce and +belligerent a character to the Typee nation. Surely, thought I, +all these terrible stories I have heard about the inveteracy with +which they carried on the feud, their deadly intensity, of hatred +and the diabolical malice with which they glutted their revenge +upon the inanimate forms of the slain, are nothing more than +fables, and I must confess that I experienced something like a +sense of regret at having my hideous anticipations thus +disappointed. I felt in some sort like a 'prentice boy who, +going to the play in the expectation of being delighted with a +cut-and-thrust tragedy, is almost moved to tears of +disappointment at the exhibition of a genteel comedy. + +I could not avoid thinking that I had fallen in with a greatly +traduced people, and I moralized not a little upon the +disadvantage of having a bad name, which in this instance had +given a tribe of savages, who were as pacific as so many +lambkins, the reputation of a confederacy of giant-killers. + +But subsequent events proved that I had been a little too +premature in coming to this conclusion. One, day about noon, +happening to be at the Ti, I had lain down on the mats with +several of the chiefs, and had gradually sunk into a most +luxurious siesta, when I was awakened by a tremendous outcry, and +starting up beheld the natives seizing their spears and hurrying +out, while the most puissant of the chiefs, grasping the six +muskets which were ranged against the bamboos, followed after, +and soon disappeared in the groves. These movements were +accompanied by wild shouts, in which 'Happar, Happar,' greatly +predominated. The islanders were now seen running past the Ti, +and striking across the valley to the Happar side. Presently I +heard the sharp report of a musket from the adjoining hills, and +then a burst of voices in the same direction. At this the women +who had congregated in the groves, set up the most violent +clamours, as they invariably do here as elsewhere on every +occasion of excitement and alarm, with a view of tranquillizing +their own minds and disturbing other people. On this particular +occasion they made such an outrageous noise, and continued it +with such perseverance, that for awhile, had entire volleys of +musketry been fired off in the neighbouring mountains, I should +not have been able to have heard them. + +When this female commotion had a little subsided I listened +eagerly for further information. At last bang went another shot, +and then a second volley of yells from the hills. Again all was +quiet, and continued so for such a length of time that I began to +think the contending armies had agreed upon a suspension of +hostilities; when pop went a third gun, followed as before with a +yell. After this, for nearly two hours nothing occurred worthy +of comment, save some straggling shouts from the hillside, +sounding like the halloos of a parcel of truant boys who had lost +themselves in the woods. + +During this interval I had remained standing on the piazza of the +'Ti,' which directly fronted the Happar mountain, and with no one +near me but Kory-Kory and the old superannuated savages I have +described. These latter never stirred from their mats, and +seemed altogether unconscious that anything unusual was going on. + +As for Kory-Kory, he appeared to think that we were in the midst +of great events, and sought most zealously to impress me with a +due sense of their importance. Every sound that reached us +conveyed some momentous item of intelligence to him. At such +times, as if he were gifted with second sight, he would go +through a variety of pantomimic illustrations, showing me the +precise manner in which the redoubtable Typees were at that very +moment chastising the insolence of the enemy. 'Mehevi hanna +pippee nuee Happar,' he exclaimed every five minutes, giving me +to understand that under that distinguished captain the warriors +of his nation were performing prodigies of valour. + +Having heard only four reports from the muskets, I was led to +believe that they were worked by the islanders in the same manner +as the Sultan Solyman's ponderous artillery at the siege of +Byzantium, one of them taking an hour or two to load and train. +At last, no sound whatever proceeding from the mountains, I +concluded that the contest had been determined one way or the +other. Such appeared, indeed, to be the case, for in a little +while a courier arrived at the 'Ti', almost breathless with his +exertions, and communicated the news of a great victory having +been achieved by his countrymen: 'Happar poo arva!--Happar poo +arva!' (the cowards had fled). Kory-Kory was in ecstasies, and +commenced a vehement harangue, which, so far as I understood it, +implied that the result exactly agreed with his expectations, and +which, moreover, was intended to convince me that it would be a +perfectly useless undertaking, even for an army of fire-eaters, +to offer battle to the irresistible heroes of our valley. In all +this I of course acquiesced, and looked forward with no little +interest to the return of the conquerors, whose victory I feared +might not have been purchased without cost to themselves. + +But here I was again mistaken; for Mehevi, in conducting his +warlike operations, rather inclined to the Fabian than to the +Bonapartean tactics, husbanding his resources and exposing his +troops to no unnecessary hazards. The total loss of the victors +in this obstinately contested affair was, in killed, wounded, and +missing--one forefinger and part of a thumb-nail (which the late +proprietor brought along with him in his hand), a severely +contused arm, and a considerable effusion of blood flowing from +the thigh of a chief, who had received an ugly thrust from a +Happar spear. What the enemy had suffered I could not discover, +but I presume they had succeeded in taking off with them the +bodies of their slain. + +Such was the issue of the battle, as far as its results came +under my observation: and as it appeared to be considered an +event of prodigious importance, I reasonably concluded that the +wars of the natives were marked by no very sanguinary traits. I +afterwards learned how the skirmish had originated. A number of +the Happars had been discovered prowling for no good purpose on +the Typee side of the mountain; the alarm sounded, and the +invaders, after a protracted resistance, had been chased over the +frontier. But why had not the intrepid Mehevi carried the war +into Happar? Why had he not made a descent into the hostile +vale, and brought away some trophy of his victory--some materials +for the cannibal entertainment which I had heard usually +terminated every engagement? After all, I was much inclined to +believe that these shocking festivals must occur very rarely +among the islanders, if, indeed, they ever take place. + +For two or three days the late event was the theme of general +comment; after which the excitement gradually wore away, and the +valley resumed its accustomed tranquility. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN + +SWIMMING IN COMPANY WITH THE GIRLS OF THE VALLEY--A +CANOE--EFFECTS OF THE TABOO--A PLEASURE EXCURSION ON THE +POND--BEAUTIFUL FREAK OF FAYAWAY--MANTUA-MAKING--A STRANGER +ARRIVES IN THE VALLEY--HIS MYSTERIOUS CONDUCT--NATIVE +ORATORY--THE INTERVIEW--ITS RESULTS--DEPARTURE OF THE STRANGER + +RETURNING health and peace of mind gave a new interest to +everything around me. I sought to diversify my time by as many +enjoyments as lay within my reach. Bathing in company with +troops of girls formed one of my chief amusements. We sometimes +enjoyed the recreation in the waters of a miniature lake, to +which the central stream of the valley expanded. This lovely +sheet of water was almost circular in figure, and about three +hundred yards across. Its beauty was indescribable. All around +its banks waved luxuriant masses of tropical foliage, soaring +high above which were seen, here and there, the symmetrical shaft +of the cocoanut tree, surmounted by its tufts of graceful +branches, drooping in the air like so many waving ostrich plumes. + +The ease and grace with which the maidens of the valley propelled +themselves through the water, and their familiarity with the +element, were truly astonishing. Sometimes the might be seen +gliding along just under the surface, without apparently moving +hand or foot--then throwing themselves on their sides, they +darted through the water, revealing glimpses of their forms, as, +in the course of their rapid progress, they shot for an instant +partly into the air--at one moment they dived deep down into the +water, and the next they rose bounding to the surface. + +I remember upon one occasion plunging in among a parcel of these +river-nymphs, and counting vainly on my superior strength, sought +to drag some of them under the water, but I quickly repented my +temerity. The amphibious young creatures swarmed about me like a +shoal of dolphins, and seizing hold of my devoted limbs, tumbled +me about and ducked me under the surface, until from the strange +noises which rang in my ears, and the supernatural visions +dancing before my eyes, I thought I was in the land of the +spirits. I stood indeed as little chance among them as a +cumbrous whale attacked on all sides by a legion of swordfish. +When at length they relinquished their hold of me, they swam away +in every direction, laughing at my clumsy endeavours to to reach +them. + +There was no boat on the lake; but at my solicitation and for my +special use, some of the,young men attached to Marheyo's +household, under the direction of the indefatigable Kory-Kory, +brought up a light and tastefully carved canoe from the sea. It +was launched upon the sheet of water, and floated there as +gracefully as a swan. But, melancholy to relate, it produced an +effect I had not anticipated. The sweet nymphs, who had sported +with me before on the lake, now all fled its vicinity. The +prohibited craft, guarded by the edicts of the 'taboo,' extended +the prohibition to the waters in which it lay. + +For a few days, Kory-Kory, with one or two other youths, +accompanied me in my excursions to the lake, and while I paddled +about in my light canoe, would swim after me shouting and +gambolling in pursuit. But I as ever partial to what is termed +in the 'Young Men's Own Book'--'the society of virtuous and +intelligent young ladies;' and in the absence of the mermaids, +the amusement became dull and insipid. One morning I expressed +to my faithful servitor my desire for the return of the nymphs. +The honest fellow looked at me bewildered for a moment,, and then +shook his head solemnly, and murmured 'taboo! taboo!' giving me +to understand that unless the canoe was removed I could not +expect to have the young ladies back again. But to this +procedure I was averse; I not only wanted the canoe to stay where +it was, but I wanted the beauteous Fayaway to get into it, and +paddle with me about the lake. This latter proposition +completely horrified Kory-Kory's notions of propriety. He +inveighed against it, as something too monstrous to be thought +of. It not only shocked their established notions of propriety, +but was at variance with all their religious ordinances. + +However, although the 'taboo' was a ticklish thing to meddle +with, I determined to test its capabilities of resisting an +attack. I consulted the chief Mehevi, who endeavoured to +dissuade me from my object; but I was not to be repulsed; and +accordingly increased the warmth of my solicitations. At last he +entered into a long, and I have no doubt a very learned and +eloquent exposition of the history and nature of the 'taboo' as +affecting this particular case; employing a variety of most +extraordinary words, which, from their amazing length and +sonorousness, I have every reason to believe were of a +theological nature. But all that he said failed to convince me: +partly, perhaps, because I could not comprehend a word that he +uttered; but chiefly, that for the life of me I could not +understand why a woman would not have as much right to enter a +canoe as a man. At last he became a little more rational, and +intimated that, out of the abundant love he bore me, he would +consult with the priests and see what could be done. + +How it was that the priesthood of Typee satisfied the affair with +their consciences, I know not; but so it was, and Fayaway +dispensation from this portion of the taboo was at length +procured. Such an event I believe never before had occurred in +the valley; but it was high time the islanders should be taught a +little gallantry, and I trust that the example I set them may +produce beneficial effects. Ridiculous, indeed, that the lovely +creatures should be obliged to paddle about in the water, like so +many ducks, while a parcel of great strapping fellows skimmed +over its surface in their canoes. + +The first day after Fayaway's emancipation, I had a delightful +little party on the lake--the damsels' Kory-Kory, and myself. My +zealous body-servant brought from the house a calabash of +poee-poee, half a dozen young cocoanuts--stripped of their +husks--three pipes, as many yams, and me on his back a part of +the way. Something of a load; but Kory-Kory was a very strong +man for his size, and by no means brittle in the spine. We had a +very pleasant day; my trusty valet plied the paddle and swept us +gently along the margin of the water, beneath the shades of the +overhanging thickets. Fayaway and I reclined in the stern of the +canoe, on the very best terms possible with one another; the +gentle nymph occasionally placing her pipe to her lip, and +exhaling the mild fumes of the tobacco, to which her rosy breath +added a fresh perfume. Strange as it may seem, there is nothing +in which a young and beautiful female appears to more advantage +than in the act of smoking. How captivating is a Peruvian lady, +swinging in her gaily-woven hammock of grass, extended between +two orange-trees, and inhaling the fragrance of a choice cigarro! + +But Fayaway, holding in her delicately formed olive hand the long +yellow reed of her pipe, with its quaintly carved bowl, and every +few moments languishingly giving forth light wreaths of vapour +from her mouth and nostrils, looked still more engaging. + +We floated about thus for several hours, when I looked up to the +warm, glowing, tropical sky, and then down into the transparent +depths below; and when my eye, wandering from the bewitching +scenery around, fell upon the grotesquely-tattooed form of +Kory-Kory, and finally, encountered the pensive gaze of Fayaway, +I thought I had been transported to some fairy region, so unreal +did everything appear. + +This lovely piece of water was the coolest spot in all the +valley, and I now made it a place of continual resort during the +hottest period of the day. One side of it lay near the +termination of a long gradually expanding gorge, which mounted to +the heights that environed the vale. The strong trade wind, met +in its course by these elevations, circled and eddied about their +summits, and was sometimes driven down the steep ravine and swept +across the valley, ruffling in its passage the otherwise tranquil +surface of the lake. + +One day, after we had been paddling about for some time, I +disembarked Kory-Kory, and paddled the canoe to the windward side +of the lake. As I turned the canoe, Fayaway, who was with me, +seemed all at once to be struck with some happy idea. With a +wild exclamation of delight, she disengaged from her person the +ample robe of tappa which was knotted over her shoulder (for the +purpose of shielding her from the sun), and spreading it out like +a sail, stood erect with upraised arms in the head of the canoe. +We American sailors pride ourselves upon our straight, clean +spars, but a prettier little mast than Fayaway made was never +shipped aboard of any craft. + +In a moment the tappa was distended by the breeze--the long brown +tresses of Fayaway streamed in the air--and the canoe glided +rapidly through the water, and shot towards the shore. Seated in +the stem, I directed its course with my paddle until it dashed up +the soft sloping bank, and Fayaway, with a light spring alighted +on the ground; whilst Kory-Kory, who had watched our manoeuvres +with admiration, now clapped his hands in transport, and shouted +like a madman. Many a time afterwards was this feat repeated. + +If the reader has not observed ere this that I was the declared +admirer of Miss Fayaway, all I can say is that he is little +conversant with affairs of the heart, and I certainly shall not +trouble myself to enlighten him any farther. Out of the calico I +had brought from the ship I made a dress for this lovely girl. +In it she looked, I must confess, something like an opera-dancer. + +The drapery of the latter damsel generally commences a little +above the elbows, but my island beauty's began at the waist, and +terminated sufficiently far above the ground to reveal the most +bewitching ankle in the universe. + +The day that Fayaway first wore this robe was rendered memorable +by a new acquaintance being introduced to me. In the afternoon I +was lying in the house when I heard a great uproar outside; but +being by this time pretty well accustomed to the wild halloos +which were almost continually ringing through the valley, I paid +little attention to it, until old Marheyo, under the influence of +some strange excitement, rushed into my presence and communicated +the astounding tidings, 'Marnoo pemi!' which being interpreted, +implied that an individual by the name of Marnoo was approaching. + +My worthy old friend evidently expected that this intelligence +would produce a great effect upon me, and for a time he stood +earnestly regarding me, as if curious to see how I should conduct +myself, but as I remained perfectly unmoved, the old gentleman +darted out of the house again, in as great a hurry as he had +entered it. + +'Marnoo, Marnoo,' cogitated I, 'I have never heard that name +before. Some distinguished character, I presume, from the +prodigious riot the natives are making;' the tumultuous noise +drawing nearer and nearer every moment, while 'Marnoo!--Marnoo!' +was shouted by every tongue. + +I made up my mind that some savage warrior of consequence, who +had not yet enjoyed the honour of an audience, was desirous of +paying his respects on the present occasion. So vain had I +become by the lavish attention to which I had been accustomed, +that I felt half inclined, as a punishment for such neglect, to +give this Marnoo a cold reception, when the excited throng came +within view, convoying one of the most striking specimens of +humanity that I ever beheld. + +The stranger could not have been more than twenty-five years of +age, and was a little above the ordinary height; had he a single +hair's breadth taller, the matchless symmetry of his form would +have been destroyed. His unclad limbs were beautifully formed; +whilst the elegant outline of his figure, together with his +beardless cheeks, might have entitled him to the distinction of +standing for the statue of the Polynesian Apollo; and indeed the +oval of his countenance and the regularity of every feature +reminded one of an antique bust. But the marble repose of art +was supplied by a warmth and liveliness of expression only to be +seen in the South Sea Islander under the most favourable +developments of nature. The hair of Marnoo was a rich curling +brown, and twined about his temples and neck in little close +curling ringlets, which danced up and down continually, when he +was animated in conversation. His cheek was of a feminine +softness, and his face was free from the least blemish of +tattooing, although the rest of his body was drawn all over with +fanciful figures, which--unlike the unconnected sketching usual +among these natives--appeared to have been executed in conformity +with some general design. + +The tattooing on his back in particular attracted my attention. +The artist employed must indeed have excelled in his profession. +Traced along the course of the spine was accurately delineated +the slender, tapering and diamond checkered shaft of the +beautiful 'artu' tree. Branching from the stem on each side, and +disposed alternately, were the graceful branches drooping with +leaves all correctly drawn and elaborately finished. Indeed the +best specimen of the Fine Arts I had yet seen in Typee. A rear +view of the stranger might have suggested the idea of a spreading +vine tacked against a garden wall. Upon his breast, arms and +legs, were exhibited an infinite variety of figures; every one of +which, however, appeared to have reference to the general effect +sought to be produced. The tattooing I have described was of the +brightest blue, and when contrasted with the light olive-colour +of the skin, produced an unique and even elegant effect. A +slight girdle of white tappa, scarcely two inches in width, but +hanging before and behind in spreading tassels, composed the +entire costume of the stranger. + +He advanced surrounded by the islanders, carrying under one arm a +small roll of native cloth, and grasping in his other hand a long +and richly decorated spear. His manner was that of a traveller +conscious that he is approaching a comfortable stage in his +journey. Every moment he turned good-humouredly on the throng +around him, and gave some dashing sort of reply to their +incessant queries, which appeared to convulse them with +uncontrollable mirth. + +Struck by his demeanour, and the peculiarity of his appearance, +so unlike that of the shaven-crowned and face-tattooed natives in +general, I involuntarily rose as he entered the house, and +proffered him a seat on the mats beside me. But without deigning +to notice the civility, or even the more incontrovertible fact of +my existence, the stranger passed on, utterly regardless of me, +and flung himself upon the further end of the long couch that +traversed the sole apartment of Marheyo's habitation. + +Had the belle of the season, in the pride of her beauty and +power, been cut in a place of public resort by some supercilious +exquisite, she could not have felt greater indignation than I did +at this unexpected slight. + +I was thrown into utter astonishment. The conduct of the savages +had prepared me to anticipate from every newcomer the same +extravagant expressions of curiosity and regard. The singularity +of his conduct, however, only roused my desire to discover who +this remarkable personage might be, who now engrossed the +attention of every one. + +Tinor placed before him a calabash of poee-poee, from which the +stranger regaled himself, alternating every mouthful with some +rapid exclamation, which was eagerly caught up and echoed by the +crowd that completely filled the house. When I observed the +striking devotion of the natives to him, and their temporary +withdrawal of all attention from myself, I felt not a little +piqued. The glory of Tommo is departed, thought I, and the +sooner he removes from the valley the better. These were my +feelings at the moment, and they were prompted by that glorious +principle inherent in all heroic natures--the strong-rooted +determination to have the biggest share of the pudding or to go +without any of it. + +Marnoo, that all-attractive personage, having satisfied his +hunger and inhaled a few whiffs from a pipe which was handed to +him, launched out into an harangue which completely enchained the +attention of his auditors. + +Little as I understood of the language, yet from his animated +gestures and the varying expression of his features--reflected as +from so many mirrors in the countenances around him, I could +easily discover the nature of those passions which he sought to +arouse. From the frequent recurrence of the words 'Nukuheva' and +'Frannee' (French), and some others with the meaning of which I +was acquainted, he appeared to be rehearsing to his auditors +events which had recently occurred in the neighbouring bays. But +how he had gained the knowledge of these matters I could not +understand, unless it were that he had just come from Nukuheva--a +supposition which his travel-stained appearance not a little +supported. But, if a native of that region, I could not account +for his friendly reception at the hands of the Typees. + +Never, certainly, had I beheld so powerful an exhibition of +natural eloquence as Marnoo displayed during the course of his +oration. The grace of the attitudes into which he threw his +flexible figure, the striking gestures of his naked arms, and +above all, the fire which shot from his brilliant eyes, imparted +an effect to the continually changing accents of his voice, of +which the most accomplished orator might have been proud. At one +moment reclining sideways upon the mat, and leaning calmly upon +his bended arm, he related circumstantially the aggressions of +the French--their hostile visits to the surrounding bays, +enumerating each one in succession--Happar, Puerka, Nukuheva, +Tior,--and then starting to his feet and precipitating himself +forward with clenched hands and a countenance distorted with +passion, he poured out a tide of invectives. Falling back into +an attitude of lofty command, he exhorted the Typees to resist +these encroachments; reminding them, with a fierce glance of +exultation, that as yet the terror of their name had preserved +them from attack, and with a scornful sneer he sketched in +ironical terms the wondrous intrepidity of the French, who, with +five war-canoes and hundreds of men, had not dared to assail the +naked warriors of their valley. + +The effect he produced upon his audience was electric; one and +all they stood regarding him with sparkling eyes and trembling +limbs, as though they were listening to the inspired voice of a +prophet. + +But it soon appeared that Marnoo's powers were as versatile as +they were extraordinary. As soon as he had finished his vehement +harangue, he threw himself again upon the mats, and, singling out +individuals in the crowd, addressed them by name, in a sort of +bantering style, the humour of which, though nearly hidden from +me filled the whole assembly with uproarious delight. + +He had a word for everybody; and, turning rapidly from one to +another, gave utterance to some hasty witticism, which was sure +to be followed by peals of laughter. To the females as well as +to the men, he addressed his discourse. Heaven only knows what +he said to them, but he caused smiles and blushes to mantle their +ingenuous faces. I am, indeed, very much inclined to believe +that Marnoo, with his handsome person and captivating manners, +was a sad deceiver among the simple maidens of the island. + +During all this time he had never, for one moment, deigned to +regard me. He appeared, indeed, to be altogether unconscious of +my presence. I was utterly at a loss how to account for this +extraordinary conduct. I easily perceived that he was a man of +no little consequence among the islanders; that he possessed +uncommon talents; and was gifted with a higher degree of +knowledge than the inmates of the valley. For these reasons, I +therefore greatly feared lest having, from some cause or other, +unfriendly feelings towards me, he might exert his powerful +influence to do me mischief. + +It seemed evident that he was not a permanent resident of the +vale, and yet, whence could he have come? On all sides the +Typees were girt in by hostile tribes, and how could he possibly, +if belonging to any of these, be received with so much +cordiality? + +The person appearance of the enigmatical stranger suggested +additional perplexities. The face, free from tattooing, and the +unshaven crown, were peculiarities I had never before remarked in +any part of the island, end I had always heard that the contrary +were considered the indispensable distinction of a Marquesan +warrior. Altogether the matter was perfectly incomprehensible to +me, and I awaited its solution with no small degree of anxiety. + +At length, from certain indications, I suspected that he was +making me the subject of his remarks, although he appeared +cautiously to avoid either pronouncing my name, or looking in the +direction where I lay. All at once he rose from the mats where +he had been reclining, and, still conversing, moved towards me, +his eye purposely evading mine, and seated himself within less +than a yard of me. I had hardly recovered from my surprise, when +he suddenly turned round, and, with a most benignant countenance +extended his right hand gracefully towards me. Of course I +accepted the courteous challenge, and, as soon as our palms met, +he bent towards me, and murmured in musical accents--'How you +do?' 'How long you been in this bay?' 'You like this bay?' + +Had I been pierced simultaneously by three Happar spears, I could +not have started more than I did at hearing these simple +questions. For a moment I was overwhelmed with astonishment, and +then answered something I know not what; but as soon as I +regained my self-possession, the thought darted through my mind +that from this individual I might obtain that information +regarding Toby which I suspected the natives had purposely +withheld from me. Accordingly I questioned him concerning the +disappearance of my companion, but he denied all knowledge of the +matter. I then inquired from whence he had come? He replied, +from Nukuheva. When I expressed my surprise, he looked at me for +a moment, as if enjoying my perplexity, and then with his strange +vivacity, exclaimed,--'Ah! me taboo,--me go Nukuheva,--me go +Tior,--me go Typee,--me go everywhere,--nobody harm me,--me +taboo.' + +This explanation would have been altogether unintelligible to me, +had it not recalled to my mind something I had previously heard +concerning a singular custom among these islanders. Though the +country is possessed by various tribes, whose mutual hostilities +almost wholly prelude any intercourse between them; yet there are +instances where a person having ratified friendly relations with +some individual belonging longing to the valley, whose inmates +are at war with his own, may, under particular restrictions, +venture with impunity into the country of his friend, where, +under other circumstances, he would have been treated as an +enemy. In this light are personal friendships regarded among +them, and the individual so protected is said to be 'taboo', and +his person, to a certain extent, is held as sacred. Thus the +stranger informed me he had access to all the valleys in the +island. + +Curious to know how he had acquired his knowledge of English, I +questioned him on the subject. At first, for some reason or +other, he evaded the inquiry, but afterwards told me that, when a +boy, he had been carried to sea by the captain of a trading +vessel, with whom he had stayed three years, living part of the +time with him at Sidney in Australia, and that at a subsequent +visit to the island, the captain had, at his own request, +permitted him to remain among his countrymen. The natural +quickness of the savage had been wonderfully improved by his +intercourse with the white men, and his partial knowledge of a +foreign language gave him a great ascendancy over his less +accomplished countrymen. + +When I asked the now affable Marnoo why it was that he had not +previously spoken to me, he eagerly inquired what I had been led +to think of him from his conduct in that respect. I replied, +that I had supposed him to be some great chief or warrior, who +had seen plenty of white men before, and did not think it worth +while to notice a poor sailor. At this declaration of the +exalted opinion I had formed of him, he appeared vastly +gratified, and gave me to understand that he had purposely +behaved in that manner, in order to increase my astonishment, as +soon as he should see proper to address me. + +Marnoo now sought to learn my version of the story as to how I +came to be an inmate of the Typee valley. When I related to him +the circumstances under which Toby and I had entered it, he +listened with evident interest; but as soon as I alluded to the +absence, yet unaccounted for, of my comrade, he endeavoured to +change the subject, as if it were something he desired not to +agitate. It seemed, indeed, as if everything connected with Toby +was destined to beget distrust and anxiety in my bosom. +Notwithstanding Marnoo's denial of any knowledge of his fate, I +could not avoid suspecting that he was deceiving me; and this +suspicion revived those frightful apprehensions with regard to my +own fate, which, for a short time past, had subsided in my +breast. + +Influenced by these feelings, I now felt a strong desire to avail +myself of the stranger's protection, and under his safeguard to +return to Nukuheva. But as soon as I hinted at this, he +unhesitatingly pronounced it to be entirely impracticable; +assuring me that the Typees would never consent to my leaving the +valley. Although what he said merely confirmed the impression +which I had before entertained, still it increased my anxiety to +escape from a captivity which, however endurable, nay, delightful +it might be in some respects, involved in its issues a fate +marked by the most frightful contingencies. + +I could not conceal from my mind that Toby had been treated in +the same friendly manner as I had been, and yet all their +kindness terminated with his mysterious disappearance. Might not +the same fate await me?--a fate too dreadful to think of. +Stimulated by these considerations, I urged anew my request to +Marnoo; but he only set forth in stronger colours the +impossibility of my escape, and repeated his previous declaration +that the Typees would never be brought to consent to my +departure. + +When I endeavoured to learn from him the motives which prompted +them to hold me a prisoner, Marnoo again presumed that mysterious +tone which had tormented me with apprehension when I had +questioned him with regard to the fate of my companion. + +Thus repulsed, in a manner which only served, by arousing the +most dreadful forebodings, to excite me to renewed attempts, I +conjured him to intercede for me with the natives, and endeavour +to procure their consent to my leaving them. To this he appeared +strongly averse; but, yielding at last to my importunities, he +addressed several of the chiefs, who with the rest had been +eyeing us intently during the whole of our conversation. His +petition, however, was at once met with the most violent +disapprobation, manifesting itself in angry glances and gestures, +and a perfect torrent of passionate words, directed to both him +and myself. Marnoo, evidently repenting the step he had taken, +earnestly deprecated the resentment of the crowd, and, in a few +moments succeeded in pacifying to some extent the clamours which +had broken out as soon as his proposition had been understood. + +With the most intense interest had I watched the reception his +intercession might receive; and a bitter pang shot through my +heart at the additional evidence, now furnished, of the +unchangeable determination of the islanders. Marnoo told me with +evident alarm in his countenance, that although admitted into the +bay on a friendly footing with its inhabitants, he could not +presume to meddle with their concerns, as such procedure, if +persisted in, would at once absolve the Typees from the +restraints of the 'taboo', although so long as he refrained from +such conduct, it screened him effectually from the consequences +of the enmity they bore his tribe. At this moment, Mehevi, who +was present, angrily interrupted him; and the words which he +uttered in a commanding tone, evidently meant that he must at +once cease talking to me and withdraw to the other part of the +house. Marnoo immediately started up, hurriedly enjoining me not +to address him again, and as I valued my safety, to refrain from +all further allusion to the subject of my departure; and then, in +compliance with the order of the determined chief, but not before +it had again been angrily repeated, he withdrew to a distance. + +I now perceived, with no small degree of apprehension, the same +savage expression in the countenances of the natives, which had +startled me during the scene at the Ti. They glanced their eyes +suspiciously from Marnoo to me, as if distrusting the nature of +an intercourse carried on, as it was, in a language they could +not understand, and they seemed to harbour the belief that +already we had concerted measures calculated to elude their +vigilance. + +The lively countenances of these people are wonderfully +indicative of the emotions of the soul, and the imperfections of +their oral language are more than compensated for by the nervous +eloquence of their looks and gestures. I could plainly trace, in +every varying expression of their faces, all those passions which +had been thus unexpectedly aroused in their bosoms. + +It required no reflection to convince me, from what was going on, +that the injunction of Marnoo was not to be rashly lighted ,and +accordingly, great as was the effort to suppress my feelings, I +accosted Mehevi in a good-humoured tone, with a view of +dissipating any ill impression he might have received. But the +ireful, angry chief was not so easily mollified. He rejected my +advances with that peculiarly stern expression I have before +described, and took care by the whole of his behaviour towards me +to show the displeasure and resentment which he felt. + +Marnoo, at the other extremity of the house, apparently desirous +of making a diversion in my favour, exerted himself to amuse with +his pleasantries the crowd about him; but his lively attempts +were not so successful as they had previously been, and, foiled +in his efforts, he rose gravely to depart. No one expressed any +regret at this movement, so seizing his roll of tappa, and +grasping his spear, he advanced to the front of the pi-pi, and +waving his hand in adieu to the now silent throng, cast upon me a +glance of mingled pity and reproach, and flung himself into the +path which led from the house. I watched his receding figure +until it was lost in the obscurity of the grove, and then gave +myself up to the most desponding reflections. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN + +REFLECTIONS AFTER MARNOO'S DEPARTURE-BATTLE OF THE +POP-GUNS--STRANGE CONCEIT OF MARHEYO--PROCESS OF MAKING TAPPA + +THE knowledge I had now obtained as to the intention of the +savages deeply affected me. + +Marnoo, I perceived, was a man who, by reason of his superior +acquirements, and the knowledge he possessed of the events which +were taking place in the different bays of the island, was held +in no little estimation by the inhabitants of the valley. He had +been received with the most cordial welcome and respect. The +natives had hung upon the accents of his voice, and, had +manifested the highest gratification at being individually +noticed by him. And yet despite all this, a few words urged in +my behalf, with the intent of obtaining my release from +captivity, had sufficed not only to banish all harmony and +good-will; but, if I could believe what he told me, had gone on +to endanger his own personal safety. + +How strongly rooted, then, must be the determination of the +Typees with regard to me, and how suddenly could they display the +strangest passions! The mere suggestion of my departure had +estranged from me, for the time at least, Mehevi, who was the +most influential of all the chiefs, and who had previously +exhibited so many instances of his; friendly sentiments. The +rest of the natives had likewise evinced their strong repugnance +to my wishes, and even Kory-Kory himself seemed to share in the +general disapprobation bestowed upon me. + +In vain I racked my invention to find out some motive for them, +but I could discover none. + +But however this might be, the scene which had just occurred +admonished me of the danger of trifling with the wayward and +passionate spirits against whom it was vain to struggle, and +might even be fatal to do go. My only hope was to induce the +natives to believe that I was reconciled to my detention in the +valley, and by assuming a tranquil and cheerful demeanour, to +allay the suspicions which I had so unfortunately aroused. Their +confidence revived, they might in a short time remit in some +degree their watchfulness over my movements, and I should then be +the better enabled to avail myself of any opportunity which +presented itself for escape. I determined, therefore, to make +the best of a bad bargain, and to bear up manfully against +whatever might betide. In this endeavour, I succeeded beyond my +own expectations. At the period of Marnoo's visit, I had been in +the valley, as nearly as I could conjecture, some two months. +Although not completely recovered from my strange illness, which +still lingered about me, I was free from pain and able to take +exercise. In short, I had every reason to anticipate a perfect +recovery. Freed from apprehension on this point, and resolved to +regard the future without flinching, I flung myself anew into all +the social pleasures of the valley, and sought to bury all +regrets, and all remembrances of my previous existence in the +wild enjoyments it afforded. + +In my various wanderings through the vale, and as I became better +acquainted with the character of its inhabitants, I was more and +more struck with the light-hearted joyousness that everywhere +prevailed. The minds of these simple savages, unoccupied by +matters of graver moment, were capable of deriving the utmost +delight from circumstances which would have passed unnoticed in +more intelligent communities. All their enjoyment, indeed, +seemed to be made up of the little trifling incidents of the +passing hour; but these diminutive items swelled altogether to an +amount of happiness seldom experienced by more enlightened +individuals, whose pleasures are drawn from more elevated but +rarer sources. + +What community, for instance, of refined and intellectual mortals +would derive the least satisfaction from shooting pop-guns? The +mere supposition of such a thing being possible would excite +their indignation, and yet the whole population of Typee did +little else for ten days but occupy themselves with that childish +amusement, fairly screaming, too, with the delight it afforded +them. + +One day I was frolicking with a little spirited urchin, some six +years old, who chased me with a piece of bamboo about three feet +long, with which he occasionally belaboured me. Seizing the +stick from him, the idea happened to suggest itself, that I might +make for the youngster, out of the slender tube, one of those +nursery muskets with which I had sometimes seen children playing. + +Accordingly, with my knife I made two parallel slits in the cane +several inches in length, and cutting loose at one end the +elastic strip between them, bent it back and slipped the point +into a little notch made for the purse. Any small substance +placed against this would be projected with considerable force +through the tube, by merely springing the bent strip out of the +notch. + +Had I possessed the remotest idea of the sensation this piece of +ordnance was destined to produce, I should certainly have taken +out a patent for the invention. The boy scampered away with it, +half delirious with ecstasy, and in twenty minutes afterwards I +might have been seen surrounded by a noisy crowd--venerable old +graybeards--responsible fathers of families--valiant +warriors--matrons--young men--girls and children, all holding in +their hands bits of bamboo, and each clamouring to be served +first. + +For three or four hours I was engaged in manufacturing pop-guns, +but at last made over my good-will and interest in the concern to +a lad of remarkably quick parts, whom I soon initiated into the +art and mystery. + +Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop, now resounded all over the valley. Duels, +skirmishes, pitched battles, and general engagements were to be +seen on every side. Here, as you walked along a path which led +through a thicket, you fell into a cunningly laid ambush, and +became a target for a body of musketeers whose tattooed limbs you +could just see peeping into view through the foliage. There you +were assailed by the intrepid garrison of a house, who levelled +their bamboo rifles at you from between the upright canes which +composed its sides. Farther on you were fired upon by a +detachment of sharpshooters, mounted upon the top of a pi-pi. + +Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop! green guavas, seeds, and berries were flying +about in every direction, and during this dangerous state of +affairs I was half afraid that, like the man and his brazen bull, +I should fall a victim to my own ingenuity. Like everything +else, however, the excitement gradually wore away, though ever +after occasionally pop-guns might be heard at all hours of the +day. + +It was towards the close of the pop-gun war, that I was +infinitely diverted with a strange freak of Marheyo's. + +I had worn, when I quitted the ship, a pair of thick pumps, +which, from the rough usage they had received in scaling +precipices and sliding down gorges, were so dilapidated as to be +altogether unfit for use--so, at least, would have thought the +generality of people, and so they most certainly were, when +considered in the light of shoes. But things unservicable in one +way, may with advantage be applied in another, that is, if one +have genius enough for the purpose. This genius Marheyo +possessed in a superlative degree, as he abundantly evinced by +the use to which he put those sorely bruised and battered old +shoes. + +Every article, however trivial, which belonged to me, the natives +appeared to regard as sacred; and I observed that for several +days after becoming an inmate of the house, my pumps were +suffered to remain, untouched, where I had first happened to +throw them. I remembered, however, that after awhile I had +missed them from their accustomed place; but the matter gave me +no concern, supposing that Tinor--like any other tidy housewife, +having come across them in some of her domestic occupations--had +pitched the useless things out of the house. But I was soon +undeceived. + +One day I observed old Marheyo bustling about me with unusual +activity, and to such a degree as almost to supersede Kory-Kory +in the functions of his office. One moment he volunteered to +trot off with me on his back to the stream; and when I refused, +noways daunted by the repulse, he continued to frisk about me +like a superannuated house-dog. I could not for the life of me +conjecture what possessed the old gentleman, until all at once, +availing himself of the temporary absence of the household, he +went through a variety of of uncouth gestures, pointing eagerly +down to my feet, then up to a little bundle, which swung from the +ridge pole overhead. At last I caught a faint idea of his +meaning, and motioned him to lower the package. He executed the +order in the twinkling of an eye, and unrolling a piece of tappa, +displayed to my astonished gaze the identical pumps which I +thought had been destroyed long before. + +I immediately comprehended his desire, and very generously gave +him the shoes, which had become quite mouldy, wondering for what +earthly purpose he could want them. The same afternoon I +descried the venerable warrior approaching the house, with a +slow, stately gait, ear-rings in ears, and spear in hand, with +this highly ornamental pair of shoes suspended from his neck by a +strip of bark, and swinging backwards and forwards on his +capacious chest. In the gala costume of the tasteful Marheyo, +these calf-skin pendants ever after formed the most striking +feature. + +But to turn to something a little more important. Although the +whole existence of the inhabitants of the valley seemed to pass +away exempt from toil, yet there were some light employments +which, although amusing rather than laborious as occupations, +contributed to their comfort and luxury. Among these the most +important was the manufacture of the native cloth,--'tappa',--so +well known, under various modifications, throughout the whole +Polynesian Archipelago. As is generally understood, this useful +and sometimes elegant article is fabricated from the bark of +different trees. But, as I believe that no description of its +manufacture has ever been given, I shall state what I know +regarding it. + +In the manufacture of the beautiful white tappa generally worn on +the Marquesan Islands, the preliminary operation consists in +gathering a certain quantity of the young branches of the +cloth-tree. The exterior green bark being pulled off as +worthless, there remains a slender fibrous substance, which is +carefully stripped from the stick, to which it closely adheres. +When a sufficient quantity of it has been collected, the various +strips are enveloped in a covering of large leaves, which the +natives use precisely as we do wrapping-paper, and which are +secured by a few turns of a line passed round them. The package +is then laid in the bed of some running stream, with a heavy +stone placed over it, to prevent its being swept away. After it +has remained for two or three days in this state, it is drawn +out, and exposed, for a short time, to the action of the air, +every distinct piece being attentively inspected, with a view of +ascertaining whether it has yet been sufficiently affected by the +operation. This is repeated again and again, until the desired +result is obtained. + +When the substance is in a proper state for the next process, it +betrays evidences of incipient decomposition; the fibres are +relaxed and softened, and rendered perfectly malleable. The +different strips are now extended, one by one, in successive +layers, upon some smooth surface--generally the prostrate trunk +of a cocoanut tree--and the heap thus formed is subjected, at +every new increase, to a moderate beating, with a sort of wooden +mallet, leisurely applied. The mallet is made of a hard heavy +wood resembling ebony, is about twelve inches in length, and +perhaps two in breadth, with a rounded handle at one end, and in +shape is the exact counterpart of one of our four-sided +razor-strops. The flat surfaces of the implement are marked with +shallow parallel indentations, varying in depth on the different +sides, so as to be adapted to the several stages of the +operation. These marks produce the corduroy sort of stripes +discernible in the tappa in its finished state. After being +beaten in the manner I have described, the material soon becomes +blended in one mass, which, moistened occasionally with water, is +at intervals hammered out, by a kind of gold-beating process, to +any degree of thinness required. In this way the cloth is easily +made to vary in strength and thickness, so as to suit the +numerous purposes to which it is applied. + +When the operation last described has been concluded, the +new-made tappa is spread out on the grass to bleach and dry, and +soon becomes of a dazzling whiteness. Sometimes, in the first +stages of the manufacture, the substance is impregnated with a +vegetable juice, which gives it a permanent colour. A rich brown +and a bright yellow are occasionally seen, but the simple taste +of the Typee people inclines them to prefer the natural tint. + +The notable wife of Kamehameha, the renowned conqueror and king +of the Sandwich Islands, used to pride herself in the skill she +displayed in dyeing her tappa with contrasting colours disposed +in regular figures; and, in the midst of the innovations of the +times, was regarded, towards the decline of her life, as a lady +of the old school, clinging as she did to the national cloth, in +preference to the frippery of the European calicoes. But the art +of printing the tappa is unknown upon the Marquesan Islands. In +passing along the valley, I was often attracted by the noise of +the mallet, which, when employed in the manufacture of the cloth +produces at every stroke of its hard, heavy wood, a clear, +ringing, and musical sound, capable of being heard at a great +distance. When several of these implements happen to be in +operation at the same time, near one another, the effect upon the +ear of a person, at a little distance, is really charming. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY + +HISTORY OF A DAY AS USUALLY SPENT IN TYPEE VALLEY--DANCES OF THE +MARQUESAN GIRLS + +NOTHING can be more uniform and undiversified than the life of +the Typees; one tranquil day of ease and happiness follows +another in quiet succession; and with these unsophisicated +savages the history of a day is the history of a life. I will, +therefore, as briefly as I can, describe one of our days in the +valley. + +To begin with the morning. We were not very early risers--the +sun would be shooting his golden spikes above the Happar +mountain, ere I threw aside my tappa robe, and girding my long +tunic about my waist, sallied out with Fayaway and Kory-Kory, and +the rest of the household, and bent my steps towards the stream. +Here we found congregated all those who dwelt in our section of +the valley; and here we bathed with them. The fresh morning air +and the cool flowing waters put both soul and body in a glow, and +after a half-hour employed in this recreation, we sauntered back +to the house--Tinor and Marheyo gathering dry sticks by the way +for fire-wood; some of the young men laying the cocoanut trees +under contribution as they passed beneath them; while Kory-Kory +played his outlandish pranks for my particular diversion, and +Fayaway and I, not arm in arm to be sure, but sometimes hand in +hand, strolled along, with feelings of perfect charity for all +the world, and especial good-will towards each other. + +Our morning meal was soon prepared. The islanders are somewhat +abstemious at this repast; reserving the more powerful efforts of +their appetite to a later period of the day. For my own part, +with the assistance of my valet, who, as I have before stated, +always officiated as spoon on these occasions, I ate sparingly +from one of Tinor's trenchers, of poee-poee; which was devoted +exclusively for my own use, being mixed with the milky meat of +ripe cocoanut. A section of a roasted bread-fruit, a small cake +of 'Amar', or a mess of 'Cokoo,' two or three bananas, or a +mammee-apple; an annuee, or some other agreeable and nutritious +fruit served from day to day to diversify the meal, which was +finished by tossing off the liquid contents of a young cocoanut +or two. + +While partaking of this simple repast, the inmates of Marheyo's +house, after the style of the ancient Romans, reclined in +sociable groups upon the divan of mats, and digestion was +promoted by cheerful conversation. + +After the morning meal was concluded, pipes were lighted; and +among them my own especial pipe, a present from the noble Mehevi. + +The islanders, who only smoke a whiff or two at a time, and at +long intervals, and who keep their pipes going from hand to hand +continually, regarded my systematic smoking of four or five +pipefuls of tobacco in succession, as something quite wonderful. +When two or three pipes had circulated freely, the company +gradually broke up. Marheyo went to the little hut he was +forever building. Tinor began to inspect her rolls of tappa, or +employed her busy fingers in plaiting grass-mats. The girls +anointed themselves with their fragrant oils, dressed their hair, +or looked over their curious finery, and compared together their +ivory trinkets, fashioned out of boar's tusks or whale's teeth. +The young men and warriors produced their spears, paddles, +canoe-gear, battle-clubs, and war-conchs, and occupied themselves +in carving, all sorts of figures upon them with pointed bits of +shell or flint, and adorning them, especially the war-conchs, +with tassels of braided bark and tufts of human hair. Some, +immediately after eating, threw themselves once more upon the +inviting mats, and resumed the employment of the previous night, +sleeping as soundly as if they had not closed their eyes for a +week. Others sallied out into the groves, for the purpose of +gathering fruit or fibres of bark and leaves; the last two being +in constant requisition, and applied to a hundred uses. A few, +perhaps, among the girls, would slip into the woods after +flowers, or repair to the stream will; small calabashes and +cocoanut shells, in order to polish them by friction with a +smooth stone in the water. In truth these innocent people seemed +to be at no loss for something to occupy their time; and it would +be no light task to enumerate all their employments, or rather +pleasures. + +My own mornings I spent in a variety of ways. Sometimes I +rambled about from house to house, sure of receiving a cordial +welcome wherever I went; or from grove to grove, and from one +shady place to another, in company with Kory-Kory and Fayaway, +and a rabble rout of merry young idlers. Sometimes I was too +indolent for exercise, and accepting one of the many invitations +I was continually receiving, stretched myself out on the mats of +some hospitable dwelling, and occupied myself pleasantly either +in watching the proceedings of those around me or taking part in +them myself. Whenever I chose to do the latter, the delight of +the islanders was boundless; and there was always a throng of +competitors for the honour of instructing me in any particular +craft. I soon became quite an accomplished hand at making +tappa--could braid a grass sling as well as the best of them--and +once, with my knife, carved the handle of a javelin so +exquisitely, that I have no doubt, to this day, Karnoonoo, its +owner, preserves it as a surprising specimen of my skill. As +noon approached, all those who had wandered forth from our +habitation, began to return; and when midday was fairly come +scarcely a sound was to be heard in the valley: a deep sleep fell +upon all. The luxurious siesta was hardly ever omitted, except +by old Marheyo, who was so eccentric a character, that he seemed +to be governed by no fixed principles whatever; but acting just +according to the humour of the moment, slept, eat, or tinkered +away at his little hut, without regard to the proprieties of time +or place. Frequently he might have been seen taking a nap in the +sun at noon-day, or a bath in the stream of mid-night. Once I +beheld him perched eighty feet from the ground, in the tuft of a +cocoanut tree, smoking; and often I saw him standing up to the +waist in water, engaged in plucking out the stray hairs of his +beard, using a piece of muscle-shell for tweezers. + +The noon-tide slumber lasted generally an hour and a half: very +often longer; and after the sleepers had arisen from their mats +they again had recourse to their pipes, and then made +preparations for the most important meal of the day. + +I, however, like those gentlemen of leisure who breakfast at home +and dine at their club, almost invariably, during my intervals of +health, enjoyed the afternoon repast with the bachelor chiefs of +the Ti, who were always rejoiced to see me, and lavishly spread +before me all the good things which their larder afforded. +Mehevi generally introduced among other dainties a baked pig, an +article which I have every reason to suppose was provided for my +sole gratification. + +The Ti was a right jovial place. It did my heart, as well as my +body, good to visit it. Secure from female intrusion, there was +no restraint upon the hilarity of the warriors, who, like the +gentlemen of Europe after the cloth is drawn and the ladies +retire, freely indulged their mirth. + +After spending a considerable portion of the afternoon at the Ti, +I usually found myself, as the cool of the evening came on, +either sailing on the little lake with Fayaway, or bathing in the +waters of the stream with a number of the savages, who, at this +hour, always repaired thither. As the shadows of night +approached Marheyo's household were once more assembled under his +roof: tapers were lit, long curious chants were raised, +interminable stories were told (for which one present was little +the wiser), and all sorts of social festivities served to while +away the time. + +The young girls very often danced by moonlight in front of their +dwellings. There are a great variety of these dances, in which, +however, I never saw the men take part. They all consist of +active, romping, mischievous evolutions, in which every limb is +brought into requisition. Indeed, the Marquesan girls dance all +over, as it were; not only do their feet dance, but their arms, +hands, fingers, ay, their very eyes, seem to dance in their +heads. + +The damsels wear nothing but flowers and their compendious gala +tunics; and when they plume themselves for the dance, they look +like a band of olive-coloured Sylphides on the point of taking +wing. In good sooth, they so sway their floating forms, arch +their necks, toss aloft their naked arms, and glide, and swim, +and whirl, that it was almost too much for a quiet, sober-minded, +modest young man like myself. + +Unless some particular festivity was going forward, the inmates +of Marheyo's house retired to their mats rather early in the +evening; but not for the night, since, after slumbering lightly +for a while, they rose again, relit their tapers, partook of the +third and last meal of the day, at which poee-poee alone was +eaten, and then, after inhaling a narcotic whiff from a pipe of +tobacco, disposed themselves for the great business of night, +sleep. With the Marquesans it might almost most be styled the +great business of life, for they pass a large portion of their +time in the arms of Somnus. The native strength of their +constitution is no way shown more emphatically than in the +quantity of sleep they can endure. To many of them, indeed, life +is little else than an often interrupted and luxurious nap. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE + +THE SPRING OF ARVA WAI--REMARKABLE MONUMENTAL REMAINS--SOME IDEAS +WITH REGARD TO THE HISTORY OF THE PI-PIS FOUND IN THE VALLEY + +ALMOST every country has its medicinal springs famed for their +healing virtues. The Cheltenham of Typee is embosomed in the +deepest solitude, and but seldom receives a visitor. It is +situated remote from any dwelling, a little way up the mountain, +near the head of the valley; and you approach it by a pathway +shaded by the most beautiful foliage, and adorned with a thousand +fragrant plants. The mineral waters of Arva Wai* ooze forth from +the crevices of a rock, and gliding down its mossy side, fall at +last, in many clustering drops, into a natural basin of stone +fringed round with grass and dewy-looking little violet-coloured +flowers, as fresh and beautiful as the perpetual moisture they +enjoy can make them. + +*I presume this might be translated into 'Strong Waters'. Arva +is the name bestowed upon a root the properties of which are both +inebriating and medicinal. 'Wai' is the Marquesan word for +water. + + + +The water is held in high estimation by the islanders, some of +whom consider it an agreeable as well as a medicinal beverage; +they bring it from the mountain in their calabashes, and store it +away beneath heaps of leaves in some shady nook near the house. +Old Marheyo had a great love for the waters of the spring. Every +now and then he lugged off to the mountain a great round demijohn +of a calabash, and, panting with his exertions, brought it back +filled with his darling fluid. + +The water tasted like a solution of a dozen disagreeable things, +and was sufficiently nauseous to have made the fortune of the +proprietor, had the spa been situated in the midst of any +civilized community. + +As I am no chemist, I cannot give a scientific analysis of the +water. All I know about the matter is, that one day Marheyo in +my presence poured out the last drop from his huge calabash, and +I observed at the bottom of the vessel a small quantity of +gravelly sediment very much resembling our common sand. Whether +this is always found in the water, and gives it its peculiar +flavour and virtues, or whether its presence was merely +incidental, I was not able to ascertain. + +One day in returning from this spring by a circuitous path, I +came upon a scene which reminded me of Stonehenge and the +architectural labours of the Druids. + +At the base of one of the mountains, and surrounded on all sides +by dense groves, a series of vast terraces of stone rises, step +by step, for a considerable distance up the hill side. These +terraces cannot be less than one hundred yards in length and +twenty in width. Their magnitude, however, is less striking than +the immense size of the blocks composing them. Some of the +stones, of an oblong shape, are from ten to fifteen feet in +length, and five or six feet thick. Their sides are quite +smooth, but though square, and of pretty regular formation, they +bear no mark of the chisel. They are laid together without +cement, and here and there show gaps between. The topmost +terrace and the lower one are somewhat peculiar in their +construction. They have both a quadrangular depression in the +centre, leaving the rest of the terrace elevated several feet +above it. In the intervals of the stones immense trees have +taken root, and their broad boughs stretching far over, and +interlacing together, support a canopy almost impenetrable to the +sun. Overgrowing the greater part of them, and climbing from one +to another, is a wilderness of vines, in whose sinewy embrace +many of the stones lie half-hidden, while in some places a thick +growth of bushes entirely covers them. There is a wild pathway +which obliquely crosses two of these terraces; and so profound is +the shade, so dense the vegetation, that a stranger to the place +might pass along it without being aware of their existence. + +These structures bear every indication of a very high antiquity +and Kory-Kory, who was my authority in all matters of scientific +research, gave me to understand that they were coeval with the +creation of the world; that the great gods themselves were the +builders; and that they would endure until time shall be no more. + +Kory-Kory's prompt explanation and his attributing the work to a +divine origin, at once convinced me that neither he nor the rest +of his country-men knew anything about them. + +As I gazed upon this monument, doubtless the work of an extinct +and forgotten race, thus buried in the green nook of an island at +the ends of the earth, the existence of which was yesterday +unknown, a stronger feeling of awe came over me than if I had +stood musing at the mighty base of the Pyramid of Cheops. There +are no inscriptions, no sculpture, no clue, by which to +conjecture its history; nothing but the dumb stones. How many +generations of the majestic trees which overshadow them have +grown and flourished and decayed since first they were erected! + +These remains naturally suggest many interesting reflections. +They establish the great age of the island, an opinion which the +builders of theories concerning, the creation of the various +groups in the South Seas are not always inclined to admit. For +my own part, I think it just as probable that human beings were +living in the valleys of the Marquesas three thousand years ago +as that they were inhabiting the land of Egypt. The origin of +the island of Nukuheva cannot be imputed to the coral insect; for +indefatigable as that wonderful creature is, it would be hardly +muscular enough to pile rocks one upon the other more than three +thousand feet above the level of the sea. That the land may have +been thrown up by a submarine volcano is as possible as anything +else. No one can make an affidavit to the contrary, and +therefore I still say nothing against the supposition: indeed, +were geologists to assert that the whole continent of America had +in like manner been formed by the simultaneous explosion of a +train of Etnas laid under the water all the way from the North +Pole to the parallel of Cape Horn, I am the last man in the world +to contradict them. + +I have already mentioned that the dwellings of the islanders were +almost invariably built upon massive stone foundations, which +they call pi-pis. The dimensions of these, however, as well as +of the stones composing them, are comparatively small: but there +are other and larger erections of a similar description +comprising the 'morais', or burying grounds, and festival-places, +in nearly all the valleys of the island. Some of these piles are +so extensive, and so great a degree of labour and skill must have +been requisite in constructing them, that I can scarcely believe +they were built by the ancestors of the present inhabitants. If +indeed they were, the race has sadly deteriorated in their +knowledge of the mechanic arts. To say nothing of their habitual +indolence, by what contrivance within the reach of so simple a +people could such enormous masses have been moved or fixed in +their places? and how could they with their rude implements have +chiselled and hammered them into shape? + +All of these larger pi-pis--like that of the Hoolah Hoolah ground +in the Typee valley--bore incontestible marks of great age; and I +am disposed to believe that their erection may be ascribed to the +same race of men who were the builders of the still more ancient +remains I have just described. + +According to Kory-Kory's account, the pi-pi upon which stands the +Hoolah Hoolah ground was built a great many moons ago, under the +direction of Monoo, a great chief and warrior, and, as it would +appear, master-mason among the Typees. It was erected for the +express purpose to which it is at present devoted, in the +incredibly short period of one sun; and was dedicated to the +immortal wooden idols by a grand festival, which lasted ten days +and nights. + +Among the smaller pi-pis, upon which stand the dwelling-houses of +the natives, I never observed any which intimated a recent +erection. There are in every part of the valley a great many of +these massive stone foundations which have no houses upon them. +This is vastly convenient, for whenever an enterprising islander +chooses to emigrate a few hundred yards from the place where he +was born, all he has to do in order to establish himself in some +new locality, is to select one of. the many unappropriated +pi-pis, and without further ceremony pitch his bamboo tent upon +it. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO + +PREPARATIONS FOR A GRAND FESTIVAL IN THE VALLEY--STRANGE DOINGS +IN THE TABOO GROVES--MONUMENT OF CALABASHES--GALA COSTUME OF THE +TYPEE DAMSELS--DEPARTURE FOR THE FESTIVAL + +FROM the time that my lameness had decreased I had made a daily +practice of visiting Mehevi at the Ti, who invariably gave me a +most cordial reception. I was always accompanied in these +excursions by Fayaway and the ever-present Kory- Kory. The +former, as soon as we reached the vicinity of the Ti--which was +rigorously tabooed to the whole female sex--withdrew to a +neighbouring hut, as if her feminine delicacy 'restricted' her +from approaching a habitation which might be regarded as a sort +of Bachelor's Hall. + +And in good truth it might well have been so considered. +Although it was the permanent residence of several distinguished +chiefs, and of the noble Mehevi in particular, it was still at +certain seasons the favourite haunt of all the jolly, talkative, +and elderly savages of the vale, who resorted thither in the same +way that similar characters frequent a tavern in civilized +countries. There they would remain hour after hour, chatting, +smoking, eating poee-poee, or busily engaged in sleeping for the +good of their constitutions. + +This building appeared to be the head-quarters of the valley, +where all flying rumours concentrated; and to have seen it filled +with a crowd of the natives, all males, conversing in animated +clusters, while multitudes were continually coming and going, one +would have thought it a kind of savage Exchange, where the rise +and fall of Polynesian Stock was discussed. + +Mehevi acted as supreme lord over the place, spending the greater +portion of his time there: and often when, at particular hours of +the day, it was deserted by nearly every one else except the +verd-antique looking centenarians, who were fixtures in the +building, the chief himself was sure to be found enjoying his +'otium cum dignitate'--upon the luxurious mats which covered the +floor. Whenever I made my appearance he invariably rose, and +like a gentleman doing the honours of his mansion, invited me to +repose myself wherever I pleased, and calling out 'tamaree!' +(boy), a little fellow would appear, and then retiring for an +instant, return with some savoury mess, from which the chief +would press me to regale myself. To tell the truth, Mehevi was +indebted to the excellence of his viands for the honour of my +repeated visits--a matter which cannot appear singular, when it +is borne in mind that bachelors, all the world over, are famous +for serving up unexceptionable repasts. + +One day, on drawing near to the Ti, I observed that extensive +preparations were going forward, plainly betokening some +approaching festival. Some of the symptoms reminded me of the +stir produced among the scullions of a large hotel, where a grand +jubilee dinner is about to be given. The natives were hurrying +about hither and thither, engaged in various duties, some lugging +off to the stream enormous hollow bamboos, for the purpose of +filling them with water; others chasing furious-looking hogs +through the bushes, in their endeavours to capture them; and +numbers employed in kneading great mountains of poee-poee heaped +up in huge wooden vessels. + +After observing these lively indications for a while, I was +attracted to a neighbouring grove by a prodigious squeaking which +I heard there. On reaching the spot I found it proceeded from a +large hog which a number of natives were forcibly holding to the +earth, while a muscular fellow, armed with a bludgeon, was +ineffectually aiming murderous blows at the skull of the +unfortunate porker. Again and again he missed his writhing and +struggling victim, but though puffing and panting with his +exertions, he still continued them; and after striking a +sufficient number of blows to have demolished an entire drove of +oxen, with one crashing stroke he laid him dead at his feet. + +Without letting any blood from the body, it was immediately +carried to a fire which had been kindled near at hand and four +savages taking hold of the carcass by its legs, passed it rapidly +to and fro in the flames. In a moment the smell of burning +bristles betrayed the object of this procedure. Having got thus +far in the matter, the body was removed to a little distance and, +being disembowelled, the entrails were laid aside as choice +parts, and the whole carcass thoroughly washed with water. An +ample thick green cloth, composed of the long thick leaves of a +species of palm-tree, ingeniously tacked together with little +pins of bamboo, was now spread upon the ground, in which the body +being carefully rolled, it was borne to an oven previously +prepared to receive it. Here it was at once laid upon the heated +stones at the bottom, and covered with thick layers of leaves, +the whole being quickly hidden from sight by a mound of earth +raised over it. + +Such is the summary style in which the Typees convert +perverse-minded and rebellious hogs into the most docile and +amiable pork; a morsel of which placed on the tongue melts like a +soft smile from the lips of Beauty. + +I commend then peculiar mode of proceeding to the consideration +of all butchers, cooks, and housewives. The hapless porker whose +fate I have just rehearsed, was not the only one who suffered in +that memorable day. Many a dismal grunt, many an imploring +squeak, proclaimed what was going on throughout the whole extent +of the valley; and I verily believe the first-born of every +litter perished before the setting of that fatal sun. + +The scene around the Ti was now most animated. Hogs and +poee-poee were baking in numerous ovens, which, heaped up with +fresh earth into slight elevations, looked like so many +ant-hills. Scores of the savages were vigorously plying their +stone pestles in preparing masses of poee-poee, and numbers were +gathering green bread-fruit and young cocoanuts in the +surrounding groves; when an exceeding great multitude, with a +view of encouraging the rest in their labours, stood still, and +kept shouting most lustily without intermission. + +It is a peculiarity among these people, that, when engaged in an +employment, they always make a prodigious fuss about it. So +seldom do they ever exert themselves, that when they do work they +seem determined that so meritorious an action shall not escape +the observation of those around if, for example, they have +occasion to remove a stone to a little distance, which perhaps +might be carried by two able-bodied men, a whole swarm gather +about it, and, after a vast deal of palavering, lift it up among +them, every one struggling to get hold of it, and bear it off +yelling and panting as if accomplishing some mighty achievement. +Seeing them on these occasions, one is reminded of an infinity of +black ants clustering about and dragging away to some hole the +leg of a deceased fly. + +Having for some time attentively observed these demonstrations of +good cheer, I entered the Ti, where Mehevi sat complacently +looking out upon the busy scene, and occasionally issuing his +orders. The chief appeared to be in an extraordinary flow of +spirits and gave me to understand that on the morrow there would +be grand doings in the Groves generally, and at the Ti in +particular; and urged me by no means to absent myself. In +commemoration of what event, however, or in honour of what +distinguished personage, the feast was to be given, altogether +passed my comprehension. Mehevi sought to enlighten my +ignorance, but he failed as signally as when he had endeavoured +to initiate me into the perplexing arcana of the taboo. + +On leaving the Ti, Kory-Kory, who had as a matter of course +accompanied me, observing that my curiosity remained unabated, +resolved to make everything plain and satisfactory. With this +intent, he escorted me through the Taboo Groves, pointing out to +my notice a variety of objects, and endeavoured to explain them +in such an indescribable jargon of words, that it almost put me +in bodily pain to listen to him. In particular, he led me to a +remarkable pyramidical structure some three yards square at the +base, and perhaps ten feet in height, which had lately been +thrown up, and occupied a very conspicuous position. It was +composed principally of large empty calabashes, with a few +polished cocoanut shells, and looked not unlike a cenotaph of +skulls. My cicerone perceived the astonishment with which I +gazed at this monument of savage crockery, and immediately +addressed himself in the task of enlightening me: but all in +vain; and to this hour the nature of the monument remains a +complete mystery to me. As, however, it formed so prominent a +feature in the approaching revels, I bestowed upon the latter, in +my own mind, the title of the 'Feast of Calabashes'. + +The following morning, awaking rather late, I perceived the whole +of Marheyo's family busily engaged in preparing for the festival. + +The old warrior himself was arranging in round balls the two grey +locks of hair that were suffered to grow from the crown of his +head; his earrings and spear, both well polished, lay beside him, +while the highly decorative pair of shoes hung suspended from a +projecting cane against the side of the house. The young men +were similarly employed; and the fair damsels, including Fayaway, +were anointing themselves with 'aka', arranging their long +tresses, and performing other matters connected with the duties +of the toilet. + +Having completed their preparations, the girls now exhibited +themselves in gala costume; the most conspicuous feature of which +was a necklace of beautiful white flowers, with the stems +removed, and strung closely together upon a single fibre of +tappa. Corresponding ornaments were inserted in their ears, and +woven garlands upon their heads. About their waist they wore a +short tunic of spotless white tappa, and some of them super-added +to this a mantle of the same material, tied in an elaborate bow +upon the left shoulder, and falling about the figure in +picturesque folds. + +Thus arrayed, I would have matched the charming Fayaway against +any beauty in the world. + +People may say what they will about the taste evinced by our +fashionable ladies in dress. Their jewels, their feathers, their +silks, and their furbelows, would have sunk into utter +insignificance beside the exquisite simplicity of attire adopted +by the nymphs of the vale on this festive occasion. I should +like to have seen a gallery of coronation beauties, at +Westminster Abbey, confronted for a moment by this band of island +girls; their stiffness, formality, and affectation, contrasted +with the artless vivacity and unconcealed natural graces of these +savage maidens. It would be the Venus de' Medici placed beside a +milliner's doll. It was not long before Kory-Kory and myself +were left alone in the house, the rest of its inmates having +departed for the Taboo Groves. My valet was all impatience to +follow them; and was as fidgety about my dilatory movements as a +diner out waiting hat in hand at the bottom of the stairs for +some lagging companion. At last, yielding to his importunities, +I set out for the Ti. As we passed the houses peeping out from +the groves through which our route lay, I noticed that they were +entirely deserted by their inhabitants. + +When we reached the rock that abruptly terminated the path, and +concealed from us the festive scene, wild shouts and a confused +blending of voices assured me that the occasion, whatever it +might be, had drawn together a great multitude. Kory-Kory, +previous to mounting the elevation, paused for a moment, like a +dandy at a ball-room door, to put a hasty finish to his toilet. +During this short interval, the thought struck me that I ought +myself perhaps to be taking some little pains with my appearance. + +But as I had no holiday raiment, I was not a little puzzled to +devise some means of decorating myself. However, as I felt +desirous to create a sensation, I determined to do all that lay +in my power; and knowing that I could not delight the savages +more than by conforming to their style of dress, I removed from +my person the large robe of tappa which I was accustomed to wear +over my shoulders whenever I sallied into the open air, and +remained merely girt about with a short tunic descending from my +waist to my knees. + +My quick-witted attendant fully appreciated the compliment I was +paying to the costume of his race, and began more sedulously to +arrange the folds of the one only garment which remained to me. +Whilst he was doing this,I caught sight of a knot of young +lasses, who were sitting near us on the grass surrounded by heaps +of flowers which they were forming into garlands. I motioned to +them to bring some of their handywork to me; and in an instant a +dozen wreaths were at my disposal. One of them I put round the +apology for a hat which I had been forced to construct for myself +out of palmetto-leaves, and some of the others I converted into a +splendid girdle. These operations finished, with the slow and +dignified step of a full-dressed beau I ascended the rock. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE + +THE FEAST OF CALABASHES + +THE whole population of the valley seemed to be gathered within +the precincts of the grove. In the distance could be seen the +long front of the Ti, its immense piazza swarming with men, +arrayed in every variety of fantastic costume, and all +vociferating with animated gestures; while the whole interval +between it and the place where I stood was enlivened by groups of +females fancifully decorated, dancing, capering, and uttering +wild exclamations. As soon as they descried me they set up a +shout of welcome; and a band of them came dancing towards me, +chanting as they approached some wild recitative. The change in +my garb seemed to transport them with delight, and clustering +about me on all sides, they accompanied me towards the Ti. When +however we drew near it these joyous nymphs paused in their +career, and parting on either side, permitted me to pass on to +the now densely thronged building. + +So soon as I mounted to the pi-pi I saw at a glance that the +revels were fairly under way. + +What lavish plenty reigned around?--Warwick feasting his +retainers with beef and ale, was a niggard to the noble +Mehevi!--All along the piazza of the Ti were arranged elaborately +carved canoe-shaped vessels, some twenty feet in length, tied +with newly made poee-poee, and sheltered from the sun by the +broad leaves of the banana. At intervals were heaps of green +bread-fruit, raised in pyramidical stacks, resembling the regular +piles of heavy shot to be seen in the yard of an arsenal. +Inserted into the interstices of the huge stones which formed the +pi-pi were large boughs of trees; hanging from the branches of +which, and screened from the sun by their foliage, were +innumerable little packages with leafy coverings, containing the +meat of the numerous hogs which had been slain, done up in this +manner to make it more accessible to the crowd. Leaning against +the railing on the piazza were an immense number of long, heavy +bamboos, plugged at the lower end, and with their projecting +muzzles stuffed with a wad of leaves. These were filled with +water from the stream, and each of them might hold from four to +five gallons. + +The banquet being thus spread, naught remained but for everyone +to help himself at his pleasure. Accordingly not a moment passed +but the transplanted boughs I have mentioned were rifled by the +throng of the fruit they certainly had never borne before. +Calabashes of poee-poee were continually being replenished from +the extensive receptacle in which that article was stored, and +multitudes of little fires were kindled about the Ti for the +purpose of roasting the bread-fruit. + +Within the building itself was presented a most extraordinary +scene. The immense lounge of mats lying between the parallel +rows of the trunks of cocoanut trees, and extending the entire +length of the house, at least two hundred feet, was covered by +the reclining forms of a host of chiefs and warriors who were +eating at a great rate, or soothing the cares of Polynesian life +in the sedative fumes of tobacco. The smoke was inhaled from +large pipes, the bowls of which, made out of small cocoanut +shells, were curiously carved in strange heathenish devices. +These were passed from mouth to mouth by the recumbent smokers, +each of whom, taking two or three prodigious whiffs, handed the +pipe to his neighbour; sometimes for that purpose stretching +indolently across the body of some dozing individual whose +exertions at the dinner-table had already induced sleep. + +The tobacco used among the Typees was of a very mild and pleasing +flavour, and as I always saw it in leaves, and the natives +appeared pretty well supplied with it, I was led to believe that +it must have been the growth of the valley. Indeed Kory-Kory +gave me to understand that this was the case; but I never saw a +single plant growing on the island. At Nukuheva, and, I believe, +in all the other valleys, the weed is very scarce, being only +obtained in small quantities from foreigners, and smoking is +consequently with the inhabitants of these places a very great +luxury. How it was that the Typees were so well furnished with +it I cannot divine. I should think them too indolent to devote +any attention to its culture; and, indeed, as far as my +observation extended, not a single atom of the soil was under any +other cultivation than that of shower and sunshine. The +tobacco-plant, however, like the sugar-cane, may grow wild in +some remote part of the vale. + +There were many in the Ti for whom the tobacco did not furnish a +sufficient stimulus, and who accordingly had recourse to 'arva', +as a more powerful agent in producing the desired effect. + +'Arva' is a root very generally dispersed over the South Seas, +and from it is extracted a juice, the effects of which upon the +system are at first stimulating in a moderate degree; but it soon +relaxes the muscles, and exerting a narcotic influence produces a +luxurious sleep. In the valley this beverage was universally +prepared in the following way:--Some half-dozen young boys seated +themselves in a circle around an empty wooden vessel, each one of +them being supplied with a certain quantity of the roots of the +'arva', broken into small bits and laid by his side. A cocoanut +goblet of water was passed around the juvenile company, who +rinsing their mouths with its contents, proceeded to the business +before them. This merely consisted in thoroughly masticating the +'arva', and throwing it mouthful after mouthful into the +receptacle provided. When a sufficient quantity had been thus +obtained water was poured upon the mass, and being stirred about +with the forefinger of the right hand, the preparation was soon +in readiness for use. The 'arva' has medicinal qualities. + +Upon the Sandwich Islands it has been employed with no small +success in the treatment of scrofulous affections, and in +combating the ravages of a disease for whose frightful inroads +the ill-starred inhabitants of that group are indebted to their +foreign benefactors. But the tenants of the Typee valley, as yet +exempt from these inflictions, generally employ the 'arva' as a +minister to social enjoyment, and a calabash of the liquid +circulates among them as the bottle with us. + +Mehevi, who was greatly delighted with the change in my costume, +gave me a cordial welcome. He had reserved for me a most +delectable mess of 'cokoo', well knowing my partiality for that +dish; and had likewise selected three or four young cocoanuts, +several roasted bread-fruit, and a magnificent bunch of bananas, +for my especial comfort and gratification. These various matters +were at once placed before me; but Kory-Kory deemed the banquet +entirely insufficient for my wants until he had supplied me with +one of the leafy packages of pork, which, notwithstanding the +somewhat hasty manner in which it had been prepared, possessed a +most excellent flavour, and was surprisingly sweet and tender. + +Pork is not a staple article of food among the people of the +Marquesas; consequently they pay little attention to the BREEDING +of the swine. The hogs are permitted to roam at large on the +groves, where they obtain no small part of their nourishment from +the cocoanuts which continually fall from the trees. But it is +only after infinite labour and difficulty, that the hungry animal +can pierce the husk and shell so as to get at the meat. I have +frequently been amused at seeing one of them, after crunching the +obstinate nut with his teeth for a long time unsuccessfully, get +into a violent passion with it. He would then root furiously +under the cocoanut, and, with a fling of his snout, toss it +before him on the ground. Following it up, he would crunch at it +again savagely for a moment, and then next knock it on one side, +pausing immediately after, as if wondering how it could so +suddenly have disappeared. In this way the persecuted cocoanuts +were often chased half across the valley. + +The second day of the Feast of Calabashes was ushered in by still +more uproarious noises than the first. The skins of innumerable +sheep seemed to be resounding to the blows of an army of +drummers. Startled from my slumbers by the din, I leaped up, and +found the whole household engaged in making preparations for +immediate departure. Curious to discover of what strange events +these novel sounds might be the precursors, and not a little +desirous to catch a sight of the instruments which produced the +terrific noise, I accompanied the natives as soon as they were in +readiness to depart for the Taboo Groves. + +The comparatively open space that extended from the Ti toward the +rock, to which I have before alluded as forming the ascent to the +place, was, with the building itself, now altogether deserted by +the men; the whole distance being filled by bands of females, +shouting and dancing under the influence of some strange +excitement. + +I was amused at the appearance of four or five old women who, in +a state of utter nudity, with their arms extended flatly down +their sides, and holding themselves perfectly erect, were leaping +stiffly into the air, like so many sticks bobbing to the surface, +after being pressed perpendicularly into the water. They +preserved the utmost gravity of countenance, and continued their +extraordinary movements without a single moment's cessation. +They did not appear to attract the observation of the crowd +around them, but I must candidly confess that for my, own part, I +stared at them most pertinaciously. + +Desirous of being enlightened in regard to the meaning of this +peculiar diversion, I turned, inquiringly to Kory-Kory; that +learned Typee immediately proceeded to explain the whole matter +thoroughly. But all that I could comprehend from what he said +was, that the leaping figures before me were bereaved widows, +whose partners had been slain in battle many moons previously; +and who, at every festival, gave public evidence in this manner +of their calamities. It was evident that Kory-Kory considered +this an all-sufficient reason for so indecorous a custom; but I +must say that it did not satisfy me as to its propriety. + +Leaving these afflicted females, we passed on to the Hoolah +Hoolah ground. Within the spacious quadrangle, the whole +population of the valley seemed to be assembled, and the sight +presented was truly remarkable. Beneath the sheds of bamboo +which opened towards the interior of the square reclined the +principal chiefs and warriors, while a miscellaneous throng lay +at their ease under the enormous trees which spread a majestic +canopy overhead. Upon the terraces of the gigantic altars, at +each end, were deposited green bread-fruit in baskets of cocoanut +leaves, large rolls of tappa, bunches of ripe bananas, clusters +of mammee-apples, the golden-hued fruit of the artu-tree, and +baked hogs, laid out in large wooden trenchers, fancifully +decorated with freshly plucked leaves, whilst a variety of rude +implements of war were piled in confused heaps before the ranks +of hideous idols. Fruits of various; kinds were likewise +suspended in leafen baskets, from the tops of poles planted +uprightly, and at regular intervals, along the lower terraces of +both altars. At their base were arranged two parallel rows of +cumbersome drums, standing at least fifteen feet in height, and +formed from the hollow trunks of large trees. Their heads were +covered with shark skins, and their barrels were elaborately +carved with various quaint figures and devices. At regular +intervals they were bound round by a species of sinnate of +various colours, and strips of native cloth flattened upon them +here and there. Behind these instruments were built slight +platforms, upon which stood a number of young men who, beating +violently with the palms of their hands upon the drum-heads, +produced those outrageous sounds which had awakened me in the +morning. Every few minutes these musical performers hopped down +from their elevation into the crowd below, and their places were +immediately supplied by fresh recruits. Thus an incessant din +was kept up that might have startled Pandemonium. + +Precisely in the middle of the quadrangle were placed +perpendicularly in the ground, a hundred or more slender, +fresh-cut poles, stripped of their bark, and decorated at the end +with a floating pennon of white tappa; the whole being fenced +about with a little picket of canes. For what purpose these +angular ornaments were intended I in vain endeavoured to +discover. + +Another most striking feature of the performance was exhibited by +a score of old men, who sat cross-legged in the little pulpits, +which encircled the trunks of the immense trees growing in the +middle of the enclosure. These venerable gentlemen, who I +presume were the priests, kept up an uninterrupted monotonous +chant, which was partly drowned in the roar of drums. In the +right hand they held a finely woven grass fan, with a heavy black +wooden handle curiously chased: these fans they kept in continual +motion. + +But no attention whatever seemed to be paid to the drummers or to +the old priests; the individuals who composed the vast crowd +present being entirely taken up in chanting and laughing with one +another, smoking, drinking 'arva', and eating. For all the +observation it attracted, or the good it achieved, the whole +savage orchestra might with great advantage to its own members +and the company in general, have ceased the prodigious uproar +they were making. + +In vain I questioned Kory-Kory and others of the natives, as to +the meaning of the strange things that were going on; all their +explanations were conveyed in such a mass of outlandish gibberish +and gesticulation that I gave up the attempt in despair. All +that day the drums resounded, the priests chanted, and the +multitude feasted and roared till sunset, when the throng +dispersed, and the Taboo Groves were again abandoned to quiet and +repose. The next day the same scene was repeated until night, +when this singular festival terminated. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR + +IDEAS SUGGESTED BY THE FEAST OF CALABASHES--INACCURACY OF CERTAIN +PUBLISHED ACCOUNTS OF THE ISLANDS--A REASON--NEGLECTED STATE OF +HEATHENISM IN THE VALLEY--EFFIGY OF A DEAD WARRIOR--A SINGULAR +SUPERSTITION--THE PRIEST KOLORY AND THE GOD MOA ARTUA--AMAZING +RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE--A DILAPIDATED SHRINE--KORY-KORY AND THE +IDOL--AN INFERENCE + +ALTHOUGH I had been baffled in my attempts to learn the origin of +the Feast of Calabashes, yet it seemed very plain to me that it +was principally, if not wholly, of a religious character. As a +religious solemnity, however, it had not at all corresponded with +the horrible descriptions of Polynesian worship which we have +received in some published narratives, and especially in those +accounts of the evangelized islands with which the missionaries +have favoured us. Did not the sacred character of these persons +render the purity of their intentions unquestionable, I should +certainly be led to suppose that they had exaggerated the evils +of Paganism, in order to enhance the merit of their own +disinterested labours. + +In a certain work incidentally treating of the 'Washington, or +Northern Marquesas Islands,' I have seen the frequent immolation +of human victims upon the altars of their gods, positively and +repeatedly charged upon the inhabitants. The same work gives +also a rather minute account of their religion--enumerates a +great many of their superstitions--and makes known the particular +designations of numerous orders of the priesthood. One would +almost imagine from the long list that is given of cannibal +primates, bishops, arch-deacons, prebendaries, and other inferior +ecclesiastics, that the sacerdotal order far outnumbered the rest +of the population, and that the poor natives were more severely +priest-ridden than even the inhabitants of the papal states. +These accounts are likewise calculated to leave upon the reader's +mind an impression that human victims are daily cooked and served +up upon the altars; that heathenish cruelties of every +description are continually practised; and that these ignorant +Pagans are in a state of the extremest wretchedness in +consequence of the grossness of their superstitions. Be it +observed, however, that all this information is given by a man +who, according to his own statement, was only at one of the +islands, and remained there but two weeks, sleeping every night +on board his ship, and taking little kid-glove excursions ashore +in the daytime, attended by an armed party. + +Now, all I can say is, that in all my excursions through the +valley of Typee, I never saw any of these alleged enormities. If +any of them are practised upon the Marquesas Islands they must +certainly have come to my knowledge while living for months with +a tribe of savages, wholly unchanged from their original +primitive condition, and reputed the most ferocious in the South +Seas. + +The fact is, that there is a vast deal of unintentional +humbuggery in some of the accounts we have from scientific men +concerning the religious institutions of Polynesia. These +learned tourists generally obtain the greater part of their +information from retired old South-Sea rovers, who have +domesticated themselves among the barbarous tribes of the +Pacific. Jack, who has long been accustomed to the long-bow, and +to spin tough yarns on the ship's forecastle, invariably +officiates as showman of the island on which he has settled, and +having mastered a few dozen words of the language, is supposed to +know all about the people who speak it. A natural desire to make +himself of consequence in the eyes of the strangers, prompts him +to lay claim to a much greater knowledge of such matters than he +actually possesses. In reply to incessant queries, he +communicates not only all he knows but a good deal more, and if +there be any information deficient still he is at no loss to +supply it. The avidity with which his anecdotes are noted down +tickles his vanity, and his powers of invention increase with the +credulity auditors. He knows just the sort of information +wanted, and furnishes it to any extent. + +This is not a supposed case; I have met with several individuals +like the one described, and I have been present at two or three +of their interviews with strangers. + +Now, when the scientific voyager arrives at home with his +collection of wonders, he attempts, perhaps, to give a +description of some of,the strange people he has been visiting. +Instead of representing them as a community of lusty savages, who +are leading a merry, idle, innocent life, he enters into a very +circumstantial and learned narrative of certain unaccountable +superstitions and practices, about which he knows as little as +the islanders themselves. Having had little time, and scarcely +any opportunity, to become acquainted with the customs he +pretends to describe, he writes them down one after another in an +off-hand, haphazard style; and were the book thus produced to be +translated into the tongue of the people of whom it purports to +give the history, it would appear quite as wonderful to them as +it does to the American public, and much more improbable. + +For my own part, I am free to confess my almost entire inability +to gratify any curiosity that may be felt with regard to the +theology of the valley. I doubt whether the inhabitants +themselves could do so. They are either too lazy or too sensible +to worry themselves about abstract points of religious belief. +While I was among them, they never held any synods or councils to +settle the principles of their faith by agitating them. An +unbounded liberty of conscience seemed to prevail. Those who +pleased to do so were allowed to repose implicit faith in an +ill-favoured god with a large bottle-nose and fat shapeless arms +crossed upon his breast; whilst others worshipped an image which, +having no likeness either in heaven or on earth, could hardly be +called an idol. As the islanders always maintained a discreet +reserve with regard to my own peculiar views on religion, I +thought it would be excessively ill-bred of me to pry into +theirs. + +But, although my knowledge of the religious faith of the Typees +was unavoidably limited, one of their superstitious observances +with which I became acquainted interested me greatly. + +In one of the most secluded portions of the valley within a +stone's cast of Fayaway's lake--for so I christened the scene of +our island yachting--and hard by a growth of palms, which stood +ranged in order along both banks of the stream, waving their +green arms as if to do honour to its passage, was the mausoleum +of a deceased, warrior chief. Like all the other edifices of any +note, it was raised upon a small pi-pi of stones, which, being of +unusual height, was a conspicuous object from a distance. A +light thatching of bleached palmetto-leaves hung over it like a +self supported canopy; for it was not until you came very near +that you saw it was supported by four slender columns of bamboo +rising at each corner to a little more than the height of a man. +A clear area of a few yards surrounded the pi-pi, and was +enclosed by four trunks of cocoanut trees resting at the angles +on massive blocks of stone. The place was sacred. The sign of +the inscrutable Taboo was seen in the shape of a mystic roll of +white tappa, suspended by a twisted cord of the same material +from the top of a slight pole planted within the enclosure*. The +sanctity of the spot appeared never to have been violated. The +stillness of the grave was there, and the calm solitude around +was beautiful and touching. The soft shadows of those lofty +palm-trees!--I can see them now--hanging over the little temple, +as if to keep out the intrusive sun. + +*White appears to be the sacred colour among the Marquesans. + +On all sides as you approached this silent spot you caught sight +of the dead chief's effigy, seated in the stern of a canoe, which +was raised on a light frame a few inches above the level of the +pi-pi. The canoe was about seven feet in length; of a rich, dark +coloured wood, handsomely carved and adorned in many places with +variegated bindings of stained sinnate, into which were +ingeniously wrought a number of sparkling seashells, and a belt +of the same shells ran all round it. The body of the figure--of +whatever material it might have been made--was effectually +concealed in a heavy robe of brown tappa, revealing; only the +hands and head; the latter skilfully carved in wood, and +surmounted by a superb arch of plumes. These plumes, in the +subdued and gentle gales which found access to this sequestered +spot, were never for one moment at rest, but kept nodding and +waving over the chief's brow. The long leaves of the palmetto +drooped over the eaves, and through them you saw the warrior +holding his paddle with both hands in the act of rowing, leaning +forward and inclining his head, as if eager to hurry on his +voyage. Glaring at him forever, and face to face, was a polished +human skull, which crowned the prow of the canoe. The spectral +figurehead, reversed in its position, glancing backwards, seemed +to mock the impatient attitude of the warrior. + +When I first visited this singular place with Kory-Kory, he told +me--or at least I so understood him--that the chief was paddling +his way to the realms of bliss, and bread-fruit--the Polynesian +heaven--where every moment the bread-fruit trees dropped their +ripened spheres to the ground, and where there was no end to the +cocoanuts and bananas: there they reposed through the livelong +eternity upon mats much finer than those of Typee; and every day +bathed their glowing limbs in rivers of cocoanut oil. In that +happy land there were plenty of plumes and feathers, and +boars'-tusks and sperm-whale teeth, far preferable to all the +shining trinkets and gay tappa of the white men; and, best of +all, women far lovelier than the daughters of earth were there in +abundance. 'A very pleasant place,' Kory-Kory said it was; 'but +after all, not much pleasanter, he thought, than Typee.' 'Did he +not then,' I asked him, 'wish to accompany the warrior?' 'Oh no: +he was very happy where he was; but supposed that some time or +other he would go in his own canoe.' + +Thus far, I think, I clearly comprehended Kory-Kory. But there +was a singular expression he made use of at the time, enforced by +as singular a gesture, the meaning of which I would have given +much to penetrate. I am inclined to believe it must have been a +proverb he uttered; for I afterwards heard him repeat the same +words several times, and in what appeared to me to be a somewhat: +similar sense. Indeed, Kory-Kory had a great variety of short, +smart-sounding sentences, with which he frequently enlivened his +discourse; and he introduced them with an air which plainly +intimated, that in his opinion, they settled the matter in +question, whatever it might be. + +Could it have been then, that when I asked him whether he desired +to go to this heaven of bread-fruit, cocoanuts, and young ladies, +which he had been describing, he answered by saying something +equivalent to our old adage--'A bird in the hand is worth two in +the bush'?--if he did, Kory-Kory was a discreet and sensible +fellow, and I cannot sufficiently admire his shrewdness. + +Whenever, in the course of my rambles through the valley I +happened to be near the chief's mausoleum, I always turned aside +to visit it. The place had a peculiar charm for me; I hardly +know why, but so it was. As I leaned over the railing and gazed +upon the strange effigy and watched the play of the feathery +head-dress, stirred by the same breeze which in low tones +breathed amidst the lofty palm-trees, I loved to yield myself up +to the fanciful superstition of the islanders, and could almost +believe that the grim warrior was bound heavenward. In this mood +when I turned to depart, I bade him 'God speed, and a pleasant +voyage.' Aye, paddle away, brave chieftain, to the land of +spirits! To the material eye thou makest but little progress; +but with the eye of faith, I see thy canoe cleaving the bright +waves, which die away on those dimly looming shores of Paradise. + +This strange superstition affords another evidence of the fact, +that however ignorant man may be, he still feels within him his +immortal spirit yearning, after the unknown future. + +Although the religious theories of the islands were a complete +mystery to me, their practical every-day operation could not be +concealed. I frequently passed the little temples reposing in +the shadows of the taboo groves and beheld the offerings--mouldy +fruit spread out upon a rude altar, or hanging in half-decayed +baskets around some uncouth jolly-looking image; I was present +during the continuance of the festival; I daily beheld the +grinning idols marshalled rank and file in the Hoolah Hoolah +ground, and was often in the habit of meeting those whom I +supposed to be the priests. But the temples seemed to be +abandoned to solitude; the festival had been nothing more than a +jovial mingling of the tribe; the idols were quite harmless as +any other logs of wood; and the priests were the mightiest dogs +in the valley. + +In fact religious affairs in Typee were at a very low ebb: all +such matters sat very lightly upon the thoughtless inhabitants; +and, in the celebration of many of their strange rites, they +appeared merely to seek a sort of childish amusement. + +A curious evidence of this was given in a remarkable ceremony in +which I frequently saw Mehevi and several other chefs and +warriors of note take part; but never a single female. + +Among those whom I looked upon as forming the priesthood of the +valley, there was one in particular who often attracted my +notice, and whom I could not help regarding as the head of the +order. He was a noble looking man, in the prime of his life, and +of a most benignant aspect. The authority this man, whose name +was Kolory, seemed to exercise over the rest, the episcopal part +he took in the Feast of Calabashes, his sleek and complacent +appearance, the mystic characters which were tattooed upon his +chest, and above all the mitre he frequently wore, in the shape +of a towering head-dress, consisting of part of a cocoanut +branch, the stalk planted uprightly on his brow, and the leaflets +gathered together and passed round the temples and behind the +ears, all these pointed him out as Lord Primate of Typee. Kolory +was a sort of Knight Templar--a soldier-priest; for he often wore +the dress of a Marquesan warrior, and always carried a long +spear, which, instead of terminating in a paddle at the lower +end, after the general fashion of these weapons, was curved into +a heathenish-looking little image. This instrument, however, +might perhaps have been emblematic of his double functions. With +one end in carnal combat he transfixed the enemies of his tribe; +and with the other as a pastoral crook he kept in order his +spiritual flock. But this is not all I have to say about Kolory. + +His martial grace very often carried about with him what seemed +to me the half of a broken war-club. It was swathed round with +ragged bits of white tappa, and the upper part, which was +intended to represent a human head, was embellished with a strip +of scarlet cloth of European manufacture. It required little +observation to discover that this strange object was revered as a +god. By the side of the big and lusty images standing sentinel +over the altars of the Hoolah Hoolah ground, it seemed a mere +pigmy in tatters. But appearances all the world over are +deceptive. Little men are sometimes very potent, and rags +sometimes cover very extensive pretensions. In fact, this funny +little image was the 'crack' god of the island; lording it over +all the wooden lubbers who looked so grim and dreadful; its name +was Moa Artua*. And it was in honour of Moa Artua, and for the +entertainment of those who believe in him, that the curious +ceremony I am about to describe was observed. + +*The word 'Artua', although having some other significations, is +in nearly all the Polynesian dialects used as the general +designation of the gods. + + + +Mehevi and the chieftains of the Ti have just risen from their +noontide slumbers. There are no affairs of state to dispose of; +and having eaten two or three breakfasts in the course of the +morning, the magnates of the valley feel no appetite as yet for +dinner. How are their leisure moments to be occupied? They +smoke, they chat, and at last one of their number makes a +proposition to the rest, who joyfully acquiescing, he darts out +of the house, leaps from the pi-pi, and disappears in the grove. +Soon you see him returning with Kolory, who bears the god Moa +Artua in his arms, and carries in one hand a small trough, +hollowed out in the likeness of a canoe. The priest comes along +dandling his charge as if it were a lachrymose infant he was +endeavouring to put into a good humour. Presently entering the +Ti, he seats himself on the mats as composedly as a juggler about +to perform his sleight-of-hand tricks; and with the chiefs +disposed in a circle around him, commences his ceremony. In +the,first place he gives Moa Artua an affectionate hug, then +caressingly lays him to his breast, and, finally, whispers +something in his ear; the rest of the company listening eagerly +for a reply. But the baby-god is deaf or dumb,--perhaps both, +for never a word does, he utter. At last Kolory speaks a little +louder, and soon growing angry, comes boldly out with what he has +to say and bawls to him. He put me in mind of a choleric fellow, +who, after trying in vain to communicated a secret to a deaf man, +all at once flies into a passion and screams it out so that every +one may hear. Still Moa Artua remains as quiet as ever; and +Kolory, seemingly losing his temper, fetches him a box over the +head, strips him of his tappa and red cloth, and laying him in a +state of nudity in a little trough, covers him from sight. At +this proceeding all present loudly applaud and signify their +approval by uttering the adjective 'motarkee' with violent +emphasis. Kolory however, is so desirous his conduct should meet +with unqualified approbation, that he inquires of each individual +separately whether under existing circumstances he has not done +perfectly right in shutting up Moa Artua. The invariable +response is 'Aa, Aa' (yes, yes), repeated over again and again in +a manner which ought to quiet the scruples of the most +conscientious. After a few moments Kolory brings forth his doll +again, and while arraying it very carefully in the tappa and red +cloth, alternately fondles and chides it. The toilet being +completed, he once more speaks to it aloud. The whole company +hereupon show the greatest interest; while the priest holding Moa +Artua to his ear interprets to them what he pretends the god is +confidentially communicating to him. Some items intelligence +appear to tickle all present amazingly; for one claps his hands +in a rapture; another shouts with merriment; and a third leaps to +his feet and capers about like a madman. + +What under the sun Moa Artua on these occasions had to say to +Kolory I never could find out; but I could not help thinking that +the former showed a sad want of spirit in being disciplined into +making those disclosures, which at first he seemed bent on +withholding. Whether the priest honestly interpreted what he +believed the divinity said to him, or whether he was not all the +while guilty of a vile humbug, I shall not presume to decide. At +any rate, whatever as coming from the god was imparted to those +present seemed to be generally of a complimentary nature: a fact +which illustrates the sagacity of Kolory, or else the timeserving +disposition of this hardly used deity. + +Moa Artua having nothing more to say, his bearer goes to nursing +him again, in which occupation, however, he is soon interrupted +by a question put by one of the warriors to the god. Kolory +hereupon snatches it up to his ear again, and after listening +attentively, once more officiates as the organ of communication. +A multitude of questions and answers having passed between the +parties, much to the satisfaction of those who propose them, the +god is put tenderly to bed in the trough, and the whole company +unite in a long chant, led off by Kolory. This ended, the +ceremony is over; the chiefs rise to their feet in high good +humour, and my Lord Archbishop, after chatting awhile, and +regaling himself with a whiff or two from a pipe of tobacco, +tucks the canoe under his arm and marches off with it. + +The whole of these proceedings were like those of a parcel of +children playing with dolls and baby houses. + +For a youngster scarcely ten inches high, and with so few early +advantages as he doubtless had had, Moa Artua was certainly a +precocious little fellow if he really said all that was imputed +to him; but for what reason this poor devil of a deity, thus +cuffed about, cajoled, and shut up in a box, was held in greater +estimation than the full-grown and dignified personages of the +Taboo Groves, I cannot divine. And yet Mehevi, and other chiefs +of unquestionable veracity--to say nothing of the Primate +himself--assured me over and over again that Moa Artua was the +tutelary deity of Typee, and was more to be held in honour than a +whole battalion of the clumsy idols in the Hoolah Hoolah grounds. + +Kory-Kory--who seemed to have devoted considerable attention to +the study of theology, as he knew the names of all the graven +images in the valley, and often repeated them over to +me--likewise entertained some rather enlarged ideas with regard +to the character and pretensions of Moa Artua. He once gave me +to understand, with a gesture there was no misconceiving, that if +he (Moa Artua) were so minded he could cause a cocoanut tree to +sprout out of his (Kory-Kory's) head; and that it would be the +easiest thing in life for him (Moa Artua) to take the whole +island of Nukuheva in his mouth and dive down to the bottom of +the sea with it. + +But in sober seriousness, I hardly knew what to make of the +religion of the valley. There was nothing that so much perplexed +the illustrious Cook, in his intercourse with the South Sea +islanders, as their sacred rites. Although this prince of +navigators was in many instances assisted by interpreters in the +prosecution of his researches, he still frankly acknowledges that +he was at a loss to obtain anything like a clear insight into the +puzzling arcana of their faith. A similar admission has been +made by other eminent voyagers: by Carteret, Byron, Kotzebue, and +Vancouver. + +For my own part, although hardly a day passed while I remained +upon the island that I did not witness some religious ceremony or +other, it was very much like seeing a panel of 'Freemasons' +making secret signs to each other; I saw everything, but could +comprehend nothing. + +On the whole, I am inclined to believe, that the islanders in the +Pacific have no fixed and definite ideas whatever on the subject +of religion. I am persuaded that Kolory himself would be +effectually posed were he called upon to draw up the articles of +his faith and pronounce the creed by which he hoped to be saved. +In truth, the Typees, so far as their actions evince, submitted +to no laws human or divine--always excepting the thrice +mysterious Taboo. The 'independent electors' of the valley were +not to be brow-beaten by chiefs, priests, idol or devils. As for +the luckless idols, they received more hard knocks than +supplications. I do not wonder that some of them looked so grim, +and stood so bolt upright as if fearful of looking to the right +or the left lest they should give any one offence. The fact is, +they had to carry themselves 'PRETTY STRAIGHT,' or suffer the +consequences. Their worshippers were such a precious set of +fickle-minded and irreverent heathens, that there was no telling +when they might topple one of them over, break it to pieces, and +making a fire with it on the very altar itself, fall to roasting +the offerings of bread-fruit, and at them in spite of its teeth. + +In how little reverence these unfortunate deities were held by +the natives was on one occasion most convincingly proved to +me.--Walking with Kory-Kory through the deepest recesses of the +groves, I perceived a curious looking image, about six feet in +height which originally had been placed upright against a low +pi-pi, surmounted by a ruinous bamboo temple, but having become +fatigued and weak in the knees, was now carelessly leaning +against it. The idol was partly concealed by the foliage of a +tree which stood near, and whose leafy boughs drooped over the +pile of stones, as if to protect the rude fane from the decay to +which it was rapidly hastening. The image itself was nothing +more than a grotesquely shaped log, carved in the likeness of a +portly naked man with the arms clasped over the head, the jaws +thrown wide apart, and its thick shapeless legs bowed into an +arch. It was much decayed. The lower part was overgrown with a +bright silky moss. Thin spears of grass sprouted from the +distended mouth, and fringed the outline of the head and arms. +His godship had literally attained a green old age. All its +prominent points were bruised and battered, or entirely rotted +away. The nose had taken its departure, and from the general +appearance of the head it might have, been supposed that the +wooden divinity, in despair at the neglect of its worshippers, +had been trying to beat its own brains out against the +surrounding trees. + +I drew near to inspect more closely this strange object of +idolatry, but halted reverently at the distance of two or three +paces, out of regard to the religious prejudices of my valet. As +soon, however, as Kory-Kory perceived that I was in one of my +inquiring, scientific moods, to my astonishment, he sprang to the +side of the idol, and pushing it away from the stones against +which it rested, endeavoured to make it stand upon its legs. But +the divinity had lost the use of them altogether; and while +Kory-Kory was trying to prop it up, placing a stick between it +and the pi-pi, the monster fell clumsily to the ground, and would +have infallibly have broken its neck had not Kory-Kory +providentially broken its fall by receiving its whole weight on +his own half-crushed back. I never saw the honest fellow in such +a rage before. He leaped furiously to his feet, and seizing the +stick, began beating the poor image: every moment, or two pausing +and talking to it in the most violent manner, as if upbraiding it +for the accident. When his indignation had subsided a little he +whirled the idol about most profanely, so as to give me an +opportunity of examining it on all sides. I am quite sure I +never should have presumed to have taken such liberties with the +god myself, and I was not a little shocked at Kory-Kory's +impiety. + +This anecdote speaks for itself. When one of the inferior order +of natives could show such contempt for a venerable and decrepit +God of the Groves, what the state of religion must be among the +people in general is easy to be imagined. In truth, I regard the +Typees as a back-slidden generation. They are sunk in religious +sloth, and require a spiritual revival. A long prosperity of +bread-fruit and cocoanuts has rendered them remiss in the +performance of their higher obligations. The wood-rot malady is +spreading among the idols--the fruit upon their altars is +becoming offensive--the temples themselves need rethatching--the +tattooed clergy are altogether too light-hearted and lazy--and +their flocks are going astray. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE + +GENERAL INFORMATION GATHERED AT THE FESTIVAL--PERSONAL BEAUTY OF +THE TYPEES--THEIR SUPERIORITY OVER THE INHABITANTS OF THE OTHER +ISLANDS--DIVERSITY OF COMPLEXION--A VEGETABLE COSMETIC AND +OINTMENT--TESTIMONY OF VOYAGERS TO THE UNCOMMON BEAUTY OF THE +MARQUESANS--FEW EVIDENCES OF INTERCOURSE WITH CIVILIZED +BEINGS--DILAPIDATED MUSKET--PRIMITIVE SIMPLICITY OF GOVERNMENT-- +REGAL DIGNITY OF MEHEVI + +ALTHOUGH I had been unable during the late festival to obtain +information on many interesting subjects which had much excited +my curiosity, still that important event had not passed by +without adding materially to my general knowledge of the +islanders. + +I was especially struck by the physical strength and beauty which +they displayed, by their great superiority in these respects over +the inhabitants of the neighbouring bay of Nukuheva, and by the +singular contrasts they presented among themselves in their +various shades of complexion. + +In beauty of form they surpassed anything I had ever seen. Not a +single instance of natural deformity was observable in all the +throng attending the revels. Occasionally I noticed among the +men the scars of wounds they had received in battle; and +sometimes, though very seldom, the loss of a finger, an eye, or +an arm, attributable to the same cause. With these exceptions, +every individual appeared free from those blemishes which +sometimes mar the effect of an otherwise perfect form. But their +physical excellence did not merely consist in an exemption from +these evils; nearly every individual of their number might have +been taken for a sculptor's model. + +When I remembered that these islanders derived no advantage from +dress, but appeared in all the naked simplicity of nature, I +could not avoid comparing them with the fine gentlemen and +dandies who promenade such unexceptionable figures in our +frequented thoroughfares. Stripped of the cunning artifices of +the tailor, and standing forth in the garb of Eden--what a sorry, +set of round-shouldered, spindle-shanked, crane-necked varlets +would civilized men appear! Stuffed calves, padded breasts, and +scientifically cut pantaloons would then avail them nothing, and +the effect would be truly deplorable. + +Nothing in the appearance of the islanders struck me more +forcibly than the whiteness of their teeth. The novelist always +compares the masticators of his heroine to ivory; but I boldly +pronounce the teeth of the Typee to be far more beautiful than +ivory itself. The jaws of the oldest graybeards among them were +much better garnished than those of most of the youths of +civilized countries; while the teeth of the young and +middle-aged, in their purity and whiteness, were actually +dazzling to the eye. Their marvellous whiteness of the teeth is +to be ascribed to the pure vegetable diet of these people, and +the uninterrupted healthfulness of their natural mode of life. + +The men, in almost every instance, are of lofty stature, scarcely +ever less than six feet in height, while the other sex are +uncommonly diminutive. The early period of life at which the +human form arrives at maturity in this generous tropical climate, +likewise deserves to be mentioned. A little creature, not more +than thirteen years of age, and who in other particulars might be +regarded as a mere child, is often seen nursing her own baby, +whilst lads who, under less ripening skies, would be still at +school, are here responsible fathers of families. + +On first entering the Typee Valley, I had been struck with the +marked contrast presented by its inhabitants with those of the +bay I had previously left. In the latter place, I had not been +favourably impressed with the personal appearance of the male +portion of the population; although with the females, excepting +in some truly melancholy instances, I had been wonderfully +pleased. I had observed that even the little intercourse +Europeans had carried on with the Nukuheva natives had not failed +to leave its traces amongst them. One of the most dreadful +curses under which humanity labours had commenced its havocks, +and betrayed, as it ever does among the South Sea islanders, the +most aggravated symptoms. From this, as from all other foreign +inflictions, the yet uncontaminated tenants of the Typee Valley +were wholly exempt; and long may they continue so. Better will +it be for them for ever to remain the happy and innocent heathens +and barbarians that they now are, than, like the wretched +inhabitants of the Sandwich Islands, to enjoy the mere name of +Christians without experiencing any of the vital operations of +true religion, whilst, at the same time, they are made the +victims of the worst vices and evils of civilized life. + +Apart, however, from these considerations, I am inclined to +believe that there exists a radical difference between the two +tribes, if indeed they are not distinct races of men. To those +who have merely touched at Nukuheva Bay, without visiting other +portions of the island, it would hardly appear credible the +diversities presented between the various small clans inhabiting +so diminutive a spot. But the hereditary hostility which has +existed between them for ages, fully accounts for this. + +Not so easy, however, is it to assign an adequate cause for the +endless variety of complexions to be seen in the Typee Valley. +During the festival, I had noticed several young females whose +skins were almost as white as any Saxon damsel's; a slight dash +of the mantling brown being all that marked the difference. This +comparative fairness of complexion, though in a great degree +perfectly natural, is partly the result of an artificial process, +and of an entire exclusion from the sun. The juice of the 'papa' +root found in great abundance at the head of the valley, is held +in great esteem as a cosmetic, with which many of the females +daily anoint their whole person. The habitual use of it whitens +and beautifies the skin. Those of the young girls who resort to +this method of heightening their charms, never expose themselves +selves to the rays of the sun; an observance, however, that +produces little or no inconvenience, since there are but few of +the inhabited portions of the vale which are not shaded over with +a spreading canopy of boughs, so that one may journey from house +to house, scarcely deviating from the direct course, and yet +never once see his shadow cast upon the ground. + +The 'papa', when used, is suffered to remain upon the skin for +several hours; being of a light green colour, it consequently +imparts for the time a similar hue to the complexion. Nothing, +therefore, can be imagined more singular than the appearance of +these nearly naked damsels immediately after the application of +the cosmetic. To look at one of them you would almost suppose +she was some vegetable in an unripe state; and that, instead of +living in the shade for ever, she ought to be placed out in the +sun to ripen. + +All the islanders are more or less in the habit of anointing +themselves; the women preferring the 'aker' to 'papa', and the +men using the oil of the cocoanut. Mehevi was remarkable fond of +mollifying his entire cuticle with this ointment. Sometimes he +might be seen, with his whole body fairly reeking with the +perfumed oil of the nut, looking as if he had just emerged from a +soap-boiler's vat, or had undergone the process of dipping in a +tallow-chandlery. To this cause perhaps, united to their +frequent bathing and extreme cleanliness, is ascribable, in a +great measure, the marvellous purity and smoothness of skin +exhibited by the natives in general. + +The prevailing tint among the women of the valley was a light +olive, and of this style of complexion Fayaway afforded the most +beautiful example. Others were still darker; while not a few +were of a genuine golden colour, and some of a swarthy hue. + +As agreeing with much previously mentioned in this narrative I +may here observe that Mendanna, their discoverer, in his account +of the Marquesas, described the natives as wondrously beautiful +to behold, and as nearly resembling the people of southern +Europe. The first of these islands seen by Mendanna was La +Madelena, which is not far distant from Nukuheva; and its +inhabitants in every respect resemble those dwelling on that and +the other islands of the group. Figueroa, the chronicler of +Mendanna's voyage, says, that on the morning the land was +descried, when the Spaniards drew near the shore, there sallied +forth, in rude progression, about seventy canoes, and at the same +time many of the inhabitants (females I presume) made towards the +ships by swimming. He adds, that 'in complexion they were nearly +white; of good stature, and finely formed; and on their faces and +bodies were delineated representations of fishes and other +devices'. The old Don then goes on to say, 'There came, among +others, two lads paddling their canoe, whose eyes were fixed on +the ship; they had beautiful faces and the most promising +animation of countenance; and were in all things so becoming, +that the pilot-mayor Quiros affirmed, nothing in his life ever +caused him so much regret as the leaving such fine creatures to +be lost in that country.'* More than two hundred years have gone +by since the passage of which the above is a translation was +written; and it appears to me now, as I read it, as fresh and +true as if written but yesterday. The islanders are still the +same; and I have seen boys in the Typee Valley of whose +'beautiful faces' and promising 'animation of countenance' no one +who has not beheld them can form any adequate idea. Cook, in the +account of his voyage, pronounces the Marquesans as by far the +most splendid islanders in the South Seas. Stewart, the chaplain +of the U.S. ship Vincennes, in his 'Scenes in the South Seas', +expresses, in more than one place, his amazement at the +surpassing loveliness of the women; and says that many of the +Nukuheva damsels reminded him forcibly of the most celebrated +beauties in his own land. Fanning, a Yankee mariner of some +reputation, likewise records his lively impressions of the +physical appearance of these people; and Commodore David Porter +of the U.S. frigate Essex, is said to have been vastly smitten +by the beauty of the ladies. Their great superiority over all +other Polynesians cannot fail to attract the notice of those who +visit the principal groups in the Pacific. The voluptuous +Tahitians are the only people who at all deserve to be compared +with them; while the dark-haired Hawaiians and the woolly-headed +Feejees are immeasurably inferior to them. The distinguishing +characteristic of the Marquesan islanders, and that which at once +strikes you, is the European cast of their features--a +peculiarity seldom observable among other uncivilized people. +Many of their faces present profiles classically beautiful, and +in the valley of Typee I saw several who, like the stranger +Marnoo, were in every respect models of beauty. + +* This passage, which is cited as an almost literal translation +from the original, I found in a small volume entitled +'Circumnavigation of the Globe, in which volume are several +extracts from 'Dalrymple's Historical Collections'. The +last-mentioned work I have never seen, but it is said to contain +a very correct English version of great part of the learned +Doctor Christoval Suaverde da Figueroa's History of Mendanna's +Voyage, published at Madrid, A.D. 1613. + + + +Some of the natives present at the Feast of Calabashes had +displayed a few articles of European dress; disposed however, +about their persons after their own peculiar fashion. Among +these I perceived two pieces of cotton-cloth which poor Toby and +myself had bestowed upon our youthful guides the afternoon we +entered the valley. They were evidently reserved for gala days; +and during those of the festival they rendered the young +islanders who wore them very distinguished characters. The small +number who were similarly adorned, and the great value they +appeared to place upon the most common and most trivial articles, +furnished ample evidence of the very restricted intercourse they +held with vessels touching at the island. A few cotton +handkerchiefs, of a gay pattern, tied about the neck, and +suffered to fall over the shoulder; strips of fanciful calico, +swathed about the loins, were nearly all I saw. + +Indeed, throughout the valley, there were few things of any kind +to be seen of European origin. All I ever saw, besides the +articles just alluded to, were the six muskets preserved in the +Ti, and three or four similar implements of warfare hung up in +other houses; some small canvas bags, partly filled with bullets +and powder, and half a dozen old hatchet-heads, with the edges +blunted and battered to such a degree as to render them utterly +worthless. These last seemed to be regarded as nearly worthless +by the natives; and several times they held up, one of them +before me, and throwing it aside with a gesture of disgust, +manifested their contempt for anything that could so soon become +unserviceable. + +But the muskets, the powder, and the bullets were held in most +extravagant esteem. The former, from their great age and the +peculiarities they exhibited, were well worthy a place in any +antiquarian's armoury. I remember in particular one that hung in +the Ti, and which Mehevi--supposing as a matter of course that I +was able to repair it--had put into my hands for that purpose. +It was one of those clumsy, old-fashioned, English pieces known +generally as Tower Hill muskets, and, for aught I know, might +have been left on the island by Wallace, Carteret, Cook, or +Vancouver. The stock was half rotten and worm-eaten; the lock +was as rusty and about as well adapted to its ostensible purpose +as an old door-hinge; the threading of the screws about the +trigger was completely worn away; while the barrel shook in the +wood. Such was the weapon the chief desired me to restore to its +original condition. As I did not possess the accomplishments of +a gunsmith, and was likewise destitute of the necessary tools, I +was reluctantly obliged to signify my inability to perform the +task. At this unexpected communication Mehevi regarded me, for a +moment, as if he half suspected I was some inferior sort of white +man, who after all did not know much more than a Typee. However, +after a most laboured explanation of the matter, I succeeded in +making him understand the extreme difficulty of the task. +Scarcely satisfied with my apologies, however, he marched off +with the superannuated musket in something of a huff, as if he +would no longer expose it to the indignity of being manipulated +by such unskilful fingers. + +During the festival I had not failed to remark the simplicity of +manner, the freedom from all restraint, and, to certain degree, +the equality of condition manifested by the natives in general. +No one appeared to assume any arrogant pretensions. There was +little more than a slight difference in costume to distinguish +the chiefs from the other natives. All appeared to mix together +freely, and without any reserve; although I noticed that the +wishes of a chief, even when delivered in the mildest tone, +received the same immediate obedience which elsewhere would have +been only accorded to a peremptory command. What may be the +extent of the authority of the chiefs over the rest of the tribe, +I will not venture to assert; but from all I saw during my stay +in the valley, I was induced to believe that in matters +concerning the general welfare it was very limited. The required +degree of deference towards them, however, was willingly and +cheerfully yielded; and as all authority is transmitted from +father to son, I have no doubt that one of the effects here, as +elsewhere, of high birth, is to induce respect and obedience. + +The civil institutions of the Marquesas Islands appear to be in +this, as in other respects, directly the reverse of those of the +Tahitian and Hawiian groups, where the original power of the king +and chiefs was far more despotic than that of any tyrant in +civilized countries. At Tahiti it used to be death for one of +the inferior orders to approach, without permission, under the +shadow, of the king's house; or to fail in paying the customary +reverence when food destined for the king was borne past them by +his messengers. At the Sandwich Islands, Kaahumanu, the gigantic +old dowager queen--a woman of nearly four hundred pounds weight, +and who is said to be still living at Mowee--was accustomed, in +some of her terrific gusts of temper, to snatch up an ordinary +sized man who had offended her, and snap his spine across her +knee. Incredible as this may seem, it is a fact. While at +Lahainaluna--the residence of this monstrous Jezebel--a +humpbacked wretch was pointed out to me, who, some twenty-five +years previously, had had the vertebrae of his backbone very +seriously discomposed by his gentle mistress. + +The particular grades of rank existing among the chiefs of Typee, +I could not in all cases determine. Previous to the Feast of +Calabashes I had been puzzled what particular station to assign +to Mehevi. But the important part he took upon that occasion +convinced me that he had no superior among the inhabitants of the +valley. I had invariably noticed a certain degree of deference +paid to him by all with whom I had ever seen him brought in +contact; but when I remembered that my wanderings had been +confined to a limited portion of the valley, and that towards the +sea a number of distinguished chiefs resided, some of whom had +separately visited me at Marheyo's house, and whom, until the +Festival, I had never seen in the company of Mehevi, I felt +disposed to believe that his rank after all might not be +particularly elevated. + +The revels, however, had brought together all the warriors whom I +had seen individually and in groups at different times and +places. Among them Mehevi moved with an easy air of superiority +which was not to be mistaken; and he whom I had only looked at as +the hospitable host of the Ti, and one of the military leaders of +the tribe, now assumed in my eyes the dignity of royal station. +His striking costume, no less than his naturally commanding +figure, seemed indeed to give him pre-eminence over the rest. +The towering helmet of feathers that he wore raised him in height +above all who surrounded him; and though some others were +similarly adorned, the length and luxuriance of their plumes were +inferior to his. + +Mehevi was in fact the greatest of the chiefs--the head of his +clan--the sovereign of the valley; and the simplicity of the +social institutions of the people could not have been more +completely proved than by the fact, that after having been +several weeks in the valley, and almost in daily intercourse with +Mehevi, I should have remained until the time of the festival +ignorant of his regal character. But a new light had now broken +in upon me. The Ti was the palace--and Mehevi the king. Both +the one and the other of a most simple and patriarchal nature: it +must be allowed, and wholly unattended by the ceremonious pomp +which usually surrounds the purple. + +After having made this discovery I could not avoid congratulating +myself that Mehevi had from the first taken me as it were under +his royal protection, and that he still continued to entertain +for me the warmest regard, as far at least as I was enabled to +judge from appearances. For the future I determined to pay most +assiduous court to him, hoping that eventually through his +kindness I might obtain my liberty. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX + +KING MEHEVI--ALLUSION TO HIS HAWIIAN MAJESTY--CONDUCT OF MARHEYO +AND MEHEVI IN CERTAIN DELICATE MATTERS--PECULIAR SYSTEM OF +MARRIAGE--NUMBER OF POPULATION--UNIFORMITY--EMBALMING--PLACES OF +SEPULTURE--FUNERAL OBSEQUIES AT NUKUHEVA-NUMBER OF INHABITANTS IN +TYPEE--LOCATION OF THE DWELLINGS--HAPPINESS ENJOYED IN THE +VALLEY--A WARNING--SOME IDEAS WITH REGARD TO THE PRESENT STATE OF +THE HAWIIANS--STORY OF A MISSIONARY'S WIFE--FASHIONABLE EQUIPAGES +AT OAHU--REFLECTIONS + +KING MEHEVI!--A goodly sounding title--and why should I not +bestow it upon the foremost man in the valley of Typee? The +republican missionaries of Oahu cause to be gazetted in the Court +Journal, published at Honolulu, the most trivial movement of 'his +gracious majesty' King Kammehammaha III, and 'their highnesses +the princes of the blood royal'.* And who is his 'gracious +majesty', and what the quality of this blood royal'?--His +'gracious majesty' is a fat, lazy, negro-looking blockhead, with +as little character as power. He has lost the noble traits of +the barbarian, without acquiring the redeeming graces of a +civilized being; and, although a member of the Hawiian Temperance +Society, is a most inveterate dram-drinker. + +*Accounts like these are sometimes copied into English and +American journals. They lead the reader to infer that the arts +and customs of civilized life are rapidly refining the natives of +the Sandwich Islands. But let no one be deceived by these +accounts. The chiefs swagger about in gold lace and broadcloth, +while the great mass of the common people are nearly as primitive +in their appearance as in the days of Cook. In the progress of +events at these islands, the two classes are receding from each +other; the chiefs are daily becoming more luxurious and +extravagant in their style of living, and the common people more +and more destitute of the necessaries and decencies of life. But +the end to which both will arrive at last will be the same: the +one are fast destroying themselves by sensual indulgences, and +the other are fast being destroyed by a complication of +disorders, and the want of wholesome food. The resources of the +domineering chiefs are wrung from the starving serfs, and every +additional bauble with which they bedeck themselves is purchased +by the sufferings of their bondsmen; so that the measure of +gew-gaw refinement attained by the chiefs is only an index to the +actual state in which the greater portion of the population lie +grovelling. + + + +The 'blood royal' is an extremely thick, depraved fluid; formed +principally of raw fish, bad brandy, and European sweetmeats, and +is charged with a variety of eruptive humours, which are +developed in sundry blotches and pimples upon the august face of +'majesty itself', and the angelic countenances of the 'princes +and princesses of the blood royal'! + +Now, if the farcical puppet of a chief magistrate in the Sandwich +Islands be allowed the title of King, why should it be withheld +from the noble savage Mehevi, who is a thousand times more worthy +of the appellation? All hail, therefore, Mehevi, King of the +Cannibal Valley, and long life and prosperity to his Typeean +majesty! May Heaven for many a year preserve him, the +uncompromising foe of Nukuheva and the French, if a hostile +attitude will secure his lovely domain from the remorseless +inflictions of South Sea civilization. + +Previously to seeing the Dancing Widows I had little idea that +there were any matrimonial relations subsisting in Typee, and I +should as soon have thought of a Platonic affection being +cultivated between the sexes, as of the solemn connection of man +and wife. To be sure, there were old Marheyo and Tinor, who +seemed to have a sort of nuptial understanding with one another; +but for all that, I had sometimes observed a comical-looking old +gentleman dressed in a suit of shabby tattooing, who had the +audacity to take various liberties with the lady, and that too in +the very presence of the old warrior her husband, who looked on +as good-naturedly as if nothing was happening. This behaviour, +until subsequent discoveries enlightened me, puzzled me more than +anything else I witnessed in Typee. + +As for Mehevi, I had supposed him a confirmed bachelor, as well +as most of the principal chiefs. At any rate, if they had wives +and families, they ought to have been ashamed of themselves; for +sure I am, they never troubled themselves about any domestic +affairs. In truth, Mehevi seemed to be the president of a club +of hearty fellows, who kept 'Bachelor's Hall' in fine style at +the Ti. I had no doubt but that they regarded children as odious +incumbrances; and their ideas of domestic felicity were +sufficiently shown in the fact, that they allowed no meddlesome +housekeepers to turn topsy-turvy those snug little arrangements +they had made in their comfortable dwelling. I strongly +suspected however, that some of these jolly bachelors were +carrying on love intrigues with the maidens of the tribe; +although they did not appear publicly to acknowledge them. I +happened to pop upon Mehevi three or four times when he was +romping--in a most undignified manner for a warrior king--with +one of the prettiest little witches in the valley. She lived +with an old woman and a young man, in a house near Marheyo's; and +although in appearance a mere child herself, had a noble boy +about a year old, who bore a marvellous resemblance to Mehevi, +whom I should certainly have believed to have been the father, +were it not that the little fellow had no triangle on his +face--but on second thoughts, tattooing is not hereditary. +Mehevi, however, was not the only person upon whom the damsel +Moonoony smiled--the young fellow of fifteen, who permanently +resided in the home with her, was decidedly in her good graces. +I sometimes beheld both him and the chief making love at the same +time. Is it possible, thought I, that the valiant warrior can +consent to give up a corner in the thing he loves? This too was +a mystery which, with others of the same kind, was afterwards +satisfactorily explained. + +During the second day of the Feast of Calabashes, +Kory-Kory--being determined that I should have some understanding +on these matters--had, in the course of his explanations, +directed my attention to a peculiarity I had frequently remarked +among many of the females;--principally those of a mature age and +rather matronly appearance. This consisted in having the right +hand and the left foot most elaborately tattooed; whilst the rest +of the body was wholly free from the operation of the art, with +the exception of the minutely dotted lips and slight marks on the +shoulders, to which I have previously referred as comprising the +sole tattooing exhibited by Fayaway, in common with other young +girls of her age. The hand and foot thus embellished were, +according to Kory-Kory, the distinguishing badge of wedlock, so +far as that social and highly commendable institution is known +among those people. It answers, indeed, the same purpose as the +plain gold ring worn by our fairer spouses. + +After Kory-Kory's explanation of the subject, I was for some time +studiously respectful in the presence of all females thus +distinguished, and never ventured to indulge in the slightest +approach to flirtation with any of their number. Married women, +to be sure!--I knew better than to offend them. + +A further insight, however, into the peculiar domestic customs of +the inmates of the valley did away in a measure with the severity +of my scruples, and convinced me that I was deceived in some at +least of my conclusions. A regular system of polygamy exists +among the islanders; but of a most extraordinary nature,--a +plurality of husbands, instead of wives! and this solitary fact +speaks volumes for the gentle disposition of the male population. + +Where else, indeed, could such a practice exist, even for a +single day?--Imagine a revolution brought about in a Turkish +seraglio, and the harem rendered the abode of bearded men; or +conceive some beautiful woman in our own country running +distracted at the sight of her numerous lovers murdering one +another before her eyes, out of jealousy for the unequal +distribution of her favours!--Heaven defend us from such a state +of things!--We are scarcely amiable and forbearing enough to +submit to it. + +I was not able to learn what particular ceremony was observed in +forming the marriage contract, but am inclined to think that it +must have been of a very simple nature. Perhaps the mere +'popping the question', as it is termed with us, might have been +followed by an immediate nuptial alliance. At any rate, I have +more than one reason to believe that tedious courtships are +unknown in the valley of Typee. + +The males considerably outnumber the females. This holds true of +many of the islands of Polynesia, although the reverse of what is +the case in most civilized countries. The girls are first wooed +and won, at a very tender age, by some stripling in the household +in which they reside. This, however, is a mere frolic of the +affections, and no formal engagement is contracted. By the time +this first love has a little subsided, a second suitor presents +himself, of graver years, and carries both boy and girl away to +his own habitation. This disinterested and generous-hearted +fellow now weds the young couple--marrying damsel and lover at +the same time--and all three thenceforth live together as +harmoniously as so many turtles. I have, heard of some men who +in civilized countries rashly marry large families with their +wives, but had no idea that there was any place where people +married supplementary husbands with them. Infidelity on either +side is very rare. No man has more than one wife, and no wife of +mature years has less than two husbands,--sometimes she has +three, but such instances are not frequent. The marriage tie, +whatever it may be, does not appear to be indissoluble; for +separations occasionally happen. These, however, when they do +take place, produce no unhappiness, and are preceded by no +bickerings; for the simple reason, than an ill-used wife or a +henpecked husband is not obliged to file a bill in Chancery to +obtain a divorce. As nothing stands in the way of a separation, +the matrimonial yoke sits easily and lightly, and a Typee wife +lives on very pleasant and sociable terms with her husband. On +the whole, wedlock, as known among these Typees, seems to be of a +more distinct and enduring nature than is usually the case with +barbarous people. A baneful promiscuous intercourse of the sexes +is hereby avoided, and virtue, without being damorously invoked, +is, as it were, unconsciously practised. + +The contrast exhibited between the Marquesas and other islands of +the Pacific in this respect, is worthy of being noticed. At +Tahiti the marriage tie was altogether unknown; and the relation +of husband and wife, father and son, could hardly be said to +exist. The Arreory Society--one of the most singular +institutions that ever existed in any part of the world--spread +universal licentiousness over the island. It was the voluptuous +character of these people which rendered the disease introduced +among them by De Bougainville's ships; in 1768, doubly +destructive. It visited them like a plague, sweeping them off by +hundreds. + +Notwithstanding the existence of wedlock among the Typees, the +Scriptural injunction to increase and multiply seems to be but +indifferently attended to. I never saw any of those large +families in arithmetical or step-ladder progression which one +often meets with at home. I never knew of more than two +youngsters living together in the same home, and but seldom even +that number. As for the women, it was very plain that the +anxieties of the nursery but seldom disturbed the serenity of +their souls; and they were never seen going about the valley with +half a score of little ones tagging at their apronstrings, or +rather at the bread-fruit-leaf they usually wore in the rear. + +The ratio of increase among all the Polynesian nations is very +small; and in some places as yet uncorrupted by intercourse with +Europeans, the births would appear not very little to outnumber +the deaths; the population in such instances remaining nearly the +same for several successive generations, even upon those islands +seldom or never desolated by wars, and among people with whom the +crime of infanticide is altogether unknown. This would seem +expressively ordained by Providence to prevent the overstocking +of the islands with a race too indolent to cultivate the ground, +and who, for that reason alone, would, by any considerable +increase in their numbers, be exposed to the most deplorable +misery. During the entire period of my stay in the valley of +Typee, I never saw more than ten or twelve children under the age +of six months, and only became aware of two births. + +It is to the looseness of the marriage tie that the late rapid +decrease of the population of the Sandwich Islands and of Tahiti +is in part to be ascribed. The vices and diseases introduced +among these unhappy people annually swell the ordinary mortality +of the islands, while, from the same cause, the originally small +number of births is proportionally decreased. Thus the progress +of the Hawiians and Tahitians to utter extinction is accelerated +in a sort of compound ratio. + +I have before had occasion to remark, that I never saw any of the +ordinary signs of a pace of sepulture in the valley, a +circumstance which I attributed, at the time, to my living in a +particular part of it, and being forbidden to extend my ramble to +any considerable distance towards the sea. I have since thought +it probable, however, that the Typees, either desirous of +removing from their sight the evidences of mortality, or prompted +by a taste for rural beauty, may have some charming cemetery +situation in the shadowy recesses along the base of the +mountains. At Nukuheva, two or three large quadrangular +'pi-pis', heavily flagged, enclosed with regular stone walls, and +shaded over and almost hidden from view by the interlacing +branches of enormous trees, were pointed out to me as +burial-places. The bodies, I understood, were deposited in rude +vaults beneath the flagging, and were suffered to remain there +without being disinterred. Although nothing could be more +strange and gloomy than the aspect of these places, where the +lofty trees threw their dark shadows over rude blocks of stone, a +stranger looking at them would have discerned none of the +ordinary evidences of a place of sepulture. + +During my stay in the valley, as none of its inmates were so +accommodating as to die and be buried in order to gratify my +curiosity with regard to their funeral rites, I was reluctantly +obliged to remain in ignorance of them. As I have reason to +believe, however, the observances of the Typees in these matters +are the same with those of all the other tribes in the island, I +will here relate a scene I chanced to witness at Nukuheva. + +A young man had died, about daybreak, in a house near the beach. +I had been sent ashore that morning, and saw a good deal of the +preparations they were making for his obsequies. The body, +neatly wrapped in a new white tappa, was laid out in an open shed +of cocoanut boughs, upon a bier constructed of elastic bamboos +ingeniously twisted together. This was supported about two feet +from the ground, by large canes planted uprightly in the earth. +Two females, of a dejected appearance, watched by its side, +plaintively chanting and beating the air with large grass fans +whitened with pipe-clay. In the dwelling-house adjoining a +numerous company we assembled, and various articles of food were +being prepared for consumption. Two or three individuals, +distinguished by head-dresses of beautiful tappa, and wearing a +great number of ornaments, appeared to officiate as masters of +the ceremonies. By noon the entertainment had fairly begun and +we were told that it would last during the whole of the two +following days. With the exception of those who mourned by the +corpse, every one seemed disposed to drown the sense of the late +bereavement in convivial indulgence. The girls, decked out in +their savage finery, danced; the old men chanted; the warriors +smoked and chatted; and the young and lusty, of both sexes, +feasted plentifully, and seemed to enjoy themselves as pleasantly +as they could have done had it been a wedding. + +The islanders understand the art of embalming, and practise it +with such success that the bodies of their great chiefs are +frequently preserved for many years in the very houses where they +died. I saw three of these in my visit to the Bay of Tior. One +was enveloped in immense folds of tappa, with only the face +exposed, and hung erect against the side of the dwelling. The +others were stretched out upon biers of bamboo, in open, elevated +temples, which seemed consecrated to their memory. The heads of +enemies killed in battle are invariably preserved and hung up as +trophies in the house of the conqueror. I am not acquainted with +the process which is in use, but believe that fumigation is the +principal agency employed. All the remains which I saw presented +the appearance of a ham after being suspended for some time in a +smoky chimney. + +But to return from the dead to the living. The late festival had +drawn together, as I had every reason to believe, the whole +population of the vale, and consequently I was enabled to make +some estimate with regard to its numbers. I should imagine that +there were about two thousand inhabitants in Typee; and no number +could have been better adapted to the extent of the valley. The +valley is some nine miles in length, and may average one in +breadth; the houses being distributed at wide intervals +throughout its whole extent, principally, however, towards the +head of the vale. There are no villages; the houses stand here +and there in the shadow of the groves, or are scattered along the +banks of the winding stream; their golden-hued bamboo sides and +gleaming white thatch forming a beautiful contrast to the +perpetual verdure in which they are embowered. There are no +roads of any kind in the valley. Nothing but a labyrinth of +footpaths twisting and turning among the thickets without end. + +The penalty of the Fall presses very lightly upon the valley of +Typee; for, with the one solitary exception of striking a light, +I scarcely saw any piece of work performed there which caused the +sweat to stand upon a single brow. As for digging and delving +for a livelihood, the thing is altogether unknown. Nature has +planted the bread-fruit and the banana, and in her own good time +she brings them to maturity, when the idle savage stretches forth +his hand, and satisfies his appetite. + +Ill-fated people! I shudder when I think of the change a few +years will produce in their paradisaical abode; and probably when +the most destructive vices, and the worst attendances on +civilization, shall have driven all peace and happiness from the +valley, the magnanimous French will proclaim to the world that +the Marquesas Islands have been converted to Christianity! and +this the Catholic world will doubtless consider as a glorious +event. Heaven help the 'Isles of the Sea'!--The sympathy which +Christendom feels for them, has, alas! in too many instances +proved their bane. + +How little do some of these poor islanders comprehend when they +look around them, that no inconsiderable part of their disasters +originate in certain tea-party excitements, under the influence +of which benevolent-looking gentlemen in white cravats solicit +alms, and old ladies in spectacles, and young ladies in sober +russet gowns, contribute sixpences towards the creation of a +fund, the object of which is to ameliorate the spiritual +condition of the Polynesians, but whose end has almost invariably +been to accomplish their temporal destruction! + +Let the savages be civilized, but civilize them with benefits, +and not with evils; and let heathenism be destroyed, but not by +destroying the heathen. The Anglo-Saxon hive have extirpated +Paganism from the greater part of the North American continent; +but with it they have likewise extirpated the greater portion of +the Red race. Civilization is gradually sweeping from the earth +the lingering vestiges of Paganism, and at the same time the +shrinking forms of its unhappy worshippers. + +Among the islands of Polynesia, no sooner are the images +overturned, the temples demolished, and the idolators converted +into NOMINAL Christians, that disease, vice, and premature death +make their appearance. The depopulated land is then recruited +from the rapacious, hordes of enlightened individuals who settle +themselves within its borders, and clamorously announce the +progress of the Truth. Neat villas, trim gardens, shaven lawns, +spires, and cupolas arise, while the poor savage soon finds +himself an interloper in the country of his fathers, and that too +on the very site of the hut where he was born. The spontaneous +fruits of the earth, which God in his wisdom had ordained for the +support of the indolent natives, remorselessly seized upon and +appropriated by the stranger, are devoured before the eyes of the +starving inhabitants, or sent on board the numerous vessels which +now touch at their shores. + +When the famished wretches are cut off in this manner from their +natural supplies, they are told by their benefactors to work and +earn their support by the sweat of their brows! But to no fine +gentleman born to hereditary opulence, does this manual labour +come more unkindly than to the luxurious Indian when thus robbed +of the bounty of heaven. Habituated to a life of indolence, he +cannot and will not exert himself; and want, disease, and vice, +all evils of foreign growth, soon terminate his miserable +existence. + +But what matters all this? Behold the glorious result!--The +abominations of Paganism have given way to the pure rites of the +Christian worship,--the ignorant savage has been supplanted by +the refined European! Look at Honolulu, the metropolis of the +Sandwich Islands!--A community of disinterested merchants, and +devoted self-exiled heralds of the Cross, located on the very +spot that twenty years ago was defiled by the presence of +idolatry. What a subject for an eloquent Bible-melting orator! +Nor has such an opportunity for a display of missionary rhetoric +been allowed to pass by unimproved!--But when these +philanthropists send us such glowing accounts of one half of +their labours, why does their modesty restrain them from +publishing the other half of the good they have wrought?--Not +until I visited Honolulu was I aware of the fact that the small +remnant of the natives had been civilized into drought-horses; +and evangelized into beasts of burden. But so it is. They have +been literally broken into the traces, and are harnessed to the +vehicles of their spiritual instructors like so many dumb brutes! + + . . . . . . . + +Lest the slightest misconception should arise from anything +thrown out in this chapter, or indeed in any other part of the +volume, let me here observe that against the cause of missions +in, the abstract no Christian can possibly be opposed: it is in +truth a just and holy cause. But if the great end proposed by it +be spiritual, the agency employed to accomplish that end is +purely earthly; and, although the object in view be the +achievement of much good, that agency may nevertheless be +productive of evil. In short, missionary undertaking, however it +may blessed of heaven, is in itself but human; and subject, like +everything else, to errors and abuses. And have not errors and +abuses crept into the most sacred places, and may there not be +unworthy or incapable missionaries abroad,as well as +ecclesiastics of similar character at home? May not the +unworthiness or incapacity of those who assume apostolic +functions upon the remote islands of the sea more easily escape +detection by the world at large than if it were displayed in the +heart of a city? An unwarranted confidence in the sanctity of +its apostles--a proneness to regard them as incapable of +guile--and an impatience of the least suspicion to their +rectitude as men or Christians, have ever been prevailing faults +in the Church. Nor is this to be wondered at: for subject as +Christianity is to the assaults of unprincipled foes, we are +naturally disposed to regard everything like an exposure of +ecclesiastical misconduct as the offspring of malevolence or +irreligious feeling. Not even this last consideration, however +shall deter me from the honest expression of my sentiments. + +There is something apparently wrong in the practical operations +of the Sandwich Islands Mission. Those who from pure religious +motives contribute to the support of this enterprise should take +care to ascertain that their donations, flowing through many +devious channels, at last effect their legitimate object, the +conversion of the Hawaiians. I urge this not because I doubt the +moral probity of those who disburse the funds, but because I know +that they are not rightly applied. To read pathetic accounts of +missionary hardships, and glowing descriptions of conversion, and +baptisms, taking place beneath palm-trees, is one thing; and to +go to the Sandwich Islands and see the missionaries dwelling in +picturesque and prettily furnished coral-rock villas, whilst the +miserable natives are committing all sorts of immorality around +them, is quite another. + +In justice to the missionaries, however, I will willingly admit, +that where-ever evils may have resulted from their collective +mismanagement of the business of the mission, and from the want +of vital piety evinced by some of their number, still the present +deplorable condition of the Sandwich Islands is by no means +wholly chargeable against them. The demoralizing influence of a +dissolute foreign population, and the frequent visits of all +descriptions of vessels, have tended not a little to increase the +evils alluded to. In a word, here, as in every case where +civilization has in any way been introduced among those whom we +call savages, she has scattered her vices, and withheld her +blessings. + +As wise a man as Shakespeare has said, that the bearer of evil +tidings hath but a losing office; and so I suppose will it prove +with me, in communicating to the trusting friends of the Hawiian +Mission what has been disclosed in various portions of this +narrative. I am persuaded, however, that as these disclosures +will by their very nature attract attention, so they will lead to +something which will not be without ultimate benefit to the cause +of Christianity in the Sandwich Islands. + +I have but one more thing to add in connection with this +subject--those things which I have stated as facts will remain +facts, in spite of whatever the bigoted or incredulous may say or +write against them. My reflections, however, on those facts may +not be free from error. If such be the case, I claim no further +indulgence than should be conceded to every man whose object is +to do good. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN + +THE SOCIAL CONDITION AND GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE TYPEES + +I HAVE already mentioned that the influence exerted over the +people of the valley by their chiefs was mild in the extreme; and +as to any general rule or standard of conduct by which the +commonality were governed in their intercourse with each other, +so far as my observation extended, I should be almost tempted to +say, that none existed on the island, except, indeed, the +mysterious 'Taboo' be considered as such. During the time I +lived among the Typees, no one was ever put upon his trial for +any offence against the public. To all appearance there were no +courts of law or equity. There was no municipal police for the +purpose of apprehending vagrants and disorderly characters. In +short, there were no legal provisions whatever for the well-being +and conservation of society, the enlightened end of civilized +legislation. And yet everything went on in the valley with a +harmony and smoothness unparalleled, I will venture to assert, in +the most select, refined, and pious associations of mortals in +Christendom. How are we to explain this enigma? These islanders +were heathens! savages! ay, cannibals! and how came they +without the aid of established law, to exhibit, in so eminent a +degree, that social order which is the greatest blessing and +highest pride of the social state? + +It may reasonably be inquired, how were these people governed? +how were their passions controlled in their everyday +transactions? It must have been by an inherent principle of +honesty and charity towards each other. They seemed to be +governed by that sort of tacit common-sense law which, say what +they will of the inborn lawlessness of the human race, has its +precepts graven on every breast. The grand principles of virtue +and honour, however they may be distorted by arbitrary codes, are +the same all the world over: and where these principles are +concerned, the right or wrong of any action appears the same to +the uncultivated as to the enlightened mind. It is to this +indwelling, this universally diffused perception of what is just +and noble, that the integrity of the Marquesans in their +intercourse with each other, is to be attributed. In the darkest +nights they slept securely, with all their worldly wealth around +them, in houses the doors of which were never fastened. The +disquieting ideas of theft or assassination never disturbed them. + +Each islander reposed beneath his own palmetto thatching, or sat +under his own bread-fruit trees, with none to molest or alarm +him. There was not a padlock in the valley, nor anything that +answered the purpose of one: still there was no community of +goods. This long spear, so elegantly carved, and highly +polished, belongs to Wormoonoo: it is far handsomer than the one +which old Marheyo so greatly prizes; it is the most valuable +article belonging to its owner. And yet I have seen it leaning +against a cocoanut tree in the grove, and there it was found when +sought for. Here is a sperm-whale tooth, graven all over with +cunning devices: it is the property of Karluna; it is the most +precious of the damsel's ornaments. In her estimation its price +is far above rubies--and yet there hangs the dental jewel by its +cord of braided bark, in the girl's house, which is far back in +the valley; the door is left open, and all the inmates have gone +off to bathe in the stream.* + +*The strict honesty which the inhabitants of nearly all the +Polynesian Islands manifest toward each other, is in striking +contrast with the thieving propensities some of them evince in +their intercourse with foreigners. It would almost seem that, +according to their peculiar code of morals, the pilfering of a +hatchet or a wrought nail from a European, is looked upon as a +praiseworthy action. Or rather, it may be presumed, that bearing +in mind the wholesale forays made upon them by their nautical +visitors, they consider the property of the latter as a fair +object of reprisal. This consideration, while it serves to +reconcile an apparent contradiction in the moral character of the +islanders, should in some measure alter that low opinion of it +which the reader of South Sea voyages is too apt to form. + + + +So much for the respect in which 'personal property' is held in +Typee; how secure an investment of 'real property' may be, I +cannot take upon me to say. Whether the land of the valley was +the joint property of its inhabitants, or whether it was +parcelled out among a certain number of landed proprietors who +allowed everybody to 'squat' and 'poach' as much as he or she +pleased, I never could ascertain. At any rate, musty parchments +and title-deeds there were none on the island; and I am half +inclined to believe that its inhabitants hold their broad valleys +in fee simple from Nature herself; to have and to hold, so long +as grass grows and water runs; or until their French visitors, by +a summary mode of conveyancing, shall appropriate them to their +own benefit and behoof. + +Yesterday I saw Kory-Kory hie him away armed with a long pole, +with which, standing on the ground, he knocked down the fruit +from the topmost boughs of the trees, and brought them home in +his basket of cocoanut leaves. Today I see an islander, whom I +know to reside in a distant part of the valley, doing the +self-same thing. On the sloping bank of the stream are a number +of banana-trees I have often seen a score or two of young people +making a merry foray on the great golden clusters, and bearing +them off, one after another, to different parts of the vale, +shouting and trampling as they went. No churlish old curmudgeon +could have been the owner of that grove of bread-fruit trees, or +of these gloriously yellow bunches of bananas. + +From what I have said it will be perceived that there is a vast +difference between 'personal property' and 'real estate' in the +valley of Typee. Some individuals, of course, are more wealthy +than others. For example, the ridge-pole of Marheyo's house +bends under the weight of many a huge packet of tappa; his long +couch is laid with mats placed one upon the other seven deep. +Outside, Tinor has ranged along in her bamboo cupboard--or +whatever the place may be called--a goodly array of calabashes +and wooden trenchers. Now, the house just beyond the grove, and +next to Marheyo's, occupied by Ruaruga, is not quite so well +furnished. There are only three moderate-sized packages +swinging overhead: there are only two layers of mats beneath; and +the calabashes and trenchers are not so numerous, nor so +tastefully stained and carved. But then, Ruaruga has a +house--not so pretty a one, to be sure--but just as commodious as +Marheyo's; and, I suppose, if he wished to vie with his +neighbour's establishment, he could do so with very little +trouble. These, in short, constituted the chief differences +perceivable in the relative wealth of the people in Typee. + +Civilization does not engross all the virtues of humanity: she +has not even her full share of them. They flourish in greater +abundance and attain greater strength among many barbarous +people. The hospitality of the wild Arab, the courage of the +North American Indian, and the faithful friendship of some of the +Polynesian nations, far surpass anything of a similar kind among +the polished communities of Europe. If truth and justice, and +the better principles of our nature, cannot exist unless enforced +by the statute-book, how are we to account for the social +condition of the Typees? So pure and upright were they in all +the relations of life, that entering their valley, as I did, +under the most erroneous impressions of their character, I was +soon led to exclaim in amazement: 'Are these the ferocious +savages, the blood-thirsty cannibals of whom I have heard such +frightful tales! They deal more kindly with each other, and are +more humane than many who study essays on virtue and benevolence, +and who repeat every night that beautiful prayer breathed first +by the lips of the divine and gentle Jesus.' I will frankly +declare that after passing a few weeks in this valley of the +Marquesas, I formed a higher estimate of human nature than I had +ever before entertained. But alas! since then I have been one +of the crew of a man-of-war, and the pent-up wickedness of five +hundred men has nearly overturned all my previous theories. + +There was one admirable trait in the general character of the +Typees which, more than anything else, secured my admiration: it +was the unanimity of feeling they displayed on every occasion. +With them there hardly appeared to be any difference of opinion +upon any subject whatever. They all thought and acted alike. I +do not conceive that they could support a debating society for a +single night: there would be nothing to dispute about; and were +they to call a convention to take into consideration the state of +the tribe, its session would be a remarkably short one. They +showed this spirit of unanimity in every action of life; +everything was done in concert and good fellowship. I will give +an instance of this fraternal feeling. + +One day, in returning with Kory-Kory from my accustomed visit to +the Ti, we passed by a little opening in the grove; on one side +of which, my attendant informed me, was that afternoon to be +built a dwelling of bamboo. At least a hundred of the natives +were bringing materials to the ground, some carrying in their +hands one or two of the canes which were to form the sides, +others slender rods of the habiscus, strung with palmetto leaves, +for the roof. Every one contributed something to the work; and +by the united, but easy, and even indolent, labours of all, the +entire work was completed before sunset. The islanders, while +employed in erecting this tenement, reminded me of a colony of +beavers at work. To be sure, they were hardly as silent and +demure as those wonderful creatures, nor were they by any means +as diligent. To tell the truth they were somewhat inclined to be +lazy, but a perfect tumult of hilarity prevailed; and they worked +together so unitedly, and seemed actuated by such an instinct of +friendliness, that it was truly beautiful to behold. + +Not a single female took part in this employment: and if the +degree of consideration in which the ever-adorable sex is held by +the men be--as the philosophers affirm--a just criterion of the +degree of refinement among a people, then I may truly pronounce +the Typees to be as polished a community as ever the sun shone +upon. The religious restrictions of the taboo alone excepted, +the women of the valley were allowed every possible indulgence. +Nowhere are the ladies more assiduously courted; nowhere are they +better appreciated as the contributors to our highest enjoyments; +and nowhere are they more sensible of their power. Far different +from their condition among many rude nations, where the women are +made to perform all the work while their ungallant lords and +masters lie buried in sloth, the gentle sex in the valley of +Typee were exempt from toil, if toil it might be called that, +even in the tropical climate, never distilled one drop of +perspiration. Their light household occupations, together with +the manufacture of tappa, the platting of mats, and the polishing +of drinking-vessels, were the only employments pertaining to the +women. And even these resembled those pleasant avocations which +fill up the elegant morning leisure of our fashionable ladies at +home. But in these occupations, slight and agreeable though they +were, the giddy young girls very seldom engaged. Indeed these +wilful care-killing damsels were averse to all useful employment. + +Like so many spoiled beauties, they ranged through the +groves--bathed in the stream--danced--flirted--played all manner +of mischievous pranks, and passed their days in one merry round +of thoughtless happiness. + +During my whole stay on the island I never witnessed a single +quarrel, nor anything that in the slightest degree approached +even to a dispute. The natives appeared to form one household, +whose members were bound together by the ties of strong +affection. The love of kindred I did not so much perceive, for +it seemed blended in the general love; and where all were treated +as brothers and sisters, it was hard to tell who were actually +related to each other by blood. + +Let it not be supposed that I have overdrawn this picture. I +have not done so. Nor let it be urged, that the hostility of +this tribe to foreigners, and the hereditary feuds they carry on +against their fellow-islanders beyond the mountains, are facts +which contradict me. Not so; these apparent discrepancies are +easily reconciled. By many a legendary tale of violence and +wrong, as well as by events which have passed before their eyes, +these people have been taught to look upon white men with +abhorrence. The cruel invasion of their country by Porter has +alone furnished them with ample provocation; and I can sympathize +in the spirit which prompts the Typee warrior to guard all the +passes to his valley with the point of his levelled spear, and, +standing upon the beach, with his back turned upon his green +home, to hold at bay the intruding European. + +As to the origin of the enmity of this particular clan towards +the neighbouring tribes, I cannot so confidently speak. I will +not say that their foes are the aggressors, nor will I endeavour +to palliate their conduct. But surely, if our evil passions must +find vent, it is far better to expend them on strangers and +aliens, than in the bosom of the community in which we dwell. In +many polished countries civil contentions, as well as domestic +enmities, are prevalent, and the same time that the most +atrocious foreign wars are waged. How much less guilty, then, +are our islanders, who of these three sins are only chargeable +with one, and that the least criminal! + +The reader will ere long have reason to suspect that the Typees +are not free from the guilt of cannibalism; and he will then, +perhaps, charge me with admiring a people against whom so odious +a crime is chargeable. But this only enormity in their character +is not half so horrible as it is usually described. According to +the popular fictions, the crews of vessels, shipwrecked on some +barbarous coast, are eaten alive like so many dainty joints by +the uncivil inhabitants; and unfortunate voyagers are lured into +smiling and treacherous bays; knocked on the head with outlandish +war-clubs; and served up without any prelimary dressing. In +truth, so horrific and improbable are these accounts, that many +sensible and well-informed people will not believe that any +cannibals exist; and place every book of voyages which purports +to give any account of them, on the same shelf with Blue Beard +and Jack the Giant-Killer. While others, implicitly crediting +the most extravagant fictions, firmly believe that there are +people in the world with tastes so depraved that they would +infinitely prefer a single mouthful of material humanity to a +good dinner of roast beef and plum pudding. But here, Truth, who +loves to be centrally located, is again found between the two +extremes; for cannibalism to a certain moderate extent is +practised among several of the primitive tribes in the Pacific, +but it is upon the bodies of slain enemies alone, and horrible +and fearful as the custom is, immeasurably as it is to be +abhorred and condemned, still I assert that those who indulge in +it are in other respects humane and virtuous. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT + +FISHING PARTIES--MODE OF DISTRIBUTING THE FISH--MIDNIGHT +BANQUET--TIME-KEEPING TAPERS--UNCEREMONIOUS STYLE OF EATING THE +FISH + +THERE was no instance in which the social and kindly dispositions +of the Typees were more forcibly evinced than in the manner the +conducted their great fishing parties. Four times during my stay +in the valley the young men assembled near the full of the moon, +and went together on these excursions. As they were generally +absent about forty-eight hours, I was led to believe that they +went out towards the open sea, some distance from the bay. The +Polynesians seldom use a hook and line, almost always employing +large well-made nets, most ingeniously fabricated from the +twisted fibres of a certain bark. I examined several of them +which had been spread to dry upon the beach at Nukuheva. They +resemble very much our own seines, and I should think they were +nearly as durable. + +All the South Sea Islanders are passionately fond of fish; but +none of them can be more so than the inhabitants of Typee. I +could not comprehend, therefore, why they so seldom sought it in +their waters, for it was only at stated times that the fishing +parties were formed, and these occasions were always looked +forward to with no small degree of interest. + +During their absence the whole population of the place were in a +ferment, and nothing was talked of but 'pehee, pehee' (fish, +fish). Towards the time when they were expected to return the +vocal telegraph was put into operation--the inhabitants, who were +scattered throughout the length of the valley, leaped upon rocks +and into trees, shouting with delight at the thoughts of the +anticipated treat. As soon as the approach of the party was +announced, there was a general rush of the men towards the beach; +some of them remaining, however, about the Ti in order to get +matters in readiness for the reception of the fish, which were +brought to the Taboo Groves in immense packages of leaves, each +one of them being suspended from a pole carried on the shoulders +of two men. + +I was present at the Ti on one of these occasions, and the sight +was most interesting. After all the packages had arrived, they +were laid in a row under the verandah of the building and opened. + +The fish were all quite small, generally about the size of a +herring, and of every variety. About one-eighth of the whole +being reserved for the use of the Ti itself, the remainder was +divided into numerous smaller packages, which were immediately +dispatched in every direction to the remotest parts of the +valley. Arrived at their destination, these were in turn +portioned out, and equally distributed among the various houses +of each particular district. The fish were under a strict Taboo, +until the distribution was completed, which seemed to be effected +in the most impartial manner. By the operation of this system +every man, woman, and child in the vale, were at one and the same +time partaking of this favourite article of food. + +Once I remember the party arrived at midnight; but the +unseasonableness of the tour did not repress the impatience of +the islanders. The carriers dispatched from the Ti were to be +seen hurrying in all directions through the deep groves; each +individual preceded by a boy bearing a flaming torch of dried +cocoanut boughs, which from time to time was replenished from the +materials scattered along the path. The wild glare of these +enormous flambeaux, lighting up with a startling brilliancy the +innermost recesses of the vale, and seen moving rapidly along +beneath the canopy of leaves, the savage shout of the excited +messengers sounding the news of their approach, which was +answered on all sides, and the strange appearance of their naked +bodies, seen against the gloomy background, produced altogether +an effect upon my mind that I shall long remember. + +It was on this same occasion that Kory-Kory awakened me at the +dead hour of night, and in a sort of transport communicated the +intelligence contained in the words 'pehee perni' (fish come). +As I happened to have been in a remarkably sound and refreshing +slumber, I could not imagine why the information had not been +deferred until morning, indeed, I felt very much inclined to fly +into a passion and box my valet's ears; but on second thoughts I +got quietly up, and on going outside the house was not a little +interested by the moving illumination which I beheld. + +When old Marheyo received his share of the spoils, immediate +preparations were made for a midnight banquet; calabashes of +poee-poee were filled to the brim; green bread-fruit were +roasted; and a huge cake of 'amar' was cut up with a sliver of +bamboo and laid out on an immense banana-leaf. + +At this supper we were lighted by several of the native tapers, +held in the hands of young girls. These tapers are most +ingeniously made. There is a nut abounding in the valley, called +by the Typees 'armor', closely resembling our common +horse-chestnut. The shell is broken, and the contents extracted +whole. Any number of these are strung at pleasure upon the long +elastic fibre that traverses the branches of the cocoanut tree. +Some of these tapers are eight or ten feet in length; but being +perfectly flexible, one end is held in a coil, while the other is +lighted. The nut burns with a fitful bluish flame, and the oil +that it contains is exhausted in about ten minutes. As one burns +down, the next becomes ignited, and the ashes of the former are +knocked into a cocoanut shell kept for the purpose. This +primitive candle requires continual attention, and must be +constantly held in the hand. The person so employed marks the +lapse of time by the number of nuts consumed, which is easily +learned by counting the bits of tappa distributed at regular +intervals along the string. + +I grieve to state so distressing a fact, but the inhabitants of +Typee were in the habit of devouring fish much in the same way +that a civilized being would eat a radish, and without any more +previous preparation. They eat it raw; scales, bones, gills, and +all the inside. The fish is held by the tail, and the head being +introduced into the mouth, the animal disappears with a rapidity +that would at first nearly lead one to imagine it had been +launched bodily down the throat. + +Raw fish! Shall I ever forget my sensations when I first saw my +island beauty devour one. Oh, heavens! Fayaway, how could you +ever have contracted so vile a habit? However, after the first +shock had subsided, the custom grew less odious in my eyes, and I +soon accustomed myself to the sight. Let no one imagine, +however, that the lovely Fayaway was in the habit of swallowing +great vulgar-looking fishes: oh, no; with her beautiful small +hand she would clasp a delicate, little, golden-hued love of a +fish and eat it as elegantly and as innocently as though it were +a Naples biscuit. But alas! it was after all a raw fish; and +all I can say is, that Fayaway ate it in a more ladylike manner +than any other girl of the valley. + +When at Rome do as the Romans do, I held to be so good a proverb, +that being in Typee I made a point of doing as the Typees did. +Thus I ate poee-poee as they did; I walked about in a garb +striking for its simplicity; and I reposed on a community of +couches; besides doing many other things in conformity with their +peculiar habits; but the farthest I ever went in the way of +conformity, was on several occasions to regale myself with raw +fish. These being remarkably tender, and quite small, the +undertaking was not so disagreeable in the main, and after a few +trials I positively began to relish them; however, I subjected +them to a slight operation with a knife previously to making my +repast. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE + +NATURAL HISTORY OF THE VALLEY--GOLDEN LIZARDS--TAMENESS OF THE +BIRDS--MOSQUITOES--FLIES--DOGS--A SOLITARY CAT--THE CLIMATE--THE +COCOANUT TREE--SINGULAR MODES OF CLIMBING IT--AN AGILE YOUNG +CHIEF--FEARLESSNESS OF THE CHILDREN--TOO-TOO AND THE COCOANUT +TREE--THE BIRDS OF THE VALLEY + +I THINK I must enlighten the reader a little about the natural +history of the valley. + +Whence, in the name of Count Buffon and Baron Cuvier, came those +dogs that I saw in Typee? Dogs!--Big hairless rats rather; all +with smooth, shining speckled hides--fat sides, and very +disagreeable faces. Whence could they have come? That they were +not the indigenous production of the region, I am firmly +convinced. Indeed they seemed aware of their being interlopers, +looking fairly ashamed, and always trying to hide themselves in +some dark corner. It was plain enough they did not feel at home +in the vale--that they wished themselves well out of it, and back +to the ugly country from which they must have come. + +Scurvy curs! they were my abhorrence; I should have liked +nothing better than to have been the death of every one of them. +In fact, on one occasion, I intimated the propriety of a canine +crusade to Mehevi; but the benevolent king would not consent to +it. He heard me very patiently; but when I had finished, shook +his head, and told me in confidence that they were 'taboo'. + +As for the animal that made the fortune of the ex-lord-mayor +Whittington, I shall never forget the day that I was lying in the +house about noon, everybody else being fast asleep; and happening +to raise my eyes, met those of a big black spectral cat, which +sat erect in the doorway, looking at me with its frightful +goggling green orbs, like one of those monstrous imps that +torment some of Teniers' saints! I am one of those unfortunate +persons to whom the sight of these animals are, at any time an +insufferable annoyance. + +Thus constitutionally averse to cats in general, the unexpected +apparition of this one in particular utterly confounded me. When +I had a little recovered from the fascination of its glance, I +started up; the cat fled, and emboldened by this, I rushed out of +the house in pursuit; but it had disappeared. It was the only +time I ever saw one in the valley, and how it got there I cannot +imagine. It is just possible that it might have escaped from one +of the ships at Nukuheva. It was in vain to seek information on +the subject from the natives, since none of them had seen the +animal, the appearance of which remains a mystery to me to this +day. + +Among the few animals which are to be met with in Typee, there +was none which I looked upon with more interest than a beautiful +golden-hued species of lizard. It measured perhaps five inches +from head to tail, and was most gracefully proportioned. Numbers +of those creatures were to be seen basking in the sunshine upon +the thatching of the houses, and multitudes at all hours of the +day showed their glittering sides as they ran frolicking between +the spears of grass or raced in troops up and down the tall +shafts of the cocoanut trees. But the remarkable beauty of these +little animals and their lively ways were not their only claims +upon my admiration. They were perfectly tame and insensible to +fear. Frequently, after seating myself upon the ground in some +shady place during the heat of the day, I would be completely +overrun with them. If I brushed one off my arm, it would leap +perhaps into my hair: when I tried to frighten it away by gently +pinching its leg, it would turn for protection to the very hand +that attacked it. + +The birds are also remarkably tame. If you happened to see one +perched upon a branch within reach of your arm, and advanced +towards it, it did not fly away immediately, but waited quietly +looking at you, until you could almost touch it, and then took +wing slowly, less alarmed at your presence, it would seem, than +desirous of removing itself from your path. Had salt been less +scarce in the valley than it was, this was the very place to have +gone birding with it. I remember that once, on an uninhabited +island of the Gallipagos, a bird alighted on my outstretched arm, +while its mate chirped from an adjoining tree. Its tameness, far +from shocking me, as a similar occurrence did Selkirk, imparted +to me the most exquisite thrill of delight I ever experienced, +and with somewhat of the same pleasure did I afterwards behold +the birds and lizards of the valley show their confidence in the +kindliness of man. + +Among the numerous afflictions which the Europeans have entailed +upon some of the natives of the South Seas, is the accidental +introduction among them of that enemy of all repose and ruffler +of even tempers--the Mosquito. At the Sandwich Islands and at +two or three of the Society group, there are now thriving +colonies of these insects, who promise ere long to supplant +altogether the aboriginal sand-flies. They sting, buzz, and +torment, from one end of the year to the other, and by +incessantly exasperating the natives materially obstruct the +benevolent labours of the missionaries. + +From this grievous visitation, however the Typees are as yet +wholly exempt; but its place is unfortunately in some degree +supplied by the occasional presence of a minute species of fly, +which, without stinging, is nevertheless productive of no little +annoyance. The tameness of the birds and lizards is as nothing +when compared to the fearless confidence of this insect. He will +perch upon one of your eye-lashes, and go to roost there if you +do not disturb him, or force his way through your hair, or along +the cavity of the nostril, till you almost fancy he is resolved +to explore the very brain itself. On one occasion I was so +inconsiderate as to yawn while a number of them were hovering +around me. I never repeated the act. Some half-dozen darted +into the open apartment, and began walking about its ceiling; the +sensation was dreadful. I involuntarily closed my mouth, and the +poor creatures being enveloped in inner darkness, must in their +consternation have stumbled over my palate, and been precipitated +into the gulf beneath. At any rate, though I afterwards +charitably held my mouth open for at least five minutes, with a +view of affording egress to the stragglers, none of them ever +availed themselves of the opportunity. + +There are no wild animals of any kind on the island unless it be +decided that the natives themselves are such. The mountains and +the interior present to the eye nothing but silent solitudes, +unbroken by the roar of beasts of prey, and enlivened by few +tokens even of minute animated existence. There are no venomous +reptiles, and no snakes of any description to be found in any of +the valleys. + +In a company of Marquesan natives the weather affords no topic of +conversation. It can hardly be said to have any vicissitudes. +The rainy season, it is true, brings frequent showers, but they +are intermitting and refreshing. When an islander bound on some +expedition rises from his couch in the morning, he is never +solicitous to peep out and see how the sky looks, or ascertain +from what quarter the wind blows. He is always sure of a 'fine +day', and the promise of a few genial showers he hails with +pleasure. There is never any of that 'remarkable weather' on the +islands which from time immemorial has been experienced in +America, and still continues to call forth the wondering +conversational exclamations of its elderly citizens. Nor do +there even occur any of those eccentric meteorological changes +which elsewhere surprise us. In the valley of Typee ice-creams +would never be rendered less acceptable by sudden frosts, nor +would picnic parties be deferred on account of inauspicious +snowstorms: for there day follows day in one unvarying round of +summer and sunshine, and the whole year is one long tropical +month of June just melting into July. + +It is this genial climate which causes the cocoanuts to flourish +as they do. This invaluable fruit, brought to perfection by the +rich soil of the Marquesas, and home aloft on a stately column +more than a hundred feet from the ground, would seem at first +almost inaccessible to the simple natives. Indeed the slender, +smooth, and soaring shaft, without a single limb or protuberance +of any kind to assist one in mounting it, presents an obstacle +only to be overcome by the surprising agility and ingenuity of +the islanders. It might be supposed that their indolence would +lead them patiently to await the period when the ripened nuts, +slowly parting from their stems, fall one by one to the ground. +This certainly would be the case, were it not that the young +fruit, encased in a soft green husk, with the incipient meat +adhering in a jelly-like pellicle to its sides, and containing a +bumper of the most delicious nectar, is what they chiefly prize. +They have at least twenty different terms to express as many +progressive stages in the growth of the nut. Many of them reject +the fruit altogether except at a particular period of its growth, +which, incredible as it may appear, they seemed to me to be able +to ascertain within an hour or two. Others are still more +capricious in their tastes; and after gathering together a heap +of the nuts of all ages, and ingeniously tapping them, will first +sip from one and then from another, as fastidiously as some +delicate wine-bibber experimenting glass in hand among his dusty +demi-johns of different vintages. + +Some of the young men, with more flexible frames than their +comrades, and perhaps with more courageous souls, bad a way of +walking up the trunk of the cocoanut trees which to me seemed +little less than miraculous; and when looking at them in the act, +I experienced that curious perplexity a child feels when he +beholds a fly moving feet uppermost along a ceiling. + +I will endeavour to describe the way in which Narnee, a noble +young chief, sometimes performed this feat for my peculiar +gratification; but his preliminary performances must also be +recorded. Upon my signifying my desire that he should pluck me +the young fruit of some particular tree, the handsome savage, +throwing himself into a sudden attitude of surprise, feigns +astonishment at the apparent absurdity of the request. +Maintaining this position for a moment, the strange emotions +depicted on his countenance soften down into one of humorous +resignation to my will, and then looking wistfully up to the +tufted top of the tree, he stands on tip-toe, straining his neck +and elevating his arm, as though endeavouring to reach the fruit +from the ground where he stands. As if defeated in this childish +attempt, he now sinks to the earth despondingly, beating his +breast in well-acted despair; and then, starting to his feet all +at once, and throwing back his head, raises both hands, like a +school-boy about to catch a falling ball. After continuing this +for a moment or two, as if in expectation that the fruit was +going to be tossed down to him by some good spirit in the +tree-top, he turns wildly round in another fit of despair, and +scampers off to the distance of thirty or forty yards. Here he +remains awhile, eyeing the tree, the very picture of misery; but +the next moment, receiving, as it were, a flash of inspiration, +he rushes again towards it, and clasping both arms about the +trunk, with one elevated a little above the other, he presses the +soles of his feet close together against the tree, extending his +legs from it until they are nearly horizontal, and his body +becomes doubled into an arch; then, hand over hand and foot over +foot, he rises from the earth with steady rapidity, and almost +before you are aware of it, has gained the cradled and embowered +nest of nuts, and with boisterous glee flings the fruit to the +ground. + +This mode of walking the tree is only practicable where the trunk +declines considerably from the perpendicular. This, however, is +almost always the case; some of the perfectly straight shafts of +the trees leaning at an angle of thirty degrees. + +The less active among the men, and many of the children of the +valley have another method of climbing. They take a broad and +stout piece of bark, and secure each end of it to their ankles, +so that when the feet thus confined are extended apart, a space +of little more than twelve inches is left between them. This +contrivance greatly facilitates the act of climbing. The band +pressed against the tree, and closely embracing it, yields a +pretty firm support; while with the arms clasped about the trunk, +and at regular intervals sustaining the body, the feet are drawn +up nearly a yard at a time, and a corresponding elevation of the +hands immediately succeeds. In this way I have seen little +children, scarcely five years of age, fearlessly climbing the +slender pole of a young cocoanut tree, and while hanging perhaps +fifty feet from the ground, receiving the plaudits of their +parents beneath, who clapped their hands, and encouraged them to +mount still higher. + +What, thought I, on first witnessing one of these exhibitions, +would the nervous mothers of America and England say to a similar +display of hardihood in any of their children? The Lacedemonian +nation might have approved of it, but most modern dames would +have gone into hysterics at the sight. + +At the top of the cocoanut tree the numerous branches, radiating +on all sides from a common centre, form a sort of green and +waving basket, between the leaflets of which you just discern the +nuts thickly clustering together, and on the loftier trees +looking no bigger from the ground than bunches of grapes. I +remember one adventurous little fellow--Too-Too was the rascal's +name--who had built himself a sort of aerial baby-house in the +picturesque tuft of a tree adjoining Marheyo's habitation. He +used to spend hours there,--rustling among the branches, and +shouting with delight every time the strong gusts of wind rushing +down from the mountain side, swayed to and fro the tall and +flexible column on which he was perched. Whenever I heard +Too-Too's musical voice sounding strangely to the ear from so +great a height, and beheld him peeping down upon me from out his +leafy covert, he always recalled to my mind Dibdin's lines-- + +'There's a sweet little cherub that sits up aloft, To look out +for the life of poor Jack.' + +Birds--bright and beautiful birds--fly over the valley of Typee. +You see them perched aloft among the immovable boughs of the +majestic bread-fruit trees, or gently swaying on the elastic +branches of the Omoo; skimming over the palmetto thatching of the +bamboo huts; passing like spirits on the wing through the shadows +of the grove, and sometimes descending into the bosom of the +valley in gleaming flights from the mountains. Their plumage is +purple and azure, crimson and white, black and gold; with bills +of every tint: bright bloody red, jet black, and ivory white, and +their eyes are bright and sparkling; they go sailing through the +air in starry throngs; but, alas! the spell of dumbness is upon +them all--there is not a single warbler in the valley! + +I know not why it was, but the sight of these birds, generally +the ministers of gladness, always oppressed me with melancholy. +As in their dumb beauty they hovered by me whilst I was walking, +or looked down upon me with steady curious eyes from out the +foliage, I was almost inclined to fancy that they knew they were +gazing upon a stranger, and that they commiserated his fate. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY + +A PROFESSOR OF THE FINE ARTS--HIS PERSECUTIONS--SOMETHING ABOUT +TATTOOING AND TABOOING--TWO ANECDOTES IN ILLUSTRATION OF THE +LATTER--A FEW THOUGHTS ON THE TYPEE DIALECT + +IN one of my strolls with Kory-Kory, in passing along the border +of a thick growth of bushes, my attention was arrested by a +singular noise. On entering the thicket I witnessed for the +first time the operation of tattooing as performed by these +islanders. + +I beheld a man extended flat upon his back on the ground, and, +despite the forced composure of his countenance, it was evident +that he was suffering agony. His tormentor bent over him, +working away for all the world like a stone-cutter with mallet +and chisel. In one hand he held a short slender stick, pointed +with a shark's tooth, on the upright end of which he tapped with +a small hammer-like piece of wood, thus puncturing the skin, and +charging it with the colouring matter in which the instrument was +dipped. A cocoanut shell containing this fluid was placed upon +the ground. It is prepared by mixing with a vegetable juice the +ashes of the 'armor', or candle-nut, always preserved for the +purpose. Beside the savage, and spread out upon a piece of +soiled tappa, were a great number of curious black-looking little +implements of bone and wood, used in the various divisions of his +art. A few terminated in a single fine point, and, like very +delicate pencils, were employed in giving the finishing touches, +or in operating upon the more sensitive portions of the body, as +was the case in the present instance. Others presented several +points distributed in a line, somewhat resembling the teeth of a +saw. These were employed in the coarser parts of the work, and +particularly in pricking in straight marks. Some presented their +points disposed in small figures, and being placed upon the body, +were, by a single blow of the hammer, made to leave their +indelible impression. I observed a few the handles of which were +mysteriously curved, as if intended to be introduced into the +orifice of the ear, with a view perhaps of beating the tattoo +upon the tympanum. Altogether the sight of these strange +instruments recalled to mind that display of cruel-looking +mother-of-pearl-handled things which one sees in their +velvet-lined cases at the elbow of a dentist. + +The artist was not at this time engaged on an original sketch, +his subject being a venerable savage, whose tattooing had become +somewhat faded with age and needed a few repairs, and accordingly +he was merely employed in touching up the works of some of the +old masters of the Typee school, as delineated upon the human +canvas before him. The parts operated upon were the eyelids, +where a longitudinal streak, like the one which adorned +Kory-Kory, crossed the countenance of the victim. + +In spite of all the efforts of the poor old man, sundry +twitchings and screwings of the muscles of the face denoted the +exquisite sensibility of these shutters to the windows of his +soul, which he was now having repainted. But the artist, with a +heart as callous as that of an army surgeon, continued his +performance, enlivening his labours with a wild chant, tapping +away the while as merrily as a woodpecker. + +So deeply engaged was he in his work, that he had not observed +our approach, until, after having, enjoyed an unmolested view of +the operation, I chose to attract his attention. As soon as he +perceived me, supposing that I sought him in his professional +capacity, he seized hold of me in a paroxysm of delight, and was +an eagerness to begin the work. When, however, I gave him to +understand that he had altogether mistaken my views, nothing +could exceed his grief and disappointment. But recovering from +this, he seemed determined not to discredit my assertion, and +grasping his implements, he flourished them about in fearful +vicinity to my face, going through an imaginary performance of +his art, and every moment bursting into some admiring exclamation +at the beauty of his designs. + +Horrified at the bare thought of being rendered hideous for life +if the wretch were to execute his purpose upon me, I struggled to +get away from him, while Kory-Kory, turning traitor, stood by, +and besought me to comply with the outrageous request. On my +reiterated refusals the excited artist got half beside himself, +and was overwhelmed with sorrow at losing so noble an opportunity +of distinguishing himself in his profession. + +The idea of engrafting his tattooing upon my white skin filled +him with all a painter's enthusiasm; again and again he gazed +into my countenance, and every fresh glimpse seemed to add to the +vehemence of his ambition. Not knowing to what extremities he +might proceed, and shuddering at the ruin he might inflict upon +my figure-head, I now endeavoured to draw off his attention from +it, and holding out my arm in a fit of desperation, signed to him +to commence operations. But he rejected the compromise +indignantly, and still continued his attack on my face, as though +nothing short of that would satisfy him. When his forefinger +swept across my features, in laying out the borders of those +parallel bands which were to encircle my countenance, the flesh +fairly crawled upon my bones. At last, half wild with terror and +indignation, I succeeded in breaking away from the three savages, +and fled towards old Marheyo's house, pursued by the indomitable +artist, who ran after me, implements in hand. Kory-Kory, +however, at last interfered and drew him off from the chase. + +This incident opened my eyes to a new danger; and I now felt +convinced that in some luckless hour I should be disfigured in +such a manner as never more to have the FACE to return to my +countrymen, even should an opportunity offer. + +These apprehensions were greatly increased by the desire which +King Mehevi and several of the inferior chiefs now manifested +that I should be tattooed. The pleasure of the king was first +signified to me some three days after my casual encounter with +Karky the artist. Heavens! what imprecations I showered upon +that Karky. Doubtless he had plotted a conspiracy against me and +my countenance, and would never rest until his diabolical purpose +was accomplished. Several times I met him in various parts of +the valley, and, invariably, whenever he descried me, he came +running after me with his mallet and chisel, flourishing them +about my face as if he longed to begin. What an object he would +have made of me! + +When the king first expressed his wish to me, I made known to him +my utter abhorrence of the measure, and worked myself into such a +state of excitement, that he absolutely stared at me in +amazement. It evidently surpassed his majesty's comprehension +how any sober-minded and sensible individual could entertain the +least possible objection to so beautifying an operation. + +Soon afterwards he repeated his suggestion, and meeting with a +little repulse, showed some symptoms of displeasure at my +obduracy. On his a third time renewing his request, I plainly +perceived that something must be done, or my visage was ruined +for ever; I therefore screwed up my courage to the sticking +point, and declared my willingness to have both arms tattooed +from just above the wrist to the shoulder. His majesty was +greatly pleased at the proposition, and I was congratulating +myself with having thus compromised the matter, when he intimated +that as a thing of course my face was first to undergo the +operation. I was fairly driven to despair; nothing but the utter +ruin of my 'face divine', as the poets call it, would, I +perceived, satisfy the inexorable Mehevi and his chiefs, or +rather, that infernal Karky, for he was at the bottom of it all. + +The only consolation afforded me was a choice of patterns: I was +at perfect liberty to have my face spanned by three horizontal +bars, after the fashion of my serving-man's; or to have as many +oblique stripes slanting across it; or if, like a true courtier, +I chose to model my style on that of royalty, I might wear a sort +of freemason badge upon my countenance in the shape of a mystic +triangle. However, I would have none of these, though the king +most earnestly impressed upon my mind that my choice was wholly +unrestricted. At last, seeing my unconquerable repugnance, he +ceased to importune me. + +But not so some other of the savages. Hardly a day passed but I +was subjected to their annoying requests, until at last my +existence became a burden to me; the pleasures I had previously +enjoyed no longer afforded me delight, and all my former desire +to escape from the valley now revived with additional force. + +A fact which I soon afterwards learned augmented my apprehension. +The whole system of tattooing was, I found, connected with their +religion; and it was evident, therefore, that they were resolved +to make a convert of me. + +In the decoration of the chiefs it seems to be necessary to +exercise the most elaborate pencilling; while some of the +inferior natives looked as if they had been daubed over +indiscriminately with a house-painter's brush. I remember one +fellow who prided himself hugely upon a great oblong patch, +placed high upon his back, and who always reminded me of a man +with a blister of Spanish flies, stuck between his shoulders. +Another whom I frequently met had the hollow of his eyes tattooed +in two regular squares and his visual organs being remarkably +brilliant, they gleamed forth from out this setting like a couple +of diamonds inserted in ebony. + +Although convinced that tattooing was a religious observance, +still the nature of the connection between it and the +superstitious idolatry of the people was a point upon which I +could never obtain any information. Like the still more +important system of the 'Taboo', it always appeared inexplicable +to me. + +There is a marked similarity, almost an identity, between the +religious institutions of most of the Polynesian islands, and in +all exists the mysterious 'Taboo', restricted in its uses to a +greater or less extent. So strange and complex in its +arrangements is this remarkable system, that I have in several +cases met with individuals who, after residing for years among +the islands in the Pacific, and acquiring a considerable +knowledge of the language, have nevertheless been altogether +unable to give any satisfactory account of its operations. +Situated as I was in the Typee valley, I perceived every hour the +effects of this all-controlling power, without in the least +comprehending it. Those effects were, indeed, wide-spread and +universal, pervading the most important as well as the minutest +transactions of life. The savage, in short, lives in the +continual observance of its dictates, which guide and control +every action of his being. + +For several days after entering the valley I had been saluted at +least fifty times in the twenty-four hours with the talismanic +word 'Taboo' shrieked in my ears, at some gross violation of its +provisions, of which I had unconsciously been guilty. The day +after our arrival I happened to hand some tobacco to Toby over +the head of a native who sat between us. He started up, as if +stung by an adder; while the whole company, manifesting an equal +degree of horror, simultaneously screamed out 'Taboo!' I never +again perpetrated a similar piece of ill-manners, which, indeed, +was forbidden by the canons of good breeding, as well as by the +mandates of the taboo. But it was not always so easy to perceive +wherein you had contravened the spirit of this institution. I +was many times called to order, if I may use the phrase, when I +could not for the life of me conjecture what particular offence I +had committed. + +One day I was strolling through a secluded portion of the valley, +and hearing the musical sound of the cloth-mallet at a little +distance, I turned down a path that conducted me in a few moments +to a house where there were some half-dozen girls employed in +making tappa. This was an operation I had frequently witnessed, +and had handled the bark in all the various stages of its +preparation. On the present occasion the females were intent +upon their occupation, and after looking up and talking gaily to +me for a few moments, they resumed their employment. I regarded +them for a while in silence, and then carelessly picking up a +handful of the material that lay around, proceeded unconsciously +to pick it apart. While thus engaged, I was suddenly startled by +a scream, like that of a whole boarding-school of young ladies +just on the point of going into hysterics. Leaping up with the +idea of seeing a score of Happar warriors about to perform anew +the Sabine atrocity, I found myself confronted by the company of +girls, who, having dropped their work, stood before me with +starting eyes, swelling bosoms, and fingers pointed in horror +towards me. + +Thinking that some venomous reptile must be concealed in the bark +which I held in my hand, I began cautiously to separate and +examine it. Whilst I did so the horrified girls re-doubled their +shrieks. Their wild cries and frightened motions actually +alarmed me, and throwing down the tappa, I was about to rush from +the house, when in the same instant their clamours ceased, and +one of them, seizing me by the arm, pointed to the broken fibres +that had just fallen from my grasp, and screamed in my ears the +fatal word Taboo! + +I subsequently found out that the fabric they were engaged in +making was of a peculiar kind, destined to be worn on the heads +of the females, and through every stage of its manufacture was +guarded by a rigorous taboo, which interdicted the whole +masculine gender from even so much as touching it. + +Frequently in walking through the groves I observed bread-fruit +and cocoanut trees, with a wreath of leaves twined in a peculiar +fashion about their trunks. This was the mark of the taboo. The +trees themselves, their fruit, and even the shadows they cast +upon the ground, were consecrated by its presence. In the same +way a pipe, which the king had bestowed upon me, was rendered +sacred in the eyes of the natives, none of whom could I ever +prevail upon to smoke from it. The bowl was encircled by a woven +band of grass, somewhat resembling those Turks' heads +occasionally worked in the handles of our whip-stalks, + +A similar badge was once braided about my wrist by the royal hand +of Mehevi himself, who, as soon as he had concluded the +operation, pronounced me 'Taboo'. This occurred shortly after +Toby's disappearance; and, were it not that from the first moment +I had entered the valley the natives had treated me with uniform +kindness, I should have supposed that their conduct afterwards +was to be ascribed to the fact that I had received this sacred +investiture. + +The capricious, operations of the taboo are not its least +remarkable feature: to enumerate them all would be impossible. +Black hogs--infants to a certain age--women in an interesting +situation--young men while the operation of tattooing their faces +is going on--and certain parts of the valley during the +continuance of a shower--are alike fenced about by the operation +of the taboo. + +I witnessed a striking instance of its effects in the bay of +Tior, my visit to which place has been alluded to in a former +part of this narrative. On that occasion our worthy captain +formed one of the party. He was a most insatiable sportsman. +Outward bound, and off the pitch of Cape Horn, he used to sit on +the taffrail, and keep the steward loading three or four old +fowling pieces, with which he would bring down albatrosses, Cape +pigeons, jays, petrels, and divers other marine fowl, who +followed chattering in our wake. The sailors were struck aghast +at his impiety, and one and all attributed our forty days' +beating about that horrid headland to his sacrilegious slaughter +of these inoffensive birds. + +At Tior he evinced the same disregard for the religious +prejudices of the islanders, as he had previously shown for the +superstitions of the sailors. Having heard that there were a +considerable number of fowls in the valley the progeny of some +cocks and hens accidentally left there by an English vessel, and +which, being strictly tabooed, flew about almost in a wild +state--he determined to break through all restraints, and be the +death of them. Accordingly, he provided himself with a most +formidable looking gun, and announced his landing on the beach by +shooting down a noble cock that was crowing what proved to be his +own funeral dirge, on the limb of an adjoining tree. 'Taboo', +shrieked the affrighted savages. 'Oh, hang your taboo,' says the +nautical sportsman; 'talk taboo to the marines'; and bang went +the piece again, and down came another victim. At this the +natives ran scampering through the groves, horror-struck at the +enormity of the act. + +All that afternoon the rocky sides of the valley rang with +successive reports, and the superb plumage of many a beautiful +fowl was ruffled by the fatal bullet. Had it not been that the +French admiral, with a large party, was then in the glen, I have +no doubt that the natives, although their tribe was small and +dispirited, would have inflicted summary vengeance upon the man +who thus outraged their most sacred institutions; as it was, they +contrived to annoy him not a little. + +Thirsting with his exertions, the skipper directed his steps to a +stream; but the savages, who had followed at a little distance, +perceiving his object, rushed towards him and forced him away +from its bank--his lips would have polluted it. Wearied at last, +he sought to enter a house that he might rest for a while on the +mats; its inmates gathered tumultuously about the door and denied +him admittance. He coaxed and blustered by turns, but in vain; +the natives were neither to be intimidated nor appeased, and as a +final resort he was obliged to call together his boat's crew, and +pull away from what he termed the most infernal place he ever +stepped upon. + +Lucky was it for him and for us that we were not honoured on our +departure by a salute of stones from the hands of the exasperated +Tiors. In this way, on the neighbouring island of Ropo, were +killed, but a few weeks previously, and for a nearly similar +offence, the master and three of the crew of the K---. + +I cannot determine with anything approaching to certainty, what +power it is that imposes the taboo. When I consider the slight +disparity of condition among the islanders--the very limited and +inconsiderable prerogatives of the king and chiefs--and the loose +and indefinite functions of the priesthood, most of whom were +hardly to be distinguished from the rest of their countrymen, I +am wholly at a loss where to look for the authority which +regulates this potent institution. It is imposed upon something +today, and withdrawn tomorrow; while its operations in other +cases are perpetual. Sometimes its restrictions only affect a +single individual--sometimes a particular family--sometimes a +whole tribe; and in a few instances they extend not merely over +the various clans on a single island, but over all the +inhabitants of an entire group. In illustration of this latter +peculiarity, I may cite the law which forbids a female to enter a +canoe--a prohibition which prevails upon all the northern +Marquesas Islands. + +The word itself (taboo) is used in more than one signification. +It is sometimes used by a parent to his child, when in the +exercise of parental authority he forbids it to perform a +particular action. Anything opposed to the ordinary customs of +the islanders, although not expressly prohibited, is said to be +'taboo'. + +The Typee language is one very difficult to be acquired; it bears +a close resemblance to the other Polynesian dialects, all of +which show a common origin. The duplication of words, as 'lumee +lumee', 'poee poee', 'muee muee', is one of their peculiar +features. But another, and a more annoying one, is the different +senses in which one and the same word is employed; its various +meanings all have a certain connection, which only makes the +matter more puzzling. So one brisk, lively little word is +obliged, like a servant in a poor family, to perform all sorts of +duties; for instance, one particular combination of syllables +expresses the ideas of sleep, rest, reclining, sitting, leaning, +and all other things anywise analogous thereto, the particular +meaning being shown chiefly by a variety of gestures and the +eloquent expression of the countenance. + +The intricacy of these dialects is another peculiarity. In the +Missionary College at Lahainaluna, on Mowee, one of the Sandwich +Islands, I saw a tabular exhibition of a Hawiian verb, conjugated +through all its moods and tenses. It covered the side of a +considerable apartment, and I doubt whether Sir William Jones +himself would not have despaired of mastering it. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE + +STRANGE CUSTOM OF THE ISLANDERS--THEIR CHANTING, AND THE +PECULIARITY OF THEIR VOICE--RAPTURE OF THE KING AT FIRST HEARING +A SONG--A NEW DIGNITY CONFERRED ON THE AUTHOR--MUSICAL +INSTRUMENTS IN THE VALLEY--ADMIRATION OF THE SAVAGES AT BEHOLDING +A PUGILISTIC PERFORMANCE--SWIMMING INFANT--BEAUTIFUL TRESSES OF +THE GIRLS--OINTMENT FOR THE HAIR + +SADLY discursive as I have already been, I must still further +entreat the reader's patience, as I am about to string together, +without any attempt at order, a few odds and ends of things not +hitherto mentioned, but which are either curious in themselves or +peculiar to the Typees. + +There was one singular custom observed in old Marheyo's domestic +establishment, which often excited my surprise. Every night, +before retiring, the inmates of the house gathered together on +the mats, and so squatting upon their haunches, after the +universal practice of these islanders, would commence a low, +dismal and monotonous chant, accompanying the voice with the +instrumental melody produced by two small half-rotten sticks +tapped slowly together, a pair of which were held in the hands of +each person present. Thus would they employ themselves for an +hour or two, sometimes longer. Lying in the gloom which wrapped +the further end of the house, I could not avoid looking at them, +although the spectacle suggested nothing but unpleasant +reflection. The flickering rays of the 'armor' nut just served +to reveal their savage lineaments, without dispelling the +darkness that hovered about them. + +Sometimes when, after falling into a kind of doze, and awaking +suddenly in the midst of these doleful chantings, my eye would +fall upon the wild-looking group engaged in their strange +occupation, with their naked tattooed limbs, and shaven heads +disposed in a circle, I was almost tempted to believe that I +gazed upon a set of evil beings in the act of working at a +frightful incantation. + +What was the meaning or purpose of this custom, whether it was +practiced merely as a diversion, or whether it was a religious +exercise, a sort of family prayers, I never could discover. + +The sounds produced by the natives on these occasions were of a +most singular description; and had I not actually been present, I +never would have believed that such curious noises could have +been produced by human beings. + +To savages generally is imputed a guttural articulation. This +however, is not always the case, especially among the inhabitants +of the Polynesian Archipelago. The labial melody with which the +Typee girls carry on an ordinary conversation, giving a musical +prolongation to the final syllable of every sentence, and +chirping out some of the words with a liquid, bird-like accent, +was singularly pleasing. + +The men however, are not quite so harmonious in their utterance, +and when excited upon any subject, would work themselves up into +a sort of wordy paroxysm, during which all descriptions of +rough-sided sounds were projected from their mouths, with a force +and rapidity which was absolutely astonishing. + + . . . . . . . . + +Although these savages are remarkably fond of chanting, still +they appear to have no idea whatever of singing, at least as the +art is practised in other nations. + +I shall never forget the first time I happened to roar out a +stave in the presence of noble Mehevi. It was a stanza from the +'Bavarian broom-seller'. His Typeean majesty, with all his +court, gazed upon me in amazement, as if I had displayed some +preternatural faculty which Heaven had denied to them. The King +was delighted with the verse; but the chorus fairly transported +him. At his solicitation I sang it again and again, and nothing +could be more ludicrous than his vain attempts to catch the air +and the words. The royal savage seemed to think that by screwing +all the features of his face into the end of his nose he might +possibly succeed in the undertaking, but it failed to answer the +purpose; and in the end he gave it up, and consoled himself by +listening to my repetition of the sounds fifty times over. + +Previous to Mehevi's making the discovery, I had never been aware +that there was anything of the nightingale about me; but I was +now promoted to the place of court-minstrel, in which capacity I +was afterwards perpetually called upon to officiate. + + . . . . . . . . + +Besides the sticks and the drums, there are no other musical +instruments among the Typees, except one which might +appropriately be denominated a nasal flute. It is somewhat +longer than an ordinary fife; is made of a beautiful +scarlet-coloured reed; and has four or five stops, with a large +hole near one end, which latter is held just beneath the left +nostril. The other nostril being closed by a peculiar movement +of the muscles about the nose, the breath is forced into the +tube, and produces a soft dulcet sound which is varied by the +fingers running at random over the stops. This is a favourite +recreation with the females and one in which Fayaway greatly +excelled. Awkward as such an instrument may appear, it was, in +Fayaway's delicate little hands, one of the most graceful I have +ever seen. A young lady, in the act of tormenting a guitar +strung about her neck by a couple of yards of blue ribbon, is not +half so engaging. + + . . . . . . . . + +Singing was not the only means I possessed of diverting the royal +Mehevi and his easy-going subject. Nothing afforded them more +pleasure than to see me go through the attitude of pugilistic +encounter. As not one of the natives had soul enough in him to +stand up like a man, and allow me to hammer away at him, for my +own personal gratification and that of the king, I was +necessitated to fight with an imaginary enemy, whom I invariably +made to knock under to my superior prowess. Sometimes when this +sorely battered shadow retreated precipitately towards a group of +the savages, and, following him up, I rushed among them dealing +my blows right and left, they would disperse in all directions +much to the enjoyment of Mehevi, the chiefs, and themselves. + +The noble art of self-defence appeared to be regarded by them as +the peculiar gift of the white man; and I make little doubt that +they supposed armies of Europeans were drawn up provided with +nothing else but bony fists and stout hearts, with which they set +to in column, and pummelled one another at the word of command. + + . . . . . . . . + +One day, in company with Kory-Kory, I had repaired to the stream +for the purpose of bathing, when I observed a woman sitting upon +a rock in the midst of the current, and watching with the +liveliest interest the gambols of something, which at first I +took to be an uncommonly large species of frog that was sporting +in the water near her. Attracted by the novelty of the sight, I +waded towards the spot where she sat, and could hardly credit the +evidence of my senses when I beheld a little infant, the period +of whose birth could not have extended back many days, paddling +about as if it had just risen to the surface, after being hatched +into existence at the bottom. Occasionally, the delighted parent +reached out her hand towards it, when the little thing, uttering +a faint cry, and striking out its tiny limbs, would sidle for the +rock, and the next moment be clasped to its mother's bosom. This +was repeated again and again, the baby remaining in the stream +about a minute at a time. Once or twice it made wry faces at +swallowing a mouthful of water, and choked a spluttered as if on +the point of strangling. At such times however, the mother +snatched it up and by a process scarcely to be mentioned obliged +it to eject the fluid. For several weeks afterwards I observed +this woman bringing her child down to the stream regularly every +day, in the cool of the morning and evening and treating it to a +bath. No wonder that the South Sea Islanders are so amphibious a +race, when they are thus launched into the water as soon as they +see the light. I am convinced that it is as natural for a human +being to swim as it is for a duck. And yet in civilized +communities how many able-bodied individuals die, like so many +drowning kittens, from the occurrence of the most trivial +accidents! . . . . . . . . + +The long luxuriant and glossy tresses of the Typee damsels often +attracted my admiration. A fine head of hair is the pride and +joy of every woman's heart. Whether against the express will of +Providence, it is twisted upon the crown of the head and there +coiled away like a rope on a ship's deck; whether it be stuck +behind the ears and hangs down like the swag of a small +window-curtain; or whether it be permitted to flow over the +shoulders in natural ringlets, it is always the pride of the +owner, and the glory of the toilette. + +The Typee girls devote much of their time to the dressing of +their fair and redundant locks. After bathing, as they sometimes +do five or six times every day, the hair is carefully dried, and +if they have been in the sea, invariably washed in fresh water, +and anointed with a highly scented oil extracted from the meat of +the cocoanut. This oil is obtained in great abundance by the +following very simple process: + +A large vessel of wood, with holes perforated in the bottom, is +filled with the pounded meat, and exposed to the rays of the sun. +As the oleaginous matter exudes, it falls in drops through the +apertures into a wide-mouthed calabash placed underneath. After +a sufficient quantity has thus been collected, the oil undergoes +a purifying process, and is then poured into the small spherical +shells of the nuts of the moo-tree, which are hollowed out to +receive it. These nuts are then hermetically sealed with a +resinous gum, and the vegetable fragrance of their green rind +soon imparts to the oil a delightful odour. After the lapse of a +few weeks the exterior shell of the nuts becomes quite dry and +hard, and assumes a beautiful carnation tint; and when opened +they are found to be about two-thirds full of an ointment of a +light yellow colour and diffusing the sweetest perfume. This +elegant little odorous globe would not be out of place even upon +the toilette of a queen. Its merits as a prepartion for the hair +are undeniable--it imparts to it a superb gloss and a silky +fineness. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO + +APPREHENSIONS OF EVIL-- FRIGHTFUL DISCOVERY--SOME REMARKS ON +CANNIBALISM--SECOND BATTLE WITH THE HAPPARS--SAVAGE +SPECTACLE--MYSTERIOUS FEAST--SUBSEQUENT DISCLOSURES + +FROM the time of my casual encounter with Karky the artist, my +life was one of absolute wretchedness. Not a day passed but I +was persecuted by the solicitations of some of the natives to +subject myself to the odious operation of tattooing. Their +importunities drove me half wild, for I felt how easily they +might work their will upon me regarding this or anything else +which they took into their heads. Still, however, the behaviour +of the islanders towards me was as kind as ever. Fayaway was +quite as engaging; Kory-Kory as devoted; and Mehevi the king just +as gracious and condescending as before. But I had now been +three months in their valley, as nearly as I could estimate; I +had grown familiar with the narrow limits to which my wandering +had been confined; and I began bitterly to feel the state of +captivity in which I was held. There was no one with whom I +could freely converse; no one to whom I could communicate my +thoughts; no one who could sympathize with my sufferings. A +thousand times I thought how much more endurable would have been +my lot had Toby still been with me. But I was left alone, and +the thought was terrible to me. Still, despite my griefs, I did +all in my power to appear composed and cheerful, well knowing +that by manifesting any uneasiness, or any desire to escape, I +should only frustrate my object. + +It was during the period I was in this unhappy frame of mind that +the painful malady under which I had been labouring--after having +almost completely subsided--began again to show itself, and with +symptoms as violent as ever. This added calamity nearly unmanned +me; the recurrence of the complaint proved that without powerful +remedial applications all hope of cure was futile; and when I +reflected that just beyond the elevations, which bound me in, was +the medical relief I needed, and that although so near, it was +impossible for me to avail myself of it, the thought was misery. + +In this wretched situation, every circumstance which evinced the +savage nature of the beings at whose mercy I was, augmented the +fearful apprehensions that consumed me. An occurrence which +happened about this time affected me most powerfully. + +I have already mentioned that from the ridge-pole of Marheyo's +house were suspended a number of packages enveloped in tappa. +Many of these I had often seen in the hands of the natives, and +their contents had been examined in my presence. But there were +three packages hanging very nearly over the place where I lay, +which from their remarkable appearance had often excited my +curiousity. Several times I had asked Kory-Kory to show me their +contents, but my servitor, who, in almost every other particular +had acceded to my wishes, refused to gratify me in this. + +One day, returning unexpectedly from the 'Ti', my arrival seemed +to throw the inmates of the house into the greatest confusion. +They were seated together on the mats, and by the lines which +extended from the roof to the floor I immediately perceived that +the mysterious packages were for some purpose or another under +inspection. The evident alarm the savages betrayed filled me +with forebodings of evil, and with an uncontrollable desire to +penetrate the secret so jealously guarded Despite the efforts of +Marheyo and Kory-Kory to restrain me, I forced my way into the +midst of the circle, and just caught a glimpse of three human +heads, which others of the party were hurriedly enveloping in the +coverings from which they had been taken. + +One of the three I distinctly saw. It was in a state of perfect +preservation, and from the slight glimpse I had of it, seemed to +have been subjected to some smoking operation which had reduced +it to the dry, hard, and mummy-like appearance it presented. The +two long scalp locks were twisted up into balls upon the crown of +the head in the same way that the individual had worn them during +fife. The sunken cheeks were rendered yet more ghastly by the +rows of glistening teeth which protruded from between the lips, +while the sockets of the eyes--filled with oval bits of +mother-of-pearl shell, with a black spot in the +centre--heightened the hideousness of its aspect. + +Two of the three were heads of the islanders; but the third, to +my horror, was that of a white man. Although it had been quickly +removed from my sight, still the glimpse I had of it was enough +to convince me that I could not be mistaken. + +Gracious God! what dreadful thoughts entered my head; in solving +this mystery perhaps I had solved another, and the fate of my +lost companion might be revealed in the shocking spectacle I had +just witnessed. I longed to have torn off the folds of cloth and +satisfied the awful doubts under which I laboured. But before I +had recovered from the consternation into which I had been +thrown, the fatal packages were hoisted aloft, and once more +swung over my head. The natives now gathered round me +tumultuously, and laboured to convince me that what I had just +seen were the heads of three Happar warriors, who had been slain +in battle. This glaring falsehood added to my alarm, and it was +not until I reflected that I had observed the packages swinging +from their elevation before Toby's disappearance, that I could at +all recover my composure. + +But although this horrible apprehension had been dispelled, I had +discovered enough to fill me, in my present state of mind, with +the most bitter reflections. It was plain that I had seen the +last relic of some unfortunate wretch, who must have been +massacred on the beach by the savages, in one of those perilous +trading adventures which I have before described. + +It was not, however, alone the murder of the stranger that +overcame me with gloom. I shuddered at the idea of the +subsequent fate his inanimate body might have met with Was the +same doom reserved for me? Was I destined to perish like him-- +like him perhaps, to be devoured and my head to be preserved as a +fearful memento of the events? My imagination ran riot in these +horrid speculations, and I felt certain that the worst possible +evils would befall me. But whatever were my misgivings, I +studiously concealed them from the islanders, as well as the full +extent of the discovery I had made. + +Although the assurances which the Typees had often given me, that +they never eat human flesh, had not convinced me that such was +the case, yet, having been so long a time in the valley without +witnessing anything which indicated the existence of the +practice, I began to hope that it was an event of very rare +occurrence, and that I should be spared the horror of witnessing +it during my stay among them: but, alas, these hopes were soon +destroyed. + +It is a singular fact, that in all our accounts of cannibal +tribes we have seldom received the testimony of an eye-witness +account to this revolting practice. The horrible conclusion has +almost always been derived from the second-hand evidence of +Europeans, or else from the admissions of the savages themselves, +after they have in some degree become civilized. The Polynesians +are aware of the detestation in which Europeans hold this custom, +and therefore invariably deny its existence, and with the craft +peculiar to savages, endeavour to conceal every trace of it. + +The excessive unwillingness betrayed by the Sandwich Islanders, +even at the present day, to allude to the unhappy fate of Cook, +has often been remarked. And so well have they succeeded in +covering the event with mystery, that to this very hour, despite +all that has been said and written on the subject, it still +remains doubtful whether they wreaked upon his murdered body the +vengance they sometimes inflicted upon their enemies. + +At Kealakekau, the scene of that tragedy, a strip of ship's +copper nailed against an upright post in the ground used to +inform the traveller that beneath reposed the 'remains' of the +great circumnavigator. But I am strongly inclined to believe not +only the corpse was refused Christian burial, but that the heart +which was brought to Vancouver some time after the event, and +which the Hawiians stoutly maintained was that of Captain Cook, +was no such thing; and that the whole affair was a piece of +imposture which was sought to be palmed off upon the credulous +Englishman. + +A few years since there was living on the island of Maui (one of +the Sandwich group) an old chief, who, actuated by a morbid +desire for notoriety, gave himself out among the foreign +residents of the place as the living tomb of Captain Cook's big +toe!--affirming that at the cannibal entertainment which ensued +after the lamented Briton's death, that particular portion of his +body had fallen to his share. His indignant countrymen actually +caused him to be prosecuted in the native courts, on a charge +nearly equivalent to what we term defamation of character; but +the old fellow persisting in his assertion, and no invalidating +proof being adduced, the plaintiffs were cast in the suit, and +the cannibal reputation of the defendant firmly established. +This result was the making of his fortune; ever afterwards he was +in the habit of giving very profitable audiences to all curious +travellers who were desirous of beholding the man who had eaten +the great navigator's great toe. + +About a week after my discovery of the contents of the mysterious +packages, I happened to be at the Ti, when another war-alarm was +sounded, and the natives rushing to their arms, sallied out to +resist a second incursion of the Happar invaders. The same scene +was again repeated, only that on this occasion I heard at least +fifteen reports of muskets from the mountains during the time +that the skirmish lasted. An hour or two after its termination, +loud paeans chanted through the valley announced the approach of +the victors. I stood with Kory-Kory leaning against the railing +of the pi-pi awaiting their advance, when a tumultuous crowd of +islanders emerged with wild clamours from the neighbouring +groves. In the midst of them marched four men, one preceding the +other at regular intervals of eight or ten feet, with poles of a +corresponding length, extending from shoulder to shoulder, to +which were lashed with thongs of bark three long narrow bundles, +carefully wrapped in ample coverings of freshly plucked +palm-leaves, tacked together with slivers of bamboo. Here and +there upon these green winding-sheets might be seen the stains of +blood, while the warriors who carried the frightful burdens +displayed upon their naked limbs similar sanguinary marks. The +shaven head of the foremost had a deep gash upon it, and the +clotted gore which had flowed from the wound remained in dry +patches around it. The savage seemed to be sinking under the +weight he bore. The bright tattooing upon his body was covered +with blood and dust; his inflamed eyes rolled in their sockets, +and his whole appearance denoted extraordinary suffering and +exertion; yet sustained by some powerful impulse, he continued to +advance, while the throng around him with wild cheers sought to +encourage him. The other three men were marked about the arms +and breasts with several slight wounds, which they somewhat +ostentatiously displayed. + +These four individuals, having been the most active in the late +encounter, claimed the honour of bearing the bodies of their +slain enemies to the Ti. Such was the conclusion I drew from my +own observations, and, as far as I could understand, from the +explanation which Kory-Kory gave me. + +The royal Mehevi walked by the side of these heroes. He carried +in one hand a musket, from the barrel of which was suspended a +small canvas pouch of powder, and in the other he grasped a short +javelin, which he held before him and regarded with fierce +exultation. This javelin he had wrested from a celebrated +champion of the Happars, who had ignominiously fled, and was +pursued by his foes beyond the summit of the mountain. + +When within a short distance of the Ti, the warrior with the +wounded head, who proved to be Narmonee, tottered forward two or +three steps, and fell helplessly to the ground; but not before +another had caught the end of the pole from his shoulder, and +placed it upon his own. + +The excited throng of islanders, who surrounded the person of the +king and the dead bodies of the enemy, approached the spot where +I stood, brandishing their rude implements of warfare, many of +which were bruised and broken, and uttering continual shouts of +triumph. When the crowd drew up opposite the Ti, I set myself to +watch their proceedings most attentively; but scarcely had they +halted when my servitor, who had left my side for an instant, +touched my arm and proposed our returning to Marheyo's house. To +this I objected; but, to my surprise, Kory-Kory reiterated his +request, and with an unusual vehemence of manner. Still, +however, I refused to comply, and was retreating before him, as +in his importunity he pressed upon me, when I felt a heavy hand +laid upon my shoulder, and turning round, encountered the bulky +form of Mow-Mow, a one-eyed chief, who had just detached himself +from the crowd below, and had mounted the rear of the pi-pi upon +which we stood. His cheek had been pierced by the point of a +spear, and the wound imparted a still more frightful expression +to his hideously tattooed face, already deformed by the loss of +an eye. The warrior, without uttering a syllable, pointed +fiercely in the direction of Marheyo's house, while Kory-Kory, at +the same time presenting his back, desired me to mount. + +I declined this offer, but intimated my willingness to withdraw, +and moved slowly along the piazza, wondering what could be the +cause of this unusual treatment. A few minutes' consideration +convinced me that the savages were about to celebrate some +hideous rite in connection with their peculiar customs, and at +which they were determined I should not be present. I descended +from the pi-pi, and attended by Kory-Kory, who on this occasion +did not show his usual commiseration for my lameness, but seemed +only anxious to hurry me on, walked away from the place. As I +passed through the noisy throng, which by this time completely +environed the Ti, I looked with fearful curiosity at the three +packages, which now were deposited upon the ground; but although +I had no doubt as to their contents, still their thick coverings +prevented my actually detecting the form of a human body. + + The next morning, shortly after sunrise, the same thundering +sounds which had awakened me from sleep on the second day of the +Feast of Calabashes, assured me that the savages were on the eve +of celebrating another, and, as I fully believed, a horrible +solemnity. + +All the inmates of the house, with the exception of Marheyo, his +son, and Tinor, after assuming their gala dresses, departed in +the direction of the Taboo Groves. + +Although I did not anticipate a compliance with my request, +still, with a view of testing the truth of my suspicions, I +proposed to Kory-Kory that, according to our usual custom in the +morning, we should take a stroll to the Ti: he positively +refused; and when I renewed the request, he evinced his +determination to prevent my going there; and, to divert my mind +from the subject, he offered to accompany me to the stream. We +accordingly went, and bathed. On our coming back to the house, I +was surprised to find that all its inmates had returned, and were +lounging upon the mats as usual, although the drums still sounded +from the groves. + +The rest of the day I spent with Kory-Kory and Fayaway, wandering +about a part of the valley situated in an opposite direction from +the Ti, and whenever I so much as looked towards that building, +although it was hidden from view by intervening trees, and at the +distance of more than a mile, my attendant would exclaim, 'Taboo, +taboo!' + +At the various houses where we stopped, I found many of the +inhabitants reclining at their ease, or pursuing some light +occupation, as if nothing unusual were going forward; but amongst +them all I did not perceive a single chief or warrior. When I +asked several of the people why they were not at the 'Hoolah +Hoolah' (the feast), their uniformly answered the question in a +manner which implied that it was not intended for them, but for +Mehevi, Narmonee, Mow-Mow, Kolor, Womonoo, Kalow, running over, +in their desire to make me comprehend their meaning, the names of +all the principal chiefs. + +Everything, in short, strengthened my suspicions with regard to +the nature of the festival they were now celebrating; and which +amounted almost to a certainty. While in Nukuheva I had +frequently been informed that the whole tribe were never present +at these cannibal banquets, but the chiefs and priests only; and +everything I now observed agreed with the account. + +The sound of the drums continued without intermission the whole +day, and falling continually upon my ear, caused me a sensation +of horror which I am unable to describe. On the following day, +hearing none of those noisy indications of revelry, I concluded +that the inhuman feast was terminated; and feeling a kind of +morbid curiosity to discover whether the Ti might furnish any +evidence of what had taken place there, I proposed to Kory-Kory +to walk there. To this proposition he replied by pointing with +his finger to the newly risen sun, and then up to the zenith, +intimating that our visit must be deferred until noon. Shortly +after that hour we accordingly proceeded to the Taboo Groves, and +as soon as we entered their precincts, I looked fearfully round +in, quest of some memorial of the scene which had so lately been +acted there; but everything appeared as usual. On reaching the +Ti, we found Mehevi and a few chiefs reclining on the mats, who +gave me as friendly a reception as ever. No allusions of any +kind were made by them to the recent events; and I refrained, for +obvious reasons, from referring to them myself. + +After staying a short time I took my leave. In passing along the +piazza, previously to descending from the pi-pi, I observed a +curiously carved vessel of wood, of considerable size, with a +cover placed over it, of the same material, and which resembled +in shape a small canoe. It was surrounded by a low railing of +bamboos, the top of which was scarcely a foot from the ground. +As the vessel had been placed in its present position since my +last visit, I at once concluded that it must have some connection +with the recent festival, and, prompted by a curiosity I could +not repress, in passing it I raised one end of the cover; at the +same moment the chiefs, perceiving my design, loudly ejaculated, +'Taboo! taboo!' + +But the slight glimpse sufficed; my eyes fell upon the disordered +members of a human skeleton, the bones still fresh with moisture, +and with particles of flesh clinging to them here and there! + +Kory-Kory, who had been a little in advance of me, attracted by +the exclamations of the chiefs, turned round in time to witness +the expression of horror on my countenance. He now hurried +towards me, pointing at the same time to the canoe, and +exclaiming rapidly, 'Puarkee! puarkee!' (Pig, pig). I pretended +to yield to the deception, and repeated the words after him +several times, as though acquiescing in what he said. The other +savages, either deceived by my conduct or unwilling to manifest +their displeasure at what could not now be remedied, took no +further notice of the occurrence, and I immediately left the Ti. + +All that night I lay awake, revolving in my mind the fearful +situation in which I was placed. The last horrid revelation had +now been made, and the full sense of my condition rushed upon my +mind with a force I had never before experienced. + +Where, thought I, desponding, is there the slightest prospect of +escape? The only person who seemed to possess the ability to +assist me was the stranger Marnoo; but would he ever return to +the valley? and if he did, should I be permitted to hold any +communication with him? It seemed as if I were cut off from +every source of hope, and that nothing remained but passively to +await whatever fate was in store for me. A thousand times I +endeavoured to account for the mysterious conduct of the natives. + +For what conceivable purpose did they thus retain me a captive? +What could be their object in treating me with such apparent +kindness, and did it not cover some treacherous scheme? Or, if +they had no other design than to hold me a prisoner, how should I +be able to pass away my days in this narrow valley, deprived of +all intercourse with civilized beings, and for ever separated +from friends and home? + +One only hope remained to me. The French could not long defer a +visit to the bay, and if they should permanently locate any of +their troops in the valley, the savages could not for any length +of time conceal my existence from them. But what reason had I to +suppose that I should be spared until such an event occurred, an +event which might be postponed by a hundred different +contingencies? + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE + +THE STRANGER AGAIN ARRIVES IN THE VALLEY--SINGULAR INTERVIEW WITH +HIM--ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE--FAILURE--MELANCHOLY SITUATION--SYMPATHY +OF MARHEYO + +'MARNOO, Marnoo pemi!' Such were the welcome sounds which fell +upon my ear some ten days after the events related in the +preceding chapter. Once more the approach of the stranger was +heralded, and the intelligence operated upon me like magic. +Again I should be able to converse with him in my own language; +and I resolve at all hazards to concert with him some scheme, +however desperate, to rescue me from a condition that had now +become insupportable. + +As he drew near, I remembered with many misgivings the +inauspicious termination of our former interview, and when he +entered the house, I watched with intense anxiety the reception +he met with from its inmates. To my joy, his appearance was +hailed with the liveliest pleasure; and accosting me kindly, he +seated himself by my, side, and entered into conversation with +the natives around him. It soon appeared however, that on this +occasion he had not any intelligence of importance to +communicate. I inquired of him from whence he had just come? He +replied from Pueearka, his native valley, and that he intended to +return to it the same day. + +At once it struck me that, could I but reach that valley under +his protection, I might easily from thence reach Nukuheva by +water; and animated by the prospect which this plan held, out I +disclosed it in a few brief words to the stranger, and asked him +how it could be best accomplished. My heart sunk within me, when +in his broken English he answered me that it could never be +effected. 'Kanaka no let you go nowhere,' he said; 'you taboo. +Why you no like to stay? Plenty moee-moee (sleep)--plenty ki-ki +(eat)--plenty wahenee (young girls)--Oh, very good place Typee! +Suppose you no like this bay, why you come? You no hear about +Typee? All white men afraid Typee, so no white men come.' + +These words distressed me beyond belief; and when I had again +related to him the circumstances under which I had descended into +the valley, and sought to enlist his sympathies in my behalf by +appealing to the bodily misery I had endure, he listened with +impatience, and cut me short by exclaiming passionately, 'Me no +hear you talk any more; by by Kanaka get mad, kill you and me +too. No you see he no want you to speak at all?--you see--ah! +by by you no mind--you get well, he kill you, eat you, hang you +head up there, like Happar Kanaka.--Now you listen--but no talk +any more. By by I go;--you see way I go--Ah! then some night +Kanaka all moee-moee (sleep)--you run away, you come Pueearka. I +speak Pueearka Kanaka--he no harm you--ah! then I take you my +canoe Nukuheva--and you run away ship no more.' With these +words, enforced by a vehemence of gesture I cannot describe, +Marnoo started from my side, and immediately engaged in +conversation with some of the chiefs who had entered the house. + +It would have been idle for me to have attempted resuming the +interview so peremptorily terminated by Marnoo, who was evidently +little disposed to compromise his own safety by any rash +endeavour to ensure mine. But the plan he had suggested struck +me as one which might possibly be accomplished, and I resolved to +act upon it as speedily as possible. + +Accordingly, when he arose to depart, I accompanied him with the +natives outside of the house, with a view of carefully noting the +path he would take in leaving the valley. Just before leaping +from the pi-pi he clasped my hand, and looking significantly at +me, exclaimed, 'Now you see--you do what I tell you--ah! then +you do good;--you no do so--ah! then you die.' The next moment +he waved his spear to the islanders, and following the route that +conducted to a defile in the mountains lying opposite the Happar +side, was soon out of sight. + +A mode of escape was now presented to me, but how was I to avail +myself of it? I was continually surrounded by the savages; I +could not stir from one house to another without being attended +by some of them; and even during the hours devoted to slumber, +the slightest movement which I made seemed to attract the notice +of those who shared the mats with me. In spite of these +obstacles, however, I determined forthwith to make the attempt. +To do so with any prospect of success, it was necessary that I +should have at least two hours start before the islanders should +discover my absence; for with such facility was any alarm spread +through the valley, and so familiar, of course, were the +inhabitants with the intricacies of the groves, that I could not +hope, lame and feeble as I was, and ignorant of the route, to +secure my escape unless I had this advantage. It was also by +night alone that I could hope to accomplish my object, and then +only by adopting the utmost precaution. + +The entrance to Marheyo's habitation was through a low narrow +opening in its wicker-work front. This passage, for no +conceivable reason that I could devise, was always closed after +the household had retired to rest, by drawing a heavy slide +across it, composed of a dozen or more bits of wood, ingeniously +fastened together by seizings of sinnate. When any of the +inmates chose to go outside, the noise occasioned by the removing +of this rude door awakened every body else; and on more than one +occasion I had remarked that the islanders were nearly as +irritable as more civilized beings under similar circumstances. + +The difficulty thus placed in my way I, determined to obviate in +the following manner. I would get up boldly in the course of the +night, and drawing the slide, issue from the house, and pretend +that my object was merely to procure a drink from the calabash, +which always stood without the dwelling on the corner of the +pi-pi. On re-entering I would purposely omit closing the passage +after me, and trusting that the indolence of the savages would +prevent them from repairing my neglect, would return to my mat, +and waiting patiently until all were again asleep, I would then +steal forth, and at once take the route to Pueearka. + +The very night which followed Marnoo's departure, I proceeded to +put this project into execution. About midnight, as I imagined, +I arose and drew the slide. The natives, just as I had expected, +started up, while some of them asked, 'Arware poo awa, Tommo?' +(where are you going, Tommo?) 'Wai' (water) I laconically +answered, grasping the calabash. On hearing my reply they sank +back again, and in a minute or two I returned to my mat, +anxiously awaiting the result of the experiment. + +One after another the savages, turning restlessly, appeared to +resume their slumbers, and rejoicing at the stillness which +prevailed, I was about to rise again from my couch, when I heard +a slight rustling--a dark form was intercepted between me and the +doorway--the slide was drawn across it, and the individual, +whoever he was, returned to his mat. This was a sad blow to me; +but as it might have aroused the suspicions of the islanders to +have made another attempt that night, I was reluctantly obliged +to defer it until the next. Several times after I repeated the +same manoeuvre, but with as little success as before. As my +pretence for withdrawing from the house was to allay my thirst, +Kory-Kory either suspecting some design on my part, or else +prompted by a desire to please me, regularly every evening placed +a calabash of water by my side. + +Even, under these inauspicious circumstances I again and again +renewed the attempt, but when I did so, my valet always rose with +me, as if determined I should not remove myself from his +observation. For the present, therefore, I was obliged to +abandon the attempt; but I endeavoured to console myself with the +idea that by this mode I might yet effect my escape. + +Shortly after Marnoo's visit I was reduced to such a state that +it was with extreme difficulty I could walk, even with the +assistance of a spear, and Kory-Kory, as formerly, was obliged to +carry me daily to the stream. + +For hours and hours during the warmest part of the day I lay upon +my mat, and while those around me were nearly all dozing away in +careless ease, I remained awake, gloomily pondering over the fate +which it appeared now idle for me to resist, when I thought of +the loved friends who were thousands and thousands of miles from +the savage island in which I was held a captive, when I reflected +that my dreadful fate would for ever be concealed from them, and +that with hope deferred they might continue to await my return +long after my inanimate form had blended with the dust of the +valley--I could not repress a shudder of anguish. + +How vividly is impressed upon my mind every minute feature of the +scene which met my view during those long days of suffering and +sorrow. At my request my mats were always spread directly facing +the door, opposite which, and at a little distance, was the hut +of boughs that Marheyo was building. + +Whenever my gentle Fayaway and Kory-Kory, laying themselves down +beside me, would leave me awhile to uninterrupted repose, I took +a strange interest in the slightest movements of the eccentric +old warrior. All alone during the stillness of the tropical +mid-day, he would pursue his quiet work, sitting in the shade and +weaving together the leaflets of his cocoanut branches, or +rolling upon his knee the twisted fibres of bark to form the +cords with which he tied together the thatching of his tiny +house. Frequently suspending his employment, and noticing my +melancholy eye fixed upon him, he would raise his hand with a +gesture expressive of deep commiseration, and then moving towards +me slowly, would enter on tip-toes, fearful of disturbing the +slumbering natives, and, taking the fan from my hand, would sit +before me, swaying it gently to and fro, and gazing earnestly +into my face. + +Just beyond the pi-pi, and disposed in a triangle before the +entrance of the house, were three magnificent bread-fruit trees. +At this moment I can recap to my mind their slender shafts, and +the graceful inequalities of their bark, on which my eye was +accustomed to dwell day after day in the midst of my solitary +musings. It is strange how inanimate objects will twine +themselves into our affections, especially in the hour of +affliction. Even now, amidst all the bustle and stir of the +proud and busy city in which I am dwelling, the image of those +three trees seems to come as vividly before my eyes as if they +were actually present, and I still feel the soothing quiet +pleasure which I then had in watching hour after hour their +topmost boughs waving gracefully in the breeze. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR + +THE ESCAPE + +NEARLY three weeks had elapsed since the second visit of Marnoo, +and it must have been more than four months since I entered the +valley, when one day about noon, and whilst everything was in +profound silence, Mow-Mow, the one-eyed chief, suddenly appeared +at the door, and leaning towards me as I lay directly facing him, +said in a low tone, 'Toby pemi ena' (Toby has arrived here). +Gracious heaven! What a tumult of emotions rushed upon me at +this startling intelligence! Insensible to the pain that had +before distracted me, I leaped to my feet, and called wildly to +Kory-Kory who was reposing by my side. The startled islanders +sprang from their mats; the news was quickly communicated to +them; and the next moment I was making my way to the Ti on the +back of Kory-Kory; and surrounded by the excited savages. + +All that I could comprehend of the particulars which Mow-Mow +rehearsed to his audience as we proceeded, was that my long-lost +companion had arrived in a boat which had just entered the bay. +These tidings made me most anxious to be carried at once to the +sea, lest some untoward circumstance should prevent our meeting; +but to this they would not consent, and continued their course +towards the royal abode. As we approached it, Mehevi and several +chiefs showed themselves from the piazza, and called upon us +loudly to come to them. + +As soon as we had approached, I endeavoured to make them +understand that I was going down to the sea to meet Toby. To +this the king objected, and motioned Kory-Kory to bring me into +the house. It was in vain to resist; and in a few moments I +found myself within the Ti, surrounded by a noisy group engaged +in discussing the recent intelligence. Toby's name was +frequently repeated, coupled with violent exclamations of +astonishment. It seemed as if they yet remained in doubt with +regard to the fact of his arrival, at at every fresh report that +was brought from the shore they betrayed the liveliest emotions. + +Almost frenzied at being held in this state of suspense, I +passionately besought Mehevi to permit me to proceed. Whether my +companion had arrived or not, I felt a presentiment that my own +fate was about to be decided. Again and again I renewed my +petition to Mehevi. He regarded me with a fixed and serious eye, +but at length yielding to my importunity, reluctantly granted my +request. + +Accompanied by some fifty of the natives, I now rapidly continued +my journey; every few moments being transferred from the back of +one to another, and urging my bearer forward all the while with +earnest entreaties. As I thus hurried forward, no doubt as to +the truth of the information I had received ever crossed my mind. + +I was alive only to the one overwhelming idea, that a chance of +deliverance was now afforded me, if the jealous opposition of the +savages could be overcome. + +Having been prohibited from approaching the sea during the whole +of my stay in the valley, I had always associated with it the +idea of escape. Toby too--if indeed he had ever voluntarily +deserted me--must have effected this flight by the sea; and now +that I was drawing near to it myself, I indulged in hopes which I +had never felt before. It was evident that a boat had entered +the bay, and I saw little reason to doubt the truth of the report +that it had brought my companion. Every time therefore that we +gained an elevation, I looked eagerly around, hoping to behold +him. In the midst of an excited throng, who by their violent +gestures and wild cries appeared to be under the influence of +some excitement as strong as my own, I was now borne along at a +rapid trot, frequently stooping my head to avoid the branches +which crossed the path, and never ceasing to implore those who +carried me to accelerate their already swift pace. + +In this manner we had proceeded about four or five miles, when we +were met by a party of some twenty islanders, between whom and +those who accompanied me ensued an animated conference. +Impatient of the delay occasioned by this interruption, I was +beseeching the man who carried me to proceed without his +loitering companions, when Kory-Kory, running to my side, +informed me, in three fatal words, that the news had all proved, +false--that Toby had not arrived--'Toby owlee pemi'. Heaven only +knows how, in the state of mind and body I then was, I ever +sustained the agony which this intelligence caused me; not that +the news was altogether unexpected; but I had trusted that the +fact might not have been made known until we should have arrived +upon the beach. As it was, I at once foresaw the course the +savages would pursue. They had only yielded thus far to my +entreaties, that I might give a joyful welcome to my long-lost +comrade; but now that it was known he had not arrived they would +at once oblige me to turn back. + +My anticipations were but too correct. In spite of the +resistance I made, they carried me into a house which was near +the spot, and left me upon the mats. Shortly afterwards several +of those who had accompanied me from the Ti, detaching themselves +from the others, proceeded in the direction of the sea. Those +who remained--among whom were Marheyo, Mow-Mow, Kory-Kory, and +Tinor--gathered about the dwelling, and appeared to be awaiting +their return. + +This convinced me that strangers--perhaps some of my own +countrymen--had for some cause or other entered the bay. +Distracted at the idea of their vicinity, and reckless of the +pain which I suffered, I heeded not the assurances of the +islanders, that there were no boats at the beach, but starting to +my feet endeavoured to gain the door. Instantly the passage was +blocked up by several men, who commanded me to resume my seat. +The fierce looks of the irritated savages admonished me that I +could gain nothing by force, and that it was by entreaty alone +that I could hope to compass my object. + +Guided by this consideration, I turned to Mow-Mow, the only chief +present whom I had been much in the habit of seeing, and +carefully concealing, my real design, tried to make him +comprehend that I still believed Toby to have arrived on the +shore, and besought him to allow me to go forward to welcome him. + +To all his repeated assertions, that my companion had not been +seen, I pretended to turn a deaf ear, while I urged my +solicitations with an eloquence of gesture which the one-eyed +chief appeared unable to resist. He seemed indeed to regard me +as a forward child, to whose wishes he had not the heart to +oppose force, and whom he must consequently humour. He spoke a +few words to the natives, who at once retreated from the door, +and I immediately passed out of the house. + +Here I looked earnestly round for Kory-Kory; but that hitherto +faithful servitor was nowhere to be seen. Unwilling to linger +even for a single instant when every moment might be so +important, I motioned to a muscular fellow near me to take me +upon his back; to my surprise he angrily refused. I turned to +another, but with a like result. A third attempt was as +unsuccessful, and I immediately perceived what had induced +Mow-Mow to grant my request, and why the other natives conducted +themselves in so strange a manner. It was evident that the chief +had only given me liberty to continue my progress towards the +sea, because he supposed that I was deprived of the means of +reaching it. + +Convinced by this of their determination to retain me a captive, +I became desperate; and almost insensible to the pain which I +suffered, I seized a spear which was leaning against the +projecting eaves of the house, and supporting myself with it, +resumed the path that swept by the dwelling. To my surprise, I +was suffered to proceed alone; all the natives remaining in front +of the house, and engaging in earnest conversation, which every +moment became more loud and vehement; and to my unspeakable +delight, I perceived that some difference of opinion had arisen +between them; that two parties, in short, were formed, and +consequently that in their divided counsels there was some chance +of my deliverance. + +Before I had proceeded a hundred yards I was again surrounded by +the savages, who were still in all the heat of argument, and +appeared every moment as if they would come to blows. In the +midst of this tumult old Marheyo came to my side, and I shall +never forget the benevolent expression of his countenance. He +placed his arm upon my shoulder, and emphatically pronounced the +only two English words I had taught him 'Home' and 'Mother'. I +at once understood what he meant, and eagerly expressed my thanks +to him. Fayaway and Kory-Kory were by his side, both weeping +violently; and it was not until the old man had twice repeated +the command that his son could bring himself to obey him, and +take me again upon his back. The one-eyed chief opposed his +doing so, but he was overruled, and, as it seemed to me, by some +of his own party. + +We proceeded onwards, and never shall I forget the ecstasy I felt +when I first heard the roar of the surf breaking upon the beach. +Before long I saw the flashing billows themselves through the +opening between the trees. Oh glorious sight and sound of ocean! +with what rapture did I hail you as familiar friends! By this +time the shouts of the crowd upon the beach were distinctly +audible, and in the blended confusion of sounds I almost fancied +I could distinguish the voices of my own countrymen. + +When we reached the open space which lay between the groves and +the sea, the first object that met my view was an English +whale-boat, lying with her bow pointed from the shore, and only a +few fathoms distant from it. It was manned by five islanders, +dressed in shirt tunics of calico. My first impression was that +they were in the very act of pulling out from the bay; and that, +after all my exertions, I had come too late. My soul sunk within +me: but a second glance convinced me that the boat was only +hanging off to keep out of the surf; and the next moment I heard +my own name shouted out by a voice from the midst of the crowd. + +Looking in the direction of the sound, I perceived, to my +indescribable joy, the tall figure of Karakoee, an Oahu Kanaka, +who had often been aboard the 'Dolly', while she lay in Nukuheva. + +He wore the green shooting-jacket with gilt buttons, which had +been given to him by an officer of the Reine Blanche--the French +flag-ship--and in which I had always seen him dressed. I now +remembered the Kanaka had frequently told me that his person was +tabooed in all the valleys of the island, and the sight of him at +such a moment as this filled my heart with a tumult of delight. + +Karakoee stood near the edge of the water with a large roll of +cotton-cloth thrown over one arm, and holding two or three canvas +bags of powder, while with the other hand he grasped a musket, +which he appeared to be proffering to several of the chiefs +around him. But they turned with disgust from his offers and +seemed to be impatient at his presence, with vehement gestures +waving him off to his boat, and commanding him to depart. + +The Kanaka, however, still maintained his ground, and I at once +perceived that he was seeking to purchase my freedom. Animated +by the idea, I called upon him loudly to come to me; but he +replied, in broken English, that the islanders had threatened to +pierce him with their spears, if he stirred a foot towards me. +At this time I was still advancing, surrounded by a dense throng +of the natives, several of whom had their hands upon me, and more +than one javelin was threateningly pointed at me. Still I +perceived clearly that many of those least friendly towards me +looked irresolute land anxious. I was still some thirty yards +from Karakoee when my farther progress was prevented by the +natives, who compelled me to sit down upon the ground, while they +still retained their hold upon my arms. The din and tumult now +became tenfold, and I perceived that several of the priests were +on the spot, all of whom were evidently urging Mow-Mow and the +other chiefs to prevent my departure; and the detestable word +'Roo-ne! Roo-ne!' which I had heard repeated a thousand times +during the day, was now shouted out on every side of me. Still I +saw that the Kanaka continued his exertions in my favour--that he +was boldly debating the matter with the savages, and was striving +to entice them by displaying his cloth and powder, and snapping +the lock of his musket. But all he said or did appeared only to +augment the clamours of those around him, who seemed bent upon +driving him into the sea. + +When I remembered the extravagant value placed by these people +upon the articles which were offered to them in exchange for me, +and which were so indignantly rejected, I saw a new proof of the +same fixed determination of purpose they had all along manifested +with regard to me, and in despair, and reckless of consequences, +I exerted all my strength, and shaking myself free from the grasp +of those who held me, I sprang upon my feet and rushed towards +Karakoee. + +The rash attempt nearly decided my fate; for, fearful that I +might slip from them, several of the islanders now raised a +simultaneous shout, and pressing upon Karakoee, they menaced him +with furious gestures, and actually forced him into the sea. +Appalled at their violence, the poor fellow, standing nearly to +the waist in the surf, endeavoured to pacify them; but at length +fearful that they would do him some fatal violence, he beckoned +to his comrades to pull in at once, and take him into the boat. + +It was at this agonizing moment, when I thought all hope was +ended, that a new contest arose between the two parties who had +accompanied me to the shore; blows were struck, wounds were +given, and blood flowed. In the interest excited by the fray, +every one had left me except Marheyo, Kory-Kory and poor dear +Fayaway, who clung to me, sobbing indignantly. I saw that now or +never was the moment. Clasping my hands together, I looked +imploringly at Marheyo, and move towards the now almost deserted +beach. The tears were in the old man's eyes, but neither he nor +Kory-Kory attempted to hold me, and I soon reached the Kanaka, +who had anxiously watched my movements; the rowers pulled in as +near as they dared to the edge of the surf; I gave one parting +embrace to Fayaway, who seemed speechless with sorrow, and the +next instant I found myself safe in the boat, and Karakoee by my +side, who told the rowers at once to give way. Marheyo and +Kory-Kory, and a great many of the women, followed me into the +water, and I was determined, as the only mark of gratitude I +could show, to give them the articles which had been brought as +my ransom. I handed the musket to Kory-Kory, with a rapid +gesture which was equivalent to a 'Deed of Gift'; threw the roll +of cotton to old Marheyo, pointing as I did so to poor Fayaway, +who had retired from the edge of the water and was sitting down +disconsolate on the shingles; and tumbled the powder-bags out to +the nearest young ladies, all of whom were vastly willing to take +them. This distribution did not occupy ten seconds, and before +it was over the boat was under full way; the Kanaka all the while +exclaiming loudly against what he considered a useless throwing +away of valuable property. + +Although it was dear that my movements had been noticed by +several of the natives, still they had not suspended the conflict +in which they were engaged, and it was not until the boat was +above fifty yards from the shore that Mow-Mow and some six or +seven other warriors rushed into the sea and hurled their +javelins at us. Some of the weapons passed quite as close to us +as was desirable, but no one was wounded, and the men pulled away +gallantly. But although soon out of the reach of the spears, our +progress was extremely slow; it blew strong upon the shore, and +the tide was against us; and I saw Karakoee, who was steering the +boat, give many a look towards a jutting point of the bay round +which we had to pass. + +For a minute or two after our departure, the savages, who had +formed into different groups, remained perfectly motionless and +silent. All at-once the enraged chief showed by his gestures +that he had resolved what course he would take. Shouting loudly +to his companions, and pointing with his tomahawk towards the +headland, he set off at full speed in that direction, and was +followed by about thirty of the natives, among whom were several +of the priests, all yelling out 'Roo-ne! Roo-ne!' at the very +top of their voices. Their intention was evidently to swim off +from the headland and intercept us in our course. The wind was +freshening every minute, and was right in our teeth, and it was +one of those chopping angry seas in which it is so difficult to +row. Still the chances seemed in our favour, but when we came +within a hundred yards of the point, the active savages were +already dashing into the water, and we all feared that within +five minutes' time we should have a score of the infuriated +wretches around us. If so our doom was sealed, for these +savages, unlike the feeble swimmer of civilized countries, are, +if anything, more formidable antagonists in the water than when +on the land. It was all a trial of strength; our natives pulled +till their oars bent again, and the crowd of swimmers shot +through the water despite its roughness, with fearful rapidity. + +By the time we had reached the headland, the savages were spread +right across our course. Our rowers got out their knives and +held them ready between their teeth, and I seized the boat-hook. +We were all aware that if they succeeded in intercepting us they +would practise upon us the manoeuvre which has proved so fatal to +many a boat's crew in these seas. They would grapple the oars, +and seizing hold of the gunwhale, capsize the boat, and then we +should be entirely at their mercy. + +After a few breathless moments discerned Mow-Mow. The athletic +islander, with his tomahawk between his teeth, was dashing the +water before him till it foamed again. He was the nearest to us, +and in another instant he would have seized one of the oars. +Even at the moment I felt horror at the act I was about to +commit; but it was no time for pity or compunction, and with a +true aim, and exerting all my strength, I dashed the boat-hook at +him. It struck him just below the throat, and forced him +downwards. I had no time to repeat the blow, but I saw him rise +to the surface in the wake of the boat, and never shall I forget +the ferocious expression of his countenance. + +Only one other of the savages reached the boat. He seized the +gunwhale, but the knives of our rowers so mauled his wrists, that +he was forced to quit his hold, and the next minute we were past +them all, and in safety. The strong excitement which had thus +far kept me up, now left me, and I fell back fainting into the +arms of Karakoee. + + . . . . . . . . + +The circumstances connected with my most unexpected escape may be +very briefly stated. The captain of an Australian vessel, being +in distress for men in these remote seas, had put into Nukuheva +in order to recruit his ship's company; but not a single man was +to be obtained; and the barque was about to get under weigh, when +she was boarded by Karakoee, who informed the disappointed +Englishman that an American sailor was detained by the savages in +the neighbouring bay of Typee; and he offered, if supplied with +suitable articles of traffic, to undertake his release. The +Kanaka had gained his intelligence from Marnoo, to whom, after +all, I was indebted for my escape. The proposition was acceded +to; and Karakoee, taking with him five tabooed natives of +Nukuheva, again repaired aboard the barque, which in a few hours +sailed to that part of the island, and threw her main-top-sail +aback right off the entrance to the Typee bay. The whale-boat, +manned by the tabooed crew, pulled towards the head of the inlet, +while the ship lay 'off and on' awaiting its return. + +The events which ensued have already been detailed, and little +more remains to be related. On reaching the 'Julia' I was lifted +over the side, and my strange appearance and remarkable adventure +occasioned the liveliest interest. Every attention was bestowed +upon me that humanity could suggest. But to such a state was I +reduced, that three months elapsed before I recovered my health. + +The mystery which hung over the fate of my friend and companion +Toby has never been cleared up. I still remain ignorant whether +he succeeded in leaving the valley, or perished at the hands of +the islanders. + + + + THE STORY OF TOBY + +THE morning my comrade left me, as related in the narrative, he +was accompanied by a large party of the natives, some of them +carrying fruit and hogs for the purposes of traffic, as the +report had spread that boats had touched at the bay. + +As they proceeded through the settled parts of the valley, +numbers joined them from every side, running with animated cries +from every pathway. So excited were the whole party, that eager +as Toby was to gain the beach, it was almost as much as he could +do to keep up with them. Making the valley ring with their +shouts, they hurried along on a swift trot, those in advance +pausing now and then, and flourishing their weapons to urge the +rest forward. + +Presently they came to a place where the paths crossed a bend of +the main stream of the valley. Here a strange sound came through +the grove beyond, and the Islanders halted. It was Mow-Mow, the +one-eyed chief, who had gone on before; he was striking his heavy +lance against the hollow bough of a tree. + +This was a signal of alarm;--for nothing was now heard but shouts +of 'Happar! Happar!'--the warriors tilting with their spears and +brandishing them in the air, and the women and boys shouting to +each other, and picking up the stones in the bed of the stream. +In a moment or two Mow-Mow and two or three other chiefs ran out +from the grove, and the din increased ten fold. + +Now, thought Toby, for a fray; and being unarmed, he besought one +of the young men domiciled with Marheyo for the loan of his +spear. But he was refused; the youth roguishly telling him that +the weapon was very good for him (the Typee), but that a white +man could fight much better with his fists. + +The merry humour of this young wag seemed to be shared by the +rest, for in spite of their warlike cries and gestures, everybody +was capering and laughing, as if it was one of the funniest +things in the world to be awaiting the flight of a score or two +of Happar javelins from an ambush in the thickets. + +While my comrade was in vain trying to make out the meaning of +all this, a good number of the natives separated themselves from +the rest and ran off into the grove on one side, the others now +keeping perfectly still, as if awaiting the result. After a +little while, however, Mow-Mow, who stood in advance, motioned +them to come on stealthily, which they did, scarcely rustling a +leaf. Thus they crept along for ten or fifteen minutes, every +now and then pausing to listen. + +Toby by no means relished this sort of skulking; if there was +going to be a fight, he wanted it to begin at once. But all in +good time,--for just then, as they went prowling into the +thickest of the wood, terrific howls burst upon them on all +sides, and volleys of darts and stones flew across the path. Not +an enemy was to be seen, and what was still more surprising, not +a single man dropped, though the pebbles fell among the leaves +like hail. + +There was a moment's pause, when the Typees, with wild shrieks, +flung themselves into the covert, spear in hand; nor was Toby +behindhand. Coming so near getting his skull broken by the +stones, and animated by an old grudge he bore the Happars, he was +among the first to dash at them. As he broke his way through the +underbush, trying, as he did so, to wrest a spear from a young +chief, the shouts of battle all of a sudden ceased, and the wood +was as still as death. The next moment, the party who had left +them so mysteriously rushed out from behind every bush and tree, +and united with the rest in long and merry peals of laughter. + +It was all a sham, and Toby, who was quite out of breath with +excitement, was much incensed at being made a fool of. + +It afterwards turned out that the whole affair had been concerted +for his particular benefit, though with what precise view it +would be hard to tell. My comrade was the more enraged at this +boys' play, since it had consumed so much time, every moment of +which might be precious. Perhaps, however, it was partly +intended for this very purpose; and he was led to think so, +because when the natives started again, he observed that they did +not seem to be in so great a hurry as before. At last, after +they had gone some distance, Toby, thinking all the while that +they never would get to the sea, two men came running towards +them, and a regular halt ensued, followed by a noisy discussion, +during which Toby's name was often repeated. All this made him +more and more anxious to learn what was going on at the beach; +but it was in vain that he now tried to push forward; the natives +held him back. + +In a few moments the conference ended, and many of them ran down +the path in the direction of the water, the rest surrounding +Toby, and entreating him to 'Moee', or sit down and rest himself. + +As an additional inducement, several calabashes of food, which +had been brought along, were now placed on the ground, and +opened, and pipes also were lighted. Toby bridled his impatience +a while, but at last sprang to his feet and dashed forward again. + +He was soon overtaken nevertheless, and again surrounded, but +without further detention was then permitted to go down to the +sea. + +They came out upon a bright green space between the groves and +the water, and close under the shadow of the Happar mountain, +where a path was seen winding out of sight through a gorge. + +No sign of a boat, however, was beheld, nothing but a tumultuous +crowd of men and women, and some one in their midst, earnestly +talking to them. As my comrade advanced, this person came +forward and proved to be no stranger. He was an old grizzled +sailor, whom Toby and myself had frequently seen in Nukuheva, +where he lived an easy devil-may-care life in the household of +Mowanna the king, going by the name of 'Jimmy'. In fact he was +the royal favourite, and had a good deal to say in his master's +councils. He wore a Manilla hat and a sort of tappa morning +gown, sufficiently loose and negligent to show the verse of a +song tattooed upon his chest, and a variety of spirited cuts by +native artists in other parts of his body. He sported a fishing +rod in his hand, and carried a sooty old pipe slung about his +neck. + +This old rover having retired from active life, had resided in +Nukuheva some time--could speak the language, and for that reason +was frequently employed by the French as an interpreter. He was +an arrant old gossip too; for ever coming off in his canoe to the +ships in the bay, and regaling their crews with choice little +morsels of court scandal--such, for instance, as a shameful +intrigue of his majesty with a Happar damsel, a public dancer at +the feasts--and otherwise relating some incredible tales about +the Marquesas generally. I remember in particular his telling +the Dolly's crew what proved to be literally a cock-and-bull +story, about two natural prodigies which he said were then on the +island. One was an old monster of a hermit, having a marvellous +reputation for sanctity, and reputed a famous sorcerer, who lived +away off in a den among the mountains, where he hid from the +world a great pair of horns that grew out of his temples. +Notwithstanding his reputation for piety, this horrid old fellow +was the terror of all the island round, being reported to come +out from his retreat, and go a man-hunting every dark night. +Some anonymous Paul Pry, too, coming down the mountain, once got +a peep at his den, and found it full of bones. In short, he was +a most unheard-of monster. + +The other prodigy Jimmy told us about was the younger son of a +chief, who, although but just turned of ten, had entered upon +holy orders, because his superstitious countrymen thought him +especially intended for the priesthood from the fact of his +having a comb on his head like a rooster. But this was not all; +for still more wonderful to relate, the boy prided himself upon +his strange crest, being actually endowed with a cock's voice, +and frequently crowing over his peculiarity. + +But to return to Toby. The moment he saw the old rover on the +beach, he ran up to him, the natives following after, and forming +a circle round them. + +After welcoming him to the shore, Jimmy went on to tell him how +that he knew all about our having run away from the ship, and +being among the Typees. Indeed, he had been urged by Mowanna to +come over to the valley, and after visiting his friends there, to +bring us back with him, his royal master being exceedingly +anxious to share with him the reward which had been held out for +our capture. He, however, assured Toby that he had indignantly +spurned the offer. + +All this astonished my comrade not a little, as neither of us had +entertained the least idea that any white man ever visited the +Typees sociably. But Jimmy told him that such was the case +nevertheless, although he seldom came into the bay, and scarcely +ever went back from the beach. One of the priests of the valley, +in some way or other connected with an old tattooed divine in +Nukuheva, was a friend of his, and through him he was 'taboo'. + +He said, moreover, that he was sometimes employed to come round +to the bay, and engage fruit for ships lying in Nukuheva. In +fact, he was now on that very errand, according to his own +account, having just come across the mountains by the way of +Happar. By noon of the next day the fruit would be heaped up in +stacks on the beach, in readiness for the boats which he then +intended to bring into the bay. + +Jimmy now asked Toby whether he wished to leave the island--if he +did, there was a ship in want of men lying in the other harbour, +and he would be glad to take him over, and see him on board that +very day. + +'No,' said Toby, 'I cannot leave the island unless my comrade +goes with me. I left him up the valley because they would not +let him come down. Let us go now and fetch him.' + +'But how is he to cross the mountain with us,' replied Jimmy, +'even if we get him down to the beach? Better let him stay till +tomorrow, and I will bring him round to Nukuheva in the boats.' + +'That will never do,' said Toby, 'but come along with me now, and +let us get him down here at any rate,' and yielding to the +impulse of the moment, he started to hurry back into the valley. +But hardly was his back turned, when a dozen hands were laid on +him, and he learned that he could not go a step further. + +It was in vain that he fought with them; they would not hear of +his stirring from the beach. Cut to the heart at this unexpected +repulse, Toby now conjured the sailor to go after me alone. But +Jimmy replied, that in the mood the Typees then were they would +not permit him so to do, though at the same time he was not +afraid of their offering him any harm. + +Little did Toby then think, as he afterwards had good reason to +suspect, that this very Jimmy was a heartless villain, who, by +his arts, had just incited the natives to restrain him as he was +in the act of going after me. Well must the old sailor have +known, too, that the natives would never consent to our leaving +together, and he therefore wanted to get Toby off alone, for a +purpose which he afterwards made plain. Of all this, however, my +comrade now knew nothing. + +He was still struggling with the islanders when Jimmy again came +up to him, and warned him against irritating them, saying that he +was only making matters worse for both of us, and if they became +enraged, there was no telling what might happen. At last he made +Toby sit down on a broken canoe by a pile of stones, upon which +was a ruinous little shrine supported by four upright poles, and +in front partly screened by a net. The fishing parties met +there, when they came in from the sea, for their offerings were +laid before an image, upon a smooth black stone within. This +spot Jimmy said was strictly 'taboo', and no one would molest or +come near him while he stayed by its shadow. The old sailor then +went off, and began speaking very earnestly to Mow-Mow and some +other chiefs, while all the rest formed a circle round the taboo +place, looking intently at Toby, and talking to each other +without ceasing. + +Now, notwithstanding what Jimmy had just told him, there +presently came up to my comrade an old woman, who seated herself +beside him on the canoe. + +'Typee motarkee?' said she. 'Motarkee nuee,' said Toby. + +She then asked him whether he was going to Nukuheva; he nodded +yes; and with a plaintive wall and her eyes filling with tears +she rose and left him. + +This old woman, the sailor afterwards said, was the wife of an +aged king of a small island valley, communicating by a deep pass +with the country of the Typees. The inmates of the two valleys +were related to each other by blood, and were known by the same +name. The old woman had gone down into the Typee valley the day +before, and was now with three chiefs, her sons, on a visit to +her kinsmen. + +As the old king's wife left him, Jimmy again came up to Toby, and +told him that he had just talked the whole matter over with the +natives, and there was only one course for him to follow. They +would not allow him to go back into the valley, and harm would +certainly come to both him and me, if he remained much longer on +the beach. 'So,' said he, 'you and I had better go to Nukuheva +now overland, and tomorrow I will bring Tommo, as they call him, +by water; they have promised to carry him down to the sea for me +early in the morning, so that there will be no delay.' + +'No, no,' said Toby desperately, 'I will not leave him that way; +we must escape together.' + +'Then there is no hope for you,' exclaimed the sailor, 'for if I +leave you here on the beach, as soon as I am gone you will be +carried back into the valley, and then neither of you will ever +look upon the sea again.' And with many oaths he swore that if +he would only go to Nukuheva with him that day, he would be sure +to have me there the very next morning. + +'But how do you know they will bring him down to the beach +tomorrow, when they will not do so today?' said Toby. But the +sailor had many reasons, all of which were so mixed up with the +mysterious customs of the islanders, that he was none the wiser. +Indeed, their conduct, especially in preventing him from +returning into the valley, was absolutely unaccountable to him; +and added to everything else, was the bitter reflection, that the +old sailor, after all, might possibly be deceiving him. And then +again he had to think of me, left alone with the natives, and by +no means well. If he went with Jimmy, he might at least hope to +procure some relief for me. But might not the savages who had +acted so strangely, hurry me off somewhere before his return? +Then, even if he remained, perhaps they would not let him go back +into the valley where I was. + +Thus perplexed was my poor comrade; he knew not what to do, and +his courageous spirit was of no use to him now. There he was, +all by himself, seated upon the broken canoe--the natives grouped +around him at a distance, and eyeing him more and more fixedly. +'It is getting late: said Jimmy, who was standing behind the +rest. 'Nukuheva is far off, and I cannot cross the Happar +country by night. You see how it is;--if you come along with +me,. all will be well; if you do not, depend upon it, neither of +you will ever escape.' + +'There is no help for it,' said Toby, at last, with a heavy +heart, 'I will have to trust you,' and he came out from the +shadow of the little shrine, and cast a long look up the valley. + +'Now keep close to my side,' said the sailor, 'and let us be +moving quickly.' Tinor and Fayaway here appeared; the +kindhearted old woman embracing Toby's knees, and giving way to a +flood of tears; while Fayaway, hardly less moved, spoke some few +words of English she had learned, and held up three fingers +before him--in so many days he would return. + +At last Jimmy pulled Toby out of the crowd, and after calling to +a young Typee who was standing by with a young pig in his arms, +all three started for the mountains. + +'I have told them that you are coming back again,' said the old +fellow, laughing, as they began the ascent, 'but they'll have to +wait a long time.' Toby turned, and saw the natives all in +motion--the girls waving their tappas in adieu, and the men their +spears. As the last figure entered the grove with one arm +raised, and the three fingers spread, his heart smote him. + +As the natives had at last consented to his going, it might have +been, that some of them, at least, really counted upon his speedy +return; probably supposing, as indeed he had told them when they +were coming down the valley, that his only object in leaving them +was to procure the medicines I needed. This, Jimmy also must +have told them. And as they had done before, when my comrade, to +oblige me, started on his perilous journey to Nukuheva, they +looked upon me, in his absence, as one of two inseparable friends +who was a sure guaranty for the other's return. This is only my +own supposition, however, for as to all their strange conduct, it +is still a mystery. + +'You see what sort of a taboo man I am,' said the sailor, after +for some time silently following the path which led up the +mountain. 'Mow-Mow made me a present of this pig here, and the +man who carries it will go right through Happar, and down into +Nukuheva with us. So long as he stays by me he is safe, and just +so it will be with you, and tomorrow with Tommo. Cheer up, then, +and rely upon me, you will see him in the morning.' + +The ascent of the mountain was not very difficult, owing to its +being near to the sea, where the island ridges are comparatively +low; the path, too, was a fine one, so that in a short time all +three were standing on the summit with the two valleys at their +feet. The white cascade marking the green head of the Typee +valley first caught Toby's eye; Marheyo's house could easily be +traced by them. + +As Jimmy led the way along the ridge, Toby observed that the +valley of the Happars did not extend near so far inland as that +of the Typees. This accounted for our mistake in entering the +latter valley as we had. + +A path leading down from the mountain was soon seen, and, +following it, the party were in a short time fairly in the Happar +valley. + +'Now,' said Jimmy, as they hurried on, 'we taboo men have wives +in all the bays, and I am going to show you the two I have here.' + +So, when they came to the house where he said they lived,--which +was close by the base of the mountain in a shady nook among the +groves--he went in, and was quite furious at finding it +empty--the ladies, had gone out. However, they soon made their +appearance, and to tell the truth, welcomed Jimmy quite +cordially, as well as Toby, about whom they were very +inquisitive. Nevertheless, as the report of their arrival +spread, and the Happars began to assemble, it became evident that +the appearance of a white stranger among them was not by any +means deemed so wonderful an event as in the neighbouring valley. + +The old sailor now bade his wives prepare something to eat, as he +must be in Nukuheva before dark. A meal of fish, bread-fruit, +and bananas, was accordingly served up, the party regaling +themselves on the mats, in the midst of a numerous company. + +The Happars put many questions to Jimmy about Toby; and Toby +himself looked sharply at them, anxious to recognize the fellow +who gave him the wound from which he was still suffering. But +this fiery gentleman, so handy with his spear, had the delicacy, +it seemed, to keep out of view. Certainly the sight of him would +not have been any added inducement to making a stay in the +valley,--some of the afternoon loungers in Happar having politely +urged Toby to spend a few days with them,--there was a feast +coming on. He, however, declined. + +All this while the young Typee stuck to Jimmy like his shadow, +and though as lively a dog as any of his tribe, he was now as +meek as a lamb, never opening his mouth except to eat. Although +some of the Happars looked queerly at him, others were more +civil, and seemed desirous of taking him abroad and showing him +the valley. But the Typee was not to be cajoled in that way. +How many yards he would have to remove from Jimmy before the +taboo would be powerless, it would be hard to tell, but probably +he himself knew to a fraction. + +On the promise of a red cotton handkerchief, and something else +which he kept secret, this poor fellow had undertaken a rather +ticklish journey, though, as far as Toby could ascertain, it was +something that had never happened before. + +The island-punch--arva--was brought in at the conclusion of the +repast, and passed round in a shallow calabash. + +Now my comrade, while seated in the Happar house, began to feel +more troubled than ever at leaving me; indeed, so sad did he feel +that he talked about going back to the valley, and wanted Jimmy +to escort him as far as the mountains. But the sailor would not +listen to him, and, by way of diverting his thoughts, pressed him +to drink of the arva. Knowing its narcotic nature, he refused; +but Jimmy said he would have something mixed with it, which would +convert it into an innocent beverage that would inspirit them for +the rest of their journey. So at last he was induced to drink of +it, and its effects were just as the sailor had predicted; his +spirits rose at once, and all his gloomy thoughts left him. + +The old rover now began to reveal his true character, though he +was hardly suspected at the time. 'If I get you off to a ship,' +said he, 'you will surely give a poor fellow something for saving +you.' In short, before they left the house, he made Toby promise +that he would give him five Spanish dollars if he succeeded in +getting any part of his wages advanced from the vessel, aboard of +which they were going; Toby, moreover, engaging to reward him +still further, as soon as my deliverance was accomplished. + +A little while after this they started again, accompanied by many +of the natives, and going up the valley, took a steep path near +its head, which led to Nukuheva. Here the Happars paused and +watched them as they ascended the mountain, one group of +bandit-looking fellows, shaking their spears and casting +threatening glances at the poor Typee, whose heart as well as +heels seemed much the lighter when he came to look down upon +them. + +On gaining the heights once more, their way led for a time along +several ridges covered with enormous ferns. At last they entered +upon a wooded tract, and here they overtook a party of Nukuheva +natives, well armed, and carrying bundles of long poles. Jimmy +seemed to know them all very well, and stopped for a while, and +had a talk about the 'Wee-Wees', as the people of Nukuheva call +the Monsieurs. + +The party with the poles were King Mowanna's men, and by his +orders they had been gathering them in the ravines for his allies +the French. + +Leaving these fellows to trudge on with their loads, Toby and his +companions now pushed forward again, as the sun was already low +in the west. They came upon the valleys of Nukuheva on one side +of the bay, where the highlands slope off into the sea. The +men-of-war were still lying in the harbour, and as Toby looked +down upon them, the strange events which had happened so +recently, seemed all a dream. + +They soon descended towards the beach, and found themselves in +Jimmy's house before it was well dark. Here he received another +welcome from his Nukuheva wives, and after some refreshments in +the shape of cocoanut milk and poee-poee, they entered a canoe +(the Typee of course going along) and paddled off to a whaleship +which was anchored near the shore. This was the vessel in want +of men. Our own had sailed some time before. The captain +professed great pleasure at seeing Toby, but thought from his +exhausted appearance that he must be unfit for duty. However, he +agreed to ship him, as well as his comrade, as soon as he should +arrive. Toby begged hard for an armed boat, in which to go round +to Typee and rescue me, notwithstanding the promises of Jimmy. +But this the captain would not hear of, and told him to have +patience, for the sailor would be faithful to his word. When, +too, he demanded the five silver dollars for Jimmy, the captain +was unwilling to give them. But Toby insisted upon it, as he now +began to think that Jimmy might be a mere mercenary, who would be +sure to prove faithless if not well paid. Accordingly he not +only gave him the money, but took care to assure him, over and +over again, that as soon as he brought me aboard he would receive +a still larger sum. + +Before sun-rise the next day, Jimmy and the Typee started in two +of the ship's boats, which were manned by tabooed natives. Toby, +of course, was all eagerness to go along, but the sailor told him +that if he did, it would spoil all; so, hard as it was, he was +obliged to remain. + +Towards evening he was on the watch, and descried the boats +turning the headland and entering the bay. He strained his eyes, +and thought he saw me; but I was not there. Descending from the +mast almost distracted, he grappled Jimmy as he struck the deck, +shouting in a voice that startled him, 'Where is Tommo?' The old +fellow faltered, but soon recovering, did all he could to soothe +him, assuring him that it had proved to be impossible to get me +down to the shore that morning; assigning many plausible reasons, +and adding that early on the morrow he was going to visit the bay +again in a French boat, when, if he did not find me on the +beach--as this time he certainly expected to--he would march +right back into the valley, and carry me away at all hazards. +He, however, again refused to allow Toby to accompany him. Now, +situated as Toby was, his sole dependence for the present was +upon this Jimmy, and therefore he was fain to comfort himself as +well as he could with what the old sailor told him. The next +morning, however, he had the satisfaction of seeing the French +boat start with Jimmy in it. Tonight, then, I will see him, +thought Toby; but many a long day passed before he ever saw Tommo +again. Hardly was the boat out of sight, when the captain came +forward and ordered the anchor weighed; he was going to sea. + +Vain were all Toby's ravings--they were disregarded; and when he +came to himself, the sails were set, and the ship fast leaving +the land. + +. . . 'Oh!' said he to me at our meeting, 'what sleepless +nights were mine. Often I started from my hammock, dreaming you +were before me, and upbraiding me for leaving you on the island.' + + . . . . . . . + +There is little more to be related. Toby left this vessel at New +Zealand, and after some further adventures, arrived home in less +than two years after leaving the Marquesas. He always thought of +me as dead--and I had every reason to suppose that he too was no +more; but a strange meeting was in store for us, one which made +Toby's heart all the lighter. + +NOTE. + +The author was more than two years in the South Seas, after +escaping from the valley, as recounted in the last chapter. Some +time after returning home the foregoing narrative was published, +though it was little thought at the time that this would be the +means of revealing the existance of Toby, who had long been given +up for lost. But so it proved. + +The story of his escape supplies a natural sequel to the +adventure, and as such it is now added to the volume. It was +related to the author by Toby himself, not ten days since. + +New York, July, 1846. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Typee: A Romance of the South Sea + diff --git a/old/typee10.zip b/old/typee10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f7f8cb5 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/typee10.zip diff --git a/old/typee11.txt b/old/typee11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7ab46a7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/typee11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12501 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Typee: A Romance of the South Sea +by Herman Melville +With Biographical and Critical Introduction by Arthur Stedman + +#2 in our series by Herman Melville + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. 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The interval, with the exception +of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author +tossing about on the wide ocean. Sailors are the only class of +men who now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many +things which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to +them seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows. Yet, +notwithstanding the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of +curious adventure, the incidents recorded in the following pages +have often served, when 'spun as a yarn,' not only to relieve the +weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest +sympathies of the author's shipmates. He has been, therefore, +led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those +who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure. + +In his account of the singular and interesting people among whom +he was thrown, it will be observed that he chiefly treats of +their more obvious peculiarities; and, in describing their +customs, refrains in most cases from entering into explanations +concerning their origin and purposes. As writers of travels +among barbarous communities are generally very diffuse on these +subjects, he deems it right to advert to what may be considered a +culpable omission. No one can be more sensible than the author +of his deficiencies in this and many other respects; but when the +very peculiar circumstances in which he was placed are +understood, he feels assured that all these omissions will be +excused. + +In very many published narratives no little degree of attention +is bestowed upon dates; but as the author lost all knowledge of +the days of the week, during the occurrence of the scenes herein +related, he hopes that the reader will charitably pass over his +shortcomings in this particular. + +In the Polynesian words used in this volume,--except in those +cases where the spelling has been previously determined by +others,--that form of orthography has been employed, which might +be supposed most easily to convey their sound to a stranger. In +several works descriptive of the islands in the Pacific, many of +the most beautiful combinations of vocal sounds have been +altogether lost to the ear of the reader by an over-attention to +the ordinary rules of spelling. + +There are a few passages in the ensuing chapters which may be +thought to bear rather hard upon a reverend order of men, the +account of whose proceedings in different quarters of the globe-- +transmitted to us through their own hands--very generally, and +often very deservedly, receives high commendation. Such passages +will be found, however, to be based upon facts admitting of no +contradiction, and which have come immediately under the writer's +cognizance. The conclusions deduced from these facts are +unavoidable, and in stating them the author has been influenced +by no feeling of animosity, either to the individuals themselves, +or to that glorious cause which has not always been served by the +proceedings of some of its advocates. + +The great interest with which the important events lately +occurring at the Sandwich, Marquesas, and Society Islands, have +been regarded in America and England, and indeed throughout the +world, will, he trusts, justify a few otherwise unwarrantable +digressions. + +There are some things related in the narrative which will be +sure to appear strange, or perhaps entirely incomprehensible, to +the reader; but they cannot appear more so to him than they did +to the author at the time. He has stated such matters just as +they occurred, and leaves every one to form his own opinion +concerning them; trusting that his anxious desire to speak the +unvarnished truth will gain for him the confidence of his +readers. 1846. + + + +INTRODUCTION TO THE EDITION OF 1892. + +BY ARTHUR STEDMAN. + +OF the trinity of American authors whose births made the year +1819 a notable one in our literary history,--Lowell, Whitman, and +Melville,--it is interesting to observe that the two latter were +both descended, on the fathers' and mothers' sides respectively, +from have families of British New England and Dutch New York +extraction. Whitman and Van Velsor, Melville and Gansevoort, +were the several combinations which produced these men; and it is +easy to trace in the life and character of each author the +qualities derived from his joint ancestry. Here, however, the +resemblance ceases, for Whitman's forebears, while worthy country +people of good descent, were not prominent in public or private +life. Melville, on the other hand, was of distinctly patrician +birth, his paternal and maternal grandfathers having been leading +characters in the Revolutionary War; their descendants still +maintaining a dignified social position. + +Allan Melville, great-grandfather of Herman Melville, removed +from Scotland to America in 1748, and established himself as a +merchant in Boston. His son, Major Thomas Melville, was a leader +in the famous 'Boston Tea Party' of 1773 and afterwards became an +officer in the Continental Army. He is reported to have been a +Conservative in all matters except his opposition to unjust +taxation, and he wore the old-fashioned cocked hat and +knee-breeches until his death, in 1832, thus becoming the +original of Doctor Holmes's poem, 'The Last Leaf'. Major +Melville's son Allan, the father of Herman, was an importing +merchant,--first in Boston, and later in New York. He was a man +of much culture, and was an extensive traveller for his time. He +married Maria Gansevoort, daughter of General Peter Gansevoort, +best known as 'the hero of Fort Stanwix.' This fort was situated +on the present site of Rome, N.Y.; and there Gansevoort, with a +small body of men, held in check reinforcements on their way to +join Burgoyne, until the disastrous ending of the latter's +campaign of 1777 was insured. The Gansevoorts, it should be said, +were at that time and subsequently residents of Albany, N.Y. + +Herman Melville was born in New York on August 1,1819, and +received his early education in that city. There he imbibed his +first love of adventure, listening, as be says in 'Redburn,' +while his father 'of winter evenings, by the well-remembered +sea-coal fire in old Greenwich Street, used to tell my brother +and me of the monstrous waves at sea, mountain high, of the masts +bending like twigs, and all about Havre and Liverpool.' The +death of his father in reduced circumstances necessitated the +removal of his mother and the family of eight brothers and +sisters to the village of Lansingburg, on the Hudson River. +There Herman remained until 1835, when he attended the Albany +Classical School for some months. Dr. Charles E. West, the +well-known Brooklyn educator, was then in charge of the school, +and remembers the lad's deftness in English composition, and his +struggles with mathematics. + +The following year was passed at Pittsfield, Mass., where he +engaged in work on his uncle's farm, long known as the 'Van +Schaack place.' This uncle was Thomas Melville, president of the +Berkshire Agricultural Society, and a successful gentleman +farmer. + +Herman's roving disposition, and a desire to support himself +independently of family assistance, soon led him to ship as cabin +boy in a New York vessel bound for Liverpool. He made the +voyage, visited London, and returned in the same ship. 'Redburn: +His First Voyage,' published in 1849, is partly founded on the +experiences of this trip, which was undertaken with the full +consent of his relatives, and which seems to have satisfied his +nautical ambition for a time. As told in the book, Melville met +with more than the usual hardships of a sailor-boy's first +venture. It does not seem difficult in 'Redburn' to separate the +author's actual experiences from those invented by him, this +being the case in some of his other writings. + +A good part of the succeeding three years, from 1837 to 1840, was +occupied with school-teaching. While so engaged at Greenbush, +now East Albany, N.Y., he received the munificent salary of 'six +dollars a quarter and board.' He taught for one term at +Pittsfield, Mass., 'boarding around' with the families of his +pupils, in true American fashion, and easily suppressing, on one +memorable occasion, the efforts of his larger scholars to +inaugurate a rebellion by physical force. + +I fancy that it was the reading of Richard Henry Dana's 'Two +Years Before the Mast' which revived the spirit of adventure in +Melville's breast. That book was published in 1840, and was at +once talked of everywhere. Melville must have read it at the +time, mindful of his own experience as a sailor. At any rate, he +once more signed a ship's articles, and on January 1, 1841, +sailed from New Bedford harbour in the whaler Acushnet, bound for +the Pacific Ocean and the sperm fishery. He has left very little +direct information as to the events of this eighteen months' +cruise, although his whaling romance, 'Moby Dick; or, the Whale,' +probably gives many pictures of life on board the Acushnet. In +the present volume he confines himself to a general account of +the captain's bad treatment of the crew, and of his +non-fulfilment of agreements. Under these considerations, +Melville decided to abandon the vessel on reaching the Marquesas +Islands; and the narrative of 'Typee' begins at this point. +However, he always recognised the immense influence the voyage +had had upon his career, and in regard to its results has said in +'Moby Dick,'-- + +'If I shall ever deserve any real repute in that small but high +hushed world which I might not be unreasonably ambitious of; if +hereafter I shall do anything that on the whole a man might +rather have done than to have left undone . . . then here I +prospectively ascribe all the honour and the glory to whaling; +for a whale-ship was my Yale College and my Harvard.' + +The record, then, of Melville's escape from the Dolly, otherwise +the Acushnet, the sojourn of his companion Toby and himself in +the Typee Valley on the island of Nukuheva, Toby's mysterious +disappearance, and Melville's own escape, is fully given in the +succeeding pages; and rash indeed would he be who would enter +into a descriptive contest with these inimitable pictures of +aboriginal life in the 'Happy Valley.' So great an interest has +always centred in the character of Toby, whose actual existence +has been questioned, that I am glad to be able to declare him an +authentic personage, by name Richard T. Greene. He was enabled +to discover himself again to Mr. Melville through the publication +of the present volume, and their acquaintance was renewed, +lasting for quite a long period. I have seen his portrait,--a +rare old daguerrotype,--and some of his letters to our author. +One of his children was named for the latter, but Mr. Melville +lost trace of him in recent years. + +With the author's rescue from what Dr. T. M. Coan has styled his +'anxious paradise,' 'Typee' ends, and its sequel, 'Omoo,' begins. +Here, again, it seems wisest to leave the remaining adventures in +the South Seas to the reader's own discovery, simply stating +that, after a sojourn at the Society Islands, Melville shipped +for Honolulu. There he remained for four months, employed as a +clerk. He joined the crew of the American frigate United States, +which reached Boston, stopping on the way at one of the Peruvian +ports, in October of 1844. Once more was a narrative of his +experiences to be preserved in 'White Jacket; or, the World in a +Man-of-War.' Thus, of Melville's four most important books, +three, 'Typee,' 'Omoo,' and 'White-Jacket,' are directly auto +biographical, and 'Moby Dick' is partially so; while the less +important 'Redburn' is between the two classes in this respect. +Melville's other prose works, as will be shown, were, with some +exceptions, unsuccessful efforts at creative romance. + +Whether our author entered on his whaling adventures in the South +Seas with a determination to make them available for literary +purposes, may never be certainly known. There was no such +elaborate announcement or advance preparation as in some later +cases. I am inclined to believe that the literary prospect was +an after-thought, and that this insured a freshness and +enthusiasm of style not otherwise to be attained. Returning to +his mother's home at Lansingburg, Melville soon began the writing +of 'Typee,' which was completed by the autumn of 1845. Shortly +after this his older brother, Gansevoort Melville, sailed for +England as secretary of legation to Ambassador McLane, and the +manuscript was intrusted to Gansevoort for submission to John +Murray. Its immediate acceptance and publication followed in +1846. 'Typee' was dedicated to Chief Justice Lemuel Shaw of +Massachusetts, an old friendship between the author's family and +that of Justice Shaw having been renewed about this time. Mr. +Melville became engaged to Miss Elizabeth Shaw, the only daughter +of the Chief Justice, and their marriage followed on August 4, +1847, in Boston. + +The wanderings of our nautical Othello were thus brought to a +conclusion. Mr. and Mrs. Melville resided in New York City until +1850, when they purchased a farmhouse at Pittsfield, their farm +adjoining that formerly owned by Mr. Melville's uncle, which had +been inherited by the latter's son. The new place was named +'Arrow Head,' from the numerous Indian antiquities found in the +neighbourhood. The house was so situated as to command an +uninterrupted view of Greylock Mountain and the adjacent hills. +Here Melville remained for thirteen years, occupied with his +writing, and managing his farm. An article in Putnam's Monthly +entitled 'I and My Chimney,' another called 'October Mountain,' +and the introduction to the 'Piazza Tales,' present faithful +pictures of Arrow Head and its surroundings. In a letter to +Nathaniel Hawthorne, given in 'Nathaniel Hawthorne and His Wife,' +his daily life is set forth. The letter is dated June 1, 1851. + +'Since you have been here I have been building some shanties of +houses (connected with the old one), and likewise some shanties +of chapters and essays. I have been ploughing and sowing and +raising and printing and praying, and now begin to come out upon +a less bristling time, and to enjoy the calm prospect of things +from a fair piazza at the north of the old farmhouse here. Not +entirely yet, though, am I without something to be urgent with. +The 'Whale' is only half through the press; for, wearied with the +long delays of the printers, and disgusted with the heat and dust +of the Babylonish brick-kiln of New York, I came back to the +country to feel the grass, and end the book reclining on it, if I +may.' + +Mr. Hawthorne, who was then living in the red cottage at Lenox, +had a week at Arrow Head with his daughter Una the previous +spring. It is recorded that the friends 'spent most of the time +in the barn, bathing in the early spring sunshine, which streamed +through the open doors, and talking philosophy.' According to +Mr. J. E. A. Smith's volume on the Berkshire Hills, these +gentlemen, both reserved in nature, though near neighbours and +often in the same company, were inclined to be shy of each other, +partly, perhaps, through the knowledge that Melville had written +a very appreciative review of 'Mosses from an Old Manse' for the +New York Literary World, edited by their mutual friends, the +Duyckincks. 'But one day,' writes Mr. Smith, 'it chanced that +when they were out on a picnic excursion, the two were compelled +by a thundershower to take shelter in a narrow recess of the +rocks of Monument Mountain. Two hours of this enforced +intercourse settled the matter. They learned so much of each +other's character, . . . that the most intimate friendship for +the future was inevitable.' A passage in Hawthorne's 'Wonder +Book' is noteworthy as describing the number of literary +neighbours in Berkshire:-- + +'For my part, I wish I had Pegasus here at this moment,' said the +student. 'I would mount him forthwith, and gallop about the +country within a circumference of a few miles, making literary +calls on my brother authors. Dr. Dewey would be within ray +reach, at the foot of the Taconic. In Stockbridge, yonder, is +Mr. James [G. P. R. James], conspicuous to all the world on his +mountain-pile of history and romance. Longfellow, I believe, is +not yet at the Oxbow, else the winged horse would neigh at him. +But here in Lenox I should find our most truthful novelist [Miss +Sedgwick], who has made the scenery and life of Berkshire all her +own. On the hither side of Pittsfield sits Herman Melville, +shaping out the gigantic conception of his 'White Whale,' while +the gigantic shadow of Greylock looms upon him from his study +window. Another bound of my flying steed would bring me to the +door of Holmes, whom I mention last, because Pegasus would +certainly unseat me the next minute, and claim the poet as his +rider.' + +While at Pittsfield, Mr. Melville was induced to enter the +lecture field. From 1857 to 1860 he filled many engagements in +the lyceums, chiefly speaking of his adventures in the South +Seas. He lectured in cities as widely apart as Montreal, +Chicago, Baltimore, and San Francisco, sailing to the last-named +place in 1860, by way of Cape Horn, on the Meteor, commanded, by +his younger brother, Captain Thomas Melville, afterward governor +of the 'Sailor's Snug Harbor' at Staten Island, N.Y. Besides his +voyage to San Francisco, he had, in 1849 and 1856, visited +England, the Continent, and the Holy Land, partly to superintend +the publication of English editions of his works, and partly for +recreation. + +A pronounced feature of Melville's character was his +unwillingness to speak of himself, his adventures, or his +writings in conversation. He was, however, able to overcome this +reluctance on the lecture platform. Our author's tendency to +philosophical discussion is strikingly set forth in a letter from +Dr. Titus Munson Coan to the latter's mother, written while a +student at Williams College over thirty years ago, and +fortunately preserved by her. Dr. Coan enjoyed the friendship +and confidence of Mr. Melville during most of his residence in +New York. The letter reads:-- + +'I have made my first literary pilgrimage, a call upon Herman +Melville, the renowned author of 'Typee,' etc. He lives in a +spacious farmhouse about two miles from Pittsfield, a weary walk +through the dust. But it as well repaid. I introduced myself as +a Hawaiian-American, and soon found myself in full tide of talk, +or rather of monologue. But he would not repeat the experiences +of which I had been reading with rapture in his books. In vain I +sought to hear of Typee and those paradise islands, but he +preferred to pour forth his philosophy and his theories of life. +The shade of Aristotle arose like a cold mist between myself and +Fayaway. We have quite enough of deep philosophy at Williams +College, and I confess I was disappointed in this trend of the +talk. But what a talk it was! Melville is transformed from a +Marquesan to a gypsy student, the gypsy element still remaining +strong within him. And this contradiction gives him the air of +one who has suffered from opposition, both literary and social. +With his liberal views, he is apparently considered by the good +people of Pittsfield as little better than a cannibal or a +'beach-comber.' His attitude seemed to me something like that of +Ishmael; but perhaps I judged hastily. I managed to draw him out +very freely on everything but the Marquesas Islands, and when I +left him he was in full tide of discourse on all things sacred +and profane. But he seems to put away the objective side of his +life, and to shut himself up in this cold north as a cloistered +thinker.' + +I have been told by Dr. Coan that his father, the Rev. Titus +Coan, of the Hawaiian Islands, personally visited the Marquesas +group, found the Typee Valley, and verified in all respects the +statements made in 'Typee.' It is known that Mr. Melville from +early manhood indulged deeply in philosophical studies, and his +fondness for discussing such matters is pointed out by Hawthorne +also, in the 'English Note Books.' This habit increased as he +advanced in years, if possible. + +The chief event of the residence in Pittsfield was the completion +and publication of 'Moby Dick; or, the Whale,' in 1851. How many +young men have been drawn to sea by this book is a question of +interest. Meeting with Mr. Charles Henry Webb ('John Paul') the +day after Mr. Melville's death, I asked him if he were not +familiar with that author's writings. He replied that 'Moby +Dick' was responsible for his three years of life before the mast +when a lad, and added that while 'gamming' on board another +vessel he had once fallen in with a member of the boat's crew +which rescued Melville from his friendly imprisonment among the +Typees. + +While at Pittsfield, besides his own family, Mr. Melville's +mother and sisters resided with him. As his four children grew +up he found it necessary to obtain for them better facilities for +study than the village school afforded; and so, several years +after, the household was broken up, and he removed with his wife +and children to the New York house that was afterwards his home. +This house belonged to his brother Allan, and was exchanged for +the estate at Pittsfield. In December, 1866, he was appointed by +Mr. H. A. Smyth, a former travelling companion in Europe, a +district officer in the New York Custom House. He held the +position until 1886, preferring it to in-door clerical work, and +then resigned, the duties becoming too arduous for his failing +strength. + +In addition to his philosophical studies, Mr. Melville was much +interested in all matters relating to the fine arts, and devoted +most of his leisure hours to the two subjects. A notable +collection of etchings and engravings from the old masters was +gradually made by him, those from Claude's paintings being a +specialty. After he retired from the Custom House, his tall, +stalwart figure could be seen almost daily tramping through the +Fort George district or Central Park, his roving inclination +leading him to obtain as much out-door life as possible. His +evenings were spent at home with his books, his pictures, and his +family, and usually with them alone; for, in spite of the +melodramatic declarations of various English gentlemen, +Melville's seclusion in his latter years, and in fact throughout +his life, was a matter of personal choice. More and more, as he +grew older, he avoided every action on his part, and on the part +of his family, that might tend to keep his name and writings +before the public. A few friends felt at liberty to visit the +recluse, and were kindly welcomed, but he himself sought no one. +His favorite companions were his grandchildren, with whom he +delighted to pass his time, and his devoted wife, who was a +constant assistant and adviser in his literary work, chiefly done +at this period for his own amusement. To her he addressed his +last little poem, the touching 'Return of the Sire de Nesle.' +Various efforts were made by the New York literary colony to draw +him from his retirement, but without success. It has been +suggested that he might have accepted a magazine editorship, but +this is doubtful, as he could not bear business details or +routine work of any sort. His brother Allan was a New York +lawyer, and until his death, in 1872, managed Melville's affairs +with ability, particularly the literary accounts. + +During these later years he took great pleasure in a friendly +correspondence with Mr. W. Clark Russell. Mr. Russell had taken +many occasions to mention Melville's sea-tales, his interest in +them, and his indebtedness to them. The latter felt impelled to +write Mr. Russell in regard to one of his newly published novels, +and received in answer the following letter: + July 21, 1886. + +MY DEAR Mr. MELVILLE, Your letter has given me a very great and +singular pleasure. Your delightful books carry the imagination +into a maritime period so remote that, often as you have been in +my mind, I could never satisfy myself that you were still amongst +the living. I am glad, indeed, to learn from Mr. Toft that you +are still hale and hearty, and I do most heartily wish you many +years yet of health and vigour. + +Your books I have in the American edition. I have 'Typee, +'Omoo,' 'Redburn,' and that noble piece 'Moby Dick.' These are +all I have been able to obtain. There have been many editions of +your works in this country, particularly the lovely South Sea +sketches; but the editions are not equal to those of the American +publishers. Your reputation here is very great. It is hard to +meet a man whose opinion as a reader is worth leaving who does +not speak of your works in such terms as he might hesitate to +employ, with all his patriotism, toward many renowned English +writers. + +Dana is, indeed, great. There is nothing in literature more +remarkable than the impression produced by Dana's portraiture of +the homely inner life of a little brig's forecastle. + +I beg that you will accept my thanks for the kindly spirit in +which you have read my books. I wish it were in my power to +cross the Atlantic, for you assuredly would be the first whom it +would be my happiness to visit. + +The condition of my right hand obliges me to dictate this to my +son; but painful as it is to me to hold a pen, I cannot suffer +this letter to reach the hands of a man of so admirable genitis +as Herman Melville without begging him to believe me to be, with +my own hand, his most respectful and hearty admirer, +W. Clark Russell. + +It should be noted here that Melville's increased reputation in +England at the period of this letter was chiefly owing to a +series of articles on his work written by Mr. Russell. I am +sorry to say that few English papers made more than a passing +reference to Melville's death. The American press discussed his +life and work in numerous and lengthy reviews. At the same time, +there always has been a steady sale of his books in England, and +some of them never have been out of print in that country since +the publication of 'Typee.' One result of this friendship +between the two authors was the dedication of new volumes to each +other in highly complimentary terms--Mr. Melville's 'John Marr +and Other Sailors,' of which twenty-five copies only were +printed, on the one hand, and Mr. Russell's 'An Ocean Tragedy,' +on the other, of which many thousand have been printed, not to +mention unnumbered pirated copies. + +Beside Hawthorne, Mr. Richard Henry Stoddard, of American +writers, specially knew and appreciated Herman Melville. Mr. +Stoddard was connected with the New York dock department at the +time of Mr. Melville's appointment to a custom-house position, +and they at once became acquainted. For a good many years, +during the period in which our author remained in seclusion, much +that appeared in print in America concerning Melville came from +the pen of Mr. Stoddard. Nevertheless, the sailor author's +presence in New York was well known to the literary guild. He +was invited to join in all new movements, but as often felt +obliged to excuse himself from doing so. The present writer +lived for some time within a short distance of his house, but +found no opportunity to meet him until it became necessary to +obtain his portrait for an anthology in course of publication. +The interview was brief, and the interviewer could not help +feeling although treated with pleasant courtesy, that more +important matters were in hand than the perpetuation of a +romancer's countenance to future generations; but a friendly +family acquaintance grew up from the incident, and will remain an +abiding memory. + +Mr. Melville died at his home in New York City early on the +morning of September 28, 1891. His serious illness had lasted a +number of months, so that the end came as a release. True to his +ruling passion, philosophy had claimed him to the last, a set of +Schopenhauer's works receiving his attention when able to study; +but this was varied with readings in the 'Mermaid Series' of old +plays, in which he took much pleasure. His library, in addition +to numerous works on philosophy and the fine arts, was composed +of standard books of all classes, including, of course, a +proportion of nautical literature. Especially interesting are +fifteen or twenty first editions of Hawthorne's books inscribed +to Mr. and Mrs. Melville by the author and his wife. + +The immediate acceptance of 'Typee' by John Murray was followed +by an arrangement with the London agent of an American publisher, +for its simultaneous publication in the United States. I +understand that Murray did not then publish fiction. At any +rate, the book was accepted by him on the assurance of Gansevoort +Melville that it contained nothing not actually experienced by +his brother. Murray brought it out early in 1846, in his +Colonial and Home Library, as 'A Narrative of a Four Months' +Residence among the Natives of a Valley of the Marquesas Islands; +or, a Peep at Polynesian Life,' or, more briefly, 'Melville's +Marquesas Islands.' It was issued in America with the author's +own title, 'Typee,' and in the outward shape of a work of +fiction. Mr. Melville found himself famous at once. Many +discussions were carried on as to the genuineness of the author's +name and the reality of the events portrayed, but English and +American critics alike recognised the book's importance as a +contribution to literature. + +Melville, in a letter to Hawthorne, speaks of himself as having +no development at all until his twenty-fifth year, the time of +his return from the Pacific; but surely the process of +development must have been well advanced to permit of so virile +and artistic a creation as 'Typee.' While the narrative does not +always run smoothly, yet the style for the most part is graceful +and alluring, so that we pass from one scene of Pacific +enchantment to another quite oblivious of the vast amount of +descriptive detail which is being poured out upon us. It is the +varying fortune of the hero which engrosses our attention. We +follow his adventures with breathless interest, or luxuriate with +him in the leafy bowers of the 'Happy Valley,' surrounded by +joyous children of nature. When all is ended, we then for the +first time realise that we know these people and their ways as if +we too had dwelt among them. + +I do not believe that 'Typee' will ever lose its position as a +classic of American Literature. The pioneer in South Sea +romance--for the mechanical descriptions of earlier voyagers are +not worthy of comparison--this book has as yet met with no +superior, even in French literature; nor has it met with a rival +in any other language than the French. The character of +'Fayaway,' and, no less, William S. Mayo's 'Kaloolah,' the +enchanting dreams of many a youthful heart, will retain their +charm; and this in spite of endless variations by modern +explorers in the same domain. A faint type of both characters +may be found in the Surinam Yarico of Captain John Gabriel +Stedman, whose 'Narrative of a Five Years' Expedition' appeared +in 1796. + +'Typee,' as written, contained passages reflecting with +considerable severity on the methods pursued by missionaries in +the South Seas. The manuscript was printed in a complete form in +England, and created much discussion on this account, Melville +being accused of bitterness; but he asserted his lack of +prejudice. The passages referred to were omitted in the first +and all subsequent American editions. They have been restored in +the present issue, which is complete save for a few paragraphs +excluded by written direction of the author. I have, with the +consent of his family, changed the long and cumbersome sub-title +of the book, calling it a 'Real-Romance of the South Seas,' as +best expressing its nature. + +The success of his first volume encouraged Melville to proceed in +his work, and 'Omoo,' the sequel to 'Typee,' appeared in England +and America in 1847. Here we leave, for the most part, the +dreamy pictures of island life, and find ourselves sharing the +extremely realistic discomforts of a Sydney whaler in the early +forties. The rebellious crew's experiences in the Society Islands +are quite as realistic as events on board ship and very +entertaining, while the whimsical character, Dr. Long Ghost, next +to Captain Ahab in 'Moby Dick,' is Melville's most striking +delineation. The errors of the South Sea missions are pointed +out with even more force than in 'Typee,' and it is a fact that +both these books have ever since been of the greatest value to +outgoing missionaries on account of the exact information +contained in them with respect to the islanders. + +Melville's power in describing and investing with romance scenes +and incidents witnessed and participated in by himself, and his +frequent failure of success as an inventor of characters and +situations, were early pointed out by his critics. More recently +Mr. Henry S. Salt has drawn the same distinction very carefully +in an excellent article contributed to the Scottish Art Review. +In a prefatory note to 'Mardi' (1849), Melville declares that, as +his former books have been received as romance instead of +reality, he will now try his hand at pure fiction. 'Mardi' may +be called a splendid failure. It must have been soon after the +completion of 'Omoo' that Melville began to study the writings of +Sir Thomas Browne. Heretofore our author's style was rough in +places, but marvellously simple and direct. 'Mardi' is burdened +with an over-rich diction, which Melville never entirely outgrew. +The scene of this romance, which opens well, is laid in the South +Seas, but everything soon becomes overdrawn and fantastical, and +the thread of the story loses itself in a mystical allegory. + +'Redburn,' already mentioned, succeeded 'Mardi' in the same year, +and was a partial return to the author's earlier style. In +'White-Jacket; or, the World in a Man-of-War' (1850), Melville +almost regained it. This book has no equal as a picture of life +aboard a sailing man-of-war, the lights and shadows of naval +existence being well contrasted. + +With 'Moby Dick; or, the Whale' (1851), Melville reached the +topmost notch of his fame. The book represents, to a certain +extent, the conflict between the author's earlier and later +methods of composition, but the gigantic conception of the 'White +Whale,' as Hawthorne expressed it, permeates the whole work, and +lifts it bodily into the highest domain of romance. 'Moby Dick' +contains an immense amount of information concerning the habits +of the whale and the methods of its capture, but this is +characteristically introduced in a way not to interfere with the +narrative. The chapter entitled 'Stubb Kills a Whale' ranks with +the choicest examples of descriptive literature. + +'Moby Dick' appeared, and Melville enjoyed to the full the +enhanced reputation it brought him. He did not, however, take +warning from 'Mardi,' but allowed himself to plunge more deeply +into the sea of philosophy and fantasy. + +'Pierre; or, the Ambiguities' (1852) was published, and there +ensued a long series of hostile criticisms, ending with a severe, +though impartial, article by Fitz-James O'Brien in Putnam's +Monthly. About the same time the whole stock of the author's +books was destroyed by fire, keeping them out of print at a +critical moment; and public interest, which until then had been +on the increase, gradually began to diminish. + +After this Mr. Melville contributed several short stories to +Putnam's Monthly and Harper's Magazine. Those in the former +periodical were collected in a volume as Piazza Tales (1856); and +of these 'Benito Cereno' and 'The Bell Tower' are equal to his +best previous efforts. + +'Israel Potter: His Fifty Years of Exile' (1855), first printed +as a serial in Putnam's, is an historical romance of the American +Revolution, based on the hero's own account of his adventures, as +given in a little volume picked up by Mr. Melville at a +book-stall. The story is well told, but the book is hardly +worthy of the author of 'Typee.' 'The Confidence Man' (1857), +his last serious effort in prose fiction, does not seem to +require criticism. + +Mr. Melville's pen had rested for nearly ten years, when it was +again taken up to celebrate the events of the Civil War. 'Battle +Pieces and Aspects of the War' appeared in 1866. Most of these +poems originated, according to the author, in an impulse imparted +by the fall of Richmond; but they have as subjects all the chief +incidents of the struggle. The best of them are 'The Stone +Fleet,' 'In the Prison Pen,' 'The College Colonel,' 'The March to +the Sea,' 'Running the Batteries,' and 'Sheridan at Cedar Creek.' +Some of these had a wide circulation in the press, and were +preserved in various anthologies. 'Clarel, a Poem and Pilgrimage +in the Holy Land' (1876), is a long mystical poem requiring, as +some one has said, a dictionary, a cyclopaedia, and a copy of the +Bible for its elucidation. In the two privately printed volumes, +the arrangement of which occupied Mr. Melville during his last +illness, there are several fine lyrics. The titles of these +books are, 'John Marr and Other Sailors' (1888), and 'Timoleon' +(1891). + + There is no question that Mr. Melville's absorption in +philosophical studies was quite as responsible as the failure of +his later books for his cessation from literary productiveness. +That he sometimes realised the situation will be seen by a +passage in 'Moby Dick':-- + +'Didn't I tell you so?' said Flask. 'Yes, you'll soon see this +right whale's head hoisted up opposite that parmacetti's.' + +'In good time Flask's saying proved true. As before, the Pequod +steeply leaned over towards the sperm whale's head, now, by the +counterpoise of both heads, she regained her own keel, though +sorely strained, you may well believe. So, when on one side you +hoist in Locke's head, you go over that way; but now, on the +other side, hoist in Kant's and you come back again; but in very +poor plight. Thus, some minds forever keep trimming boat. Oh, +ye foolish! throw all these thunderheads overboard, and then you +will float right and light.' + +Mr. Melville would have been more than mortal if he had been +indifferent to his loss of popularity. Yet he seemed contented +to preserve an entirely independent attitude, and to trust to the +verdict of the future. The smallest amount of activity would +have kept him before the public; but his reserve would not permit +this. That reinstatement of his reputation cannot be doubted. + +In the editing of this reissue of 'Melville's Works,' I have been +much indebted to the scholarly aid of Dr. Titus Munson Coan, +whose familiarity with the languages of the Pacific has enabled +me to harmonise the spelling of foreign words in 'Typee' and +'Omoo,' though without changing the phonetic method of printing +adopted by Mr. Melville. Dr. Coan has also been most helpful +with suggestions in other directions. Finally, the delicate +fancy of La Fargehas supplemented the immortal pen-portrait of +the Typee maiden with a speaking impersonation of her beauty. + +New York, June, 1892. + + + +TYPEE + +CHAPTER ONE + +THE SEA--LONGINGS FOR SHORE--A LAND-SICK SHIP--DESTINATION OF THE +VOYAGERS--THE MARQUESAS--ADVENTURE OF A MISSIONARY'S WIFE AMONG +THE SAVAGES--CHARACTERISTIC ANECDOTE OF THE QUEEN OF NUKUHEVA + +Six months at sea! Yes, reader, as I live, six months out of +sight of land; cruising after the sperm-whale beneath the +scorching sun of the Line, and tossed on the billows of the +wide-rolling Pacific--the sky above, the sea around, and nothing +else! Weeks and weeks ago our fresh provisions were all +exhausted. There is not a sweet potato left; not a single yam. +Those glorious bunches of bananas, which once decorated our stern +and quarter-deck, have, alas, disappeared! and the delicious +oranges which hung suspended from our tops and stays--they, too, +are gone! Yes, they are all departed, and there is nothing left +us but salt-horse and sea-biscuit. Oh! ye state-room sailors, +who make so much ado about a fourteen-days' passage across the +Atlantic; who so pathetically relate the privations and hardships +of the sea, where, after a day of breakfasting, lunching, dining +off five courses, chatting, playing whist, and drinking +champagne-punch, it was your hard lot to be shut up in little +cabinets of mahogany and maple, and sleep for ten hours, with +nothing to disturb you but 'those good-for-nothing tars, shouting +and tramping overhead',--what would ye say to our six months out +of sight of land? + +Oh! for a refreshing glimpse of one blade of grass--for a snuff +at the fragrance of a handful of the loamy earth! Is there +nothing fresh around us? Is there no green thing to be seen? +Yes, the inside of our bulwarks is painted green; but what a vile +and sickly hue it is, as if nothing bearing even the semblance of +verdure could flourish this weary way from land. Even the bark +that once clung to the wood we use for fuel has been gnawed off +and devoured by the captain's pig; and so long ago, too, that the +pig himself has in turn been devoured. + +There is but one solitary tenant in the chicken-coop, once a gay +and dapper young cock, bearing him so bravely among the coy hens. + +But look at him now; there he stands, moping all the day long on +that everlasting one leg of his. He turns with disgust from the +mouldy corn before him, and the brackish water in his little +trough. He mourns no doubt his lost companions, literally +snatched from him one by one, and never seen again. But his days +of mourning will be few for Mungo, our black cook, told me +yesterday that the word had at last gone forth, and poor Pedro's +fate was sealed. His attenuated body will be laid out upon the +captain's table next Sunday, and long before night will be buried +with all the usual ceremonies beneath that worthy individual's +vest. Who would believe that there could be any one so cruel as +to long for the decapitation of the luckless Pedro; yet the +sailors pray every minute, selfish fellows, that the miserable +fowl may be brought to his end. They say the captain will never +point the ship for the land so long as he has in anticipation a +mess of fresh meat. This unhappy bird can alone furnish it; and +when he is once devoured, the captain will come to his senses. I +wish thee no harm, Pedro; but as thou art doomed, sooner or +later, to meet the fate of all thy race; and if putting a period +to thy existence is to be the signal for our deliverance, +why--truth to speak--I wish thy throat cut this very moment; for, +oh! how I wish to see the living earth again! The old ship +herself longs to look out upon the land from her hawse-holes once +more, and Jack Lewis said right the other day when the captain +found fault with his steering. + +'Why d'ye see, Captain Vangs,' says bold Jack, 'I'm as good a +helmsman as ever put hand to spoke; but none of us can steer the +old lady now. We can't keep her full and bye, sir; watch her +ever so close, she will fall off and then, sir, when I put the +helm down so gently, and try like to coax her to the work, she +won't take it kindly, but will fall round off again; and it's all +because she knows the land is under the lee, sir, and she won't +go any more to windward.' Aye, and why should she, Jack? didn't +every one of her stout timbers grow on shore, and hasn't she +sensibilities; as well as we? + +Poor old ship! Her very looks denote her desires! how +deplorably she appears! The paint on her sides, burnt up by the +scorching sun, is puffed out and cracked. See the weeds she +trails along with her, and what an unsightly bunch of those +horrid barnacles has formed about her stern-piece; and every time +she rises on a sea, she shows her copper torn away, or hanging in +jagged strips. + +Poor old ship! I say again: for six months she has been rolling +and pitching about, never for one moment at rest. But courage, +old lass, I hope to see thee soon within a biscuit's toss of the +merry land, riding snugly at anchor in some green cove, and +sheltered from the boisterous winds. + + . . . . . . + +'Hurra, my lads! It's a settled thing; next week we shape our +course to the Marquesas!' The Marquesas! What strange visions +of outlandish things does the very name spirit up! Naked +houris--cannibal banquets--groves of cocoanut--coral +reefs--tattooed chiefs--and bamboo temples; sunny valleys planted +with bread-fruit-trees--carved canoes dancing on the flashing +blue waters--savage woodlands guarded by horrible +idols--HEATHENISH RITES AND HUMAN SACRIFICES. + +Such were the strangely jumbled anticipations that haunted me +during our passage from the cruising ground. I felt an +irresistible curiosity to see those islands which the olden +voyagers had so glowingly described. + +The group for which we were now steering (although among the +earliest of European discoveries in the South Seas, having been +first visited in the year 1595) still continues to be tenanted by +beings as strange and barbarous as ever. The missionaries sent +on a heavenly errand, had sailed by their lovely shores, and had +abandoned them to their idols of wood and stone. How interesting +the circumstances under which they were discovered! In the +watery path of Mendanna, cruising in quest of some region of +gold, these isles had sprung up like a scene of enchantment, and +for a moment the Spaniard believed his bright dream was realized. + +In honour of the Marquess de Mendoza, then viceroy of Peru--under +whose auspices the navigator sailed--he bestowed upon them the +name which denoted the rank of his patron, and gave to the world +on his return a vague and magnificent account of their beauty. +But these islands, undisturbed for years, relapsed into their +previous obscurity; and it is only recently that anything has +been known concerning them. Once in the course of a half +century, to be sure, some adventurous rover would break in upon +their peaceful repose, and astonished at the unusual scene, +would be almost tempted to claim the merit of a new discovery. + +Of this interesting group, but little account has ever been +given, if we except the slight mention made of them in the +sketches of South-Sea voyages. Cook, in his repeated +circumnavigations of the globe, barely touched at their shores; +and all that we know about them is from a few general narratives. + +Among these, there are two that claim particular notice. +Porter's 'Journal of the Cruise of the U.S. frigate Essex, in +the Pacific, during the late War', is said to contain some +interesting particulars concerning the islanders. This is a +work, however, which I have never happened to meet with; and +Stewart, the chaplain of the American sloop of war Vincennes, has +likewise devoted a portion of his book, entitled 'A Visit to the +South Seas', to the same subject. + +Within the last few, years American and English vessels engaged +in the extensive whale fisheries of the Pacific have +occasionally, when short of provisions, put into the commodious +harbour which there is in one of the islands; but a fear of the +natives, founded on the recollection of the dreadful fate which +many white men have received at their hands, has deterred their +crews from intermixing with the population sufficiently to gain +any insight into their peculiar customs and manners. + +The Protestant Missions appear to have despaired of reclaiming +these islands from heathenism. The usage they have in every case +received from the natives has been such as to intimidate the +boldest of their number. Ellis, in his 'Polynesian Researches', +gives some interesting accounts of the abortive attempts made by +the ''Tahiti Mission'' to establish a branch Mission upon certain +islands of the group. A short time before my visit to the +Marquesas, a somewhat amusing incident took place in connection +with these efforts, which I cannot avoid relating. + +An intrepid missionary, undaunted by the ill-success that had +attended all previous endeavours to conciliate the savages, and +believing much in the efficacy of female influence, introduced +among them his young and beautiful wife, the first white woman +who had ever visited their shores. The islanders at first gazed +in mute admiration at so unusual a prodigy, and seemed inclined +to regard it as some new divinity. But after a short time, +becoming familiar with its charming aspect, and jealous of the +folds which encircled its form, they sought to pierce the sacred +veil of calico in which it was enshrined, and in the +gratification of their curiosity so far overstepped the limits of +good breeding, as deeply to offend the lady's sense of decorum. +Her sex once ascertained, their idolatry was changed into +contempt and there was no end to the contumely showered upon her +by the savages, who were exasperated at the deception which they +conceived had been practised upon them. To the horror of her +affectionate spouse, she was stripped of her garments, and given +to understand that she could no longer carry on her deceits with +impunity. The gentle dame was not sufficiently evangelical to +endure this, and, fearful of further improprieties, she forced +her husband to relinquish his undertaking, and together they +returned to Tahiti. + +Not thus shy of exhibiting her charms was the Island Queen +herself, the beauteous wife of Movianna, the king of Nukuheva. +Between two and three years after the adventures recorded in this +volume, I chanced, while aboard of a man-of-war to touch at these +islands. The French had then held possession of the Marquesas +some time, and already prided themselves upon the beneficial +effects of their jurisdiction, as discernible in the deportment +of the natives. To be sure, in one of their efforts at reform +they had slaughtered about a hundred and fifty of them at +Whitihoo--but let that pass. At the time I mention, the French +squadron was rendezvousing in the bay of Nukuheva, and during an +interview between one of their captains and our worthy Commodore, +it was suggested by the former, that we, as the flag-ship of the +American squadron, should receive, in state, a visit from the +royal pair. The French officer likewise represented, with +evident satisfaction, that under their tuition the king and queen +had imbibed proper notions of their elevated station, and on all +ceremonious occasions conducted themselves with suitable dignity. +Accordingly, preparations were made to give their majesties a +reception on board in a style corresponding with their rank. + +One bright afternoon, a gig, gaily bedizened with streamers, was +observed to shove off from the side of one of the French +frigates, and pull directly for our gangway. In the stern sheets +reclined Mowanna and his consort. As they approached, we paid +them all the honours clue to royalty;--manning our yards, firing +a salute, and making a prodigious hubbub. + +They ascended the accommodation ladder, were greeted by the +Commodore, hat in hand, and passing along the quarter-deck, the +marine guard presented arms, while the band struck up 'The King +of the Cannibal Islands'. So far all went well. The French +officers grimaced and smiled in exceedingly high spirits, +wonderfully pleased with the discreet manner in which these +distinguished personages behaved themselves. + +Their appearance was certainly calculated to produce an effect. +His majesty was arrayed in a magnificent military uniform, stiff +with gold lace and embroidery, while his shaven crown was +concealed by a huge chapeau bras, waving with ostrich plumes. +There was one slight blemish, however, in his appearance. A +broad patch of tattooing stretched completely across his face, in +a line with his eyes, making him look as if he wore a huge pair +of goggles; and royalty in goggles suggested some ludicrous +ideas. But it was in the adornment of the fair person of his +dark-complexioned spouse that the tailors of the fleet had +evinced the gaiety of their national taste. She was habited in a +gaudy tissue of scarlet cloth, trimmed with yellow silk, which, +descending a little below the knees, exposed to view her bare +legs, embellished with spiral tattooing, and somewhat resembling +two miniature Trajan's columns. Upon her head was a fanciful +turban of purple velvet, figured with silver sprigs, and +surmounted by a tuft of variegated feathers. + +The ship's company, crowding into the gangway to view the sight, +soon arrested her majesty's attention. She singled out from +their number an old salt, whose bare arms and feet, and exposed +breast, were covered with as many inscriptions in India ink as +the lid of an Egyptian sarcophagus. Notwithstanding all the sly +hints and remonstrances of the French officers, she immediately +approached the man, and pulling further open the bosom of his +duck frock, and rolling up the leg of his wide trousers, she +gazed with admiration at the bright blue and vermilion pricking +thus disclosed to view. She hung over the fellow, caressing him, +and expressing her delight in a variety of wild exclamations and +gestures. The embarrassment of the polite Gauls at such an +unlooked-for occurrence may be easily imagined, but picture their +consternation, when all at once the royal lady, eager to display +the hieroglyphics on her own sweet form, bent forward for a +moment, and turning sharply round, threw up the skirt of her +mantle and revealed a sight from which the aghast Frenchmen +retreated precipitately, and tumbling into their boats, fled the +scene of so shocking a catastrophe. + + + +CHAPTER TWO + +PASSAGE FROM THE CRUISING GROUND TO THE MARQUESAS--SLEEPY TIMES +ABOARD SHIP--SOUTH SEA SCENERY--LAND HO--THE FRENCH SQUADRON +DISCOVERED AT ANCHOR IN THE BAY OF NUKUHEVA--STRANGE PILOT-- +ESCORT OF CANOES--A FLOTILLA OF COCOANUTS--SWIMMING VISITORS--THE +DOLLY BOARDED BY THEM--STATE OF AFFAIRS THAT ENSUE + +I CAN never forget the eighteen or twenty days during which the +light trade-winds were silently sweeping us towards the islands. +In pursuit of the sperm whale, we had been cruising on the line +some twenty degrees to the westward of the Gallipagos; and all +that we had to do, when our course was determined on, was to +square in the yards and keep the vessel before the breeze, and +then the good ship and the steady gale did the rest between them. +The man at the wheel never vexed the old lady with any +superfluous steering, but comfortably adjusting his limbs at the +tiller, would doze away by the hour. True to her work, the Dolly +headed to her course, and like one of those characters who always +do best when let alone, she jogged on her way like a veteran old +sea-pacer as she was. + +What a delightful, lazy, languid time we had whilst we were thus +gliding along! There was nothing to be done; a circumstance that +happily suited our disinclination to do anything. We abandoned +the fore-peak altogether, and spreading an awning over the +forecastle, slept, ate, and lounged under it the live-long day. +Every one seemed to be under the influence of some narcotic. +Even the officers aft, whose duty required them never to be +seated while keeping a deck watch, vainly endeavoured to keep on +their pins; and were obliged invariably to compromise the matter +by leaning up against the bulwarks, and gazing abstractedly over +the side. Reading was out of the question; take a book in your +hand, and you were asleep in an instant. + +Although I could not avoid yielding in a great measure to the +general languor, still at times I contrived to shake off the +spell, and to appreciate the beauty of the scene around me. The +sky presented a clear expanse of the most delicate blue, except +along the skirts of the horizon, where you might see a thin +drapery of pale clouds which never varied their form or colour. +The long, measured, dirge-like well of the Pacific came rolling +along, with its surface broken by little tiny waves, sparkling in +the sunshine. Every now and then a shoal of flying fish, scared +from the water under the bows, would leap into the air, and fall +the next moment like a shower of silver into the sea. Then you +would see the superb albicore, with his glittering sides, sailing +aloft, and often describing an arc in his descent, disappear on +the surface of the water. Far off, the lofty jet of the whale +might be seen, and nearer at hand the prowling shark, that +villainous footpad of the seas, would come skulking along, and, +at a wary distance, regard us with his evil eye. At times, some +shapeless monster of the deep, floating on the surface, would, as +we approached, sink slowly into the blue waters, and fade away +from the sight. But the most impressive feature of the scene was +the almost unbroken silence that reigned over sky and water. +Scarcely a sound could be heard but the occasional breathing of +the grampus, and the rippling at the cut-water. + +As we drew nearer the land, I hailed with delight the appearance +of innumerable sea-fowl. Screaming and whirling in spiral +tracks, they would accompany the vessel, and at times alight on +our yards and stays. That piratical-looking fellow, +appropriately named the man-of-war's-hawk, with his blood-red +bill and raven plumage, would come sweeping round us in gradually +diminishing circles, till you could distinctly mark the strange +flashings of his eye; and then, as if satisfied with his +observation, would sail up into the air and disappear from the +view. Soon, other evidences of our vicinity to the land were +apparent, and it was not long before the glad announcement of its +being in sight was heard from aloft,--given with that peculiar +prolongation of sound that a sailor loves--'Land ho!' + +The captain, darting on deck from the cabin, bawled lustily for +his spy-glass; the mate in still louder accents hailed the +masthead with a tremendous 'where-away?' The black cook thrust +his woolly head from the galley, and Boatswain, the dog, leaped +up between the knight-heads, and barked most furiously. Land ho! +Aye, there it was. A hardly perceptible blue irregular outline, +indicating the bold contour of the lofty heights of Nukuheva. + +This island, although generally called one of the Marquesas, is +by some navigators considered as forming one of a distinct +cluster, comprising the islands of Ruhooka, Ropo, and Nukuheva; +upon which three the appellation of the Washington Group has been +bestowed. They form a triangle, and lie within the parallels of +8 degrees 38" and 9 degrees 32" South latitude and 139 degrees +20" and 140 degrees 10" West longitude from Greenwich. With how +little propriety they are to be regarded as forming a separate +group will be at once apparent, when it is considered that they +lie in the immediate vicinity of the other islands, that is to +say, less than a degree to the northwest of them; that their +inhabitants speak the Marquesan dialect, and that their laws, +religion, and general customs are identical. The only reason why +they were ever thus arbitrarily distinguished may be attributed +to the singular fact, that their existence was altogether unknown +to the world until the year 1791, when they were discovered by +Captain Ingraham, of Boston, Massachusetts, nearly two centuries +after the discovery of the adjacent islands by the agent of the +Spanish Viceroy. Notwithstanding this, I shall follow the +example of most voyagers, and treat of them as forming part and +parcel of Marquesas. + +Nukuheva is the most important of these islands, being the only +one at which ships are much in the habit of touching, and is +celebrated as being the place where the adventurous Captain +Porter refitted his ships during the late war between England and +the United States, and whence he sallied out upon the large +whaling fleet then sailing under the enemy's flag in the +surrounding seas. This island is about twenty miles in length +and nearly as many in breadth. It has three good harbours on its +coast; the largest and best of which is called by the people +living in its vicinity 'Taiohae', and by Captain Porter was +denominated Massachusetts Bay. Among the adverse tribes dwelling +about the shores of the other bays, and by all voyagers, it is +generally known by the name bestowed upon the island +itself--Nukuheva. Its inhabitants have become somewhat +corrupted, owing to their recent commerce with Europeans, but so +far as regards their peculiar customs and general mode of life, +they retain their original primitive character, remaining very +nearly in the same state of nature in which they were first +beheld by white men. The hostile clans, residing in the more +remote sections of the island, and very seldom holding any +communication with foreigners, are in every respect unchanged +from their earliest known condition. + +In the bay of Nukuheva was the anchorage we desired to reach. We +had perceived the loom of the mountains about sunset; so that +after running all night with a very light breeze, we found +ourselves close in with the island the next morning, but as the +bay we sought lay on its farther side, we were obliged to sail +some distance along the shore, catching, as we proceeded, short +glimpses of blooming valleys, deep glens, waterfalls, and waving +groves hidden here and there by projecting and rocky headlands, +every moment opening to the view some new and startling scene of +beauty. + +Those who for the first time visit the South Sea, generally are +surprised at the appearance of the islands when beheld from the +sea. From the vague accounts we sometimes have of their beauty, +many people are apt to picture to themselves enamelled and softly +swelling plains, shaded over with delicious groves, and watered +by purling brooks, and the entire country but little elevated +above the surrounding ocean. The reality is very different; bold +rock-bound coasts, with the surf beating high against the lofty +cliffs, and broken here and there into deep inlets, which open to +the view thickly-wooded valleys, separated by the spurs of +mountains clothed with tufted grass, and sweeping down towards +the sea from an elevated and furrowed interior, form the +principal features of these islands. + +Towards noon we drew abreast the entrance go the harbour, and at +last we slowly swept by the intervening promontory, and entered +the bay of Nukuheva. No description can do justice to its +beauty; but that beauty was lost to me then, and I saw nothing +but the tri-coloured flag of France trailing over the stern of +six vessels, whose black hulls and bristling broadsides +proclaimed their warlike character. There they were, floating in +that lovely bay, the green eminences of the shore looking down so +tranquilly upon them, as if rebuking the sternness of their +aspect. To my eye nothing could be more out of keeping than the +presence of these vessels; but we soon learnt what brought them +there. The whole group of islands had just been taken possession +of by Rear-Admiral Du Petit Thouars, in the name of the +invincible French nation. + +This item of information was imparted to us by a most +extraordinary individual, a genuine South-Sea vagabond, who came +alongside of us in a whale-boat as soon as we entered the bay, +and, by the aid of some benevolent persons at the gangway, was +assisted on board, for our visitor was in that interesting stage +of intoxication when a man is amiable and helpless. Although he +was utterly unable to stand erect or to navigate his body across +the deck, he still magnanimously proffered his services to pilot +the ship to a good and secure anchorage. Our captain, however, +rather distrusted his ability in this respect, and refused to +recognize his claim to the character he assumed; but our +gentleman was determined to play his part, for, by dint of much +scrambling, he succeeded in getting into the weather-quarter +boat, where he steadied himself by holding on to a shroud, and +then commenced issuing his commands with amazing volubility and +very peculiar gestures. Of course no one obeyed his orders; but +as it was impossible to quiet him, we swept by the ships of the +squadron with this strange fellow performing his antics in full +view of all the French officers. + +We afterwards learned that our eccentric friend had been a +lieutenant in the English navy; but having disgraced his flag by +some criminal conduct in one of the principal ports on the main, +he had deserted his ship, and spent many years wandering among +the islands of the Pacific, until accidentally being at Nukuheva +when the French took possession of the place, he had been +appointed pilot of the harbour by the newly constituted +authorities. + +As we slowly advanced up the bay, numerous canoes pushed off from +the surrounding shores, and we were soon in the midst of quite a +flotilla of them, their savage occupants struggling to get aboard +of us, and jostling one another in their ineffectual attempts. +Occasionally the projecting out-riggers of their slight shallops +running foul of one another, would become entangled beneath the +water, threatening to capsize the canoes, when a scene of +confusion would ensue that baffles description. Such strange +outcries and passionate gesticulations I never certainly heard or +saw before. You would have thought the islanders were on the +point of flying at each other's throats, whereas they were only +amicably engaged in disentangling their boats. + +Scattered here and there among the canoes might be seen numbers +of cocoanuts floating closely together in circular groups, and +bobbing up and down with every wave. By some inexplicable means +these cocoanuts were all steadily approaching towards the ship. +As I leaned curiously over the side, endeavouring to solve their +mysterious movements, one mass far in advance of the rest +attracted my attention. In its centre was something I could take +for nothing else than a cocoanut, but which I certainly +considered one of the most extraordinary specimens of the fruit I +had ever seen. It kept twirling and dancing about among the rest +in the most singular manner, and as it drew nearer I thought it +bore a remarkable resemblance to the brown shaven skull of one of +the savages. Presently it betrayed a pair of eyes, and soon I +became aware that what I had supposed to have been one of the +fruit was nothing else than the head of an islander, who had +adopted this singular method of bringing his produce to market. +The cocoanuts were all attached to one another by strips of the +husk, partly torn from the shell and rudely fastened together. +Their proprietor inserting his head into the midst of them, +impelled his necklace of cocoanuts through the water by striking +out beneath the surface with his feet. + +I was somewhat astonished to perceive that among the number of +natives that surrounded us, not a single female was to be seen. +At that time I was ignorant of the fact that by the operation of +the 'taboo' the use of canoes in all parts of the island is +rigorously prohibited to the entire sex, for whom it is death +even to be seen entering one when hauled on shore; consequently, +whenever a Marquesan lady voyages by water, she puts in +requisition the paddles of her own fair body. + +We had approached within a mile and a half perhaps of this foot +of the bay, when some of the islanders, who by this time had +managed to scramble aboard of us at the risk of swamping their +canoes, directed our attention to a singular commotion in the +water ahead of the vessel. At first I imagined it to be produced +by a shoal of fish sporting on the surface, but our savage +friends assured us that it was caused by a shoal of 'whinhenies' +(young girls), who in this manner were coming off from the shore +to welcome is. As they drew nearer, and I watched the rising and +sinking of their forms, and beheld the uplifted right arm bearing +above the water the girdle of tappa, and their long dark hair +trailing beside them as they swam, I almost fancied they could be +nothing else than so many mermaids--and very like mermaids they +behaved too. + +We were still some distance from the beach, and under slow +headway, when we sailed right into the midst of these swimming +nymphs, and they boarded us at every quarter; many seizing hold +of the chain-plates and springing into the chains; others, at the +peril of being run over by the vessel in her course, catching at +the bob-stays, and wreathing their slender forms about the ropes, +hung suspended in the air. All of them at length succeeded in +getting up the ship's side, where they clung dripping with the +brine and glowing from the bath, their jet-black tresses +streaming over their shoulders, and half enveloping their +otherwise naked forms. There they hung, sparkling with savage +vivacity, laughing gaily at one another, and chattering away with +infinite glee. Nor were they idle the while, for each one +performed the simple offices of the toilette for the other. +Their luxuriant locks, wound up and twisted into the smallest +possible compass, were freed from the briny element; the whole +person carefully dried, and from a little round shell that passed +from hand to hand, anointed with a fragrant oil: their adornments +were completed by passing a few loose folds of white tappa, in a +modest cincture, around the waist. Thus arrayed they no longer +hesitated, but flung themselves lightly over the bulwarks, and +were quickly frolicking about the decks. Many of them went +forward, perching upon the headrails or running out upon the +bowsprit, while others seated themselves upon the taffrail, or +reclined at full length upon the boats. What a sight for us +bachelor sailors! How avoid so dire a temptation? For who could +think of tumbling these artless creatures overboard, when they +had swum miles to welcome us? + +Their appearance perfectly amazed me; their extreme youth, the +light clear brown of their complexions, their delicate features, +and inexpressibly graceful figures, their softly moulded limbs, +and free unstudied action, seemed as strange as beautiful. + +The Dolly was fairly captured; and never I will say was vessel +carried before by such a dashing and irresistible party of +boarders! The ship taken, we could not do otherwise than yield +ourselves prisoners, and for the whole period that she remained +in the bay, the Dolly, as well as her crew, were completely in +the hands of the mermaids. + +In the evening after we had come to an anchor the deck was +illuminated with lanterns, and this picturesque band of sylphs, +tricked out with flowers, and dressed in robes of variegated +tappa, got up a ball in great style. These females are +passionately fond of dancing, and in the wild grace and spirit of +the style excel everything I have ever seen. The varied dances +of the Marquesan girls are beautiful in the extreme, but there is +an abandoned voluptuousness in their character which I dare not +attempt to describe. + + + +CHAPTER THREE + +SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LATE OPERATIONS OF THE FRENCH AT THE +MARQUESAS--PRUDENT CONDUCT OF THE ADMIRAL--SENSATION PRODUCED BY +THE ARRIVAL OF THE STRANGERS--THE FIRST HORSE SEEN BY THE +ISLANDERS--REFLECTIONS--MISERABLE SUBTERFUGE OF THE +FRENCH--DIGRESSION CONCERNING TAHITI--SEIZURE OF THE ISLAND BY +THE ADMIRAL--SPIRITED CONDUCT OF AN ENGLISH LADY + +IT was in the summer of 1842 that we arrived at the islands; the +French had then held possession of them for several weeks. +During this time they had visited some of the principal places in +the group, and had disembarked at various points about five +hundred troops. These were employed in constructing works of +defence, and otherwise providing against the attacks of the +natives, who at any moment might be expected to break out in open +hostility. The islanders looked upon the people who made this +cavalier appropriation of their shores with mingled feelings of +fear and detestation. They cordially hated them; but the +impulses of their resentment were neutralized by their dread of +the floating batteries, which lay with their fatal tubes +ostentatiously pointed, not at fortifications and redoubts, but +at a handful of bamboo sheds, sheltered in a grove of cocoanuts! +A valiant warrior doubtless, but a prudent one too, was this same +Rear-Admiral Du Petit Thouars. Four heavy, doublebanked frigates +and three corvettes to frighten a parcel of naked heathen into +subjection! Sixty-eight pounders to demolish huts of cocoanut +boughs, and Congreve rockets to set on fire a few canoe sheds! + +At Nukuheva, there were about one hundred soldiers ashore. They +were encamped in tents, constructed of the old sails and spare +spars of the squadron, within the limits of a redoubt mounted +with a few nine-pounders, and surrounded with a fosse. Every +other day, these troops were marched out in martial array, to a +level piece of ground in the vicinity, and there for hours went +through all sorts of military evolutions, surrounded by flocks of +the natives, who looked on with savage admiration at the show, +and as savage a hatred of the actors. A regiment of the Old +Guard, reviewed on a summer's day in the Champs Elysees, could +not have made a more critically correct appearance. The +officers' regimentals, resplendent with gold lace and embroidery +as if purposely calculated to dazzle the islanders, looked as if +just unpacked from their Parisian cases. + +The sensation produced by the presence of the strangers had not +in the least subsided at the period of our arrival at the +islands. The natives still flocked in numbers about the +encampment, and watched with the liveliest curiosity everything +that was going forward. A blacksmith's forge, which had been set +up in the shelter of a grove near the beach, attracted so great a +crowd, that it required the utmost efforts of the sentries posted +around to keep the inquisitive multitude at a sufficient distance +to allow the workmen to ply their vocation. But nothing gained +so large a share of admiration as a horse, which had been brought +from Valparaiso by the Achille, one of the vessels of the +squadron. The animal, a remarkably fine one, had been taken +ashore, and stabled in a hut of cocoanut boughs within the +fortified enclosure. Occasionally it was brought out, and, being +gaily caparisoned, was ridden by one of the officers at full +speed over the hard sand beach. This performance was sure to be +hailed with loud plaudits, and the 'puarkee nuee' (big hog) was +unanimously pronounced by the islanders to be the most +extraordinary specimen of zoology that had ever come under their +observation. + +The expedition for the occupation of the Marquesas had sailed +from Brest in the spring of 1842, and the secret of its +destination was solely in the possession of its commander. No +wonder that those who contemplated such a signal infraction of +the rights of humanity should have sought to veil the enormity +from the eyes of the world. And yet, notwithstanding their +iniquitous conduct in this and in other matters, the French have +ever plumed themselves upon being the most humane and polished of +nations. A high degree of refinement, however, does not seem to +subdue our wicked propensities so much after all; and were +civilization itself to be estimated by some of its results, it +would seem perhaps better for what we call the barbarous part of +the world to remain unchanged. + +One example of the shameless subterfuges under which the French +stand prepared to defend whatever cruelties they may hereafter +think fit to commit in bringing the Marquesan natives into +subjection is well worthy of being recorded. On some flimsy +pretext or other Mowanna, the king of Nukuheva, whom the invaders +by extravagant presents had cajoled over to their interests, and +moved about like a mere puppet, has been set up as the rightful +sovereign of the entire island--the alleged ruler by prescription +of various clans, who for ages perhaps have treated with each +other as separate nations. To reinstate this much-injured prince +in the assumed dignities of his ancestors, the disinterested +strangers have come all the way from France: they are determined +that his title shall be acknowledged. If any tribe shall refuse +to recognize the authority of the French, by bowing down to the +laced chapeau of Mowanna, let them abide the consequences of +their obstinacy. Under cover of a similar pretence, have the +outrages and massacres at Tahiti the beautiful, the queen of the +South Seas, been perpetrated. + +On this buccaneering expedition, Rear Admiral Du Petit Thouars, +leaving the rest of his squadron at the Marquesas,--which had +then been occupied by his forces about five months--set sail for +the doomed island in the Reine Blanche frigate. On his arrival, +as an indemnity for alleged insults offered to the flag of his +country, he demanded some twenty or thirty thousand dollars to be +placed in his hands forthwith, and in default of payment, +threatened to land and take possession of the place. + +The frigate, immediately upon coming to an anchor, got springs on +her cables, and with her guns cast loose and her men at their +quarters, lay in the circular basin of Papeete, with her +broadside bearing upon the devoted town; while her numerous +cutters, hauled in order alongside, were ready to effect a +landing, under cover of her batteries. She maintained this +belligerent attitude for several days, during which time a series +of informal negotiations were pending, and wide alarm spread over +the island. Many of the Tahitians were at first disposed to +resort to arms, and drive the invaders from their shores; but +more pacific and feebler counsels ultimately prevailed. The +unfortunate queen Pomare, incapable of averting the impending +calamity, terrified at the arrogance of the insolent Frenchman, +and driven at last to despair, fled by night in a canoe to Emio. + +During the continuance of the panic there occurred an instance of +feminine heroism that I cannot omit to record. + +In the grounds of the famous missionary consul, Pritchard, then +absent in London, the consular flag of Britain waved as usual +during the day, from a lofty staff planted within a few yards of +the beach, and in full view of the frigate. One morning an +officer, at the head of a party of men, presented himself at the +verandah of Mr Pritchard's house, and inquired in broken English +for the lady his wife. The matron soon made her appearance; and +the polite Frenchman, making one of his best bows, and playing +gracefully with the aiguillettes that danced upon his breast, +proceeded in courteous accents to deliver his mission. 'The +admiral desired the flag to be hauled down--hoped it would be +perfectly agreeable--and his men stood ready to perform the +duty.' 'Tell the Pirate your master,' replied the spirited +Englishwoman, pointing to the staff, 'that if he wishes to strike +these colours, he must come and perform the act himself; I will +suffer no one else to do it.' The lady then bowed haughtily and +withdrew into the house. As the discomfited officer slowly +walked away, he looked up to the flag, and perceived that the +cord by which it was elevated to its place, led from the top of +the staff, across the lawn, to an open upper window of the +mansion, where sat the lady from whom he had just parted, +tranquilly engaged in knitting. Was that flag hauled down? Mrs +Pritchard thinks not; and Rear-Admiral Du Petit Thouars is +believed to be of the same opinion. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR + +STATE OF AFFAIRS ABOARD THE SHIP--CONTENTS OF HER LARDER--LENGTH +OF SOUTH SEAMEN'S VOYAGES--ACCOUNT OF A FLYING +WHALE-MAN--DETERMINATION TO LEAVE THE VESSEL--THE BAY OF +NUKUHEVA--THE TYPEES--INVASION OF THEIR VALLEY BY PORTER-- +REFLECTIONS--GLEN OF TIOR--INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE OLD KING AND +THE FRENCH ADMIRAL + +OUR ship had not been many days in the harbour of Nukuheva before +I came to the determination of leaving her. That my reasons for +resolving to take this step were numerous and weighty, may be +inferred from the fact that I chose rather to risk my fortunes +among the savages of the island than to endure another voyage on +board the Dolly. To use the concise, pointblank phrase of the +sailors. I had made up my mind to 'run away'. Now as a meaning +is generally attached to these two words no way flattering to the +individual to whom they are applied, it behoves me, for the sake +of my own character, to offer some explanation of my conduct. + +When I entered on board the Dolly, I signed as a matter of course +the ship's articles, thereby voluntarily engaging and legally +binding myself to serve in a certain capacity for the period of +the voyage; and, special considerations apart, I was of course +bound to fulfill the agreement. But in all contracts, if one +party fail to perform his share of the compact, is not the other +virtually absolved from his liability? Who is there who will not +answer in the affirmative? + +Having settled the principle, then, let me apply it to the +particular case in question. In numberless instances had not +only the implied but the specified conditions of the articles +been violated on the part of the ship in which I served. The +usage on board of her was tyrannical; the sick had been inhumanly +neglected; the provisions had been doled out in scanty allowance; +and her cruises were unreasonably protracted. The captain was +the author of the abuses; it was in vain to think that he would +either remedy them, or alter his conduct, which was arbitrary and +violent in the extreme. His prompt reply to all complaints and +remonstrances was--the butt-end of a handspike, so convincingly +administered as effectually to silence the aggrieved party. + +To whom could we apply for redress? We had left both law and +equity on the other side of the Cape; and unfortunately, with a +very few exceptions, our crew was composed of a parcel of +dastardly and meanspirited wretches, divided among themselves, +and only united in enduring without resistance the unmitigated +tyranny of the captain. It would have been mere madness for any +two or three of the number, unassisted by the rest, to attempt +making a stand against his ill usage. They would only have +called down upon themselves the particular vengeance of this +'Lord of the Plank', and subjected their shipmates to additional +hardships. + +But, after all, these things could have been endured awhile, had +we entertained the hope of being speedily delivered from them by +the due completion of the term of our servitude. But what a +dismal prospect awaited us in this quarter! The longevity of +Cape Horn whaling voyages is proverbial, frequently extending +over a period of four or five years. + +Some long-haired, bare-necked youths, who, forced by the united +influences of Captain Marryatt and hard times, embark at +Nantucket for a pleasure excursion to the Pacific, and whose +anxious mothers provide them, with bottled milk for the occasion, +oftentimes return very respectable middle-aged gentlemen. + +The very preparations made for one of these expeditions are +enough to frighten one. As the vessel carries out no cargo, her +hold is filled with provisions for her own consumption. The +owners, who officiate as caterers for the voyage, supply the +larder with an abundance of dainties. Delicate morsels of beef +and pork, cut on scientific principles from every part of the +animal, and of all conceivable shapes and sizes, are carefully +packed in salt, and stored away in barrels; affording a +never-ending variety in their different degrees of toughness, and +in the peculiarities of their saline properties. Choice old +water too, decanted into stout six-barrel-casks, and two pints of +which is allowed every day to each soul on board; together with +ample store of sea-bread, previously reduced to a state of +petrifaction, with a view to preserve it either from decay or +consumption in the ordinary mode, are likewise provided for the +nourishment and gastronomic enjoyment of the crew. + +But not to speak of the quality of these articles of sailors' +fare, the abundance in which they are put onboard a whaling +vessel is almost incredible. Oftentimes, when we had occasion to +break out in the hold, and I beheld the successive tiers of casks +and barrels, whose contents were all destined to be consumed in +due course by the ship's company, my heart has sunk within me. + +Although, as a general case, a ship unlucky in falling in with +whales continues to cruise after them until she has barely +sufficient provisions remaining to take her home, turning round +then quietly and making the best of her way to her friends, yet +there are instances when even this natural obstacle to the +further prosecution of the voyage is overcome by headstrong +captains, who, bartering the fruits of their hard-earned toils +for a new supply of provisions in some of the ports of Chili or +Peru, begin the voyage afresh with unabated zeal and +perseverance. It is in vain that the owners write urgent letters +to him to sail for home, and for their sake to bring back the +ship, since it appears he can put nothing in her. Not he. He +has registered a vow: he will fill his vessel with good sperm +oil, or failing to do so, never again strike Yankee soundings. + +I heard of one whaler, which after many years' absence was given +up for lost. The last that had been heard of her was a shadowy +report of her having touched at some of those unstable islands in +the far Pacific, whose eccentric wanderings are carefully noted +in each new edition of the South-Sea charts. After a long +interval, however, 'The Perseverance'--for that was her name--was +spoken somewhere in the vicinity of the ends of the earth, +cruising along as leisurely as ever, her sails all bepatched and +be quilted with rope-yarns, her spars fished with old pipe +staves, and her rigging knotted and spliced in every possible +direction. Her crew was composed of some twenty venerable +Greenwich-pensioner-looking old salts, who just managed to hobble +about deck. The ends of all the running ropes, with the +exception of the signal halyards and poop-down-haul, were rove +through snatch-blocks, and led to the capstan or windlass, so +that not a yard was braced or a sail set without the assistance +of machinery. + +Her hull was encrusted with barnacles, which completely encased +her. Three pet sharks followed in her wake, and every day came +alongside to regale themselves from the contents of the cook's +bucket, which were pitched over to them. A vast shoal of bonetas +and albicores always kept her company. + +Such was the account I heard of this vessel and the remembrance +of it always haunted me; what eventually became of her I never +learned; at any rate: he never reached home, and I suppose she is +still regularly tacking twice in the twenty-four hours somewhere +off Desolate Island, or the Devil's-Tail Peak. + +Having said thus much touching the usual length of these voyages, +when I inform the reader that ours had as it were just commenced, +we being only fifteen months out, and even at that time hailed as +a late arrival and boarded for news, he will readily perceive +that there was little to encourage one in looking forward to the +future, especially as I had always had a presentiment that we +should make an unfortunate voyage, and our experience so far had +justified the expectation. + +I may here state, and on my faith as an honest man, that though +more than three years have elapsed since I left this same +identical vessel, she still continues; in the Pacific, and but a +few days since I saw her reported in the papers as having touched +at the Sandwich Islands previous to going on the coast of Japan. + +But to return to my narrative. Placed in these circumstances +then, with no prospect of matters mending if I remained aboard +the Dolly, I at once made up my mind to leave her: to be sure it +was rather an inglorious thing to steal away privily from those +at whose hands I had received wrongs and outrages that I could +not resent; but how was such a course to be avoided when it was +the only alternative left me? Having made up my mind, I +proceeded to acquire all the information I could obtain relating +to the island and its inhabitants, with a view of shaping my +plans of escape accordingly. The result of these inquiries I +will now state, in order that the ensuing narrative may be the +better understood. + +The bay of Nukuheva in which we were then lying is an expanse of +water not unlike in figure the space included within the limits +of a horse-shoe. It is, perhaps, nine miles in circumference. +You approach it from the sea by a narrow entrance, flanked on +each side by two small twin islets which soar conically to the +height of some five hundred feet. From these the shore recedes +on both hands, and describes a deep semicircle. + +From the verge of the water the land rises uniformly on all +sides, with green and sloping acclivities, until from gently +rolling hill-sides and moderate elevations it insensibly swells +into lofty and majestic heights, whose blue outlines, ranged all +around, close in the view. The beautiful aspect of the shore is +heightened by deep and romantic glens, which come down to it at +almost equal distances, all apparently radiating from a common +centre, and the upper extremities of which are lost to the eye +beneath the shadow of the mountains. Down each of these little +valleys flows a clear stream, here and there assuming the form of +a slender cascade, then stealing invisibly along until it bursts +upon the sight again in larger and more noisy waterfalls, and at +last demurely wanders along to the sea. + +The houses of the natives, constructed of the yellow bamboo, +tastefully twisted together in a kind of wicker-work, and +thatched with the long tapering leaves of the palmetto, are +scattered irregularly along these valleys beneath the shady +branches of the cocoanut trees. + +Nothing can exceed the imposing scenery of this bay. Viewed from +our ship as she lay at anchor in the middle of the harbour, it +presented the appearance of a vast natural amphitheatre in decay, +and overgrown with vines, the deep glens that furrowed it's sides +appearing like enormous fissures caused by the ravages of time. +Very often when lost in admiration at its beauty, I have +experienced a pang of regret that a scene so enchanting should be +hidden from the world in these remote seas, and seldom meet the +eyes of devoted lovers of nature. + +Besides this bay the shores of the island are indented by several +other extensive inlets, into which descend broad and verdant +valleys. These are inhabited by as many distinct tribes of +savages, who, although speaking kindred dialects of a common +language, and having the same religion and laws, have from time +immemorial waged hereditary warfare against each other. The +intervening mountains generally two or three thousand feet above +the level of the sea geographically define the territories of +each of these hostile tribes, who never cross them, save on some +expedition of war or plunder. Immediately adjacent to Nukuheva, +and only separated from it by the mountains seen from the +harbour, lies the lovely valley of Happar, whose inmates cherish +the most friendly relations with the inhabitants of Nukuheva. On +the other side of Happar, and closely adjoining it, is the +magnificent valley of the dreaded Typees, the unappeasable +enemies of both these tribes. + +These celebrated warriors appear to inspire the other islanders +with unspeakable terrors. Their very name is a frightful one; +for the word 'Typee' in the Marquesan dialect signifies a lover +of human flesh. It is rather singular that the title should have +been bestowed upon them exclusively, inasmuch as the natives of +all this group are irreclaimable cannibals. The name may, +perhaps, have been given to denote the peculiar ferocity of this +clan, and to convey a special stigma along with it. + +These same Typees enjoy a prodigious notoriety all over the +islands. The natives of Nukuheva would frequently recount in +pantomime to our ship's company their terrible feats, and would +show the marks of wounds they had received in desperate +encounters with them. When ashore they would try to frighten us +by pointing, to one of their own number, and calling him a Typee, +manifesting no little surprise that we did not take to our heels +at so terrible an announcement. It was quite amusing, too, to +see with what earnestness they disclaimed all cannibal +propensities on their own part, while they denounced their +enemies--the Typees--as inveterate gourmandizers of human flesh; +but this is a peculiarity to which I shall hereafter have +occasion to allude. + +Although I was convinced that the inhabitants of our bay were as +arrant cannibals as any of the other tribes on the island, still +I could not but feel a particular and most unqualified repugnance +to the aforesaid Typees. Even before visiting the Marquesas, I +had heard from men who had touched at the group on former voyages +some revolting stories in connection with these savages; and +fresh in my remembrance was the adventure of the master of the +Katherine, who only a few months previous, imprudently venturing +into this bay in an armed boat for the purpose of barter, was +seized by the natives, carried back a little distance into their +valley, and was only saved from a cruel death by the intervention +of a young girl, who facilitated his escape by night along the +beach to Nukuheva. + +I had heard too of an English vessel that many years ago, after a +weary cruise, sought to enter the bay of Nukuheva, and arriving +within two or three miles of the land, was met by a large canoe +filled with natives, who offered to lead the way to the place of +their destination. The captain, unacquainted with the localities +of the island, joyfully acceded to the proposition--the canoe +paddled on, the ship followed. She was soon conducted to a +beautiful inlet, and dropped her anchor in its waters beneath the +shadows of the lofty shore. That same night the perfidious +Typees, who had thus inveigled her into their fatal bay, flocked +aboard the doomed vessel by hundreds, and at a given signal +murdered every soul on board. + +I shall never forget the observation of one of our crew as we +were passing slowly by the entrance of the bay in our way to +Nukuheva. As we stood gazing over the side at the verdant +headlands, Ned, pointing with his hand in the direction of the +treacherous valley, exclaimed, 'There--there's Typee. Oh, the +bloody cannibals, what a meal they'd make of us if we were to +take it into our heads to land! but they say they don't like +sailor's flesh, it's too salt. I say, maty, how should you like +to be shoved ashore there, eh?' I little thought, as I shuddered +at the question, that in the space of a few weeks I should +actually be a captive in that self-same valley. + +The French, although they had gone through the ceremony of +hoisting their colours for a few hours at all the principal +places of the group, had not as yet visited the bay of Typee, +anticipating a fierce resistance on the part of the savages +there, which for the present at least they wished to avoid. +Perhaps they were not a little influenced in the adoption of this +unusual policy from a recollection of the warlike reception given +by the Typees to the forces of Captain Porter, about the year +1814, when that brave and accomplished officer endeavoured to +subjugate the clan merely to gratify the mortal hatred of his +allies the Nukuhevas and Happars. + +On that occasion I have been told that a considerable detachment +of sailors and marines from the frigate Essex, accompanied by at +least two thousand warriors of Happar and Nukuheva, landed in +boats and canoes at the head of the bay, and after penetrating a +little distance into the valley, met with the stoutest resistance +from its inmates. Valiantly, although with much loss, the Typees +disputed every inch of ground, and after some hard fighting +obliged their assailants to retreat and abandon their design of +conquest. + +The invaders, on their march back to the sea, consoled themselves +for their repulse by setting fire to every house and temple in +their route; and a long line of smoking ruins defaced the +once-smiling bosom of the valley, and proclaimed to its pagan +inhabitants the spirit that reigned in the breasts of Christian +soldiers. Who can wonder at the deadly hatred of the Typees to +all foreigners after such unprovoked atrocities? + +Thus it is that they whom we denominate 'savages' are made to +deserve the title. When the inhabitants of some sequestered +island first descry the 'big canoe' of the European rolling +through the blue waters towards their shores, they rush down to +the beach in crowds, and with open arms stand ready to embrace +the strangers. Fatal embrace! They fold to their bosom the +vipers whose sting is destined to poison all their joys; and the +instinctive feeling of love within their breast is soon converted +into the bitterest hate. + +The enormities perpetrated in the South Seas upon some of the +inoffensive islanders will nigh pass belief. These things are +seldom proclaimed at home; they happen at the very ends of the +earth; they are done in a corner, and there are none to reveal +them. But there is, nevertheless, many a petty trader that has +navigated the Pacific whose course from island to island might be +traced by a series of cold-blooded robberies, kidnappings, and +murders, the iniquity of which might be considered almost +sufficient to sink her guilty timbers to the bottom of the sea. + +Sometimes vague accounts of such thing's reach our firesides, and +we coolly censure them as wrong, impolitic, needlessly severe, +and dangerous to the crews of other vessels. How different is +our tone when we read the highly-wrought description of the +massacre of the crew of the Hobomak by the Feejees; how we +sympathize for the unhappy victims, and with what horror do we +regard the diabolical heathens, who, after all, have but avenged +the unprovoked injuries which they have received. We breathe +nothing but vengeance, and equip armed vessels to traverse +thousands of miles of ocean in order to execute summary +punishment upon the offenders. On arriving at their destination, +they burn, slaughter, and destroy, according to the tenor of +written instructions, and sailing away from the scene of +devastation, call upon all Christendom to applaud their courage +and their justice. + +How often is the term 'savages' incorrectly applied! None really +deserving of it were ever yet discovered by voyagers or by +travellers. They have discovered heathens and barbarians whom by +horrible cruelties they have exasperated into savages. It may be +asserted without fear of contradictions that in all the cases of +outrages committed by Polynesians, Europeans have at some time or +other been the aggressors, and that the cruel and bloodthirsty +disposition of some of the islanders is mainly to be ascribed to +the influence of such examples. + +But to return. Owing to the mutual hostilities of the different +tribes I have mentioned, the mountainous tracts which separate +their respective territories remain altogether uninhabited; the +natives invariably dwelling in the depths of the valleys, with a +view of securing themselves from the predatory incursions of +their enemies, who often lurk along their borders, ready to cut +off any imprudent straggler, or make a descent upon the inmates +of some sequestered habitation. I several times met with very +aged men, who from this cause had never passed the confines of +their native vale, some of them having never even ascended midway +up the mountains in the whole course of their lives, and who, +accordingly had little idea of the appearance of any other part +of the island, the whole of which is not perhaps more than sixty +miles in circuit. The little space in which some of these clans +pass away their days would seem almost incredible. + +The glen of the Tior will furnish a curious illustration of this. + +The inhabited part is not more than four miles in length, and +varies in breadth from half a mile to less than a quarter. The +rocky vine-clad cliffs on one side tower almost perpendicularly +from their base to the height of at least fifteen hundred feet; +while across the vale--in striking contrast to the scenery +opposite--grass-grown elevations rise one above another in +blooming terraces. Hemmed in by these stupendous barriers, the +valley would be altogether shut out from the rest of the world, +were it not that it is accessible from the sea at one end, and by +a narrow defile at the other. + +The impression produced upon the mind, when I first visited this +beautiful glen, will never be obliterated. + +I had come from Nukuheva by water in the ship's boat, and when we +entered the bay of Tior it was high noon. The heat had been +intense, as we had been floating upon the long smooth swell of +the ocean, for there was but little wind. The sun's rays had +expended all their fury upon us; and to add to our discomfort, we +had omitted to supply ourselves with water previous to starting. +What with heat and thirst together, I became so impatient to get +ashore, that when at last we glided towards it, I stood up in the +bow of the boat ready for a spring. As she shot two-thirds of +her length high upon the beach, propelled by three or four strong +strokes of the oars, I leaped among a parcel of juvenile savages, +who stood prepared to give us a kind reception; and with them at +my heels, yelling like so many imps, I rushed forward across the +open ground in the vicinity of the sea, and plunged, diver +fashion, into the recesses of the first grove that offered. + +What a delightful sensation did I experience! I felt as if +floating in some new element, while all sort of gurgling, +trickling, liquid sounds fell upon my ear. People may say what +they will about the refreshing influences of a coldwater bath, +but commend me when in a perspiration to the shade baths of Tior, +beneath the cocoanut trees, and amidst the cool delightful +atmosphere which surrounds them. + +How shall I describe the scenery that met my eye, as I looked out +from this verdant recess! The narrow valley, with its steep and +close adjoining sides draperied with vines, and arched overhead +with a fret-work of interlacing boughs, nearly hidden from view +by masses of leafy verdure, seemed from where I stood like an +immense arbour disclosing its vista to the eye, whilst as I +advanced it insensibly widened into the loveliest vale eye ever +beheld. + +It so happened that the very day I was in Tior the French +admiral, attended by all the boats of his squadron, came down in +state from Nukuheva to take formal possession of the place. He +remained in the valley about two hours, during which time he had +a ceremonious interview with the king. The patriarch-sovereign +of Tior was a man very far advanced in years; but though age had +bowed his form and rendered him almost decrepid, his gigantic +frame retained its original magnitude and grandeur of appearance. + +He advanced slowly and with evident pain, assisting his tottering +steps with the heavy warspear he held in his hand, and attended +by a group of grey-bearded chiefs, on one of whom he occasionally +leaned for support. The admiral came forward with head uncovered +and extended hand, while the old king saluted him by a stately +flourish of his weapon. The next moment they stood side by side, +these two extremes of the social scale,--the polished, splendid +Frenchman, and the poor tattooed savage. They were both tall and +noble-looking men; but in other respects how strikingly +contrasted! Du Petit Thouars exhibited upon his person all the +paraphernalia of his naval rank. He wore a richly decorated +admiral's frock-coat, a laced chapeau bras, and upon his breast +were a variety of ribbons and orders; while the simple islander, +with the exception of a slight cincture about his loins, appeared +in all the nakedness of nature. + +At what an immeasurable distance, thought I, are these two beings +removed from each other. In the one is shown the result of long +centuries of progressive Civilization and refinement, which have +gradually converted the mere creature into the semblance of all +that is elevated and grand; while the other, after the lapse of +the same period, has not advanced one step in the career of +improvement, 'Yet, after all,' quoth I to myself, 'insensible as +he is to a thousand wants, and removed from harassing cares, may +not the savage be the happier man of the two?' Such were the +thoughts that arose in my mind as I gazed upon the novel +spectacle before me. In truth it was an impressive one, and +little likely to be effaced. I can recall even now with vivid +distinctness every feature of the scene. The umbrageous shades +where the interview took place--the glorious tropical vegetation +around--the picturesque grouping of the mingled throng of +soldiery and natives--and even the golden-hued bunch of bananas +that I held in my hand at the time, and of which I occasionally +partook while making the aforesaid philosophical reflections. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE + +THOUGHTS PREVIOUS TO ATTEMPTING AN ESCAPE--TOBY, A FELLOW SAILOR, +AGREES TO SHARE THE ADVENTURE--LAST NIGHT ABOARD THE SHIP + +HAVING fully resolved to leave the vessel clandestinely, and +having acquired all the knowledge concerning the bay that I could +obtain under the circumstances in which I was placed, I now +deliberately turned over in my mind every plan to escape that +suggested itself, being determined to act with all possible +prudence in an attempt where failure would be attended with so +many disagreeable consequences. The idea of being taken and +brought back ignominiously to the ship was so inexpressibly +repulsive to me, that I was determined by no hasty and imprudent +measures to render such an event probable. + +I knew that our worthy captain, who felt, such a paternal +solicitude for the welfare of his crew, would not willingly +consent that one of his best hands should encounter the perils of +a sojourn among the natives of a barbarous island; and I was +certain that in the event of my disappearance, his fatherly +anxiety would prompt him to offer, by way of a reward, yard upon +yard of gaily printed calico for my apprehension. He might even +have appreciated my services at the value of a musket, in which +case I felt perfectly certain that the whole population of the +bay would be immediately upon my track, incited by the prospect +of so magnificent a bounty. + +Having ascertained the fact before alluded to, that the +islanders,--from motives of precaution, dwelt altogether in the +depths of the valleys, and avoided wandering about the more +elevated portions of the shore, unless bound on some expedition +of war or plunder, I concluded that if I could effect unperceived +a passage to the mountain, I might easily remain among them, +supporting myself by such fruits as came in my way until the +sailing of the ship, an event of which I could not fail to be +immediately apprised, as from my lofty position I should command +a view of the entire harbour. + +The idea pleased me greatly. It seemed to combine a great deal +of practicability with no inconsiderable enjoyment in a quiet +way; for how delightful it would be to look down upon the +detested old vessel from the height of some thousand feet, and +contrast the verdant scenery about me with the recollection of +her narrow decks and gloomy forecastle! Why, it was really +refreshing even to think of it; and so I straightway fell to +picturing myself seated beneath a cocoanut tree on the brow of +the mountain, with a cluster of plantains within easy reach, +criticizing her nautical evolutions as she was working her way +out of the harbour. + +To be sure there was one rather unpleasant drawback to these +agreeable anticipations--the possibility of falling in with a +foraging party of these same bloody-minded Typees, whose +appetites, edged perhaps by the air of so elevated a region, +might prompt them to devour one. This, I must confess, was a +most disagreeable view of the matter. + +Just to think of a party of these unnatural gourmands taking it +into their heads to make a convivial meal of a poor devil, who +would have no means of escape or defence: however, there was no +help for it. I was willing to encounter some risks in order to +accomplish my object, and counted much upon my ability to elude +these prowling cannibals amongst the many coverts which the +mountains afforded. Besides, the chances were ten to one in my +favour that they would none of them quit their own fastnesses. + +I had determined not to communicate my design of withdrawing from +the vessel to any of my shipmates, and least of all to solicit +any one to accompany me in my flight. But it so happened one +night, that being upon deck, revolving over in my mind various +plans of escape, I perceived one of the ship's company leaning +over the bulwarks, apparently plunged in a profound reverie. He +was a young fellow about my own age, for whom I had all along +entertained a great regard; and Toby, such was the name by which +he went among us, for his real name he would never tell us, was +every way worthy of it. He was active, ready and obliging, of +dauntless courage, and singularly open and fearless in the +expression of his feelings. I had on more than one occasion got +him out of scrapes into which this had led him; and I know not +whether it was from this cause, or a certain congeniality of +sentiment between us, that he had always shown a partiality for +my society. We had battled out many a long watch together, +beguiling the weary hours with chat, song, and story, mingled +with a good many imprecations upon the hard destiny it seemed our +common fortune to encounter. + +Toby, like myself, had evidently moved in a different sphere of +life, and his conversation at times betrayed this, although he +was anxious to conceal it. He was one of that class of rovers +you sometimes meet at sea, who never reveal their origin, never +allude to home, and go rambling over the world as if pursued by +some mysterious fate they cannot possibly elude. + +There was much even in the appearance of Toby calculated to draw +me towards him, for while the greater part of the crew were as +coarse in person as in mind, Toby was endowed with a remarkably +prepossessing exterior. Arrayed in his blue frock and duck +trousers, he was as smart a looking sailor as ever stepped upon a +deck; he was singularly small and slightly made, with great +flexibility of limb. His naturally dark complexion had been +deepened by exposure to the tropical sun, and a mass of jetty +locks clustered about his temples, and threw a darker shade into +his large black eyes. He was a strange wayward being, moody, +fitful, and melancholy--at times almost morose. He had a quick +and fiery temper too, which, when thoroughly roused, transported +him into a state bordering on delirium. + +It is strange the power that a mind of deep passion has over +feebler natures. I have seen a brawny, fellow, with no lack of +ordinary courage, fairly quail before this slender stripling, +when in one of his curious fits. But these paroxysms seldom +occurred, and in them my big-hearted shipmate vented the bile +which more calm-tempered individuals get rid of by a continual +pettishness at trivial annoyances. + +No one ever saw Toby laugh. I mean in the hearty abandonment of +broad-mouthed mirth. He did smile sometimes, it is true; and +there was a good deal of dry, sarcastic humour about him, which +told the more from the imperturbable gravity of his tone and +manner. + +Latterly I had observed that Toby's melancholy had greatly +increased, and I had frequently seen him since our arrival at the +island gazing wistfully upon the shore, when the remainder of the +crew would be rioting below. I was aware that he entertained a +cordial detestation of the ship, and believed that, should a fair +chance of escape present itself, he would embrace it willingly. + +But the attempt was so perilous in the place where we then lay, +that I supposed myself the only individual on board the ship who +was sufficiently reckless to think of it. In this, however, I +was mistaken. + +When I perceived Toby leaning, as I have mentioned, against the +bulwarks and buried in thought, it struck me at once that the +subject of his meditations might be the same as my own. And if +it be so, thought I, is he not the very one of all my shipmates +whom I would choose: for the partner of my adventure? and why +should I not have some comrade with me to divide its dangers and +alleviate its hardships? Perhaps I might be obliged to lie +concealed among the mountains for weeks. In such an event what a +solace would a companion be? + +These thoughts passed rapidly through my mind, and I wondered why +I had not before considered the matter in this light. But it was +not too late. A tap upon the shoulder served to rouse Toby from +his reverie; I found him ripe for the enterprise, and a very few +words sufficed for a mutual understanding between us. In an +hour's time we had arranged all the preliminaries, and decided +upon our plan of action. We then ratified our engagement with an +affectionate wedding of palms, and to elude suspicion repaired +each to his hammock, to spend the last night on board the Dolly. + +The next day the starboard watch, to which we both belonged, was +to be sent ashore on liberty; and, availing ourselves of this +opportunity, we determined, as soon after landing as possible, to +separate ourselves from the rest of the men without exciting +their suspicions, and strike back at once for the mountains. +Seen from the ship, their summits appeared inaccessible, but here +and there sloping spurs extended from them almost into the sea, +buttressing the lofty elevations with which they were connected, +and forming those radiating valleys I have before described. One +of these ridges, which appeared more practicable than the rest, +we determined to climb, convinced that it would conduct us to the +heights beyond. Accordingly, we carefully observed its bearings +and locality from the ship, so that when ashore we should run no +chance of missing it. + +In all this the leading object we had in view was to seclude +ourselves from sight until the departure of the vessel; then to +take our chance as to the reception the Nukuheva natives might +give us; and after remaining upon the island as long as we found +our stay agreeable, to leave it the first favourable opportunity +that offered. + + + +CHAPTER SIX + +A SPECIMEN OF NAUTICAL ORATORY--CRITICISMS OF THE SAILORS--THE +STARBOARD WATCH ARE GIVEN A HOLIDAY--THE ESCAPE TO THE MOUNTAINS + +EARLY the next morning the starboard watch were mustered upon the +quarter-deck, and our worthy captain, standing in the cabin +gangway, harangued us as follows:-- + +'Now, men, as we are just off a six months' cruise, and have got +through most all our work in port here, I suppose you want to go +ashore. Well, I mean to give your watch liberty today, so you +may get ready as soon all you please, and go; but understand +this, I am going to give you liberty because I suppose you would +growl like so many old quarter gunners if I didn't; at the same +time, if you'll take my advice, every mother's son of you will +stay aboard and keep out of the way of the bloody cannibals +altogether. Ten to one, men, if you go ashore, you will get into +some infernal row, and that will be the end of you; for if those +tattooed scoundrels get you a little ways back into their +valleys, they'll nab you--that you may be certain of. Plenty of +white men have gone ashore here and never been seen any more. +There was the old Dido, she put in here about two years ago, and +sent one watch off on liberty; they never were heard of again for +a week--the natives swore they didn't know where they were--and +only three of them ever got back to the ship again, and one with +his face damaged for life, for the cursed heathens tattooed a +broad patch clean across his figure-head. But it will be no use +talking to you, for go you will, that I see plainly; so all I +have to say is, that you need not blame me if the islanders make +a meal of you. You may stand some chance of escaping them +though, if you keep close about the French encampment,--and are +back to the ship again before sunset. Keep that much in your +mind, if you forget all the rest I've been saying to you. There, +go forward: bear a hand and rig yourselves, and stand by for a +call. At two bells the boat will be manned to take you off, and +the Lord have mercy on you!' + +Various were the emotions depicted upon the countenances of the +starboard watch whilst listening to this address; but on its +conclusion there was a general move towards the forecastle, and +we soon were all busily engaged in getting ready for the holiday +so auspiciously announced by the skipper. During these +preparations his harangue was commented upon in no very measured +terms; and one of the party, after denouncing him as a lying old +son of a seacook who begrudged a fellow a few hours' liberty, +exclaimed with an oath, 'But you don't bounce me out of my +liberty, old chap, for all your yarns; for I would go ashore if +every pebble on the beach was a live coal, and every stick a +gridiron, and the cannibals stood ready to broil me on landing.' + +The spirit of this sentiment was responded to by all hands, and +we resolved that in spite of the captain's croakings we would +make a glorious day of it. + +But Toby and I had our own game to play, and we availed ourselves +of the confusion which always reigns among a ship's company +preparatory to going ashore, to confer together and complete our +arrangements. As our object was to effect as rapid a flight as +possible to the mountains, we determined not to encumber +ourselves with any superfluous apparel; and accordingly, while +the rest were rigging themselves out with some idea of making a +display, we were content to put on new stout duck trousers, +serviceable pumps, and heavy Havre-frocks, which with a Payta hat +completed our equipment. + +When our shipmates wondered at this, Toby exclaimed in his odd +grave way that the rest might do, as they liked, but that he for +one preserved his go-ashore traps for the Spanish main, where the +tie of a sailor's neckerchief might make some difference; but as +for a parcel of unbreeched heathen, he wouldn't go to the bottom +of his chest for any of them, and was half disposed to appear +among them in buff himself. The men laughed at what they thought +was one of his strange conceits, and so we escaped suspicion. + +It may appear singular that we should have been thus on our guard +with our own shipmates; but there were some among us who, had +they possessed the least inkling of our project, would, for a +paltry hope of reward, have immediately communicated it to the +captain. + +As soon as two bells were struck, the word was passed for the +liberty-men to get into the boat. I lingered behind in the +forecastle a moment to take a parting glance at its familiar +features, and just as I was about to ascend to the deck my eye +happened to light on the bread-barge and beef-kid, which +contained the remnants of our last hasty meal. Although I had +never before thought of providing anything in the way of food for +our expedition, as I fully relied upon the fruits of the island +to sustain us wherever we might wander, yet I could not resist +the inclination I felt to provide luncheon from the relics before +me. Accordingly I took a double handful of those small, broken, +flinty bits of biscuit which generally go by the name of +'midshipmen's nuts', and thrust them into the bosom of my frock +in which same simple receptacle I had previously stowed away +several pounds of tobacco and a few yards of cotton +cloth--articles with which I intended to purchase the good-will +of the natives, as soon as we should appear among them after the +departure of our vessel. + +This last addition to my stock caused a considerable protuberance +in front, which I abated in a measure by shaking the bits of bread +around my waist, and distributing the plugs of tobacco among the +folds of the garment. + +Hardly had I completed these arrangements when my name was sung out +by a dozen voices, and I sprung upon the deck, where I found all the +party in the boat, and impatient to shove off. I dropped over the +side and seated myself with the rest of the watch in the stern +sheets, while the poor larboarders shipped their oars, and commenced +pulling us ashore. + +This happened to be the rainy season at the islands, and the heavens +had nearly the whole morning betokened one of those heavy showers +which during this period so frequently occur. The large drops fell +bubbling into the water shortly after our leaving the ship, and by +the time we had affected a landing it poured down in torrents. We +fled for shelter under cover of an immense canoe-house which stood +hard by the beach, and waited for the first fury of the storm to +pass. + +It continued, however, without cessation; and the monotonous +beating of the rain over head began to exert a drowsy influence +upon the men, who, throwing themselves here and there upon the +large war-canoes, after chatting awhile, all fell asleep. + +This was the opportunity we desired, and Toby and I availed +ourselves of it at once by stealing out of the canoe-house and +plunging into the depths of an extensive grove that was in its +rear. After ten minutes' rapid progress we gained an open space +from which we could just descry the ridge we intended to mount +looming dimly through the mists of the tropical shower, and +distant from us, as we estimated, something more than a mile. +Our direct course towards it lay through a rather populous part +of the bay; but desirous as we were of evading the natives and +securing an unmolested retreat to the mountains, we determined, +by taking a circuit through some extensive thickets, to avoid +their vicinity altogether. + +The heavy rain that still continued to fall without intermission +favoured our enterprise, as it drove the islanders into their +houses, and prevented any casual meeting with them. Our heavy +frocks soon became completely saturated with water, and by their +weight, and that of the articles we had concealed beneath them, +not a little impeded our progress. But it was no time to pause +when at any moment we might be surprised by a body of the +savages, and forced at the very outset to relinquish our +undertaking. + +Since leaving the canoe-house we had scarcely exchanged a single +syllable with one another; but when we entered a second narrow +opening in the wood, and again caught sight of the ridge before +us, I took Toby by the arm, and pointing along its sloping +outline to the lofty heights at its extremity, said in a low +tone, 'Now, Toby, not a word, nor a glance backward, till we +stand on the summit of yonder mountain--so no more lingering but +let us shove ahead while we can, and in a few hours' time we may +laugh aloud. You are the lightest and the nimblest, so lead on, +and I will follow.' + +'All right, brother,' said Toby, 'quick's our play; only lets +keep close together, that's all;' and so saying with a bound like +a young roe, he cleared a brook which ran across our path, and +rushed forward with a quick step. + +When we arrived within a short distance of the ridge, we were +stopped by a mass of tall yellow reeds, growing together as +thickly as they could stand, and as tough and stubborn as so many +rods of steel; and we perceived, to our chagrin, that they +extended midway up the elevation we proposed to ascend. + +For a moment we gazed about us in quest of a more practicable +route; it was, however, at once apparent that there was no +resource but to pierce this thicket of canes at all hazards. We +now reversed our order of march, I, being the heaviest, taking +the lead, with a view of breaking a path through the obstruction, +while Toby fell into the rear. + +Two or three times I endeavoured to insinuate myself between the +canes, and by dint of coaxing and bending them to make some +progress; but a bull-frog might as well have tried to work a +passage through the teeth of a comb, and I gave up the attempt in +despair. + +Half wild with meeting an obstacle we had so little anticipated, +I threw myself desperately against it, crushing to the ground the +canes with which I came in contact, and, rising to my feet again, +repeated the action with like effect. Twenty minutes of this +violent exercise almost exhausted me, but it carried us some way +into the thicket; when Toby, who had been reaping the benefit of +my labours by following close at my heels, proposed to become +pioneer in turn, and accordingly passed ahead with a view of +affording me a respite from my exertions. As however with his +slight frame he made but bad work of it, I was soon obliged to +resume my old place again. On we toiled, the perspiration +starting from our bodies in floods, our limbs torn and lacerated +with the splintered fragments of the broken canes, until we had +proceeded perhaps as far as the middle of the brake, when +suddenly it ceased raining, and the atmosphere around us became +close and sultry beyond expression. The elasticity of the reeds +quickly recovering from the temporary pressure of our bodies, +caused them to spring back to their original position; so that +they closed in upon us as we advanced, and prevented the +circulation of little air which might otherwise have reached us. +Besides this, their great height completely shut us out from the +view of surrounding objects, and we were not certain but that we +might have been going all the time in a wrong direction. + +Fatigued with my long-continued efforts, and panting for breath, +I felt myself completely incapacitated for any further exertion. +I rolled up the sleeve of my frock, and squeezed the moisture it +contained into my parched mouth. But the few drops I managed to +obtain gave me little relief, and I sank down for a moment with a +sort of dogged apathy, from which I was aroused by Toby, who had +devised a plan to free us from the net in which we had become +entangled. + +He was laying about him lustily with his sheath-knive, lopping +the canes right and left, like a reaper, and soon made quite a +clearing around us. This sight reanimated me; and seizing my own +knife, I hacked and hewed away without mercy. But alas! the +farther we advanced the thicker and taller, and apparently the +more interminable, the reeds became. + +I began to think we were fairly snared, and had almost made up my +mind that without a pair of wings we should never be able to +escape from the toils; when all at once I discerned a peep of +daylight through the canes on my right, and, communicating the +joyful tidings to Toby, we both fell to with fresh spirit, and +speedily opening the passage towards it we found ourselves clear +of perplexities, and in the near vicinity of the ridge. After +resting for a few moments we began the ascent, and after a little +vigorous climbing found ourselves close to its summit. Instead +however of walking along its ridge, where we should have been in +full view of the natives in the vales beneath, and at a point +where they could easily intercept us were they so inclined, we +cautiously advanced on one side, crawling on our hands and knees, +and screened from observation by the grass through which we +glided, much in the fashion of a couple of serpents. After an +hour employed in this unpleasant kind of locomotion, we started +to our feet again and pursued our way boldly along the crest of +the ridge. + +This salient spur of the lofty elevations that encompassed the +bay rose with a sharp angle from the valleys at its base, and +presented, with the exception of a few steep acclivities, the +appearance of a vast inclined plane, sweeping down towards the +sea from the heights in the distance. We had ascended it near +the place of its termination and at its lowest point, and now saw +our route to the mountains distinctly defined along its narrow +crest, which was covered with a soft carpet of verdure, and was +in many parts only a few feet wide. + +Elated with the success which had so far attended our enterprise, +and invigorated by the refreshing atmosphere we now inhaled, Toby +and I in high spirits were making our way rapidly along the +ridge, when suddenly from the valleys below which lay on either +side of us we heard the distant shouts of the natives, who had +just descried us, and to whom our figures, brought in bold relief +against the sky, were plainly revealed. + +Glancing our eyes into these valleys, we perceived their savage +inhabitants hurrying to and fro, seemingly under the influence of +some sudden alarm, and appearing to the eye scarcely bigger than +so many pigmies; while their white thatched dwellings, dwarfed by +the distance, looked like baby-houses. As we looked down upon +the islanders from our lofty elevation, we experienced a sense of +security; feeling confident that, should they undertake a +pursuit, it would, from the start we now had, prove entirely +fruitless, unless they followed us into the mountains, where we +knew they cared not to venture. + +However, we thought it as well to make the most of our time; and +accordingly, where the ground would admit of it, we ran swiftly +along the summit of the ridge, until we were brought to a stand +by a steep cliff, which at first seemed to interpose an effectual +barrier to our farther advance. By dint of much hard scrambling +however, and at some risk to our necks, we at last surmounted it, +and continued our fight with unabated celerity. + +We had left the beach early in the morning, and after an +uninterrupted, though at times difficult and dangerous ascent, +during which we had never once turned our faces to the sea, we +found ourselves, about three hours before sunset, standing on the +top of what seemed to be the highest land on the island, an +immense overhanging cliff composed of basaltic rocks, hung round +with parasitical plants. We must have been more than three +thousand feet above the level of the sea, and the scenery viewed +from this height was magnificent. + +The lonely bay of Nukuheva, dotted here and there with the black +hulls of the vessels composing the French squadron, lay reposing +at the base of a circular range of elevations, whose verdant +sides, perforated with deep glens or diversified with smiling +valleys, formed altogether the loveliest view I ever beheld, and +were I to live a hundred years, I shall never forget the feeling +of admiration which I then experienced. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN + +THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN--DISAPPOINTMENT--INVENTORY OF +ARTICLES BROUGHT FROM THE SHIP--DIVISION OF THE STOCK OF +BREAD--APPEARANCE OF THE INTERIOR OF THE ISLAND--A DISCOVERY--A +RAVINE AND WATERFALLS--A SLEEPLESS NIGHT--FURTHER DISCOVERIES--MY +ILLNESS--A MARQUESAN LANDSCAPE + +MY curiosity had been not a little raised with regard to the +description of country we should meet on the other side of the +mountains; and I had supposed, with Toby, that immediately on +gaining the heights we should be enabled to view the large bays +of Happar and Typee reposing at our feet on one side, in the same +way that Nukuheva lay spread out below on the other. But here we +were disappointed. Instead of finding the mountain we had +ascended sweeping down in the opposite direction into broad and +capacious valleys, the land appeared to retain its general +elevation, only broken into a series of ridges and inter-vales +which so far as the eye could reach stretched away from us, with +their precipitous sides covered with the brightest verdure, and +waving here and there with the foliage of clumps of woodland; +among which, however, we perceived none of those trees upon whose +fruit we had relied with such certainty. + +This was a most unlooked-for discovery, and one that promised to +defeat our plans altogether, for we could not think of descending +the mountain on the Nukuheva side in quest of food. Should we +for this purpose be induced to retrace our steps, we should run +no small chance of encountering the natives, who in that case, if +they did nothing worse to us, would be certain to convey us back +to the ship for the sake of the reward in calico and trinkets, +which we had no doubt our skipper would hold out to them as an +inducement to our capture. + +What was to be done? The Dolly would not sail perhaps for ten +days, and how were we to sustain life during this period? I +bitterly repented our improvidence in not providing ourselves, as +we easily might have done, with a supply of biscuits. With a +rueful visage I now bethought me of the scanty handful of bread I +had stuffed into the bosom of my frock, and felt somewhat +desirous to ascertain what part of it had weathered the rather +rough usage it had experienced in ascending the mountain. I +accordingly proposed to Toby that we should enter into a joint +examination of the various articles we had brought from the ship. + +With this intent we seated ourselves upon the grass; and a little +curious to see with what kind of judgement my companion had +filled his frock--which I remarked seemed about as well lined as +my own--I requested him to commence operations by spreading out +its contents. + +Thrusting his hand, then, into the bosom of this capacious +receptacle, he first brought to light about a pound of tobacco, +whose component parts still adhered together, the whole outside +being covered with soft particles of sea-bread. Wet and +dripping, it had the appearance of having been just recovered +from the bottom of the sea. But I paid slight attention to a +substance of so little value to us in our present situation, as +soon as I perceived the indications it gave of Toby's foresight +in laying in a supply of food for the expedition. + +I eagerly inquired what quantity he had brought with him, when +rummaging once more beneath his garment, he produced a small +handful of something so soft, pulpy, and discoloured, that for a +few moments he was as much puzzled as myself to tell by what +possible instrumentality such a villainous compound had become +engendered in his bosom. I can only describe it as a hash of +soaked bread and bits of tobacco, brought to a doughy consistency +by the united agency of perspiration and rain. But repulsive as +it might otherwise have been, I now regarded it as an invaluable +treasure, and proceeded with great care to transfer this +paste-like mass to a large leaf which I had plucked from a bush +beside me. Toby informed me that in the morning he had placed +two whole biscuits in his bosom, with a view of munching them, +should he feel so inclined, during our flight. These were now +reduced to the equivocal substance which I had just placed on the +leaf. + +Another dive into the frock brought to view some four or five +yards of calico print, whose tasteful pattern was rather +disfigured by the yellow stains of the tobacco with which it had +been brought in contact. In drawing this calico slowly from his +bosom inch by inch, Toby reminded me of a juggler performing the +feat of the endless ribbon. The next cast was a small one, being +a sailor's little 'ditty bag', containing needles, thread, and +other sewing utensils, then came a razor-case, followed by two or +three separate plugs of negro-head, which were fished up from the +bottom of the now empty receptacle. These various matters, being +inspected, I produced the few things which I had myself brought. + +As might have been anticipated from the state of my companion's +edible supplies, I found my own in a deplorable condition, and +diminished to a quantity that would not have formed half a dozen +mouthfuls for a hungry man who was partial enough to tobacco not +to mind swallowing it. A few morsels of bread, with a fathom or +two of white cotton cloth, and several pounds of choice pigtail, +composed the extent of my possessions. + +Our joint stock of miscellaneous articles were now made up into a +compact bundle, which it was agreed we should carry alternately. +But the sorry remains of the biscuit were not to be disposed of +so summarily: the precarious circumstances in which we were +placed made us regard them as something on which very probably, +depended the fate of our adventure. After a brief discussion, in +which we both of us expressed our resolution of not descending +into the bay until the ship's departure, I suggested to my +companion that little of it as there was, we should divide the +bread into six equal portions, each of which should be a day's +allowance for both of us. This proposition he assented to; so I +took the silk kerchief from my neck, and cutting it with my knife +into half a dozen equal pieces, proceeded to make an exact +division. + +At first, Toby with a degree of fastidiousness that seemed to me +ill-timed, was for picking out the minute particles of tobacco +with which the spongy mass was mixed; but against this proceeding +I protested, as by such an operation we must have greatly +diminished its quantity. + +When the division was accomplished, we found that a day's +allowance for the two was not a great deal more than what a +table-spoon might hold. Each separate portion we immediately +rolled up in the bit of silk prepared for it, and joining them +all together into a small package, I committed them, with solemn +injunctions of fidelity, to the custody of Toby. For the +remainder of that day we resolved to fast, as we had been +fortified by a breakfast in the morning; and now starting again +to our feet, we looked about us for a shelter during the night, +which, from the appearance of the heavens, promised to be a dark +and tempestuous one. + +There was no place near us which would in any way answer our +purpose, so turning our backs upon Nukuheva, we commenced +exploring the unknown regions which lay upon the other side of +the mountain. + +In this direction, as far as our vision extended, not a sign of +life, nor anything that denoted even the transient residence of +man, could be seen. The whole landscape seemed one unbroken +solitude, the interior of the island having apparently been +untenanted since the morning of the creation; and as we advanced +through this wilderness, our voices sounded strangely in our +ears, as though human accents had never before disturbed the +fearful silence of the place, interrupted only by the low +murmurings of distant waterfalls. + +Our disappointment, however, in not finding the various fruits +with which we had intended to regale ourselves during our stay in +these wilds, was a good deal lessened by the consideration that +from this very circumstance we should be much less exposed to a +casual meeting with the savage tribes about us, who we knew +always dwelt beneath the shadows of those trees which supplied +them with food. + +We wandered along, casting eager glances into every bush we +passed, until just as we had succeeded in mounting one of the +many ridges that intersected the ground, I saw in the grass +before me something like an indistinctly traced footpath, which +appeared to lead along the top of the ridge, and to descend--with +it into a deep ravine about half a mile in advance of us. + +Robinson Crusoe could not have been more startled at the +footprint in the sand than we were at this unwelcome discovery. +My first impulse was to make as rapid a retreat as possible, and +bend our steps in some other direction; but our curiosity to see +whither this path might lead, prompted us to pursue it. So on we +went, the track becoming more and more visible the farther we +proceeded, until it conducted us to the verge of the ravine, +where it abruptly terminated. + +'And so,' said Toby, peering down into the chasm, 'everyone that +travels this path takes a jump here, eh?' + +'Not so,' said I, 'for I think they might manage to descend +without it; what say you,--shall we attempt the feat?' + +'And what, in the name of caves and coal-holes, do you expect to +find at the bottom of that gulf but a broken neck--why it looks +blacker than our ship's hold, and the roar of those waterfalls +down there would batter one's brains to pieces.' + +'Oh, no, Toby,' I exclaimed, laughing; 'but there's something to +be seen here, that's plain, or there would have been no path, and +I am resolved to find out what it is.' + +'I will tell you what, my pleasant fellow,' rejoined Toby +quickly, 'if you are going to pry into everything you meet with +here that excites your curiosity, you will marvellously soon get +knocked on the head; to a dead certainty you will come bang upon +a party of these savages in the midst of your discovery-makings, +and I doubt whether such an event would particularly delight you, +just take my advice for once, and let us 'bout ship and steer in +some other direction; besides, it's getting late and we ought to +be mooring ourselves for the night.' + +'That is just the thing I have been driving at,' replied I; 'and +I am thinking that this ravine will exactly answer our purpose, +for it is roomy, secluded, well watered, and may shelter us from +the weather.' + +'Aye, and from sleep too, and by the same token will give us sore +throats, and rheumatisms into the bargain,' cried Toby, with +evident dislike at the idea. + +'Oh, very well then, my lad,' said I, 'since you will not +accompany me, here I go alone. You will see me in the morning;' +and advancing to the edge of the cliff upon which we had been +standing, I proceeded to lower myself down by the tangled roots +which clustered about all the crevices of the rock. As I had +anticipated, Toby, in spite of his previous remonstrances, +followed my example, and dropping himself with the activity of a +squirrel from point to point, he quickly outstripped me and +effected a landing at the bottom before I had accomplished +two-thirds of the descent. + +The sight that now greeted us was one that will ever be vividly +impressed upon my mind. Five foaming streams, rushing through as +many gorges, and swelled and turbid by the recent rains, united +together in one mad plunge of nearly eighty feet, and fell with +wild uproar into a deep black pool scooped out of the gloomy +looking rocks that lay piled around, and thence in one collected +body dashed down a narrow sloping channel which seemed to +penetrate into the very bowels of the earth. Overhead, vast +roots of trees hung down from the sides of the ravine dripping +with moisture, and trembling with the concussions produced by the +fall. It was now sunset, and the feeble uncertain light that +found its way into these caverns and woody depths heightened +their strange appearance, and reminded us that in a short time we +should find ourselves in utter darkness. + +As soon as I had satisfied my curiosity by gazing at this scene, +I fell to wondering how it was that what we had taken for a path +should have conducted us to so singular a place, and began to +suspect that after all I might have been deceived in supposing it +to have been a trick formed by the islanders. This was rather an +agreeable reflection than otherwise, for it diminished our dread +of accidentally meeting with any of them, and I came to the +conclusion that perhaps we could not have selected a more secure +hiding-place than this very spot we had so accidentally hit upon. + +Toby agreed with me in this view of the matter, and we +immediately began gathering together the limbs of trees which lay +scattered about, with the view of constructing a temporary hut +for the night. This we were obliged to build close to the foot +of the cataract, for the current of water extended very nearly to +the sides of the gorge. The few moments of light that remained +we employed in covering our hut with a species of broad-bladed +grass that grew in every fissure of the ravine. Our hut, if it +deserved to be called one, consisted of six or eight of the +straightest branches we could find laid obliquely against the +steep wall of rock, with their lower ends within a foot of the +stream. Into the space thus covered over we managed to crawl, +and dispose our wearied bodies as best we could. + +Shall I ever forget that horrid night! As for poor Toby, I could +scarcely get a word out of him. It would have been some +consolation to have heard his voice, but he lay shivering the +live-long night like a man afflicted with the palsy, with his +knees drawn up to his head, while his back was supported against +the dripping side of the rock. During this wretched night there +seemed nothing wanting to complete the perfect misery of our +condition. The rain descended in such torrents that our poor +shelter proved a mere mockery. In vain did I try to elude the +incessant streams that poured upon me; by protecting one part I +only exposed another, and the water was continually finding some +new opening through which to drench us. + +I have had many a ducking in the course of my life, and in +general cared little about it; but the accumulated horrors of +that night, the deathlike coldness of the place, the appalling +darkness and the dismal sense of our forlorn condition, almost +unmanned me. + +It will not be doubted that the next morning we were early +risers, and as soon as I could catch the faintest glimpse of +anything like daylight I shook my companion by the arm, and told +him it was sunrise. Poor Toby lifted up his head, and after a +moment's pause said, in a husky voice, 'Then, shipmate, my +toplights have gone out, for it appears darker now with my eyes +open that it did when they were shut.' + +'Nonsense!' exclaimed I; 'You are not awake yet.' + +'Awake!' roared Toby in a rage, 'awake! You mean to insinuate +I've been asleep, do you? It is an insult to a man to suppose he +could sleep in such an infernal place as this.' + +By the time I had apologized to my friend for having misconstrued +his silence, it had become somewhat more light, and we crawled +out of our lair. The rain had ceased, but everything around us +was dripping with moisture. We stripped off our saturated +garments, and wrung them as dry as we could. We contrived to +make the blood circulate in our benumbed limbs by rubbing them +vigorously with our hands; and after performing our ablutions in +the stream, and putting on our still wet clothes, we began to +think it advisable to break our long fast, it being now +twenty-four hours since we had tasted food. + +Accordingly our day's ration was brought out, and seating +ourselves on a detached fragment of rock, we proceeded to discuss +it. First we divided it into two equal portions, and carefully +rolling one of them up for our evening's repast, divided the +remainder again as equally as possible, and then drew lots for +the first choice. I could have placed the morsel that fell to my +share upon the tip of my finger; but notwithstanding this I took +care that it should be full ten minutes before I had swallowed +the last crumb. What a true saying it is that 'appetite +furnishes the best sauce.' There was a flavour and a relish to +this small particle of food that under other circumstances it +would have been impossible for the most delicate viands to have +imparted. A copious draught of the pure water which flowed at +our feet served to complete the meal, and after it we rose +sensibly refreshed, and prepared for whatever might befall us. + +We now carefully examined the chasm in which we had passed the +night. We crossed the stream, and gaining the further side of +the pool I have mentioned, discovered proofs that the spot must +have been visited by some one but a short time previous to our +arrival. Further observation convinced us that it had been +regularly frequented, and, as we afterwards conjectured from +particular indications, for the purpose of obtaining a certain +root, from which the natives obtained a kind of ointment. + +These discoveries immediately determined us to abandon a place +which had presented no inducement for us to remain, except the +promise of security; and as we looked about us for the means of +ascending again into the upper regions, we at last found a +practicable part of the rock, and half an hour's toil carried us +to the summit of the same cliff from which the preceding evening +we had descended. + +I now proposed to Toby that instead of rambling about the island, +exposing ourselves to discovery at every turn, we should select +some place as our fixed abode for as long a period as our food +should hold out, build ourselves a comfortable hut, and be as +prudent and circumspect as possible. To all this my companion +assented, and we at once set about carrying the plan into +execution. + +With this view, after exploring without success a little glen +near us, we crossed several of the ridges of which I have before +spoken; and about noon found ourselves ascending a long and +gradually rising slope, but still without having discovered any +place adapted to our purpose. Low and heavy clouds betokened an +approaching storm, and we hurried on to gain a covert in a clump +of thick bushes, which appeared to terminate the long ascent. We +threw ourselves under the lee of these bushes, and pulling up the +long grass that grew around, covered ourselves completely with +it, and awaited the shower. + +But it did not come as soon as we had expected, and before many +minutes my companion was fast asleep, and I was rapidly falling +into the same state of happy forgetfulness. Just at this +juncture, however, down came the rain with the violence that put +all thoughts of slumber to flight. Although in some measure +sheltered, our clothes soon became as wet as ever; this, after +all the trouble we had taken to dry them, was provoking enough: +but there was no help for it; and I recommend all adventurous +youths who abandon vessels in romantic islands during the rainy +season to provide themselves with umbrellas. + +After an hour or so the shower passed away. My companion slept +through it all, or at least appeared so to do; and now that it +was over I had not the heart to awaken him. As I lay on my back +completely shrouded with verdure, the leafy branches drooping +over me, my limbs buried in grass, I could not avoid comparing +our situation with that of the interesting babes in the wood. +Poor little sufferers!--no wonder their constitutions broke down +under the hardships to which they were exposed. + +During the hour or two spent under the shelter of these bushes, I +began to feel symptoms which I at once attributed to the exposure +of the preceding night. Cold shiverings and a burning fever +succeeded one another at intervals, while one of my legs was +swelled to such a degree, and pained me so acutely, that I half +suspected I had been bitten by some venomous reptile, the +congenial inhabitant of the chasm from which we had lately +emerged. I may here remark by the way--what I subsequently +gleamed--that all the islands of Polynesia enjoy the reputation, +in common with the Hibernian isle, of being free from the +presence of any vipers; though whether Saint Patrick ever visited +them, is a question I shall not attempt to decide. + +As the feverish sensation increased upon me I tossed about, still +unwilling to disturb my slumbering companion, from whose side I +removed two or three yards. I chanced to push aside a branch, +and by so doing suddenly disclosed to my view a scene which even +now I can recall with all the vividness of the first impression. +Had a glimpse of the gardens of Paradise been revealed to me, I +could scarcely have been more ravished with the sight. + +From the spot where I lay transfixed with surprise and delight, I +looked straight down into the bosom of a valley, which swept away +in long wavy undulations to the blue waters in the distance. +Midway towards the sea, and peering here and there amidst the +foliage, might be seen the palmetto-thatched houses of its +inhabitants glistening in the sun that had bleached them to a +dazzling whiteness. The vale was more than three leagues in +length, and about a mile across at its greatest width. + +On either side it appeared hemmed in by steep and green +acclivities, which, uniting near the spot where I lay, formed an +abrupt and semicircular termination of grassy cliffs and +precipices hundreds of feet in height, over which flowed +numberless small cascades. But the crowning beauty of the +prospect was its universal verdure; and in this indeed consists, +I believe, the peculiar charm of every Polynesian landscape. +Everywhere below me, from the base of the precipice upon whose +very verge I had been unconsciously reposing, the surface of the +vale presented a mass of foliage, spread with such rich profusion +that it was impossible to determine of what description of trees +it consisted. + +But perhaps there was nothing about the scenery I beheld more +impressive than those silent cascades, whose slender threads of +water, after leaping down the steep cliffs, were lost amidst the +rich herbage of the valley. + +Over all the landscape there reigned the most hushed repose, +which I almost feared to break, lest, like the enchanted gardens +in the fairy tale, a single syllable might dissolve the spell. +For a long time, forgetful alike of my own situation, and the +vicinity of my still slumbering companion, I remained gazing +around me, hardly able to comprehend by what means I had thus +suddenly been made a spectator of such a scene. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT + +THE IMPORTANT QUESTION, TYPEE OR HAPPAR?--A WILD GOOSE CHASE--MY +SUFFERINGS--DISHEARTENING SITUATION--A NIGHT IN A RAVINE--MORNING +MEAL--HAPPY IDEA OF TOBY--JOURNEY TOWARDS THE VALLEY + +RECOVERING from my astonishment at the beautiful scene before me, +I quickly awakened Toby, and informed him of the discovery I had +made. Together we now repaired to the border of the precipice, +and my companion's admiration was equal to my own. A little +reflection, however, abated our surprise at coming so +unexpectedly upon this valley, since the large vales of Happar +and Typee, lying upon this side of Nukuheva, and extending a +considerable distance from the sea towards the interior, must +necessarily terminate somewhere about this point. + +The question now was as to which of those two places we were +looking down upon. Toby insisted that it was the abode of the +Happar, and I that it was tenanted by their enemies the ferocious +Typees. To be sure I was not entirely convinced by my own +arguments, but Toby's proposition to descend at once into the +valley, and partake of the hospitality of its inmates, seemed to +me to be risking so much upon the strength of a mere supposition, +that I resolved to oppose it until we had more evidence to +proceed upon. + +The point was one of vital importance, as the natives of Happar +were not only at peace with Nukuheva, but cultivated with its +inhabitants the most friendly relations, and enjoyed besides a +reputation for gentleness and humanity which led us to expect +from them, if not a cordial reception, at least a shelter during +the short period we should remain in their territory. + +On the other hand, the very name of Typee struck a panic into my +heart which I did not attempt to disguise. The thought of +voluntarily throwing ourselves into the hands of these cruel +savages, seemed to me an act of mere madness; and almost equally +so the idea of venturing into the valley, uncertain by which of +these two tribes it was inhabited. That the vale at our feet was +tenanted by one of them, was a point that appeared to us past all +doubt, since we knew that they resided in this quarter, although +our information did not enlighten us further. + +My companion, however, incapable of resisting the tempting +prospect which the place held out of an abundant supply of food +and other means of enjoyment, still clung to his own +inconsiderate view of the subject, nor could all my reasoning +shake it. When I reminded him that it was impossible for either +of us to know anything with certainty, and when I dwelt upon the +horrible fate we should encounter were we rashly to descend into +the valley, and discover too late the error we had committed, he +replied by detailing all the evils of our present condition, and +the sufferings we must undergo should we continue to remain where +we then were. + +Anxious to draw him away from the subject, if possible--for I saw +that it would be in vain to attempt changing his mind--I directed +his attention to a long bright unwooded tract of land which, +sweeping down from the elevations in the interior, descended into +the valley before us. I then suggested to him that beyond this +ridge might lie a capacious and untenanted valley, abounding with +all manner of delicious fruits; for I had heard that there were +several such upon the island, and proposed that we should +endeavour to reach it, and if we found our expectations realized +we should at once take refuge in it and remain there as long as +we pleased. + +He acquiesced in the suggestion; and we immediately, therefore, +began surveying the country lying before us, with a view of +determining upon the best route for us to pursue; but it +presented little choice, the whole interval being broken into +steep ridges, divided by dark ravines, extending in parallel +lines at right angles to our direct course. All these we would +be obliged to cross before we could hope to arrive at our +destination. + +A weary journey! But we decided to undertake it, though, for my +own part, I felt little prepared to encounter its fatigues, +shivering and burning by turns with the ague and fever; for I +know not how else to describe the alternate sensations I +experienced, and suffering not a little from the lameness which +afflicted me. Added to this was the faintness consequent on our +meagre diet--a calamity in which Toby participated to the same +extent as myself. + +These circumstances, however, only augmented my anxiety to reach +a place which promised us plenty and repose, before I should be +reduced to a state which would render me altogether unable to +perform the journey. Accordingly we now commenced it by +descending the almost perpendicular side of a steep and narrow +gorge, bristling with a thick growth of reeds. Here there was +but one mode for us to adopt. We seated ourselves upon the +ground, and guided our descent by catching at the canes in our +path. This velocity with which we thus slid down the side of the +ravine soon brought us to a point where we could use our feet, +and in a short time we arrived at the edge of the torrent, which +rolled impetuously along the bed of the chasm. + +After taking a refreshing draught from the water of the stream, +we addressed ourselves to a much more difficult undertaking than +the last. Every foot of our late descent had to be regained in +ascending the opposite side of the gorge--an operation rendered +the less agreeable from the consideration that in these +perpendicular episodes we did not progress a hundred yards on our +journey. But, ungrateful as the task was, we set about it with +exemplary patience, and after a snail-like progress of an hour or +more, had scaled perhaps one half of the distance, when the fever +which had left me for a while returned with such violence, and +accompanied by so raging a thirst, that it required all the +entreaties of Toby to prevent me from losing all the fruits of my +late exertion, by precipitating myself madly down the cliffs we +had just climbed, in quest of the water which flowed so +temptingly at their base. At the moment all my hopes and fears +appeared to be merged in this one desire, careless of the +consequences that might result from its gratification. I am +aware of no feeling, either of pleasure or of pain, that so +completely deprives one of an power to resist its impulses, as +this same raging thirst. + +Toby earnestly conjured me to continue the ascent, assuring me +that a little more exertion would bring us to the summit, and +that then in less than five minutes we should find ourselves at +the brink of the stream, which must necessarily flow on the other +side of the ridge. + +'Do not,' he exclaimed, 'turn back, now that we have proceeded +thus far; for I tell you that neither of us will have the courage +to repeat the attempt, if once more we find ourselves looking up +to where we now are from the bottom of these rocks!' + +I was not yet so perfectly beside myself as to be heedless of +these representations, and therefore toiled on, ineffectually +endeavouring to appease the thirst which consumed me, by thinking +that in a short time I should be able to gratify it to my heart's +content. + +At last we gained the top of the second elevation, the loftiest +of those I have described as extending in parallel lines +between us and the valley we desired to reach. It commanded a +view of the whole intervening distance; and, discouraged as I was +by other circumstances, this prospect plunged me into the very +depths of despair. Nothing but dark and fearful chasms, +separated by sharp-crested and perpendicular ridges as far as the +eye could reach. Could we have stepped from summit to summit of +these steep but narrow elevations we could easily have +accomplished the distance; but we must penetrate to the bottom of +every yawning gulf, and scale in succession every one of the +eminences before us. Even Toby, although not suffering as I did, +was not proof against the disheartening influences of the sight. + +But we did not long stand to contemplate it, impatient as I was +to reach the waters of the torrent which flowed beneath us. With +an insensibility to danger which I cannot call to mind without +shuddering, we threw ourselves down the depths of the ravine, +startling its savage solitudes with the echoes produced by the +falling fragments of rock we every moment dislodged from their +places, careless of the insecurity of our footing, and reckless +whether the slight roots and twigs we clutched at sustained us +for the while, or treacherously yielded to our grasp. For my own +part, I scarcely knew whether I was helplessly falling from the +heights above, or whether the fearful rapidity with which I +descended was an act of my own volition. + +In a few minutes we reached the foot of the gorge, and kneeling +upon a small ledge of dripping rocks, I bent over to the stream. +What a delicious sensation was I now to experience! I paused for +a second to concentrate all my capabilities of enjoyment, and +then immerged my lips in the clear element before me. Had the +apples of Sodom turned to ashes in my mouth, I could not have +felt a more startling revulsion. A single drop of the cold fluid +seemed to freeze every drop of blood in my body; the fever that +had been burning in my veins gave place on the instant to +death-like chills, which shook me one after another like so many +shocks of electricity, while the perspiration produced by my late +violent exertions congealed in icy beads upon my forehead. My +thirst was gone, and I fairly loathed the water. Starting to my +feet, the sight of those dank rocks, oozing forth moisture at +every crevice, and the dark stream shooting along its dismal +channel, sent fresh chills through my shivering frame, and I felt +as uncontrollable a desire to climb up towards the genial +sunlight as I before had to descend the ravine. + +After two hours' perilous exertions we stood upon the summit of +another ridge, and it was with difficulty I could bring myself to +believe that we had ever penetrated the black and yawning chasm +which then gaped at our feet. Again we gazed upon the prospect +which the height commanded, but it was just as depressing as the +one which had before met our eyes. I now felt that in our +present situation it was in vain for us to think of ever +overcoming the obstacles in our way, and I gave up all thoughts +of reaching the vale which lay beyond this series of impediments; +while at the same time I could not devise any scheme to extricate +ourselves from the difficulties in which we were involved. + +The remotest idea of returning to Nukuheva, unless assured of our +vessel's departure, never once entered my mind, and indeed it was +questionable whether we could have succeeded in reaching it, +divided as we were from the bay by a distance we could not +compute, and perplexed too in our remembrance of localities by +our recent wanderings. Besides, it was unendurable the thought +of retracing our steps and rendering all our painful exertions of +no avail. + +There is scarcely anything when a man is in difficulties that he +is more disposed to look upon with abhorrence than a rightabout +retrograde movement--a systematic going over of the already +trodden ground: and especially if he has a love of adventure, +such a course appears indescribably repulsive, so long as there +remains the least hope to be derived from braving untried +difficulties. + +It was this feeling that prompted us to descend the opposite side +of the elevation we had just scaled, although with what definite +object in view it would have been impossible for either of us to +tell. + +Without exchanging a syllable upon the subject, Toby and myself +simultaneously renounced the design which had lured us thus +far--perceiving in each other's countenances that desponding +expression which speaks more eloquently than words. + +Together we stood towards the close of this weary day in the +cavity of the third gorge we had entered, wholly incapacitated +for any further exertion, until restored to some degree of +strength by food and repose. + +We seated ourselves upon the least uncomfortable spot we could +select, and Toby produced from the bosom of his frock the sacred +package. In silence we partook of the small morsel of +refreshment that had been left from the morning's repast, and +without once proposing to violate the sanctity of our engagement +with respect to the remainder, we rose to our feet, and proceeded +to construct some sort of shelter under which we might obtain the +sleep we so greatly needed. + +Fortunately the spot was better adapted to our purpose than the +one in which we had passed the last wretched night. We cleared +away the tall reeds from the small but almost level bit of +ground, and twisted them into a low basket-like hut, which we +covered with a profusion of long thick leaves, gathered from a +tree near at hand. We disposed them thickly all around, +reserving only a slight opening that barely permitted us to crawl +under the shelter we had thus obtained. + +These deep recesses, though protected from the winds that assail +the summits of their lofty sides, are damp and chill to a degree +that one would hardly anticipate in such a climate; and being +unprovided with anything but our woollen frocks and thin duck +trousers to resist the cold of the place, we were the more +solicitous to render our habitation for the night as comfortable +as we could. Accordingly, in addition to what we had already +done, we plucked down all the leaves within our reach and threw +them in a heap over our little hut, into which we now crept, +raking after us a reserved supply to form our couch. + +That night nothing but the pain I suffered prevented me from +sleeping most refreshingly. As it was, I caught two or three +naps, while Toby slept away at my side as soundly as though he +had been sandwiched between two Holland sheets. Luckily it did +not rain, and we were preserved from the misery which a heavy +shower would have occasioned us. In the morning I was awakened +by the sonorous voice of my companion ringing in my ears and +bidding me rise. I crawled out from our heap of leaves, and was +astonished at the change which a good night's rest had wrought in +his appearance. He was as blithe and joyous as a young bird, and +was staying the keenness of his morning's appetite by chewing the +soft bark of a delicate branch he held in his hand, and he +recommended the like to me as an admirable antidote against the +gnawings of hunger. + +For my own part, though feeling materially better than I had done +the preceding evening, I could not look at the limb that had +pained me so violently at intervals during the last twenty-four +hours, without experiencing a sense of alarm that I strove in +vain to shake off. Unwilling to disturb the flow of my comrade's +spirits, I managed to stifle the complaints to which I might +otherwise have given vent, and calling upon him good-humouredly +to speed our banquet, I prepared myself for it by washing in the +stream. This operation concluded, we swallowed, or rather +absorbed, by a peculiar kind of slow sucking process, our +respective morsels of nourishment, and then entered into a +discussion as to the steps is was necessary for us to pursue. + +'What's to be done now?' inquired I, rather dolefully. + +'Descend into that same valley we descried yesterday.' rejoined +Toby, with a rapidity and loudness of utterance that almost led +me to suspect he had been slyly devouring the broadside of an ox +in some of the adjoining thickets. 'What else,' he continued, +'remains for us to do but that, to be sure? Why, we shall both +starve to a certainty if we remain here; and as to your fears of +those Typees--depend upon it, it is all nonsense.' + +'It is impossible that the inhabitants of such a lovely place as +we saw can be anything else but good fellows; and if you choose +rather to perish with hunger in one of these soppy caverns, I for +one prefer to chance a bold descent into the valley, and risk the +consequences'. + +'And who is to pilot us thither,' I asked, 'even if we should +decide upon the measure you propose? Are we to go again up and +down those precipices that we crossed yesterday, until we reach +the place we started from, and then take a flying leap from the +cliffs to the valley?' + +'Faith, I didn't think of that,' said Toby; 'sure enough, both +sides of the valley appeared to be hemmed in by precipices, +didn't they?' + +'Yes,' answered I, 'as steep as the sides of a line-of-battle +ship, and about a hundred times as high.' My companion sank his +head upon his breast, and remained for a while in deep thought. +Suddenly he sprang to his feet, while his eyes lighted up with +that gleam of intelligence that marks the presence of some bright +idea. + +'Yes, yes,' he exclaimed; 'the streams all run in the same +direction, and must necessarily flow into the valley before they +reach the sea; all we have to do is just to follow this stream, +and sooner or later it will lead us into the vale.' + +'You are right, Toby,' I exclaimed, 'you are right; it must +conduct us thither, and quickly too; for, see with what a steep +inclination the water descends.' + +'It does, indeed,' burst forth my companion, overjoyed at my +verification of his theory, 'it does indeed; why, it is as plain +as a pike-staff. Let us proceed at once; come, throw away all +those stupid ideas about the Typees, and hurrah for the lovely +valley of the Happars.' + +'You will have it to be Happar, I see, my dear fellow; pray +Heaven you may not find yourself deceived,' observed I, with a +shake of my head. + +'Amen to all that, and much more,' shouted Toby, rushing forward; +'but Happar it is, for nothing else than Happar can it be. So +glorious a valley--such forests of bread-fruit trees--such groves +of cocoanut--such wilderness of guava-bushes! Ah! shipmate! +don't linger behind: in the name of all delightful fruits, I am +dying to be at them. Come on, come on; shove ahead, there's a +lively lad; never mind the rocks; kick them out of the way, as I +do; and tomorrow, old fellow, take my word for it, we shall be in +clover. Come on;' and so saying, he dashed along the ravine like +a madman, forgetting my inability to keep up with him. In a few +minutes, however, the exuberance of his spirits abated, and, +pausing for a while, he permitted me to overtake him. + + + +CHAPTER NINE + +PERILOUS PASSAGE OF THE RAVINE--DESCENT INTO THE VALLEY + +The fearless confidence of Toby was contagious, and I began to +adopt the Happar side of the question. I could not, however, +overcome a certain feeling of trepidation as we made our way +along these gloomy solitudes. Our progress, at first +comparatively easy, became more and more difficult. The bed of +the watercourse was covered with fragments of broken rocks, which +had fallen from above, offering so many obstructions to the +course of the rapid stream, which vexed and fretted about +them,--forming at intervals small waterfalls, pouring over into +deep basins, or splashing wildly upon heaps of stones. + +From the narrowness of the gorge, and the steepness of its sides, +there was no mode of advancing but by wading through the water; +stumbling every moment over the impediments which lay hidden +under its surface, or tripping against the huge roots of trees. +But the most annoying hindrance we encountered was from a +multitude of crooked boughs, which, shooting out almost +horizontally from the sides of the chasm, twisted themselves +together in fantastic masses almost to the surface of the stream, +affording us no passage except under the low arches which they +formed. Under these we were obliged to crawl on our hands and +feet, sliding along the oozy surface of the rocks, or slipping +into the deep pools, and with scarce light enough to guide us. +Occasionally we would strike our heads against some projecting +limb of a tree; and while imprudently engaged in rubbing the +injured part, would fall sprawling amongst flinty fragments, +cutting and bruising ourselves, whilst the unpitying waters +flowed over our prostrate bodies. Belzoni, worming himself +through the subterranean passages of the Egyptian catacombs, +could not have met with great impediments than those we here +encountered. But we struggled against them manfully, well +knowing our only hope lay in advancing. + +Towards sunset we halted at a spot where we made preparations for +passing the night. Here we constructed a hut, in much the same +way as before, and crawling into it, endeavoured to forget our +sufferings. My companion, I believe, slept pretty soundly; but +at day break, when we rolled out of our dwelling, I felt nearly +disqualified for any further efforts. Toby prescribed as a +remedy for my illness the contents of one of our little silk +packages, to be taken at once in a single dose. To this species +of medical treatment, however, I would by no means accede, much +as he insisted upon it; and so we partook of our usual morsel, +and silently resumed our journey. It was now the fourth day +since we left Nukuheva, and the gnawings of hunger became +painfully acute. We were fain to pacify them by chewing the +tender bark of roots and twigs, which, if they did not afford us +nourishment, were at least sweet and pleasant to the taste. + +Our progress along the steep watercourse was necessarily slow, +and by noon we had not advanced more than a mile. It was +somewhere near this part of the day that the noise of falling +waters, which we had faintly caught in the early morning, became +more distinct; and it was not long before we were arrested by a +rocky precipice of nearly a hundred feet in depth, that extended +all across the channel, and over which the wild stream poured in +an unbroken leap. On each hand the walls of the ravine presented +their overhanging sides both above and below the fall, affording +no means whatever of avoiding the cataract by taking a circuit +round it. + +'What's to be done now, Toby?' said I. + +'Why,' rejoined he, 'as we cannot retreat, I suppose we must keep +shoving along.' + +'Very true, my dear Toby; but how do you purpose accomplishing +that desirable object?' + +'By jumping from the top of the fall, if there be no other way,' +unhesitatingly replied my companion: 'it will be much the +quickest way of descent; but as you are not quite as active as I +am, we will try some other way.' + +And, so saying, he crept cautiously along and peered over into +the abyss, while I remained wondering by what possible means we +could overcome this apparently insuperable obstruction. As soon +as my companion had completed his survey, I eagerly inquired the +result. + +'The result of my observations you wish to know, do you?' began +Toby, deliberately, with one of his odd looks: 'well, my lad, the +result of my observations is very quickly imparted. It is at +present uncertain which of our two necks will have the honour to +be broken first; but about a hundred to one would be a fair bet +in favour of the man who takes the first jump.' + +'Then it is an impossible thing, is it?' inquired I gloomily. + +'No, shipmate; on the contrary, it is the easiest thing in life: +the only awkward point is the sort of usage which our unhappy +limbs may receive when we arrive at the bottom, and what sort of +travelling trim we shall be in afterwards. But follow me now, +and I will show you the only chance we have.' With this he +conducted me to the verge of the cataract, and pointed along the +side of the ravine to a number of curious looking roots, some +three or four inches in thickness, and several feet long, which, +after twisting among the fissures of the rock, shot +perpendicularly from it and ran tapering to a point in the air, +hanging over the gulf like so many dark icicles. They covered +nearly the entire surface of one side of the gorge, the lowest of +them reaching even to the water. Many were moss grown and +decayed, with their extremities snapped short off, and those in +the immediate vicinity of the fall were slippery with moisture. + +Toby's scheme, and it was a desperate one, was to entrust +ourselves to these treacherous-looking roots, and by slipping +down from one to another to gain the bottom. + +'Are you ready to venture it?' asked Toby, looking at me +earnestly but without saying a word as to the practicability of +the plan. + +'I am,' was my reply; for I saw it was our only resource if we +wished to advance, and as for retreating, all thoughts of that +sort had been long abandoned. + +After I had signified my assent, Toby, without uttering a a +single word, crawled along the dripping ledge until he gained a +point from whence he could just reach one of the largest of the +pendant roots; he shook it--it quivered in his grasp, and when he +let it go it twanged in the air like a strong, wire sharply +struck. Satisfied by his scrutiny, my light limbed companion +swung himself nimbly upon it, and twisting his legs round it in +sailor fashion, slipped down eight or ten feet, where his weight +gave it a motion not un-like that of a pendulum. He could not +venture to descend any further; so holding on with one hand, he +with the other shook one by one all the slender roots around him, +and at last, finding one which he thought trustworthy, shifted +him self to it and continued his downward progress. + +So far so well; but I could not avoid comparing my heavier frame +and disabled condition with his light figure and remarkable +activity; but there was no help for it, and in less than a +minute's time I was swinging directly over his head. As soon as +his upturned eyes caught a glimpse of me, he exclaimed in his +usual dry tone, for the danger did not seem to daunt him in the +least, 'Mate, do me the kindness not to fall until I get out of +your way;' and then swinging himself more on one side, he +continued his descent. In the mean time I cautiously transferred +myself from the limb down which I had been slipping to a couple +of others that were near it, deeming two strings to my bow better +than one, and taking care to test their strength before I trusted +my weight to them. + +On arriving towards the end of the second stage in this vertical +journey, and shaking the long roots which were round me, to my +consternation they snapped off one after another like so many +pipe stems, and fell in fragments against the side of the gulf, +splashing at last into the waters beneath. + +As one after another the treacherous roots yielded to my grasp, +and fell into the torrent, my heart sunk within me. The branches +on which I was suspended over the yawning chasm swang to and fro +in the air, and I expected them every moment to snap in twain. +Appalled at the dreadful fate that menaced me, I clutched +frantically at the only large root which remained near me, but in +vain; I could not reach it, though my fingers were within a few +inches of it. Again and again I tried to reach it, until at +length, maddened with the thought of my situation, I swayed +myself violently by striking my foot against the side of the +rock, and at the instant that I approached the large root caught +desperately at it, and transferred myself to it. It vibrated +violently under the sudden weight, but fortunately did not give +way. + +My brain grew dizzy with the idea of the frightful risk I had +just run, and I involuntarily closed my eyes to shut out the view +of the depth beneath me. For the instant I was safe, and I +uttered a devout ejaculation of thanksgiving for my escape. + +'Pretty well done,' shouted Toby underneath me; 'you are nimbler +than I thought you to be--hopping about up there from root to +root like any young squirrel. As soon as you have diverted +yourself sufficiently, I would advise you to proceed.' + +'Aye, aye, Toby, all in good time: two or three more such famous +roots as this, and I shall be with you.' + +The residue of my downward progress was comparatively easy; the +roots were in greater abundance, and in one or two places jutting +out points of rock assisted me greatly. In a few moments I was +standing by the side of my companion. + +Substituting a stout stick for the one I had thrown aside at the +top of the precipice, we now continued our course along the bed +of the ravine. Soon we were saluted by a sound in advance, that +grew by degrees louder and louder, as the noise of the cataract +we were leaving behind gradually died on our ears. + +'Another precipice for us, Toby.' + +'Very good; we can descend them, you know--come on.' + +Nothing indeed appeared to depress or intimidate this intrepid +fellow. Typees or Niagaras, he was as ready to engage one as the +other, and I could not avoid a thousand times congratulating +myself upon having such a companion in an enterprise like the +present. + +After an hour's painful progress, we reached the verge of another +fall, still loftier than the preceding and flanked both above and +below with the same steep masses of rock, presenting, however, +here and there narrow irregular ledges, supporting a shallow +soil, on which grew a variety of bushes and trees, whose bright +verdure contrasted beautifully with the foamy waters that flowed +between them. + +Toby, who invariably acted as pioneer, now proceeded to +reconnoitre. On his return, he reported that the shelves of rock +on our right would enable us to gain with little risk the bottom +of the cataract. Accordingly, leaving the bed of the stream at +the very point where it thundered down, we began crawling along +one of those sloping ledges until it carried us to within a few +feet of another that inclined downwards at a still sharper angle, +and upon which, by assisting each other we managed to alight in +safety. We warily crept along this, steadying ourselves by the +naked roots of the shrubs that clung to every fissure. As we +proceeded, the narrow path became still more contracted, +rendering it difficult for us to maintain our footing, until +suddenly, as we reached an angle of the wall of rock where we had +expected it to widen, we perceived to our consternation that a +yard or two further on it abruptly terminated at a place we could +not possibly hope to pass. + +Toby as usual led the van, and in silence I waited to learn from +him how he proposed to extricate us from this new difficulty. + +'Well, my boy,' I exclaimed, after the expiration of several +minutes, during which time my companion had not uttered a word, +'what's to be done now?' + +He replied in a tranquil tone, that probably the best thing we +could do in our present strait was to get out of it as soon as +possible. + +'Yes, my dear Toby, but tell me how we are to get out of it.' + +'Something in this sort of style,' he replied, and at the same +moment to my horror he slipped sideways off the rocks and, as I +then thought, by good fortune merely, alighted among the +spreading branches of a species of palm tree, that shooting its +hardy roots along a ledge below, curved its trunk upwards into +the air, and presented a thick mass of foliage about twenty feet +below the spot where we had thus suddenly been brought to a +standstill. I involuntarily held my breath, expecting to see the +form of my companion, after being sustained for a moment by the +branches of the tree, sink through their frail support, and fall +headlong to the bottom. To my surprise and joy, however, he +recovered himself, and disentangling his limbs from the fractured +branches, he peered out from his leafy bed, and shouted lustily, +'Come on, my hearty there is no other alternative!' and with this +he ducked beneath the foliage, and slipping down the trunk, stood +in a moment at least fifty feet beneath me, upon the broad shelf +of rock from which sprung the tree he had descended. + +What would I not have given at that moment to have been by his +side. The feat he had just accomplished seemed little less than +miraculous, and I could hardly credit the evidence of my senses +when I saw the wide distance that a single daring act had so +suddenly placed between us. + +Toby's animating 'come on' again sounded in my ears, and dreading +to lose all confidence in myself if I remained meditating upon +the step, I once more gazed down to assure myself of the relative +bearing of the tree and my own position, and then closing my eyes +and uttering one comprehensive ejaculation of prayer, I inclined +myself over towards the abyss, and after one breathless instant +fell with a crash into the tree, the branches snapping and +cracking with my weight, as I sunk lower and lower among them, +until I was stopped by coming in contact with a sturdy limb. + +In a few moments I was standing at the foot of the tree +manipulating myself all over with a view of ascertaining the +extent of the injuries I had received. To my surprise the only +effects of my feat were a few slight contusions too trifling to +care about. The rest of our descent was easily accomplished, and +in half an hour after regaining the ravine we had partaken of our +evening morsel, built our hut as usual, and crawled under its +shelter. + +The next morning, in spite of our debility and the agony of +hunger under which we were now suffering, though neither of us +confessed to the fact, we struggled along our dismal and still +difficult and dangerous path, cheered by the hope of soon +catching a glimpse of the valley before us, and towards evening +the voice of a cataract which had for some time sounded like a +low deep bass to the music of the smaller waterfalls, broke upon +our ears in still louder tones, and assured us that we were +approaching its vicinity. + +That evening we stood on the brink of a precipice, over which the +dark stream bounded in one final leap of full 300 feet. The +sheer descent terminated in the region we so long had sought. On +each side of the fall, two lofty and perpendicular bluffs +buttressed the sides of the enormous cliff, and projected into +the sea of verdure with which the valley waved, and a range of +similar projecting eminences stood disposed in a half circle +about the head if the vale. A thick canopy of trees hung over +the very verge of the fall, leaving an arched aperture for the +passage of the waters, which imparted a strange picturesqueness +to the scene. + +The valley was now before us; but instead of being conducted into +its smiling bosom by the gradual descent of the deep watercourse +we had thus far pursued, all our labours now appeared to have +been rendered futile by its abrupt termination. But, bitterly +disappointed, we did not entirely despair. + +As it was now near sunset we determined to pass the night where +we were, and on the morrow, refreshed by sleep, and by eating at +one meal all our stock of food, to accomplish a descent into the +valley, or perish in the attempt. + +We laid ourselves down that night on a spot, the recollection of +which still makes me shudder. A small table of rock which +projected over the precipice on one side of the stream, and was +drenched by the spray of the fall, sustained a huge trunk of a +tree which must have been deposited there by some heavy freshet. +It lay obliquely, with one end resting on the rock and the other +supported by the side of the ravine. Against it we placed in a +sloping direction a number of the half decayed boughs that were +strewn about, and covering the whole with twigs and leaves, +awaited the morning's light beneath such shelter as it afforded. + + + During the whole of this night the continual roaring of the +cataract--the dismal moaning of the gale through the trees--the +pattering of the rain, and the profound darkness, affected my +spirits to a degree which nothing had ever before produced. Wet, +half famished, and chilled to the heart with the dampness of the +place, and nearly wild with the pain I endured, I fairly cowered +down to the earth under this multiplication of hardships, and +abandoned myself to frightful anticipations of evil; and my +companion, whose spirit at last was a good deal broken, scarcely +uttered a word during the whole night. + +At length the day dawned upon us, and rising from our miserable +pallet, we stretched our stiffened joints, and after eating all +that remained of our bread, prepared for the last stage of our +journey. I will not recount every hair-breadth escape, and +every fearful difficulty that occurred before we succeeded in +reaching the bosom of the valley. As I have already described +similar scenes, it will be sufficient to say that at length, +after great toil and great dangers, we both stood with no limbs +broken at the head of that magnificent vale which five days +before had so suddenly burst upon my sight, and almost beneath +the shadow of those very cliffs from whose summits we had gazed +upon the prospect. + + + +CHAPTER TEN + +THE HEAD OF THE VALLEY--CAUTIOUS ADVANCE--A +PATH--FRUIT--DISCOVERY OF TWO OF THE NATIVES--THEIR SINGULAR +CONDUCT--APPROACH TOWARDS THE INHABITED PARTS OF THE +VALE--SENSATION PRODUCED BY OUR APPEARANCE--RECEPTION AT THE +HOUSE OF ONE OF THE NATIVES + +HOW to obtain the fruit which we felt convinced must grow near at +hand was our first thought. + +Typee or Happar? A frightful death at the hands of the fiercest +of cannibals, or a kindly reception from a gentler race of +savages? Which? But it was too late now to discuss a question +which would so soon be answered. + +The part of the valley in which we found ourselves appeared to be +altogether uninhabited. An almost impenetrable thicket extended +from side to side, without presenting a single plant affording +the nourishment we had confidently calculated upon; and with this +object, we followed the course of the stream, casting quick +glances as we proceeded into the thick jungles on each hand. My +companion--to whose solicitations I had yielded in descending +into the valley--now that the step was taken, began to manifest a +degree of caution I had little expected from him. He proposed +that in the event of our finding an adequate supply of fruit, we +should remain in this unfrequented portion of the country--where +we should run little chance of being surprised by its occupants, +whoever they might be--until sufficiently recruited to resume our +journey; when laying a store of food equal to our wants, we might +easily regain the bay of Nukuheva, after the lapse of a +sufficient interval to ensure the departure of our vessel. + +I objected strongly to this proposition, plausible as it was, as +the difficulties of the route would be almost insurmountable, +unacquainted as we were with the general bearings of the country, +and I reminded my companion of the hardships which we had already +encountered in our uncertain wanderings; in a word, I said that +since we had deemed it advisable to enter the valley, we ought +manfully to face the consequences, whatever they might be; the +more especially as I was convinced there was no alternative left +us but to fall in with the natives at once, and boldly risk the +reception they might give us; and that as to myself, I felt the +necessity of rest and shelter, and that until I had obtained +them, I should be wholly unable to encounter such sufferings as +we had lately passed through. To the justice of these +observations Toby somewhat reluctantly assented. + +We were surprised that, after moving as far as we had along the +valley, we should still meet with the same impervious thickets; +and thinking, that although the borders of the stream might be +lined for some distance with them, yet beyond there might be more +open ground, I requested Toby to keep a bright look-out upon one +side, while I did the same on the other, in order to discover +some opening in the bushes, and especially to watch for the +slightest appearance of a path or anything else that might +indicate the vicinity of the islanders. + +What furtive and anxious glances we cast into those dim-looking +shadows! With what apprehensions we proceeded, ignorant at what +moment we might be greeted by the javelin of some ambushed +savage. At last my companion paused, and directed my attention +to a narrow opening in the foliage. We struck into it, and it +soon brought us by an indistinctly traced path to a comparatively +clear space, at the further end of which we descried a number of +the trees, the native name of which is 'annuee', and which bear a +most delicious fruit. What a race! I hobbling over the ground +like some decrepid wretch, and Toby leaping forward like a +greyhound. He quickly cleared one of the trees on which there +were two or three of the fruit, but to our chagrin they proved to +be much decayed; the rinds partly opened by the birds, and their +hearts half devoured. However, we quickly despatched them, and +no ambrosia could have been more delicious. + +We looked about us uncertain whither to direct our steps, since +the path we had so far followed appeared to be lost in the open +space around us. At last we resolved to enter a grove near at +hand, and had advanced a few rods, when, just upon its skirts, I +picked up a slender bread-fruit shoot perfectly green, and with +the tender bark freshly stripped from it. It was still +slippery with moisture, and appeared as if it had been but that +moment thrown aside. I said nothing, but merely held it up to +Toby, who started at this undeniable evidence of the vicinity of +the savages. + +The plot was now thickening.--A short distance further lay a +little faggot of the same shoots bound together with a strip of +bark. Could it have been thrown down by some solitary native, +who, alarmed at seeing us, had hurried forward to carry the +tidings of our approach to his countrymen?--Typee or Happar?--But +it was too late to recede, so we moved on slowly, my companion in +advance casting eager glances under the trees on each side, until +all at once I saw him recoil as if stung by an adder. Sinking on +his knee, he waved me off with one hand, while with the other he +held aside some intervening leaves, and gazed intently at some +object. + +Disregarding his injunction, I quickly approached him and caught +a glimpse of two figures partly hidden by the dense foliage; they +were standing close together, and were perfectly motionless. +They must have previously perceived us, and withdrawn into the +depths of the wood to elude our observation. + +My mind was at once made up. Dropping my staff, and tearing open +the package of things we had brought from the ship, I unrolled +the cotton cloth, and holding it in one hand picked with the +other a twig from the bushes beside me, and telling Toby to +follow my example, I broke through the covert and advanced, +waving the branch in token of peace towards the shrinking forms +before me. They were a boy and a girl, slender and graceful, and +completely naked, with the exception of a slight girdle of bark, +from which depended at opposite points two of the russet leaves +of the bread-fruit tree. An arm of the boy, half screened from +sight by her wild tresses, was thrown about the neck of the girl, +while with the other he held one of her hands in his; and thus +they stood together, their heads inclined forward, catching the +faint noise we made in our progress, and with one foot in +advance, as if half inclined to fly from our presence. + +As we drew near, their alarm evidently increased. Apprehensive +that they might fly from us altogether, I stopped short and +motioned them to advance and receive the gift I extended towards +them, but they would not; I then uttered a few words of their +language with which I was acquainted, scarcely expected that they +would understand me, but to show that we had not dropped from the +clouds upon them. This appeared to give them a little +confidence, so I approached nearer, presenting the cloth with one +hand, and holding the bough with the other, while they slowly +retreated. At last they suffered us to approach so near to them +that we were enabled to throw the cotton cloth across their +shoulders, giving them to understand that it was theirs, and by a +variety of gestures endeavouring to make them understand that we +entertained the highest possible regard for them. + +The frightened pair now stood still, whilst we endeavoured to +make them comprehend the nature of our wants. In doing this Toby +went through with a complete series of pantomimic +illustrations--opening his mouth from ear to ear, and thrusting +his fingers down his throat, gnashing his teeth and rolling his +eyes about, till I verily believe the poor creatures took us for +a couple of white cannibals who were about to make a meal of +them. When, however, they understood us, they showed no +inclination to relieve our wants. At this juncture it began to +rain violently, and we motioned them to lead us to some place of +shelter. With this request they appeared willing to comply, but +nothing could evince more strongly the apprehension with which +they regarded us, than the way in which, whilst walking before +us, they kept their eyes constantly turned back to watch every +movement we made, and even our very looks. + +'Typee or Happar, Toby?' asked I as we walked after them. + +'Of course Happar,' he replied, with a show of confidence which +was intended to disguise his doubts. + +'We shall soon know,' I exclaimed; and at the same moment I +stepped forward towards our guides, and pronouncing the two names +interrogatively and pointing to the lowest part of the valley, +endeavoured to come to the point at once. They repeated the +words after me again and again, but without giving any peculiar +emphasis to either, so that I was completely at a loss to +understand them; for a couple of wilier young things than we +afterwards found them to have been on this particular occasion +never probably fell in any traveller's way. + +More and more curious to ascertain our fate, I now threw together +in the form of a question the words 'Happar' and 'Motarkee', the +latter being equivalent to the word 'good'. The two natives +interchanged glances of peculiar meaning with one another at +this, and manifested no little surprise; but on the repetition of +the question after some consultation together, to the great joy +of Toby, they answered in the affirmative. Toby was now in +ecstasies, especially as the young savages continued to reiterate +their answer with great energy, as though desirous of impressing +us with the idea that being among the Happars, we ought to +consider ourselves perfectly secure. + +Although I had some lingering doubts, I feigned great delight +with Toby at this announcement, while my companion broke out into +a pantomimic abhorrence of Typee, and immeasurable love for the +particular valley in which we were; our guides all the while +gazing uneasily at one another as if at a loss to account for our +conduct. + +They hurried on, and we followed them; until suddenly they set up +a strange halloo, which was answered from beyond the grove +through which we were passing, and the next moment we entered +upon some open ground, at the extremity of which we descried a +long, low hut, and in front of it were several young girls. As +soon as they perceived us they fled with wild screams into the +adjoining thickets, like so many startled fawns. A few moments +after the whole valley resounded with savage outcries, and the +natives came running towards us from every direction. + +Had an army of invaders made an irruption into their territory +they could not have evinced greater excitement. We were soon +completely encircled by a dense throng, and in their eager desire +to behold us they almost arrested our progress; an equal number +surrounded our youthful guides, who with amazing volubility +appeared to be detailing the circumstances which had attended +their meeting with us. Every item of intelligence appeared to +redouble the astonishment of the islanders, and they gazed at us +with inquiring looks. + +At last we reached a large and handsome building of bamboos, and +were by signs told to enter it, the natives opening a lane for us +through which to pass; on entering without ceremony, we threw our +exhausted frames upon the mats that covered the floor. In a +moment the slight tenement was completely full of people, whilst +those who were unable to obtain admittance gazed at us through +its open cane-work. + +It was now evening, and by the dim light we could just discern +the savage countenances around us, gleaming with wild curiosity +and wonder; the naked forms and tattooed limbs of brawny +warriors, with here and there the slighter figures of young +girls, all engaged in a perfect storm of conversation, of which +we were of course the one only theme, whilst our recent guides +were fully occupied in answering the innumerable questions which +every one put to them. Nothing can exceed the fierce +gesticulation of these people when animated in conversation, and +on this occasion they gave loose to all their natural vivacity, +shouting and dancing about in a manner that well nigh intimidated +us. + +Close to where we lay, squatting upon their haunches, were some +eight or ten noble-looking chiefs--for such they subsequently +proved to be--who, more reserved than the rest, regarded us with +a fixed and stern attention, which not a little discomposed our +equanimity. One of them in particular, who appeared to be the +highest in rank, placed himself directly facing me, looking at me +with a rigidity of aspect under which I absolutely quailed. He +never once opened his lips, but maintained his severe expression +of countenance, without turning his face aside for a single +moment. Never before had I been subjected to so strange and +steady a glance; it revealed nothing of the mind of the savage, +but it appeared to be reading my own. + +After undergoing this scrutiny till I grew absolutely nervous, +with a view of diverting it if possible, and conciliating the +good opinion of the warrior, I took some tobacco from the bosom +of my frock and offered it to him. He quietly rejected the +proffered gift, and, without speaking, motioned me to return it +to its place. + +In my previous intercourse with the natives of Nukuheva and Tior, +I had found that the present of a small piece of tobacco would +have rendered any of them devoted to my service. Was this act of +the chief a token of his enmity? Typee or Happar? I asked +within myself. I started, for at the same moment this identical +question was asked by the strange being before me. I turned to +Toby, the flickering light of a native taper showed me his +countenance pale with trepidation at this fatal question. I +paused for a second, and I know not by what impulse it was that I +answered 'Typee'. The piece of dusky statuary nodded in +approval, and then murmured 'Motarkee!' 'Motarkee,' said I, +without further hesitation 'Typee motarkee.' + +What a transition! The dark figures around us leaped to their +feet, clapped their hands in transport, and shouted again and +again the talismanic syllables, the utterance of which appeared +to have settled everything. + +When this commotion had a little subsided, the principal chief +squatted once more before me, and throwing himself into a sudden +rage, poured forth a string of philippics, which I was at no loss +to understand, from the frequent recurrence of the word Happar, +as being directed against the natives of the adjoining valley. +In all these denunciations my companion and I acquiesced, while +we extolled the character of the warlike Typees. To be sure our +panegyrics were somewhat laconic, consisting in the repetition of +that name, united with the potent adjective 'motarkee'. But this +was sufficient, and served to conciliate the good will of the +natives, with whom our congeniality of sentiment on this point +did more towards inspiring a friendly feeling than anything else +that could have happened. + +At last the wrath of the chief evaporated, and in a few moments +he was as placid as ever. Laying his hand upon his breast, he +gave me to understand that his name was 'Mehevi', and that, in +return, he wished me to communicate my appellation. I hesitated +for an instant, thinking that it might be difficult for him to +pronounce my real name, and then with the most praiseworthy +intentions intimated that I was known as 'Tom'. But I could not +have made a worse selection; the chief could not master it. +'Tommo,' 'Tomma', 'Tommee', everything but plain 'Tom'. As he +persisted in garnishing the word with an additional syllable, I +compromised the matter with him at the word 'Tommo'; and by that +name I went during the entire period of my stay in the valley. +The same proceeding was gone through with Toby, whose mellifluous +appellation was more easily caught. + +An exchange of names is equivalent to a ratification of good will +and amity among these simple people; and as we were aware of this +fact, we were delighted that it had taken place on the present +occasion. + +Reclining upon our mats, we now held a kind of levee, giving +audience to successive troops of the natives, who introduced +themselves to us by pronouncing their respective names, and +retired in high good humour on receiving ours in return. During +this ceremony the greatest merriment prevailed nearly every +announcement on the part of the islanders being followed by a +fresh sally of gaiety, which induced me to believe that some of +them at least were innocently diverting the company at our +expense, by bestowing upon themselves a string of absurd titles, +of the humour of which we were of course entirely ignorant. + +All this occupied about an hour, when the throng having a little +diminished, I turned to Mehevi and gave him to understand that we +were in need of food and sleep. Immediately the attentive chief +addressed a few words to one of the crowd, who disappeared, and +returned in a few moments with a calabash of 'poee-poee', and two +or three young cocoanuts stripped of their husks, and with their +shells partly broken. We both of us forthwith placed one of +these natural goblets to our lips, and drained it in a moment of +the refreshing draught it contained. The poee-poee was then +placed before us, and even famished as I was, I paused to +consider in what manner to convey it to my mouth. + +This staple article of food among the Marquese islanders is +manufactured from the produce of the bread-fruit tree. It +somewhat resembles in its plastic nature our bookbinders' paste, +is of a yellow colour, and somewhat tart to the taste. + +Such was the dish, the merits of which I was now eager to +discuss. I eyed it wistfully for a moment, and then, unable any +longer to stand on ceremony, plunged my hand into the yielding +mass, and to the boisterous mirth of the natives drew it forth +laden with the poee-poee, which adhered in lengthy strings to +every finger. So stubborn was its consistency, that in conveying +my heavily-weighted hand to my mouth, the connecting links almost +raised the calabash from the mats on which it had been placed. +This display of awkwardness--in which, by-the-bye, Toby kept me +company--convulsed the bystanders with uncontrollable laughter. + +As soon as their merriment had somewhat subsided, Mehevi, +motioning us to be attentive, dipped the forefinger of his right +hand in the dish, and giving it a rapid and scientific twirl, +drew it out coated smoothly with the preparation. With a second +peculiar flourish he prevented the poee-poee from dropping to the +ground as he raised it to his mouth, into which the finger was +inserted and drawn forth perfectly free from any adhesive matter. + +This performance was evidently intended for our instruction; so I +again essayed the feat on the principles inculcated, but with +very ill success. + +A starving man, however, little heeds conventional proprieties, +especially on a South-Sea Island, and accordingly Toby and I +partook of the dish after our own clumsy fashion, beplastering +our faces all over with the glutinous compound, and daubing our +hands nearly to the wrist. This kind of food is by no means +disagreeable to the palate of a European, though at first the +mode of eating it may be. For my own part, after the lapse of a +few days I became accustomed to its singular flavour, and grew +remarkably fond of it. + +So much for the first course; several other dishes followed it, +some of which were positively delicious. We concluded our +banquet by tossing off the contents of two more young cocoanuts, +after which we regaled ourselves with the soothing fumes of +tobacco, inhaled from a quaintly carved pipe which passed round +the circle. + +During the repast, the natives eyed us with intense curiosity, +observing our minutest motions, and appearing to discover +abundant matter for comment in the most trifling occurrence. +Their surprise mounted the highest, when we began to remove our +uncomfortable garments, which were saturated with rain. They +scanned the whiteness of our limbs, and seemed utterly unable to +account for the contrast they presented to the swarthy hue of our +faces embrowned from a six months' exposure to the scorching sun +of the Line. They felt our skin, much in the same way that a +silk mercer would handle a remarkably fine piece of satin; and +some of them went so far in their investigation as to apply the +olfactory organ. + +Their singular behaviour almost led me to imagine that they never +before had beheld a white man; but a few moments' reflection +convinced me that this could not have been the case; and a more +satisfactory reason for their conduct has since suggested itself +to my mind. + +Deterred by the frightful stories related of its inhabitants, +ships never enter this bay, while their hostile relations with +the tribes in the adjoining valleys prevent the Typees from +visiting that section of the island where vessels occasionally +lie. At long intervals, however, some intrepid captain will +touch on the skirts of the bay, with two or three armed boats' +crews and accompanied by interpreters. The natives who live near +the sea descry the strangers long before they reach their waters, +and aware of the purpose for which they come, proclaim loudly the +news of their approach. By a species of vocal telegraph the +intelligence reaches the inmost recesses of the vale in an +inconceivably short space of time, drawing nearly its whole +population down to the beach laden with every variety of fruit. +The interpreter, who is invariably a 'tabooed Kanaka'*, leaps +ashore with the goods intended for barter, while the boats, with +their oars shipped, and every man on his thwart, lie just outside +the surf, heading off the shore, in readiness at the first +untoward event to escape to the open sea. As soon as the traffic +is concluded, one of the boats pulls in under cover of the +muskets of the others, the fruit is quickly thrown into her, and +the transient visitors precipitately retire from what they justly +consider so dangerous a vicinity. + +* The word 'Kanaka' is at the present day universally used in the +South Seas by Europeans to designate the Islanders. In the +various dialects of the principal groups it is simply a sexual +designation applied to the males; but it is now used by the +natives in their intercourse with foreigners in the same sense in +which the latter employ it. + +A 'Tabooed Kanaka' is an islander whose person has been made to a +certain extent sacred by the operation of a singular custom +hereafter to be explained. + + + +The intercourse occurring with Europeans being so restricted, no +wonder that the inhabitants of the valley manifested so much +curiosity with regard to us, appearing as we did among them under +such singular circumstances. I have no doubt that we were the +first white men who ever penetrated thus far back into their +territories, or at least the first who had ever descended from +the head of the vale. What had brought us thither must have +appeared a complete mystery to them, and from our ignorance of +the language it was impossible for us to enlighten them. In +answer to inquiries which the eloquence of their gestures enabled +us to comprehend, all that we could reply was, that we had come +from Nukuheva, a place, be it remembered, with which they were at +open war. This intelligence appeared to affect them with the +most lively emotions. 'Nukuheva motarkee?' they asked. Of +course we replied most energetically in the negative. + +Then they plied us with a thousand questions, of which we could +understand nothing more than that they had reference to the +recent movements of the French, against whom they seemed to +cherish the most fierce hatred. So eager were they to obtain +information on this point, that they still continued to propound +their queries long after we had shown that we were utterly unable +to answer them. Occasionally we caught some indistinct idea of +their meaning, when we would endeavour by every method in our +power to communicate the desired intelligence. At such times +their gratification was boundless, and they would redouble their +efforts to make us comprehend them more perfectly. But all in +vain; and in the end they looked at us despairingly, as if we +were the receptacles of invaluable information; but how to come +at it they knew not. + +After a while the group around us gradually dispersed, and we +were left about midnight (as we conjectured) with those who +appeared to be permanent residents of the house. These +individuals now provided us with fresh mats to lie upon, covered +us with several folds of tappa, and then extinguishing the tapers +that had been burning, threw themselves down beside us, and after +a little desultory conversation were soon sound asleep. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN + +MIDNIGHT REFLECTIONS--MORNING VISITORS--A WARRIOR IN COSTUME--A +SAVAGE AESCULAPIUS--PRACTICE OF THE HEALING ART--BODY SERVANT--A +DWELLING-HOUSE OF THE VALLEY DESCRIBED--PORTRAITS OF ITS INMATES + +VARIOUS and conflicting were the thoughts which oppressed me +during the silent hours that followed the events related in the +preceding chapter. Toby, wearied with the fatigues of the day, +slumbered heavily by my side; but the pain under which I was +suffering effectually prevented my sleeping, and I remained +distressingly alive to all the fearful circumstances of our +present situation. Was it possible that, after all our +vicissitudes, we were really in the terrible valley of Typee, and +at the mercy of its inmates, a fierce and unrelenting tribe of +savages? Typee or Happar? I shuddered when I reflected that +there was no longer any room for doubt; and that, beyond all hope +of escape, we were now placed in those very circumstances from +the bare thought of which I had recoiled with such abhorrence but +a few days before. What might not be our fearful destiny? To be +sure, as yet we had been treated with no violence; nay, had been +even kindly and hospitably entertained. But what dependence +could be placed upon the fickle passions which sway the bosom of +a savage? His inconstancy and treachery are proverbial. Might +it not be that beneath these fair appearances the islanders +covered some perfidious design, and that their friendly reception +of us might only precede some horrible catastrophe? How strongly +did these forebodings spring up in my mind as I lay restlessly +upon a couch of mats surrounded by the dimly revealed forms of +those whom I so greatly dreaded! + +From the excitement of these fearful thoughts I sank towards +morning into an uneasy slumber; and on awaking, with a start, in +the midst of an appalling dream, looked up into the eager +countenance of a number of the natives, who were bending over me. + +It was broad day; and the house was nearly filled with young +females, fancifully decorated with flowers, who gazed upon me as +I rose with faces in which childish delight and curiosity were +vividly portrayed. After waking Toby, they seated themselves +round us on the mats, and gave full play to that prying +inquisitiveness which time out of mind has been attributed to the +adorable sex. + +As these unsophisticated young creatures were attended by no +jealous duennas, their proceedings were altogether informal, and +void of artificial restraint. Long and minute was the +investigation with which they honoured us, and so uproarious +their mirth, that I felt infinitely sheepish; and Toby was +immeasurably outraged at their familiarity. + +These lively young ladies were at the same time wonderfully +polite and humane; fanning aside the insects that occasionally +lighted on our brows; presenting us with food; and +compassionately regarding me in the midst of my afflictions. But +in spite of all their blandishments, my feelings of propriety +were exceedingly shocked, for I could but consider them as having +overstepped the due limits of female decorum. + +Having diverted themselves to their hearts' content, our young +visitants now withdrew, and gave place to successive troops of +the other sex, who continued flocking towards the house until +near noon; by which time I have no doubt that the greater part of +the inhabitants of the valley had bathed themselves in the light +of our benignant countenances. + +At last, when their numbers began to diminish, a superb-looking +warrior stooped the towering plumes of his head-dress beneath +the low portal, and entered the house. I saw at once that he was +some distinguished personage, the natives regarding him with the +utmost deference, and making room for him as he approached. His +aspect was imposing. The splendid long drooping tail-feathers of +the tropical bird, thickly interspersed with the gaudy plumage of +the cock, were disposed in an immense upright semicircle upon his +head, their lower extremities being fixed in a crescent of +guinea-heads which spanned the forehead. Around his neck were +several enormous necklaces of boar's tusks, polished like ivory, +and disposed in such a manner as that the longest and largest +were upon his capacious chest. Thrust forward through the large +apertures in his ears were two small and finely-shaped sperm +whale teeth, presenting their cavities in front, stuffed with +freshly-plucked leaves, and curiously wrought at the other end +into strange little images and devices. These barbaric trinkets, +garnished in this manner at their open extremities, and tapering +and curving round to a point behind the ear, resembled not a +little a pair of cornucopias. + +The loins of the warrior were girt about with heavy folds of a +dark-coloured tappa, hanging before and behind in clusters of +braided tassels, while anklets and bracelets of curling human +hair completed his unique costume. In his right hand he grasped +a beautifully carved paddle-spear, nearly fifteen feet in length, +made of the bright koar-wood, one end sharply pointed, and the +other flattened like an oar-blade. Hanging obliquely from his +girdle by a loop of sinnate was a richly decorated pipe; the +slender reed forming its stem was coloured with a red pigment, +and round it, as well as the idol-bowl, fluttered little +streamers of the thinnest tappa. + +But that which was most remarkable in the appearance of this +splendid islander was the elaborate tattooing displayed on every +noble limb. All imaginable lines and curves and figures were +delineated over his whole body, and in their grotesque variety +and infinite profusion I could only compare them to the crowded +groupings of quaint patterns we sometimes see in costly pieces of +lacework. The most simple and remarkable of all these ornaments +was that which decorated the countenance of the chief. Two broad +stripes of tattooing, diverging from the centre of his shaven +crown, obliquely crossed both eyes--staining the lids--to a +little below each ear, where they united with another stripe +which swept in a straight line along the lips and formed the base +of the triangle. The warrior, from the excellence of his +physical proportions, might certainly have been regarded as one +of Nature's noblemen, and the lines drawn upon his face may +possibly have denoted his exalted rank. + +This warlike personage, upon entering the house, seated himself +at some distance from the spot where Toby and myself reposed, +while the rest of the savages looked alternately from us to him, +as if in expectation of something they were disappointed in not +perceiving. Regarding the chief attentively, I thought his +lineaments appeared familiar to me. As soon as his full face was +turned upon me, and I again beheld its extraordinary +embellishment, and met the strange gaze to which I had been +subjected the preceding night, I immediately, in spite of the +alteration in his appearance, recognized the noble Mehevi. On +addressing him, he advanced at once in the most cordial manner, +and greeting me warmly, seemed to enjoy not a little the effect +his barbaric costume had produced upon me. + +I forthwith determined to secure, if possible, the good-will of +this individual, as I easily perceived he was a man of great +authority in his tribe, and one who might exert a powerful +influence upon our subsequent fate. In the endeavour I was not +repulsed; for nothing could surpass the friendliness he +manifested towards both my companion and myself. He extended his +sturdy limbs by our side, and endeavoured to make us comprehend +the full extent of the kindly feelings by which he was actuated. +The almost insuperable difficulty in communicating to one another +our ideas affected the chief with no little mortification. He +evinced a great desire to be enlightened with regard to the +customs and peculiarities of the far-off country we had left +behind us, and to which under the name of Maneeka he frequently +alluded. + +But that which more than any other subject engaged his attention +was the late proceedings of the 'Frannee' as he called the +French, in the neighbouring bay of Nukuheva. This seemed a +never-ending theme with him, and one concerning which he was +never weary of interrogating us. All the information we +succeeded in imparting to him on this subject was little more +than that we had seen six men-of-war lying in the hostile bay at +the time we had left it. When he received this intelligence, +Mehevi, by the aid of his fingers, went through a long numerical +calculation, as if estimating the number of Frenchmen the +squadron might contain. + +It was just after employing his faculties in this way that he +happened to notice the swelling in my limb. He immediately +examined it with the utmost attention, and after doing so, +despatched a boy who happened to be standing by with some +message. + +After the lapse of a few moments the stripling re-entered the +house with an aged islander, who might have been taken for old +Hippocrates himself. His head was as bald as the polished +surface of a cocoanut shell, which article it precisely resembled +in smoothness and colour, while a long silvery beard swept almost +to his girdle of bark. Encircling his temples was a bandeau of +the twisted leaves of the Omoo tree, pressed closely over the +brows to shield his feeble vision from the glare of the sun. His +tottering steps were supported by a long slim staff, resembling +the wand with which a theatrical magician appears on the stage, +and in one hand he carried a freshly plaited fan of the green +leaflets of the cocoanut tree. A flowing robe of tappa, knotted +over the shoulder, hung loosely round his stooping form, and +heightened the venerableness of his aspect. + +Mehevi, saluting this old gentleman, motioned him to a seat +between us, and then uncovering my limb, desired him to examine +it. The leech gazed intently from me to Toby, and then proceeded +to business. After diligently observing the ailing member, he +commenced manipulating it; and on the supposition probably that +the complaint had deprived the leg of all sensation, began to +pinch and hammer it in such a manner that I absolutely roared +with pain. Thinking that I was as capable of making an +application of thumps and pinches to the part as any one else, I +endeavoured to resist this species of medical treatment. But it +was not so easy a matter to get out of the clutches of the old +wizard; he fastened on the unfortunate limb as if it were +something for which he had been long seeking, and muttering some +kind of incantation continued his discipline, pounding it after a +fashion that set me well nigh crazy; while Mehevi, upon the same +principle which prompts an affectionate mother to hold a +struggling child in a dentist's chair, restrained me in his +powerful grasp, and actually encouraged the wretch in this +infliction of torture. + +Almost frantic with rage and pain, I yelled like a bedlamite; +while Toby, throwing himself into all the attitudes of a +posture-master, vainly endeavoured to expostulate with the +natives by signs and gestures. To have looked at my companion, +as, sympathizing with my sufferings, he strove to put an end to +them, one would have thought that he was the deaf and dumb +alphabet incarnated. Whether my tormentor yielded to Toby's +entreaties, or paused from sheer exhaustion, I do not know; but +all at once he ceased his operations, and at the same time the +chief relinquishing his hold upon me, I fell back, faint and +breathless with the agony I had endured. + +My unfortunate limb was now left much in the same condition as a +rump-steak after undergoing the castigating process which +precedes cooking. My physician, having recovered from the +fatigues of his exertions, as if anxious to make amends for the +pain to which he had subjected me, now took some herbs out of a +little wallet that was suspended from his waist, and moistening +them in water, applied them to the inflamed part, stooping over +it at the same time, and either whispering a spell, or having a +little confidential chat with some imaginary demon located in the +calf of my leg. My limb was now swathed in leafy bandages, and +grateful to Providence for the cessation of hostilities, I was +suffered to rest. + +Mehevi shortly after rose to depart; but before he went he spoke +authoritatively to one of the natives whom he addressed as +Kory-Kory; and from the little I could understand of what took +place, pointed him out to me as a man whose peculiar business +thenceforth would be to attend upon my person. I am not certain +that I comprehended as much as this at the time, but the +subsequent conduct of my trusty body-servant fully assured me +that such must have been the case. + +I could not but be amused at the manner in which the chief +addressed me upon this occasion, talking to me for at least +fifteen or twenty minutes as calmly as if I could understand +every word that he said. I remarked this peculiarity very often +afterwards in many other of the islanders. + +Mehevi having now departed, and the family physician having +likewise made his exit, we were left about sunset with ten or +twelve natives, who by this time I had ascertained composed the +household of which Toby and I were members. As the dwelling to +which we had been first introduced was the place of my permanent +abode while I remained in the valley, and as I was necessarily +placed upon the most intimate footing with its occupants, I may +as well here enter into a little description of it and its +inhabitants. This description will apply also to nearly all the +other dwelling-places in the vale, and will furnish some idea of +the generality of the natives. + +Near one side of the valley, and about midway up the ascent of a +rather abrupt rise of ground waving with the richest verdure, a +number of large stones were laid in successive courses, to the +height of nearly eight feet, and disposed in such a manner that +their level surface corresponded in shape with the habitation +which was perched upon it. A narrow space, however, was reserved +in front of the dwelling, upon the summit of this pile of stones +(called by the natives a 'pi-pi'), which being enclosed by a +little picket of canes, gave it somewhat the appearance of a +verandah. The frame of the house was constructed of large +bamboos planted uprightly, and secured together at intervals by +transverse stalks of the light wood of the habiscus, lashed with +thongs of bark. The rear of the tenement--built up with +successive ranges of cocoanut boughs bound one upon another, with +their leaflets cunningly woven together--inclined a little from +the vertical, and extended from the extreme edge of the 'pi-pi' +to about twenty feet from its surface; whence the shelving +roof--thatched with the long tapering leaves of the +palmetto--sloped steeply off to within about five feet of the +floor; leaving the eaves drooping with tassel-like appendages +over the front of the habitation. This was constructed of light +and elegant canes in a kind of open screenwork, tastefully +adorned with bindings of variegated sinnate, which served to hold +together its various parts. The sides of the house were +similarly built; thus presenting three quarters for the +circulation of the air, while the whole was impervious to the +rain. + +In length this picturesque building was perhaps twelve yards, +while in breadth it could not have exceeded as many feet. So +much for the exterior; which, with its wire-like reed-twisted +sides, not a little reminded me of an immense aviary. + +Stooping a little, you passed through a narrow aperture in its +front; and facing you, on entering, lay two long, perfectly +straight, and well-polished trunks of the cocoanut tree, +extending the full length of the dwelling; one of them placed +closely against the rear, and the other lying parallel with it +some two yards distant, the interval between them being spread +with a multitude of gaily-worked mats, nearly all of a different +pattern. This space formed the common couch and lounging place +of the natives, answering the purpose of a divan in Oriental +countries. Here would they slumber through the hours of the +night, and recline luxuriously during the greater part of the +day. The remainder of the floor presented only the cool shining +surfaces of the large stones of which the 'pi-pi' was composed. + +From the ridge-pole of the house hung suspended a number of large +packages enveloped in coarse tappa; some of which contained +festival dresses, and various other matters of the wardrobe, held +in high estimation. These were easily accessible by means of a +line, which, passing over the ridge-pole, had one end attached to +a bundle, while with the other, which led to the side of the +dwelling and was there secured, the package could be lowered or +elevated at pleasure. + +Against the farther wall of the house were arranged in tasteful +figures a variety of spears and javelins, and other implements of +savage warfare. Outside of the habitation, and built upon the +piazza-like area in its front, was a little shed used as a sort +of larder or pantry, and in which were stored various articles of +domestic use and convenience. A few yards from the pi-pi was a +large shed built of cocoanut boughs, where the process of +preparing the 'poee-poee' was carried on, and all culinary +operations attended to. + +Thus much for the house, and its appurtenances; and it will be +readily acknowledged that a more commodious and appropriate +dwelling for the climate and the people could not possibly be +devised. It was cool, free to admit the air, scrupulously clean, +and elevated above the dampness and impurities of the ground. + +But now to sketch the inmates; and here I claim for my tried +servitor and faithful valet Kory-Kory the precedence of a first +description. As his character will be gradually unfolded in the +course of my narrative, I shall for the present content myself +with delineating his personal appearance. Kory-Kory, though the +most devoted and best natured serving-man in the world, was, +alas! a hideous object to look upon. He was some twenty-five +years of age, and about six feet in height, robust and well made, +and of the most extraordinary aspect. His head was carefully +shaven with the exception of two circular spots, about the size +of a dollar, near the top of the cranium, where the hair, +permitted to grow of an amazing length, was twisted up in two +prominent knots, that gave him the appearance of being decorated +with a pair of horns. His beard, plucked out by the root from +every other part of his face, was suffered to droop in hairy +pendants, two of which garnished his under lip, and an equal +number hung from the extremity of his chin. + +Kory-Kory, with a view of improving the handiwork of nature, and +perhaps prompted by a desire to add to the engaging expression of +his countenance, had seen fit to embellish his face with three +broad longitudinal stripes of tattooing, which, like those +country roads that go straight forward in defiance of all +obstacles, crossed his nasal organ, descended into the hollow of +his eyes, and even skirted the borders of his mouth. Each +completely spanned his physiognomy; one extending in a line with +his eyes, another crossing the face in the vicinity of the nose, +and the third sweeping along his lips from ear to ear. His +countenance thus triply hooped, as it were, with tattooing, +always reminded me of those unhappy wretches whom I have +sometimes observed gazing out sentimentally from behind the +grated bars of a prison window; whilst the entire body of my +savage valet, covered all over with representations of birds and +fishes, and a variety of most unaccountable-looking creatures, +suggested to me the idea of a pictorial museum of natural +history, or an illustrated copy of 'Goldsmith's Animated Nature.' + +But it seems really heartless in me to write thus of the poor +islander, when I owe perhaps to his unremitting attentions the +very existence I now enjoy. Kory-Kory, I mean thee no harm in +what I say in regard to thy outward adornings; but they were a +little curious to my unaccustomed sight, and therefore I dilate +upon them. But to underrate or forget thy faithful services is +something I could never be guilty of, even in the giddiest moment +of my life. + +The father of my attached follower was a native of gigantic +frame, and had once possessed prodigious physical powers; but the +lofty form was now yielding to the inroads of time, though the +hand of disease seemed never to have been laid upon the aged +warrior. Marheyo--for such was his name--appeared to have +retired from all active participation in the affairs of the +valley, seldom or never accompanying the natives in their various +expeditions; and employing the greater part of his time in +throwing up a little shed just outside the house, upon which he +was engaged to my certain knowledge for four months, without +appearing to make any sensible advance. I suppose the old +gentleman was in his dotage, for he manifested in various ways +the characteristics which mark this particular stage of life. + +I remember in particular his having a choice pair of +ear-ornaments, fabricated from the teeth of some sea-monster. +These he would alternately wear and take off at least fifty times +in the course of the day, going and coming from his little hut on +each occasion with all the tranquillity imaginable. Sometimes +slipping them through the slits in his ears, he would seize his +spear--which in length and slightness resembled a +fishing-pole--and go stalking beneath the shadows of the +neighbouring groves, as if about to give a hostile meeting to +some cannibal knight. But he would soon return again, and hiding +his weapon under the projecting eaves of the house, and rolling +his clumsy trinkets carefully in a piece of tappa, would resume +his more pacific operations as quietly as if he had never +interrupted them. + +But despite his eccentricities, Marheyo was a most paternal and +warm-hearted old fellow, and in this particular not a little +resembled his son Kory-Kory. The mother of the latter was the +mistress of the family, and a notable housewife, and a most +industrious old lady she was. If she did not understand the art +of making jellies, jams, custard, tea-cakes, and such like trashy +affairs, she was profoundly skilled in the mysteries of preparing +'amar', 'poee-poee', and 'kokoo', with other substantial matters. + +She was a genuine busy-body; bustling about the house like a +country landlady at an unexpected arrival; for ever giving the +young girls tasks to perform, which the little hussies as often +neglected; poking into every corner, and rummaging over bundles +of old tappa, or making a prodigious clatter among the +calabashes. Sometimes she might have been seen squatting upon +her haunches in front of a huge wooden basin, and kneading +poee-poee with terrific vehemence, dashing the stone pestle about +as if she would shiver the vessel into fragments; on other +occasions, galloping about the valley in search of a particular +kind of leaf, used in some of her recondite operations, and +returning home, toiling and sweating, with a bundle of it, under +which most women would have sunk. + +To tell the truth, Kory-Kory's mother was the only industrious +person in all the valley of Typee; and she could not have +employed herself more actively had she been left an exceedingly +muscular and destitute widow, with an inordinate ate supply of +young children, in the bleakest part of the civilized world. +There was not the slightest necessity for the greater portion of +the labour performed by the old lady: but she seemed to work from +some irresistible impulse; her limbs continually swaying to and +fro, as if there were some indefatigable engine concealed within +her body which kept her in perpetual motion. + +Never suppose that she was a termagant or a shrew for all this; +she had the kindliest heart in the world, and acted towards me in +particular in a truly maternal manner, occasionally putting some +little morsel of choice food into my hand, some outlandish kind +of savage sweetmeat or pastry, like a doting mother petting a +sickly urchin with tarts and sugar plums. Warm indeed are my +remembrances of the dear, good, affectionate old Tinor! + +Besides the individuals I have mentioned, there belonged to the +household three young men, dissipated, good-for-nothing, +roystering blades of savages, who were either employed in +prosecuting love affairs with the maidens of the tribe, or grew +boozy on 'arva' and tobacco in the company of congenial spirits, +the scapegraces of the valley. + +Among the permanent inmates of the house were likewise several +lovely damsels, who instead of thrumming pianos and reading +novels, like more enlightened young ladies, substituted for these +employments the manufacture of a fine species of tappa; but for +the greater portion of the time were skipping from house to +house, gadding and gossiping with their acquaintances. + +From the rest of these, however, I must except the beauteous +nymph Fayaway, who was my peculiar favourite. Her free pliant +figure was the very perfection of female grace and beauty. Her +complexion was a rich and mantling olive, and when watching the +glow upon her cheeks I could almost swear that beneath the +transparent medium there lurked the blushes of a faint vermilion. + +The face of this girl was a rounded oval, and each feature as +perfectly formed as the heart or imagination of man could desire. + +Her full lips, when parted with a smile, disclosed teeth of +dazzling whiteness and when her rosy mouth opened with a burst of +merriment, they looked like the milk-white seeds of the 'arta,' a +fruit of the valley, which, when cleft in twain, shows them +reposing in rows on each side, imbedded in the red and juicy +pulp. Her hair of the deepest brown, parted irregularly in the +middle, flowed in natural ringlets over her shoulders, and +whenever she chanced to stoop, fell over and hid from view her +lovely bosom. Gazing into the depths of her strange blue eyes, +when she was in a contemplative mood, they seemed most placid yet +unfathomable; but when illuminated by some lively emotion, they +beamed upon the beholder like stars. The hands of Fayaway were +as soft and delicate as those of any countess; for an entire +exemption from rude labour marks the girlhood and even prime of a +Typee woman's life. Her feet, though wholly exposed, were as +diminutive and fairly shaped as those which peep from beneath the +skirts of a Lima lady's dress. The skin of this young creature, +from continual ablutions and the use of mollifying ointments, was +inconceivably smooth and soft. + +I may succeed, perhaps, in particularizing some of the individual +features of Fayaway's beauty, but that general loveliness of +appearance which they all contributed to produce I will not +attempt to describe. The easy unstudied graces of a child of +nature like this, breathing from infancy an atmosphere of +perpetual summer, and nurtured by the simple fruits of the earth; +enjoying a perfect freedom from care and anxiety, and removed +effectually from all injurious tendencies, strike the eye in a +manner which cannot be pourtrayed. This picture is no fancy +sketch; it is drawn from the most vivid recollections of the +person delineated. + +Were I asked if the beauteous form of Fayaway was altogether free +from the hideous blemish of tattooing, I should be constrained to +answer that it was not. But the practitioners of the barbarous +art, so remorseless in their inflictions upon the brawny limbs of +the warriors of the tribe, seem to be conscious that it needs not +the resources of their profession to augment the charms of the +maidens of the vale. + +The females are very little embellished in this way, and Fayaway, +and all the other young girls of her age, were even less so than +those of their sex more advanced in years. The reason of this +peculiarity will be alluded to hereafter. All the tattooing that +the nymph in question exhibited upon her person may be easily +described. Three minute dots, no bigger than pin-heads, +decorated each lip, and at a little distance were not at all +discernible. Just upon the fall of the shoulder were drawn two +parallel lines half an inch apart, and perhaps three inches in +length, the interval being filled with delicately executed +figures. These narrow bands of tattooing, thus placed, always +reminded me of those stripes of gold lace worn by officers in +undress, and which are in lieu of epaulettes to denote their +rank. + +Thus much was Fayaway tattooed. The audacious hand which had +gone so far in its desecrating work stopping short, apparently +wanting the heart to proceed. + +But I have omitted to describe the dress worn by this nymph of +the valley. + +Fayaway--I must avow the fact--for the most part clung to the +primitive and summer garb of Eden. But how becoming the costume! + +It showed her fine figure to the best possible advantage; and +nothing could have been better adapted to her peculiar style of +beauty. On ordinary occasions she was habited precisely as I +have described the two youthful savages whom we had met on first +entering the valley. At other times, when rambling among the +groves, or visiting at the houses of her acquaintances, she wore +a tunic of white tappa, reaching from her waist to a little below +the knees; and when exposed for any length of time to the sun, +she invariably protected herself from its rays by a floating +mantle of--the same material, loosely gathered about the person. +Her gala dress will be described hereafter. + +As the beauties of our own land delight in bedecking themselves +with fanciful articles of jewellery, suspending them from their +ears, hanging them about their necks, and clasping them around +their wrists; so Fayaway and her companions were in the habit of +ornamenting themselves with similar appendages. + +Flora was their jeweller. Sometimes they wore necklaces of small +carnation flowers, strung like rubies upon a fibre of tappa, or +displayed in their ears a single white bud, the stem thrust +backward through the aperture, and showing in front the delicate +petals folded together in a beautiful sphere, and looking like a +drop of the purest pearl. Chaplets too, resembling in their +arrangement the strawberry coronal worn by an English peeress, +and composed of intertwined leaves and blossoms, often crowned +their temples; and bracelets and anklets of the same tasteful +pattern were frequently to be seen. Indeed, the maidens of the +island were passionately fond of flowers, and never wearied of +decorating their persons with them; a lovely trait in their +character, and one that ere long will be more fully alluded to. + +Though in my eyes, at least, Fayaway was indisputably the +loveliest female I saw in Typee, yet the description I have given +of her will in some measure apply to nearly all the youthful +portion of her sex in the valley. Judge ye then, reader, what +beautiful creatures they must have been. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE + +OFFICIOUSNESS OF KORY-KORY--HIS DEVOTION--A BATH IN THE +STREAM--WANT OF REFINEMENT OF THE TYPEE DAMSELS--STROLL WITH +MEHEVI--A TYPEE HIGHWAY--THE TABOO GROVES--THE HOOLAH HOOLAH +GROUND--THE TI--TIMEWORN SAVAGES--HOSPITALITY OF MEHEVI--MIDNIGHT +MUSINGS--ADVENTURES IN THE DARK--DISTINGUISHED HONOURS PAID TO +THE VISITORS--STRANGE PROCESSION AND RETURN TO THE HOUSE OF +MARHEYO + +WHEN Mehevi had departed from the house, as related in the +preceding chapter, Kory-Kory commenced the functions of the post +assigned him. He brought out, various kinds of food; and, as if +I were an infant, insisted upon feeding me with his own hands. +To this procedure I, of course, most earnestly objected, but in +vain; and having laid a calabash of kokoo before me, he washed +his fingers in a vessel of water, and then putting his hands into +the dish and rolling the food into little balls, put them one +after another into my mouth. All my remonstrances against this +measure only provoked so great a clamour on his part, that I was +obliged to acquiesce; and the operation of feeding being thus +facilitated, the meal was quickly despatched. As for Toby, he +was allowed to help himself after his own fashion. + +The repast over, my attendant arranged the mats for repose, and, +bidding me lie down, covered me with a large robe of tappa, at +the same time looking approvingly upon me, and exclaiming 'Ki-Ki, +nuee nuee, ah! moee moee motarkee' (eat plenty, ah! sleep very +good). The philosophy of this sentiment I did not pretend to +question; for deprived of sleep for several preceding nights, and +the pain of my limb having much abated, I now felt inclined to +avail myself of the opportunity afforded me. + +The next morning, on waking, I found Kory-Kory stretched out on +one side of me, while my companion lay upon the other. I felt +sensibly refreshed after a night of sound repose, and immediately +agreed to the proposition of my valet that I should repair to the +water and wash, although dreading the suffering that the exertion +might produce. From this apprehension, however, I was quickly +relieved; for Kory-Kory, leaping from the pi-pi, and then backing +himself up against it, like a porter in readiness to shoulder a +trunk, with loud vociferations and a superabundance of gestures, +gave me to understand that I was to mount upon his back and be +thus transported to the stream, which flowed perhaps two hundred +yards from the house. + +Our appearance upon the verandah in front of the habitation drew +together quite a crowd, who stood looking on and conversing with +one another in the most animated manner. They reminded one of a +group of idlers gathered about the door of a village tavern when +the equipage of some distinguished traveller is brought round +previously to his departure. As soon as I clasped my arms about +the neck of the devoted fellow, and he jogged off with me, the +crowd--composed chiefly of young girls and boys--followed after, +shouting and capering with infinite glee, and accompanied us to +the banks of the stream. + +On gaining it, Kory-Kory, wading up to his hips in the water, +carried me half way across, and deposited me on a smooth black +stone which rose a few inches above the surface. The amphibious +rabble at our heels plunged in after us, and climbing to the +summit of the grass-grown rocks with which the bed of the brook +was here and there broken, waited curiously to witness our +morning ablutions. + +Somewhat embarrassed by the presence of the female portion of the +company, and feeling my cheeks burning with bashful timidity, I +formed a primitive basin by joining my hands together, and cooled +my blushes in the water it contained; then removing my frock, +bent over and washed myself down to my waist in the stream. As +soon as Kory-Kory comprehended from my motions that this was to +be the extent of my performance, he appeared perfectly aghast +with astonishment, and rushing towards me, poured out a torrent +of words in eager deprecation of so limited an operation, +enjoining me by unmistakeable signs to immerse my whole body. To +this I was forced to consent; and the honest fellow regarding me +as a froward, inexperienced child, whom it was his duty to serve +at the risk of offending, lifted me from the rocks, and tenderly +bathed my limbs. This over, and resuming my seat, I could not +avoid bursting into admiration of the scene around me. + +From the verdant surfaces of the large stones that lay scattered +about, the natives were now sliding off into the water, diving +and ducking beneath the surface in all directions--the young +girls springing buoyantly into the air, and revealing their naked +forms to the waist, with their long tresses dancing about their +shoulders, their eyes sparkling like drops of dew in the sun, and +their gay laughter pealing forth at every frolicsome incident. +On the afternoon of the day that I took my first bath in the +valley, we received another visit from Mehevi. The noble savage +seemed to be in the same pleasant mood, and was quite as cordial +in his manner as before. After remaining about an hour, he rose +from the mats, and motioning to leave the house, invited Toby and +myself to accompany him. I pointed to my leg; but Mehevi in his +turn pointed to Kory-Kory, and removed that objection; so, +mounting upon the faithful fellow's shoulders again--like the old +man of the sea astride of Sindbad--I followed after the chief. + +The nature of the route we now pursued struck me more forcibly +than anything I had yet seen, as illustrating the indolent +disposition of the islanders. The path was obviously the most +beaten one in the valley, several others leading from each side +into it, and perhaps for successive generations it had formed the +principal avenue of the place. And yet, until I grew more +familiar with its impediments, it seemed as difficult to travel +as the recesses of a wilderness. Part of it swept around an +abrupt rise of ground, the surface of which was broken by +frequent inequalities, and thickly strewn with projecting masses +of rocks, whose summits were often hidden from view by the +drooping foliage of the luxurious vegetation. Sometimes directly +over, sometimes evading these obstacles with a wide circuit, the +path wound along;--one moment climbing over a sudden eminence +smooth with continued wear, then descending on the other side +into a steep glen, and crossing the flinty channel of a brook. +Here it pursued the depths of a glade, occasionally obliging you +to stoop beneath vast horizontal branches; and now you stepped +over huge trunks and boughs that lay rotting across the track. + +Such was the grand thoroughfare of Typee. After proceeding a +little distance along it--Kory-Kory panting and blowing with the +weight of his burden--I dismounted from his back, and grasping +the long spear of Mehevi in my hand, assisted my steps over the +numerous obstacles of the road; preferring this mode of advance +to one which, from the difficulties of the way, was equally +painful to myself and my wearied servitor. + +Our journey was soon at an end; for, scaling a sudden height, we +came abruptly upon the place of our destination. I wish that it +were possible to sketch in words this spot as vividly as I +recollect it. + +Here were situated the Taboo groves of the valley--the scene of +many a prolonged feast, of many a horrid rite. Beneath the dark +shadows of the consecrated bread-fruit trees there reigned a +solemn twilight--a cathedral-like gloom. The frightful genius of +pagan worship seemed to brood in silence over the place, +breathing its spell upon every object around. Here and there, in +the depths of these awful shades, half screened from sight by +masses of overhanging foliage, rose the idolatrous altars of the +savages, built of enormous blocks of black and polished stone, +placed one upon another, without cement, to the height of twelve +or fifteen feet, and surmounted by a rustic open temple, enclosed +with a low picket of canes, within which might be seen, in +various stages of decay, offerings of bread-fruit and cocoanuts, +and the putrefying relics of some recent sacrifice. + +In the midst of the wood was the hallowed 'Hoolah Hoolah' +ground--set apart for the celebration of the fantastical +religious ritual of these people--comprising an extensive oblong +pi-pi, terminating at either end in a lofty terraced altar, +guarded by ranks of hideous wooden idols, and with the two +remaining sides flanked by ranges of bamboo sheds, opening +towards the interior of the quadrangle thus formed. Vast trees, +standing in the middle of this space, and throwing over it an +umbrageous shade, had their massive trunks built round with +slight stages, elevated a few feet above the ground, and railed +in with canes, forming so many rustic pulpits, from which the +priests harangued their devotees. + +This holiest of spots was defended from profanation by the +strictest edicts of the all-pervading 'taboo', which condemned to +instant death the sacrilegious female who should enter or touch +its sacred precincts, or even so much as press with her feet the +ground made holy by the shadows that it cast. + +Access was had to the enclosure through an embowered entrance, on +one side, facing a number of towering cocoanut trees, planted at +intervals along a level area of a hundred yards. At the further +extremity of this space was to be seen a building of considerable +size, reserved for the habitation of the priests and religious +attendants of the groves. + +In its vicinity was another remarkable edifice, built as usual +upon the summit of a pi-pi, and at least two hundred feet in +length, though not more than twenty in breadth. The whole front +of this latter structure was completely open, and from one end to +the other ran a narrow verandah, fenced in on the edge of the +pi-pi with a picket of canes. Its interior presented the +appearance of an immense lounging place, the entire floor being +strewn with successive layers of mats, lying between parallel +trunks of cocoanut trees, selected for the purpose from the +straightest and most symmetrical the vale afforded. + +To this building, denominated in the language of the natives the +'Ti', Mehevi now conducted us. Thus far we had been accompanied +by a troop of the natives of both sexes; but as soon as we +approached its vicinity, the females gradually separated +themselves from the crowd, and standing aloof, permitted us to +pass on. The merciless prohibitions of the taboo extended +likewise to this edifice, and were enforced by the same dreadful +penalty that secured the Hoolah-Hoolah ground from the imaginary +pollution of a woman's presence. + +On entering the house, I was surprised to see six muskets ranged +against the bamboo on one side, from the barrels of which +depended as many small canvas pouches, partly filled with powder. + +Disposed about these muskets, like the cutlasses that decorate +the bulkhead of a man-of-war's cabin, were a great variety of +rude spears and paddles, javelins, and war-clubs. This then, +said I to Toby, must be the armoury of the tribe. + +As we advanced further along the building, we were struck with +the aspect of four or five hideous old wretches, on whose +decrepit forms time and tattooing seemed to have obliterated +every trace of humanity. Owing to the continued operation of +this latter process, which only terminates among the warriors of +the island after all the figures stretched upon their limbs in +youth have been blended together--an effect, however, produced +only in cases of extreme longevity--the bodies of these men were +of a uniform dull green colour--the hue which the tattooing +gradually assumes as the individual advances in age. Their skin +had a frightful scaly appearance, which, united with its singular +colour, made their limbs not a little resemble dusty specimens of +verde-antique. Their flesh, in parts, hung upon them in huge +folds, like the overlapping plaits on the flank of a rhinoceros. +Their heads were completely bald, whilst their faces were +puckered into a thousand wrinkles, and they presented no vestige +of a beard. But the most remarkable peculiarity about them was +the appearance of their feet; the toes, like the radiating lines +of the mariner's compass, pointed to every quarter of the +horizon. This was doubtless attributable to the fact, that +during nearly a hundred years of existence the said toes never +had been subjected to any artificial confinement, and in their +old age, being averse to close neighbourhood, bid one another +keep open order. + +These repulsive-looking creatures appeared to have lost the use +of their lower limbs altogether; sitting upon the floor +cross-legged in a state of torpor. They never heeded us in the +least, scarcely looking conscious of our presence, while Mehevi +seated us upon the mats, and Kory-Kory gave utterance to some +unintelligible gibberish. + +In a few moments a boy entered with a wooden trencher of +poee-poee; and in regaling myself with its contents I was obliged +again to submit to the officious intervention of my indefatigable +servitor. Various other dishes followed, the chief manifesting +the most hospitable importunity in pressing us to partake, and to +remove all bashfulness on our part, set us no despicable example +in his own person. + +The repast concluded, a pipe was lighted, which passed from mouth +to mouth, and yielding to its soporific influence, the quiet of +the place, and the deepening shadows of approaching night, my +companion and I sank into a kind of drowsy repose, while the +chief and Kory-Kory seemed to be slumbering beside us. + +I awoke from an uneasy nap, about midnight, as I supposed; and, +raising myself partly from the mat, became sensible that we were +enveloped in utter darkness. Toby lay still asleep, but our late +companions had disappeared. The only sound that interrupted the +silence of the place was the asthmatic breathing of the old men I +have mentioned, who reposed at a little distance from us. +Besides them, as well as I could judge, there was no one else in +the house. + +Apprehensive of some evil, I roused my comrade, and we were +engaged in a whispered conference concerning the unexpected +withdrawal of the natives when all at once, from the depths of +the grove, in full view of us where we lay, shoots of flame were +seen to rise, and in a few moments illuminated the surrounding +trees, casting, by contrast, into still deeper gloom the darkness +around us. + +While we continued gazing at this sight, dark figures appeared +moving to and fro before the flames; while others, dancing and +capering about, looked like so many demons. + +Regarding this new phenomenon with no small degree of +trepidation, I said to my companion, 'What can all this mean, +Toby?' + +'Oh, nothing,' replied he; 'getting the fire ready, I suppose.' + +'Fire!' exclaimed I, while my heart took to beating like a trip- +hammer, 'what fire?' + +'Why, the fire to cook us, to be sure, what else would the +cannibals be kicking up such a row about if it were not for +that?' + +'Oh, Toby! have done with your jokes; this is no time for them; +something is about to happen, I feel confident.' + +'Jokes, indeed?' exclaimed Toby indignantly. 'Did you ever hear +me joke? Why, for what do you suppose the devils have been +feeding us up in this kind of style during the last three days, +unless it were for something that you are too much frightened at +to talk about? Look at that Kory-Kory there!--has he not been +stuffing you with his confounded mushes, just in the way they +treat swine before they kill them? Depend upon it, we will be +eaten this blessed night, and there is the fire we shall be +roasted by.' + +This view of the matter was not at all calculated to allay my +apprehensions, and I shuddered when I reflected that we were +indeed at the mercy of a tribe of cannibals, and that the +dreadful contingency to which Toby had alluded was by no means +removed beyond the bounds of possibility. + +'There! I told you so! they are coming for us!' exclaimed my +companion the next moment, as the forms of four of the islanders +were seen in bold relief against the illuminated back-ground +mounting the pi-pi and approaching towards us. + +They came on noiselessly, nay stealthily, and glided along +through the gloom that surrounded us as if about to spring upon +some object they were fearful of disturbing before they should +make sure of it.--Gracious heaven! the horrible reflections +which crowded upon me that moment.--A cold sweat stood upon my +brow, and spell-bound with terror I awaited my fate! + +Suddenly the silence was broken by the well-remembered tones of +Mehevi, and at the kindly accents of his voice my fears were +immediately dissipated. 'Tommo, Toby, ki ki!' (eat). He had +waited to address us, until he had assured himself that we were +both awake, at which he seemed somewhat surprised. + +'Ki ki! is it?' said Toby in his gruff tones; 'Well, cook us +first, will you--but what's this?' he added, as another savage +appeared, bearing before him a large trencher of wood containing +some kind of steaming meat, as appeared from the odours it +diffused, and which he deposited at the feet of Mehevi. 'A baked +baby, I dare say I but I will have none of it, never mind what it +is.--A pretty fool I should make of myself, indeed, waked up here +in the middle of the night, stuffing and guzzling, and all to +make a fat meal for a parcel of booby-minded cannibals one of +these mornings!--No, I see what they are at very plainly, so I am +resolved to starve myself into a bunch of bones and gristle, and +then, if they serve me up, they are welcome! But I say, Tommo, +you are not going to eat any of that mess there, in the dark, are +you? Why, how can you tell what it is?' + +'By tasting it, to be sure,' said I, masticating a morsel that +Kory-Kory had just put in my mouth, 'and excellently good it is, +too, very much like veal.' + +'A baked baby, by the soul of Captain Cook!' burst forth Toby, +with amazing vehemence; 'Veal? why there never was a calf on the +island till you landed. I tell you you are bolting down +mouthfuls from a dead Happar's carcass, as sure as you live, and +no mistake!' + +Emetics and lukewarm water! What a sensation in the abdominal +region! Sure enough, where could the fiends incarnate have +obtained meat? But I resolved to satisfy myself at all hazards; +and turning to Mehevi, I soon made the ready chief understand +that I wished a light to be brought. When the taper came, I +gazed eagerly into the vessel, and recognized the mutilated +remains of a juvenile porker! 'Puarkee!' exclaimed Kory-Kory, +looking complacently at the dish; and from that day to this I +have never forgotten that such is the designation of a pig in the +Typee lingo. + +The next morning, after being again abundantly feasted by the +hospitable Mehevi, Toby and myself arose to depart. But the +chief requested us to postpone our intention. 'Abo, abo' (Wait, +wait), he said and accordingly we resumed our seats, while, +assisted by the zealous Kory-Kory, he appeared to be engaged in +giving directions to a number of the natives outside, who were +busily employed in making arrangements, the nature of which we +could not comprehend. But we were not left long in our +ignorance, for a few moments only had elapsed, when the chief +beckoned us to approach, and we perceived that he had been +marshalling a kind of guard of honour to escort us on our return +to the house of Marheyo. + +The procession was led off by two venerable-looking savages, each +provided with a spear, from the end of which streamed a pennon of +milk-white tappa. After them went several youths, bearing aloft +calabashes of poee-poee, and followed in their turn by four +stalwart fellows, sustaining long bamboos, from the tops of which +hung suspended, at least twenty feet from the ground, large +baskets of green bread-fruits. Then came a troop of boys, +carrying bunches of ripe bananas, and baskets made of the woven +leaflets of cocoanut boughs, filled with the young fruit of the +tree, the naked shells stripped of their husks peeping forth from +the verdant wicker-work that surrounded them. Last of all came a +burly islander, holding over his head a wooden trencher, in which +lay disposed the remnants of our midnight feast, hidden from +view, however, by a covering of bread-fruit leaves. + +Astonished as I was at this exhibition, I could not avoid smiling +at its grotesque appearance, and the associations it naturally +called up. Mehevi, it seemed, was bent on replenishing old +Marheyo's larder, fearful perhaps that without this precaution +his guests might not fare as well as they could desire. + +As soon as I descended from the pi-pi, the procession formed +anew, enclosing us in its centre; where I remained part of the +time, carried by Kory-Kory, and occasionally relieving him from +his burden by limping along with spear. When we moved off in +this order, the natives struck up a musical recitative, which +with various alternations, they continued until we arrived at the +place of our destination. + +As we proceeded on our way, bands of young girls, darting from +the surrounding groves, hung upon our skirts, and accompanied us +with shouts of merriment and delight, which almost drowned the +deep notes of the recitative. On approaching old Marheyo's +domicile, its inmates rushed out to receive us; and while the +gifts of Mehevi were being disposed of, the superannuated warrior +did the honours of his mansion with all the warmth of hospitality +evinced by an English squire when he regales his friends at some +fine old patrimonial mansion. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN + +ATTEMPT TO PROCURE RELIEF FROM NUKUHEVA--PERILOUS ADVENTURE OF +TOBY IN THE HAPPAR MOUNTAINS--ELOQUENCE OF KORY-KORY + +AMIDST these novel scenes a week passed away almost +imperceptibly. The natives, actuated by some mysterious impulse, +day after day redoubled their attentions to us. Their manner +towards us was unaccountable. Surely, thought I, they would not +act thus if they meant us any harm. But why this excess of +deferential kindness, or what equivalent can they imagine us +capable of rendering them for it? + +We were fairly puzzled. But despite the apprehensions I could +not dispel, the horrible character imputed to these Typees +appeared to be wholly undeserved. + +'Why, they are cannibals!' said Toby on one occasion when I +eulogized the tribe. 'Granted,' I replied, 'but a more humane, +gentlemanly and amiable set of epicures do not probably exist in +the Pacific.' + +But, notwithstanding the kind treatment we received, I was too +familiar with the fickle disposition of savages not to feel +anxious to withdraw from the valley, and put myself beyond the +reach of that fearful death which, under all these smiling +appearances, might yet menace us. But here there was an obstacle +in the way of doing so. It was idle for me to think of moving +from the place until I should have recovered from the severe +lameness that afflicted me; indeed my malady began seriously to +alarm me; for, despite the herbal remedies of the natives, it +continued to grow worse and worse. Their mild applications, +though they soothed the pain, did not remove the disorder, and I +felt convinced that without better aid I might anticipate long +and acute suffering. + +But how was this aid to be procured? From the surgeons of the +French fleet, which probably still lay in the bay of Nukuheva, it +might easily have been obtained, could I have made my case known +to them. But how could that be effected? + +At last, in the exigency to which I was reduced, I proposed to +Toby that he should endeavour to go round to Nukuheva, and if he +could not succeed in returning to the valley by water, in one of +the boats of the squadron, and taking me off, he might at least +procure me some proper medicines, and effect his return overland. + +My companion listened to me in silence, and at first did not +appear to relish the idea. The truth was, he felt impatient to +escape from the place, and wished to avail himself of our present +high favour with the natives to make good our retreat, before we +should experience some sudden alteration in their behaviour. As +he could not think of leaving me in my helpless condition, he +implored me to be of good cheer; assured me that I should soon be +better, and enabled in a few days to return with him to Nukuheva. + +Added to this, he could not bear the idea of again returning to +this dangerous place; and as for the expectation of persuading +the Frenchmen to detach a boat's crew for the purpose of rescuing +me from the Typees, he looked upon it as idle; and with arguments +that I could not answer, urged the improbability of their +provoking the hostilities of the clan by any such measure; +especially, as for the purpose of quieting its apprehensions, +they had as yet refrained from making any visit to the bay. 'And +even should they consent,' said Toby, 'they would only produce a +commotion in the valley, in which we might both be sacrificed by +these ferocious islanders.' This was unanswerable; but still I +clung to the belief that he might succeed in accomplishing the +other part of my plan; and at last I overcame his scruples, and +he agreed to make the attempt. + +As soon as we succeeded in making the natives understand our +intention, they broke out into the most vehement opposition to +the measure, and for a while I almost despaired of obtaining +their consent. At the bare thought of one of us leaving them, +they manifested the most lively concern. The grief and +consternation of Kory-Kory, in particular, was unbounded; he +threw himself into a perfect paroxysm of gestures which were +intended to convey to us not only his abhorrence of Nukuheva and +its uncivilized inhabitants, but also his astonishment that after +becoming acquainted with the enlightened Typees, we should evince +the least desire to withdraw, even for a time, from their +agreeable society. + +However, I overbore his objections by appealing to my lameness; +from which I assured the natives I should speedily recover if +Toby were permitted to obtain the supplies I needed. + +It was agreed that on the following morning my companion should +depart, accompanied by some one or two of the household, who +should point out to him an easy route, by which the bay might be +reached before sunset. + +At early dawn of the next day, our habitation was astir. One of +the young men mounted into an adjoining cocoanut tree, and threw +down a number of the young fruit, which old Marheyo quickly +stripped of the green husks, and strung together upon a short +pole. These were intended to refresh Toby on his route. + +The preparations being completed, with no little emotion I bade +my companion adieu. He promised to return in three days at +farthest; and, bidding me keep up my spirits in the interval, +turned round the corner of the pi-pi, and, under the guidance of +the venerable Marheyo, was soon out of sight. His departure +oppressed me with melancholy, and, re-entering the dwelling, I +threw myself almost in despair upon the matting of the floor. + +In two hours' time the old warrior returned, and gave me to +understand that after accompanying my companion a little +distance, and showing him the route, he had left him journeying +on his way. + +It was about noon of this same day, a season which these people +are wont to pass in sleep, that I lay in the house, surrounded by +its slumbering inmates, and painfully affected by the strange +silence which prevailed. All at once I thought I heard a faint +shout, as if proceeding from some persons in the depth of the +grove which extended in front of our habitation. + +The sounds grew louder and nearer, and gradually the whole valley +rang with wild outcries. The sleepers around me started to their +feet in alarm, and hurried outside to discover the cause of the +commotion. Kory-Kory, who had been the first to spring up, soon +returned almost breathless, and nearly frantic with the +excitement under which he seemed to be labouring. All that I +could understand from him was that some accident had happened to +Toby. Apprehensive of some dreadful calamity, I rushed out of +the house, and caught sight of a tumultuous crowd, who, with +shrieks and lamentations, were just emerging from the grove +bearing in their arms some object, the sight of which produced +all this transport of sorrow. As they drew near, the men +redoubled their cries, while the girls, tossing their bare arms +in the air, exclaimed plaintively, 'Awha! awha! Toby mukee +moee!'--Alas! alas! Toby is killed! + +In a moment the crowd opened, and disclosed the apparently +lifeless body of my companion home between two men, the head +hanging heavily against the breast of the foremost. The whole +face, neck, back, and bosom were covered with blood, which still +trickled slowly from a wound behind the temple. In the midst of +the greatest uproar and confusion the body was carried into the +house and laid on a mat. Waving the natives off to give room and +air, I bent eagerly over Toby, and, laying my hand upon the +breast, ascertained that the heart still beat. Overjoyed at +this, I seized a calabash of water, and dashed its contents upon +his face, then wiping away the blood, anxiously examined the +wound. It was about three inches long, and on removing the +clotted hair from about it, showed the skull laid completely +bare. Immediately with my knife I cut away the heavy locks, and +bathed the part repeatedly in water. + +In a few moments Toby revived, and opening his eyes for a +second--closed them again without speaking. Kory-Kory, who had +been kneeling beside me, now chafed his limbs gently with the +palms of his hands, while a young girl at his head kept fanning +him, and I still continued to moisten his lips and brow. Soon my +poor comrade showed signs of animation, and I succeeded in making +him swallow from a cocoanut shell a few mouthfuls of water. + +Old Tinor now appeared, holding in her hand some simples she had +gathered, the juice of which she by signs besought me to squeeze +into the wound. Having done so, I thought it best to leave Toby +undisturbed until he should have had time to rally his faculties. +Several times he opened his lips, but fearful for his safety I +enjoined silence. In the course of two or three hours, however, +he sat up, and was sufficiently recovered to tell me what had +occurred. + +'After leaving the house with Marheyo,' said Toby, 'we struck +across the valley, and ascended the opposite heights. Just +beyond them, my guide informed me, lay the valley of Happar, +while along their summits, and skirting the head of the vale, was +my route to Nukuheva. After mounting a little way up the +elevation my guide paused, and gave me to understand that he +could not accompany me any farther, and by various signs +intimated that he was afraid to approach any nearer the +territories of the enemies of his tribe. He however pointed out +my path, which now lay clearly before me, and bidding me +farewell, hastily descended the mountain. + +'Quite elated at being so near the Happars, I pushed up the +acclivity, and soon gained its summit. It tapered to a sharp +ridge, from whence I beheld both the hostile valleys. Here I sat +down and rested for a moment, refreshing myself with my +cocoanuts. I was soon again pursuing my way along the height, +when suddenly I saw three of the islanders, who must have just +come out of Happar valley, standing in the path ahead of me. +They were each armed with a heavy spear, and one from his +appearance I took to be a chief. They sung out something, I +could not understand what, and beckoned me to come on. + +'Without the least hesitation I advanced towards them, and had +approached within about a yard of the foremost, when, pointing +angrily into the Typee valley, and uttering some savage +exclamation, he wheeled round his weapon like lightning, and +struck me in a moment to the ground. The blow inflicted this +wound, and took away my senses. As soon as I came to myself, I +perceived the three islanders standing a little distance off, and +apparently engaged in some violent altercation respecting me. + +'My first impulse was to run for it; but, in endeavouring to +rise, I fell back, and rolled down a little grassy precipice. +The shock seemed to rally my faculties; so, starting to my feet, +I fled down the path I had just ascended. I had no need to look +behind me, for, from the yells I heard, I knew that my enemies +were in full pursuit. Urged on by their fearful outcries, and +heedless of the injury I had received--though the blood flowing +from the wound trickled over into my eyes and almost blinded +me--I rushed down the mountain side with the speed of the wind. +In a short time I had descended nearly a third of the distance, +and the savages had ceased their cries, when suddenly a terrific +howl burst upon my ear, and at the same moment a heavy javelin +darted past me as I fled, and stuck quivering in a tree close to +me. Another yell followed, and a second spear and a third shot +through the air within a few feet of my body, both of them +piercing the ground obliquely in advance of me. The fellows gave +a roar of rage and disappointment; but they were afraid, I +suppose, of coming down further into the Typee valley, and so +abandoned the chase. I saw them recover their weapons and turn +back; and I continued my descent as fast as I could. + +'What could have caused this ferocious attack on the part of +these Happars I could not imagine, unless it were that they had +seen me ascending the mountain with Marheyo, and that the mere +fact of coming from the Typee valley was sufficient to provoke +them. + +'As long as I was in danger I scarcely felt the wound I had +received; but when the chase was over I began to suffer from it. +I had lost my hat in the flight, and the run scorched my bare +head. I felt faint and giddy; but, fearful of falling to the +ground beyond the reach of assistance, I staggered on as well as +I could, and at last gained the level of the valley, and then +down I sank; and I knew nothing more until I found myself lying +upon these mats, and you stooping over me with the calabash of +water.' + +Such was Toby's account of this sad affair. I afterwards learned +that, fortunately, he had fallen close to a spot where the +natives go for fuel. A party of them caught sight of him as he +fell, and sounding the alarm, had lifted him up; and after +ineffectually endeavouring to restore him at the brook, had +hurried forward with him to the house. + +This incident threw a dark cloud over our prospects. It reminded +us that we were hemmed in by hostile tribes, whose territories we +could not hope to pass, on our route to Nukuheva, without +encountering the effects of their savage resentment. There +appeared to be no avenue opened to our escape but the sea, which +washed the lower extremities of the vale. + +Our Typee friends availed themselves of the recent disaster of +Toby to exhort us to a due appreciation of the blessings we +enjoyed among them, contrasting their own generous reception of +us with the animosity of their neighbours. They likewise dwelt +upon the cannibal propensities of the Happars, a subject which +they were perfectly aware could not fail to alarm us; while at +the same time they earnestly disclaimed all participation in so +horrid a custom. Nor did they omit to call upon us to admire the +natural loveliness of their own abode, and the lavish abundance +with which it produced all manner of luxuriant fruits; exalting +it in this particular above any of the surrounding valleys. + +Kory-Kory seemed to experience so heartfelt a desire to infuse +into our minds proper views on these subjects, that, assisted in +his endeavours by the little knowledge of the language we had +acquired, he actually made us comprehend a considerable part of +what he said. To facilitate our correct apprehension of his +meaning, he at first condensed his ideas into the smallest +possible compass. + +'Happar keekeeno nuee,' he exclaimed, 'nuee, nuee, ki ki +kannaka!--ah! owle motarkee!' which signifies, 'Terrible fellows +those Happars!--devour an amazing quantity of men!--ah, shocking +bad!' Thus far he explained himself by a variety of gestures, +during the performance of which he would dart out of the house, +and point abhorrently towards the Happar valley; running in to us +again with a rapidity that showed he was fearful he would lose +one part of his meaning before he could complete the other; and +continuing his illustrations by seizing the fleshy part of my arm +in his teeth, intimating by the operation that the people who +lived over in that direction would like nothing better than to +treat me in that manner. + +Having assured himself that we were fully enlightened on this +point, he proceeded to another branch of his subject. 'Ah! +Typee mortakee!--nuee, nuee mioree--nuee, nuee wai--nuee, nuee +poee-poee--nuee, nuee kokoo--ah! nuee, nuee kiki--ah! nuee, +nuee, nuee!' Which literally interpreted as before, would imply, +'Ah, Typee! isn't it a fine place though!--no danger of starving +here, I tell you!--plenty of bread-fruit--plenty of water--plenty +of pudding--ah! plenty of everything! ah! heaps, heaps heaps!' +All this was accompanied by a running commentary of signs and +gestures which it was impossible not to comprehend. + +As he continued his harangue, however, Kory-Kory, in emulation of +our more polished orators, began to launch out rather diffusely +into other branches of his subject, enlarging probably upon the +moral reflections it suggested; and proceeded in such a strain of +unintelligible and stunning gibberish, that he actually gave me +the headache for the rest of the day. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN + +A GREAT EVENT HAPPENS IN THE VALLEY--THE ISLAND +TELEGRAPH--SOMETHING BEFALLS TOBY--FAYAWAY DISPLAYS A TENDER +HEART--MELANCHOLY REFLECTIONS--MYSTERIOUS CONDUCT OF THE +ISLANDERS--DEVOTION OF KORY-KORY--A RURAL COUCH--A +LUXURY--KORY-KORY STRIKES A LIGHT A LA TYPEE + +IN the course of a few days Toby had recovered from the effects +of his adventure with the Happar warriors; the wound on his head +rapidly healing under the vegetable treatment of the good Tinor. +Less fortunate than my companion however, I still continued to +languish under a complaint, the origin and nature of which were +still a mystery. Cut off as I was from all intercourse with the +civilized world, and feeling the inefficacy of anything the +natives could do to relieve me; knowing, too, that so long as I +remained in my present condition, it would be impossible for me +to leave the valley, whatever opportunity might present itself; +and apprehensive that ere long we might be exposed to some +caprice on the part of the islanders, I now gave up all hopes of +recovery, and became a prey to the most gloomy thoughts. A deep +dejection fell upon me, which neither the friendly remonstrances +of my companion, the devoted attentions of Kory-Kory nor all the +soothing influences of Fayaway could remove. + +One morning as I lay on the mats in the house, plunged in +melancholy reverie, and regardless of everything around me, Toby, +who had left me about an hour, returned in haste, and with great +glee told me to cheer up and be of good heart; for he believed, +from what was going on among the natives, that there were boats +approaching the bay. + +These tidings operated upon me like magic. The hour of our +deliverance was at hand, and starting up, I was soon convinced +that something unusual was about to occur. The word 'botee! +botee!' was vociferated in all directions; and shouts were heard +in the distance, at first feebly and faintly; but growing louder +and nearer at each successive repetition, until they were caught +up by a fellow in a cocoanut tree a few yards off, who sounding +them in turn, they were reiterated from a neighbouring grove, and +so died away gradually from point to point, as the intelligence +penetrated into the farthest recess of the valley. This was the +vocal telegraph of the islanders; by means of which condensed +items of information could be carried in a very few minutes from +the sea to their remotest habitation, a distance of at least +eight or nine miles. On the present occasion it was in active +operation; one piece of information following another with +inconceivable rapidity. + +The greatest commotion now appeared to prevail. At every fresh +item of intelligence the natives betrayed the liveliest interest, +and redoubled the energy with which they employed themselves in +collecting fruit to sell to the expected visitors. Some were +tearing off the husks from cocoanuts; some perched in the trees +were throwing down bread-fruit to their companions, who gathered +them into heaps as they fell; while others were plying their +fingers rapidly in weaving leafen baskets in which to carry the +fruit. + +There were other matters too going on at the same time. Here you +would see a stout warrior polishing his spear with a bit of old +tappa, or adjusting the folds of the girdle about his waist; and +there you might descry a young damsel decorating herself with +flowers, as if having in her eye some maidenly conquest; while, +as in all cases of hurry and confusion in every part of the +world, a number of individuals kept hurrying to and fro, with +amazing vigour and perseverance, doing nothing themselves, and +hindering others. + +Never before had we seen the islanders in such a state of bustle +and excitement; and the scene furnished abundant evidence of the +fact--that it was only at long intervals any such events occur. + +When I thought of the length of time that might intervene before +a similar chance of escape would be presented, I bitterly +lamented that I had not the power of availing myself effectually +of the present opportunity. + +From all that we could gather, it appeared that the natives were +fearful of arriving too late upon the beach, unless they made +extraordinary exertions. Sick and lame as I was, I would have +started with Toby at once, had not Kory-Kory not only refused to +carry me, but manifested the most invincible repugnance to our +leaving the neighbourhood of the house. The rest of the savages +were equally opposed to our wishes, and seemed grieved and +astonished at the earnestness of my solicitations. I clearly +perceived that while my attendant avoided all appearance of +constraining my movements, he was nevertheless determined to +thwart my wishes. He seemed to me on this particular occasion, +as well as often afterwards, to be executing the orders of some +other person with regard to me, though at the same time feeling +towards me the most lively affection. + +Toby, who had made up his mind to accompany the islanders if +possible, as soon as they were in readiness to depart, and who +for that reason had refrained from showing the same anxiety that +I had done, now represented to me that it was idle for me to +entertain the hope of reaching the beach in time to profit by any +opportunity that might then be presented. + +'Do you not see,' said he, 'the savages themselves are fearful of +being too late, and I should hurry forward myself at once did I +not think that if I showed too much eagerness I should destroy +all our hopes of reaping any benefit from this fortunate event. +If you will only endeavour to appear tranquil or unconcerned, you +will quiet their suspicions, and I have no doubt they will then +let me go with them to the beach, supposing that I merely go out +of curiosity. Should I succeed in getting down to the boats, I +will make known the condition in which I have left you, and +measures may then be taken to secure our escape.' + +In the expediency of this I could not but acquiesce; and as the +natives had now completed their preparations, I watched with the +liveliest interest the reception that Toby's application might +meet with. As soon as they understood from my companion that I +intended to remain, they appeared to make no objection to his +proposition, and even hailed it with pleasure. Their singular +conduct on this occasion not a little puzzled me at the time, and +imparted to subsequent events an additional mystery. + +The islanders were now to be seen hurrying along the path which +led to the sea. I shook Toby warmly by the hand, and gave him my +Payta hat to shield his wounded head from the sun, as he had lost +his own. He cordially returned the pressure of my hand, and +solemnly promising to return as soon as the boats should leave +the shore, sprang from my side, and the next minute disappeared +in a turn of the grove. + +In spite of the unpleasant reflections that crowded upon my mind, +I could not but be entertained by the novel and animated sight +which by now met my view. One after another the natives crowded +along the narrow path, laden with every variety of fruit. Here, +you might have seen one, who, after ineffectually endeavouring to +persuade a surly porker to be conducted in leading strings, was +obliged at last to seize the perverse animal in his arms, and +carry him struggling against his naked breast, and squealing +without intermission. There went two, who at a little distance +might have been taken for the Hebrew spies, on their return to +Moses with the goodly bunch of grape. One trotted before the +other at a distance of a couple of yards, while between them, +from a pole resting on the shoulders, was suspended a huge +cluster of bananas, which swayed to and fro with the rocking gait +at which they proceeded. Here ran another, perspiring with his +exertions, and bearing before him a quantity of cocoanuts, who, +fearful of being too late, heeded not the fruit that dropped from +his basket, and appeared solely intent upon reaching his +destination, careless how many of his cocoanuts kept company with +him. + +In a short time the last straggler was seen hurrying on his way, +and the faint shouts of those in advance died insensibly upon the +ear. Our part of the valley now appeared nearly deserted by its +inhabitants, Kory-Kory, his aged father, and a few decrepit old +people, being all that were left. + +Towards sunset the islanders in small parties began to return +from the beach, and among them, as they drew near to the house, I +sought to descry the form of my companion. But one after another +they passed the dwelling, and I caught no glimpse of him. +Supposing, however, that he would soon appear with some of the +members of the household, I quieted my apprehensions, and waited +patiently to see him advancing in company with the beautiful +Fayaway. At last, I perceived Tinor coming forward, followed by +the girls and young men who usually resided in the house of +Marheyo; but with them came not my comrade, and, filled with a +thousand alarms, I eagerly sought to discover the cause of his +delay. + +My earnest questions appeared to embarrass the natives greatly. +All their accounts were contradictory: one giving me to +understand that Toby would be with me in a very short time; +another that he did not know where he was; while a third, +violently inveighing, against him, assured me that he had stolen +away, and would never come back. It appeared to me, at the time, +that in making these various statements they endeavoured to +conceal from me some terrible disaster, lest the knowledge of it +should overpower me. + +Fearful lest some fatal calamity had overtaken him, I sought out +young Fayaway, and endeavoured to learn from her, if possible, +the truth. + +This gentle being had early attracted my regard, not only from +her extraordinary beauty, but from the attractive cast of her +countenance, singularly expressive of intelligence and humanity. +Of all the natives she alone seemed to appreciate the effect +which the peculiarity of the circumstances in which we were +placed had produced upon the minds of my companion and myself. +In addressing me--especially when I lay reclining upon the mats +suffering from pain--there was a tenderness in her manner which +it was impossible to misunderstand or resist. Whenever she +entered the house, the expression of her face indicated the +liveliest sympathy for me; and moving towards the place where I +lay, with one arm slightly elevated in a gesture of pity, and her +large glistening eyes gazing intently into mine, she would murmur +plaintively, 'Awha! awha! Tommo,' and seat herself mournfully +beside me. + +Her manner convinced me that she deeply compassionated my +situation, as being removed from my country and friends, and +placed beyond the reach of all relief. Indeed, at times I was +almost led to believe that her mind was swayed by gentle impulses +hardly to be anticipated from one in her condition; that she +appeared to be conscious there were ties rudely severed, which +had once bound us to our homes; that there were sisters and +brothers anxiously looking forward to our return, who were, +perhaps, never more to behold us. + +In this amiable light did Fayaway appear in my eyes; and reposing +full confidence in her candour and intelligence, I now had +recourse to her, in the midst of my alarm, with regard to my +companion. + +My questions evidently distressed her. She looked round from one +to another of the bystanders, as if hardly knowing what answer to +give me. At last, yielding to my importunities, she overcame her +scruples, and gave me to understand that Toby had gone away with +the boats which had visited the bay, but had promised to return +at the expiration of three days. At first I accused him of +perfidiously deserting me; but as I grew more composed, I +upbraided myself for imputing so cowardly an action to him, and +tranquillized myself with the belief that he had availed himself, +of the opportunity to go round to Nukuheva, in order to make some +arrangement by which I could be removed from the valley. At any +rate, thought I, he will return with the medicines I require, and +then, as soon as I recover, there will be no difficulty in the +way of our departure. + +Consoling myself with these reflections, I lay down that night in +a happier frame of mind than I had done for some time. The next +day passed without any allusion to Toby on the part of the +natives, who seemed desirous of avoiding all reference to the +subject. This raised some apprehensions in my breast; but when +night came, I congratulated myself that the second day had now +gone by, and that on the morrow Toby would again be with me. But +the morrow came and went, and my companion did not appear. Ah! +thought I, he reckons three days from the morning of his +departure,--tomorrow he will arrive. But that weary day also +closed upon me, without his return. Even yet I would not +despair; I thought that something detained him--that he was +waiting for the sailing of a boat, at Nukuheva, and that in a day +or two at farthest I should see him again. But day after day of +renewed disappointment passed by; at last hope deserted me, and I +fell a victim to despair. + +Yes; thought I, gloomily, he has secured his own escape, and +cares not what calamity may befall his unfortunate comrade. Fool +that I was, to suppose that any one would willingly encounter the +perils of this valley, after having once got beyond its limits! +He has gone, and has left me to combat alone all the dangers by +which I am surrounded. Thus would I sometimes seek to derive a +desperate consolation from dwelling upon the perfidity of Toby: +whilst at other times I sunk under the bitter remorse which I +felt as having by my own imprudence brought upon myself the fate +which I was sure awaited me. + +At other times I thought that perhaps after all these treacherous +savages had made away with him, and thence the confusion into +which they were thrown by my questions, and their contradictory +answers, or he might be a captive in some other part of the +valley, or, more dreadful still, might have met with that fate at +which my very soul shuddered. But all these speculations were +vain; no tidings of Toby ever reached me; he had gone never to +return. + +The conduct of the islanders appeared inexplicable. All +reference to my lost comrade was carefully evaded, and if at any +time they were forced to make some reply to my frequent inquiries +on the subject, they would uniformly denounce him as an +ungrateful runaway, who had deserted his friend, and taken +himself off to that vile and detestable place Nukuheva. + +But whatever might have been his fate, now that he was gone the +natives multiplied their acts of kindness and attention towards +myself, treating me with a degree of deference which could hardly +have been surpassed had I been some celestial visitant. +Kory-Kory never for one moment left my side, unless it were to +execute my wishes. The faithful fellow, twice every day, in the +cool of the morning and in the evening, insisted upon carrying me +to the stream, and bathing me in its refreshing water. + +Frequently in the afternoon he would carry me to a particular +part of the stream, where the beauty of the scene produced a +soothing influence upon my mind. At this place the waters flowed +between grassy banks, planted with enormous bread-fruit trees, +whose vast branches interlacing overhead, formed a leafy canopy; +near the stream were several smooth black rocks. One of these, +projecting several feet above the surface of the water, had upon +its summit a shallow cavity, which, filled with freshly-gathered +leaves, formed a delightful couch. + +Here I often lay for hours, covered with a gauze-like veil of +tappa, while Fayaway, seated beside me, and holding in her hand a +fan woven from the leaflets of a young cocoanut bough, brushed +aside the insects that occasionally lighted on my face, and +Kory-Kory. with a view of chasing away my melancholy, performed +a thousand antics in the water before us. + +As my eye wandered along this romantic stream, it would fall upon +the half-immersed figure of a beautiful girl, standing in the +transparent water, and catching in a little net a species of +diminutive shell-fish, of which these people are extraordinarily +fond. Sometimes a chattering group would be seated upon the edge +of a low rock in the midst of the brook, busily engaged in +thinning and polishing the shells of cocoanuts, by rubbing them +briskly with a small stone in the water, an operation which soon +converts them into a light and elegant drinking vessel, somewhat +resembling goblets made of tortoise shell. + +But the tranquillizing influence of beautiful scenery, and the +exhibition of human life under so novel and charming an aspect +were not my only sources of consolation. + +Every evening the girls of the house gathered about me on the +mats, and after chasing away Kory-Kory from my side--who +nevertheless, retired only to a little distance and watched their +proceedings with the most jealous attention--would anoint my +whole body with a fragrant oil, squeezed from a yellow root, +previously pounded between a couple of stones, and which in their +language is denominated 'aka'. And most refreshing and agreeable +are the juices of the 'aka', when applied to ones, limbs by the +soft palms of sweet nymphs, whose bright eyes are beaming upon +you with kindness; and I used to hail with delight the daily +recurrence of this luxurious operation, in which I forgot all my +troubles, and buried for the time every feeling of sorrow. + +Sometimes in the cool of the evening my devoted servitor would +lead me out upon the pi-pi in front of the house, and seating me +near its edge, protect my body from the annoyance of the insects +which occasionally hovered in the air, by wrapping me round with +a large roll of tappa. He then bustled about, and employed +himself at least twenty minutes in adjusting everything to secure +my personal comfort. + +Having perfected his arrangements, he would get my pipe, and, +lighting it, would hand it to me. Often he was obliged to strike +a light for the occasion, and as the mode he adopted was entirely +different from what I had ever seen or heard of before I will +describe it. + +A straight, dry, and partly decayed stick of the Hibiscus, about +six feet in length, and half as many inches in diameter, with a +small, bit of wood not more than a foot long, and scarcely an +inch wide, is as invariably to be met with in every house in +Typee as a box of lucifer matches in the corner of a kitchen +cupboard at home. + +The islander, placing the larger stick obliquely against some +object, with one end elevated at an angle of forty-five degrees, +mounts astride of it like an urchin about to gallop off upon a +cane, and then grasping the smaller one firmly in both hands, he +rubs its pointed end slowly up and down the extent of a few +inches on the principal stick, until at last he makes a narrow +groove in the wood, with an abrupt termination at the point +furthest from him, where all the dusty particles which the +friction creates are accumulated in a little heap. + +At first Kory-Kory goes to work quite leisurely, but gradually +quickens his pace, and waxing warm in the employment, drives the +stick furiously along the smoking channel, plying his hands to +and fro with amazing rapidity, the perspiration starting from +every pore. As he approaches the climax of his effort, he pants +and gasps for breath, and his eyes almost start from their +sockets with the violence of his exertions. This is the critical +stage of the operation; all his previous labours are vain if he +cannot sustain the rapidity of the movement until the reluctant +spark is produced. Suddenly he stops, becoming perfectly +motionless. His hands still retain their hold of the smaller +stick, which is pressed convulsively against the further end of +the channel among the fine powder there accumulated, as if he had +just pierced through and through some little viper that was +wriggling and struggling to escape from his clutches. The next +moment a delicate wreath of smoke curls spirally into the air, +the heap of dusty particles glows with fire, and Kory-Kory, +almost breathless, dismounts from his steed. + +This operation appeared to me to be the most laborious species of +work performed in Typee; and had I possessed a sufficient +intimacy with the language to have conveyed my ideas upon the +subject, I should certainly have suggested to the most +influential of the natives the expediency of establishing a +college of vestals to be centrally located in the valley, for the +purpose of keeping alive the indispensable article of fire; so as +to supersede the necessity of such a vast outlay of strength and +good temper, as were usually squandered on these occasions. +There might, however, be special difficulties in carrying this +plan into execution. + +What a striking evidence does this operation furnish of the wide +difference between the extreme of savage and civilized life. A +gentleman of Typee can bring up a numerous family of children and +give them all a highly respectable cannibal education, with +infinitely less toil and anxiety than he expends in the simple +process of striking a light; whilst a poor European artisan, who +through the instrumentality of a lucifer performs the same +operation in one second, is put to his wit's end to provide for +his starving offspring that food which the children of a +Polynesian father, without troubling their parents, pluck from +the branches of every tree around them. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN + +KINDNESS OF MARHEYO AND THE REST OF THE ISLANDERS--A FULL +DESCRIPTION OF THE BREAD-FRUIT TREE--DIFFERENT MODES OF +PREPARING THE FRUIT + +ALL the inhabitants of the valley treated me with great kindness; +but as to the household of Marheyo, with whom I was now +permanently domiciled, nothing could surpass their efforts to +minister to my comfort. To the gratification of my palate they +paid the most unwearied attention. They continually invited me +to partake of food, and when after eating heartily I declined the +viands they continued to offer me, they seemed to think that my +appetite stood in need of some piquant stimulant to excite its +activity. + +In pursuance of this idea, old Marheyo himself would hie him away +to the sea-shore by the break of day, for the purpose of +collecting various species of rare sea-weed; some of which among +these people are considered a great luxury. After a whole day +spent in this employment, he would return about nightfall with +several cocoanut shells filled with different descriptions of +kelp. In preparing these for use he manifested all the +ostentation of a professed cook, although the chief mystery of +the affair appeared to consist in pouring water in judicious +quantities upon the slimy contents of his cocoanut shells. + +The first time he submitted one of these saline salads to my +critical attention I naturally thought that anything collected at +such pains must possess peculiar merits; but one mouthful was a +complete dose; and great was the consternation of the old warrior +at the rapidity with which I ejected his Epicurean treat. + +How true it is, that the rarity of any particular article +enhances its value amazingly. In some part of the valley--I know +not where, but probably in the neighbourhood of the sea--the +girls were sometimes in the habit of procuring small quantities +of salt, a thimble-full or so being the result of the united +labours of a party of five or six employed for the greater part +of the day. This precious commodity they brought to the house, +enveloped in multitudinous folds of leaves; and as a special mark +of the esteem in which they held me, would spread an immense leaf +on the ground, and dropping one by one a few minute particles of +the salt upon it, invite me to taste them. + +From the extravagant value placed upon the article, I verily +believe, that with a bushel of common Liverpool salt all the real +estate in Typee might have been purchased. With a small pinch of +it in one hand, and a quarter section of a bread-fruit in the +other, the greatest chief in the valley would have laughed at all +luxuries of a Parisian table. + +The celebrity of the bread-fruit tree, and the conspicuous place +it occupies in a Typee bill of fare, induces me to give at some +length a general description of the tree, and the various modes +in which the fruit is prepared. + +The bread-fruit tree, in its glorious prime, is a grand and +towering object, forming the same feature in a Marquesan +landscape that the patriarchal elm does in New England scenery. +The latter tree it not a little resembles in height, in the wide +spread of its stalwart branches, and in its venerable and +imposing aspect. + +The leaves of the bread-fruit are of great size, and their edges +are cut and scolloped as fantastically as those of a lady's lace +collar. As they annually tend towards decay, they almost rival +in brilliant variety of their gradually changing hues the +fleeting shades of the expiring dolphin. The autumnal tints of +our American forests, glorious as they are, sink into nothing in +comparison with this tree. + +The leaf, in one particular stage, when nearly all the prismatic +colours are blended on its surface, is often converted by the +natives into a superb and striking head-dress. The principal +fibre traversing its length being split open a convenient +distance, and the elastic sides of the aperture pressed apart, +the head is inserted between them, the leaf drooping on one side, +with its forward half turned jauntily up on the brows, and the +remaining part spreading laterally behind the ears. + +The fruit somewhat resembles in magnitude and general appearance +one of our citron melons of ordinary size; but, unlike the +citron, it has no sectional lines drawn along the outside. Its +surface is dotted all over with little conical prominences, +looking not unlike the knobs, on an antiquated church door. The +rind is perhaps an eighth of an inch in thickness; and denuded of +this at the time when it is in the greatest perfection, the fruit +presents a beautiful globe of white pulp, the whole of which may +be eaten, with the exception of a slender core, which is easily +removed. + +The bread-fruit, however, is never used, and is indeed altogether +unfit to be eaten, until submitted in one form or other to the +action of fire. + +The most simple manner in which this operation is performed, and +I think, the best, consists in placing any number of the freshly +plucked fruit, when in a particular state of greenness, among the +embers of a fire, in the same way that you would roast a potato. +After the lapse of ten or fifteen minutes, the green rind +embrowns and cracks, showing through the fissures in its sides +the milk-white interior. As soon as it cools the rind drops off, +and you then have the soft round pulp in its purest and most +delicious state. Thus eaten, it has a mild and pleasing flavour. + +Sometimes after having been roasted in the fire, the natives +snatch it briskly from the embers, and permitting it to slip out +of the yielding rind into a vessel of cold water, stir up the +mixture, which they call 'bo-a-sho'. I never could endure this +compound, and indeed the preparation is not greatly in vogue +among the more polite Typees. + +There is one form, however, in which the fruit is occasionally +served, that renders it a dish fit for a king. As soon as it is +taken from the fire the exterior is removed, the core extracted, +and the remaining part is placed in a sort of shallow stone +mortar, and briskly worked with a pestle of the same substance. +While one person is performing this operation, another takes a +ripe cocoanut, and breaking it in halves, which they also do very +cleverly, proceeds to grate the juicy meat into fine particles. +This is done by means of a piece of mother-of-pearl shell, lashed +firmly to the extreme end of a heavy stick, with its straight +side accurately notched like a saw. The stick is sometimes a +grotesquely-formed limb of a tree, with three or four branches +twisting from its body like so many shapeless legs, and +sustaining it two or three feet from the ground. + +The native, first placing a calabash beneath the nose, as it +were, of his curious-looking log-steed, for the purpose of +receiving the grated fragments as they fall, mounts astride of it +as if it were a hobby-horse, and twirling the inside of his +hemispheres of cocoanut around the sharp teeth of the +mother-of-pearl shell, the pure white meat falls in snowy showers +into the receptacle provided. Having obtained a quantity sufficient +for his purpose, he places it in a bag made of the net-like fibrous +substance attached to all cocoanut trees, and compressing it over +the bread-fruit, which being now sufficiently pounded, is put +into a wooden bowl--extracts a thick creamy milk. The delicious +liquid soon bubbles round the fruit, and leaves it at last just +peeping above its surface. + +This preparation is called 'kokoo', and a most luscious +preparation it is. The hobby-horse and the pestle and mortar +were in great requisition during the time I remained in the house +of Marheyo, and Kory-Kory had frequent occasion to show his skill +in their use. + +But the great staple articles of food into which the bread-fruit +is converted by these natives are known respectively by the names +of Amar and Poee-Poee. + +At a certain season of the year, when the fruit of the hundred +groves of the valley has reached its maturity, and hangs in +golden spheres from every branch, the islanders assemble in +harvest groups, and garner in the abundance which surrounds them. + +The trees are stripped of their nodding burdens, which, easily +freed from the rind and core, are gathered together in capacious +wooden vessels, where the pulpy fruit is soon worked by a stone +pestle, vigorously applied, into a blended mass of a doughy +consistency, called by the natives 'Tutao'. This is then divided +into separate parcels, which, after being made up into stout +packages, enveloped in successive folds of leaves, and bound +round with thongs of bark, are stored away in large receptacles +hollowed in the earth, from whence they are drawn as occasion may +require. In this condition the Tutao sometimes remains for +years, and even is thought to improve by age. Before it is fit +to be eaten, however, it has to undergo an additional process. A +primitive oven is scooped in the ground, and its bottom being +loosely covered with stones, a large fire is kindled within it. +As soon as the requisite degree of heat is attained, the embers +are removed, and the surface of the stones being covered with +thick layers of leaves, one of the large packages of Tutao is +deposited upon them and overspread with another layer of leaves. +The whole is then quickly heaped up with earth, and forms a +sloping mound. + +The Tutao thus baked is called 'Amar'; the action of the oven +having converted it into an amber-coloured caky substance, a +little tart, but not at all disagreeable to the taste. + +By another and final process the 'Amar' is changed into +'Poee-Poee'. This transition is rapidly effected. The Amar is +placed in a vessel, and mixed with water until it gains a proper +pudding-like consistency, when, without further preparation, it +is in readiness for use. This is the form in which the 'Tutao' +is generally consumed. The singular mode of eating it I have +already described. + +Were it not that the bread-fruit is thus capable of being +preserved for a length of time, the natives might be reduced to a +state of starvation; for owing to some unknown cause the trees +sometimes fail to bear fruit; and on such occasions the islanders +chiefly depend upon the supplies they have been enabled to store +away. + +This stately tree, which is rarely met with upon the Sandwich +Islands, and then only of a very inferior quality, and at Tahiti +does not abound to a degree that renders its fruit the principal +article of food, attains its greatest excellence in the genial +climate of the Marquesan group, where it grows to an enormous +magnitude, and flourishes in the utmost abundance. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN + +MELANCHOLY CONDITION--OCCURRENCE AT THE TI--ANECDOTE OF +MARHEYO--SHAVING THE HEAD OF A WARRIOR + +IN looking back to this period, and calling to remembrance the +numberless proofs of kindness and respect which I received from +the natives of the valley, I can scarcely understand how it was +that, in the midst of so many consolatory circumstances, my mind +should still have been consumed by the most dismal forebodings, +and have remained a prey to the profoundest melancholy. It is +true that the suspicious circumstances which had attended the +disappearance of Toby were enough of themselves to excite +distrust with regard to the savages, in whose power I felt myself +to be entirely placed, especially when it was combined with the +knowledge that these very men, kind and respectful as they were +to me, were, after all, nothing better than a set of cannibals. + +But my chief source of anxiety, and that which poisoned every +temporary enjoyment, was the mysterious disease in my leg, which +still remained unabated. All the herbal applications of Tinor, +united with the severer discipline of the old leech, and the +affectionate nursing of Kory-Kory, had failed to relieve me. I +was almost a cripple, and the pain I endured at intervals was +agonizing. The unaccountable malady showed no signs of +amendment: on the contrary, its violence increased day by day, +and threatened the most fatal results, unless some powerful means +were employed to counteract it. It seemed as if I were destined +to sink under this grievous affliction, or at least that it would +hinder me from availing myself of any opportunity of escaping +from the valley. + +An incident which occurred as nearly as I can estimate about +three weeks after the disappearance of Toby, convinced me that +the natives, from some reason or other, would interpose every +possible obstacle to my leaving them. + +One morning there was no little excitement evinced by the people +near my abode, and which I soon discovered proceeded from a vague +report that boats, had been seen at a great distance approaching +the bay. Immediately all was bustle and animation. It so +happened that day that the pain I suffered having somewhat +abated, and feeling in much better spirits than usual, I had +complied with Kory-Kory's invitation to visit the chief Mehevi at +the place called the 'Ti', which I have before described as being +situated within the precincts of the Taboo Groves. These sacred +recesses were at no great distance from Marheyo's habitation, and +lay between it and the sea; the path that conducted to the beach +passing directly in front of the Ti, and thence skirting along +the border of the groves. + +I was reposing upon the mats, within the sacred building, in +company with Mehevi and several other chiefs, when the +announcement was first made. It sent a thrill of joy through my +whole frame;--perhaps Toby was about to return. I rose at once +to my feet, and my instinctive impulse was to hurry down to the +beach, equally regardless of the distance that separated me from +it, and of my disabled condition. As soon as Mehevi noticed the +effect the intelligence had produced upon me, and the impatience +I betrayed to reach the sea, his countenance assumed that +inflexible rigidity of expression which had so awed me on the +afternoon of our arrival at the house of Marheyo. As I was +proceeding to leave the Ti, he laid his hand upon my shoulder, +and said gravely, 'abo, abo' (wait, wait). Solely intent upon +the one thought that occupied my mind, and heedless of his +request, I was brushing past him, when suddenly he assumed a tone +of authority, and told me to 'moee' (sit down). Though struck by +the alteration in his demeanour, the excitement under which I +laboured was too strong to permit me to obey the unexpected +command, and I was still limping towards the edge of the pi-pi +with Kory-Kory clinging to one arm in his efforts to restrain me, +when the natives around started to their feet, ranged themselves +along the open front of the building, while Mehevi looked at me +scowlingly, and reiterated his commands still more sternly. + +It was at this moment, when fifty savage countenances were +glaring upon me, that I first truly experienced I was indeed a +captive in the valley. The conviction rushed upon me with +staggering force, and I was overwhelmed by this confirmation of +my worst fears. I saw at once that it was useless for me to +resist, and sick at heart, I reseated myself upon the mats, and +for the moment abandoned myself to despair. + +I now perceived the natives one after the other hurrying past the +Ti and pursuing the route that conducted to the sea. These +savages, thought I, will soon be holding communication with some +of my own countrymen perhaps, who with ease could restore me to +liberty did they know of the situation I was in. No language can +describe the wretchedness which I felt; and in the bitterness of +my soul I imprecated a thousand curses on the perfidious Toby, +who had thus abandoned me to destruction. It was in vain that +Kory-Kory tempted me with food, or lighted my pipe, or sought to +attract my attention by performing the uncouth antics that had +sometimes diverted me. I was fairly knocked down by this last +misfortune, which, much as I had feared it, I had never before +had the courage calmly to contemplate. + +Regardless of everything but my own sorrow, I remained in the Ti +for several hours, until shouts proceeding at intervals from the +groves beyond the house proclaimed the return of the natives from +the beach. + +Whether any boats visited the bay that morning or not, I never +could ascertain. The savages assured me that there had not--but +I was inclined to believe that by deceiving me in this particular +they sought to allay the violence of my grief. However that +might be, this incident showed plainly that the Typees intended +to hold me a prisoner. As they still treated me with the same +sedulous attention as before, I was utterly at a loss how to +account for their singular conduct. Had I been in a situation to +instruct them in any of the rudiments of the mechanic arts, or +had I manifested a disposition to render myself in any way useful +among them, their conduct might have been attributed to some +adequate motive, but as it was, the matter seemed to me +inexplicable. + +During my whole stay on the island there occurred but two or +three instances where the natives applied to me with the view of +availing themselves of my superior information; and these now +appear so ludicrous that I cannot forbear relating them. + +The few things we had brought from Nukuheva had been done up into +a small bundle which we had carried with us in our descent to the +valley. This bundle, the first night of our arrival, I had used +as a pillow, but on the succeeding morning, opening it for the +inspection of the natives, they gazed upon the miscellaneous +contents as though I had just revealed to them a casket of +diamonds, and they insisted that so precious a treasure should be +properly secured. A line was accordingly attached to it, and the +other end being passed over the ridge-pole of the house, it was +hoisted up to the apex of the roof, where it hung suspended +directly over the mats where I usually reclined. When I desired +anything from it I merely raised my finger to a bamboo beside me, +and taking hold of the string which was there fastened, lowered +the package. This was exceedingly handy, and I took care to let +the natives understand how much I applauded the invention. Of +this package the chief contents were a razor with its case, a +supply of needles and thread, a pound or two of tobacco and a few +yards of bright-coloured calico. + +I should have mentioned that shortly after Toby's disappearance, +perceiving the uncertainty of the time I might be obliged to +remain in the valley--if, indeed, I ever should escape from +it--and considering that my whole wardrobe consisted of a shirt +and a pair of trousers, I resolved to doff these garments at +once, in order to preserve them in a suitable condition for wear +should I again appear among civilized beings. I was consequently +obliged to assume the Typee costume, a little altered, however, +to suit my own views of propriety, and in which I have no doubt I +appeared to as much advantage as a senator of Rome enveloped in +the folds of his toga. A few folds of yellow tappa tucked about +my waist, descended to my feet in the style of a lady's +petticoat, only I did not have recourse to those voluminous +paddings in the rear with which our gentle dames are in the habit +of augmenting the sublime rotundity of their figures. This +usually comprised my in-door dress; whenever I walked out, I +superadded to it an ample robe of the same material, which +completely enveloped my person, and screened it from the rays of +the sun. + +One morning I made a rent in this mantle; and to show the +islanders with what facility it could be repaired, I lowered my +bundle, and taking from it a needle and thread, proceeded to +stitch up the opening. They regarded this wonderful application +of science with intense admiration; and whilst I was stitching +away, old Marheyo, who was one of the lookers-on, suddenly +clapped his hand to his forehead, and rushing to a corner of the +house, drew forth a soiled and tattered strip of faded calico +which he must have procured some time or other in traffic on the +beach--and besought me eagerly to exercise a little of my art +upon it. I willingly complied, though certainly so stumpy a +needle as mine never took such gigantic strides over calico +before. The repairs completed, old Marheyo gave me a paternal +hug; and divesting himself of his 'maro' (girdle), swathed the +calico about his loins, and slipping the beloved ornaments into +his ears, grasped his spear and sallied out of the house, like a +valiant Templar arrayed in a new and costly suit of armour. + +I never used my razor during my stay in the island, but although +a very subordinate affair, it had been vastly admired by the +Typees; and Narmonee, a great hero among them, who was +exceedingly precise in the arrangements of his toilet and the +general adjustment of is person, being the most accurately +tattooed and laboriously horrified individual in all the valley, +thought it would be a great advantage to have it applied to the +already shaven crown of his head. + +The implement they usually employ is a shark's tooth, which is +about as well adapted to the purpose as a one-pronged fork for +pitching hay. No wonder, then, that the acute Narmonee perceived +the advantage my razor possessed over the usual implement. +Accordingly, one day he requested as a personal favour that I +would just run over his head with the razor. In reply, I gave +him to understand that it was too dull, and could not be used to +any purpose without being previously sharpened. To assist my +meaning, I went through an imaginary honing process on the palm +of my hand. Narmonee took my meaning in an instant, and running +out of the house, returned the next moment with a huge rough mass +of rock as big as a millstone, and indicated to me that that was +exactly the thing I wanted. Of course there was nothing left for +me but to proceed to business, and I began scraping away at a +great rate. He writhed and wriggled under the infliction, but, +fully convinced of my skill, endured the pain like a martyr. + +Though I never saw Narmonee in battle I will, from what I then +observed, stake my life upon his courage and fortitude. Before +commencing operations, his head had presented a surface of short +bristling hairs, and by the time I had concluded my unskilful +operation it resembled not a little a stubble field after being +gone over with a harrow. However, as the chief expressed the +liveliest satisfaction at the result, I was too wise to dissent +from his opinion. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN + +IMPROVEMENT IN HEALTH AND SPIRITS--FELICITY OF THE TYPEES--THEIR +ENJOYMENTS COMPARED WITH THOSE OF MORE ENLIGHTENED +COMMUNITIES--COMPARATIVE WICKEDNESS OF CIVILIZED AND +UNENLIGHTENED PEOPLE--A SKIRMISH IN THE MOUNTAIN WITH THE +WARRIORS OF HAPPAR + +DAY after day wore on, and still there was no perceptible change +in the conduct of the islanders towards me. Gradually I lost all +knowledge of the regular recurrence of the days of the week, and +sunk insensibly into that kind of apathy which ensues after some +violent outburst of despair. My limb suddenly healed, the +swelling went down, the pain subsided, and I had every reason to +suppose I should soon completely recover from the affliction that +had so long tormented me. + +As soon as I was enabled to ramble about the valley in company +with the natives, troops of whom followed me whenever I sallied +out of the house, I began to experience an elasticity of mind +which placed me beyond the reach of those dismal forebodings to +which I had so lately been a prey. Received wherever I went with +the most deferential kindness; regaled perpetually with the most +delightful fruits; ministered to by dark-eyed nymphs, and +enjoying besides all the services of the devoted Kory-Kory, I +thought that, for a sojourn among cannibals, no man could have +well made a more agreeable one. + +To be sure there were limits set to my wanderings. Toward the +sea my progress was barred by an express prohibition of the +savages; and after having made two or three ineffectual attempts +to reach it, as much to gratify my curiosity as anything else, I +gave up the idea. It was in vain to think of reaching it by +stealth, since the natives escorted me in numbers wherever I +went, and not for one single moment that I can recall to mind was +I ever permitted to be alone. + +The green and precipitous elevations that stood ranged around the +head of the vale where Marheyo's habitation was situated +effectually precluded all hope of escape in that quarter, even if +I could have stolen away from the thousand eyes of the savages. + +But these reflections now seldom obtruded upon me; I gave myself +up to the passing hour, and if ever disagreeable thoughts arose +in my mind, I drove them away. When I looked around the verdant +recess in which I was buried, and gazed up to the summits of the +lofty eminence that hemmed me in, I was well disposed to think +that I was in the 'Happy Valley', and that beyond those heights +there was naught but a world of care and anxiety. As I extended +my wanderings in the valley and grew more familiar with the +habits of its inmates, I was fain to confess that, despite the +disadvantages of his condition, the Polynesian savage, surrounded +by all the luxurious provisions of nature, enjoyed an infinitely +happier, though certainly a less intellectual existence than the +self-complacent European. + +The naked wretch who shivers beneath the bleak skies, and starves +among the inhospitable wilds of Tierra-del-Fuego, might indeed be +made happier by civilization, for it would alleviate his physical +wants. But the voluptuous Indian, with every desire supplied, +whom Providence has bountifully provided with all the sources of +pure and natural enjoyment, and from whom are removed so many of +the ills and pains of life--what has he to desire at the hands of +Civilization? She may 'cultivate his mind--may elevate his +thoughts,'--these I believe are the established phrases--but will +he be the happier? Let the once smiling and populous Hawiian +islands, with their now diseased, starving, and dying natives, +answer the question. The missionaries may seek to disguise the +matter as they will, but the facts are incontrovertible; and the +devoutest Christian who visits that group with an unbiased mind, +must go away mournfully asking--'Are these, alas! the fruits of +twenty-five years of enlightening?' + +In a primitive state of society, the enjoyments of life, though +few and simple, are spread over a great extent, and are +unalloyed; but Civilization, for every advantage she imparts, +holds a hundred evils in reserve;--the heart-burnings, the +jealousies, the social rivalries, the family dissentions, and the +thousand self-inflicted discomforts of refined life, which make +up in units the swelling aggregate of human misery, are unknown +among these unsophisticated people. + +But it will be urged that these shocking unprincipled wretches +are cannibals. Very true; and a rather bad trait in their +character it must be allowed. But they are such only when they +seek to gratify the passion of revenge upon their enemies; and I +ask whether the mere eating of human flesh so very far exceeds in +barbarity that custom which only a few years since was practised +in enlightened England:--a convicted traitor, perhaps a man found +guilty of honesty, patriotism, and suchlike heinous crimes, had +his head lopped off with a huge axe, his bowels dragged cut and +thrown into a fire; while his body, carved into four quarters, +was with his head exposed upon pikes, and permitted to rot and +fester among the public haunts of men! + +The fiend-like skill we display in the invention of all manner of +death-dealing engines, the vindictiveness with which we carry on +our wars, and the misery and desolation that follow in their +train, are enough of themselves to distinguish the white +civilized man as the most ferocious animal on the face of the +earth. + +His remorseless cruelty is seen in many of the institutions of +our own favoured land. There is one in particular lately adopted +in one of the States of the Union, which purports to have been +dictated by the most merciful considerations. To destroy our +malefactors piece-meal, drying up in their veins, drop by drop, +the blood we are too chicken-hearted to shed by a single blow +which would at once put a period to their sufferings, is deemed +to be infinitely preferable to the old-fashioned punishment of +gibbeting--much less annoying to the victim, and more in +accordance with the refined spirit of the age; and yet how feeble +is all language to describe the horrors we inflict upon these +wretches, whom we mason up in the cells of our prisons, and +condemn to perpetual solitude in the very heart of our +population. + +But it is needless to multiply the examples of civilized +barbarity; they far exceed in the amount of misery they cause the +crimes which we regard with such abhorrence in our less +enlightened fellow-creatures. + +The term 'Savage' is, I conceive, often misapplied, and indeed, +when I consider the vices, cruelties, and enormities of every +kind that spring up in the tainted atmosphere of a feverish +civilization, I am inclined to think that so far as the relative +wickedness of the parties is concerned, four or five Marquesan +Islanders sent to the United States as Missionaries might be +quite as useful as an equal number of Americans despatched to the +Islands in a similar capacity. + +I once heard it given as an instance of the frightful depravity +of a certain tribe in the Pacific that they had no word in their +language to express the idea of virtue. The assertion was +unfounded; but were it otherwise, it might be met by stating that +their language is almost entirely destitute of terms to express +the delightful ideas conveyed by our endless catalogue of +civilized crimes. + +In the altered frame of mind to which I have referred, every +object that presented itself to my notice in the valley struck me +in a new light, and the opportunities I now enjoyed of observing +the manners of its inmates, tended to strengthen my favourable +impressions. One peculiarity that fixed my admiration was the +perpetual hilarity reigning through the whole extent of the vale. + +There seemed to be no cares, griefs, troubles, or vexations, in +all Typee. The hours tripped along as gaily as the laughing +couples down a country dance. + +There were none of those thousand sources of irritation that the +ingenuity of civilized man has created to mar his own felicity. +There were no foreclosures of mortgages, no protested notes, no +bills payable, no debts of honour in Typee; no unreasonable +tailors and shoemakers perversely bent on being paid; no duns of +any description and battery attorneys, to foment discord, backing +their clients up to a quarrel, and then knocking their heads +together; no poor relations, everlastingly occupying the spare +bed-chamber, and diminishing the elbow room at the family table; +no destitute widows with their children starving on the cold +charities of the world; no beggars; no debtors' prisons; no proud +and hard-hearted nabobs in Typee; or to sum up all in one +word--no Money! 'That root of all evil' was not to be found in +the valley. + +In this secluded abode of happiness there were no cross old +women, no cruel step-dames, no withered spinsters, no lovesick +maidens, no sour old bachelors, no inattentive husbands, no +melancholy young men, no blubbering youngsters, and no squalling +brats. All was mirth, fun and high good humour. Blue devils, +hypochondria, and doleful dumps, went and hid themselves among +the nooks and crannies of the rocks. + +Here you would see a parcel of children frolicking together the +live-long day, and no quarrelling, no contention, among them. +The same number in our own land could not have played together +for the space of an hour without biting or scratching one +another. There you might have seen a throng of young females, +not filled with envyings of each other's charms, nor displaying +the ridiculous affectations of gentility, nor yet moving in +whalebone corsets, like so many automatons, but free, +inartificially happy, and unconstrained. + +There were some spots in that sunny vale where they would +frequently resort to decorate themselves with garlands of +flowers. To have seen them reclining beneath the shadows of one +of the beautiful groves; the ground about them strewn with +freshly gathered buds and blossoms, employed in weaving chaplets +and necklaces, one would have thought that all the train of Flora +had gathered together to keep a festival in honour of their +mistress. + +With the young men there seemed almost always some matter of +diversion or business on hand that afforded a constant variety of +enjoyment. But whether fishing, or carving canoes, or polishing +their ornaments, never was there exhibited the least sign of +strife or contention among them. As for the warriors, they +maintained a tranquil dignity of demeanour, journeying +occasionally from house to house, where they were always sure to +be received with the attention bestowed upon distinguished +guests. The old men, of whom there were many in the vale, seldom +stirred from their mats, where they would recline for hours and +hours, smoking and talking to one another with all the garrulity +of age. + +But the continual happiness, which so far as I was able to judge +appeared to prevail in the valley, sprang principally from that +all-pervading sensation which Rousseau has told us be at one time +experienced, the mere buoyant sense of a healthful physical +existence. And indeed in this particular the Typees had ample +reason to felicitate themselves, for sickness was almost unknown. +During the whole period of my stay I saw but one invalid among +them; and on their smooth skins you observed no blemish or mark +of disease. + +The general repose, however, upon which I have just been +descanting, was broken in upon about this time by an event which +proved that the islanders were not entirely exempt from those +occurrences which disturb the quiet of more civilized +communities. + +Having now been a considerable time in the valley, I began to +feel surprised that the violent hostility subsisting between its +inhabitants, and those of the adjoining bay of Happar, should +never have manifested itself in any warlike encounter. Although +the valiant Typees would often by gesticulations declare their +undying hatred against their enemies, and the disgust they felt +at their cannibal propensities; although they dilated upon the +manifold injuries they had received at their hands, yet with a +forbearance truly commendable, they appeared to sit down under +their grievances, and to refrain from making any reprisals. The +Happars, entrenched behind their mountains, and never even +showing themselves on their summits, did not appear to me to +furnish adequate cause for that excess of animosity evinced +towards them by the heroic tenants of our vale, and I was +inclined to believe that the deeds of blood attributed to them +had been greatly exaggerated. + +On the other hand, as the clamours of war had not up to this +period disturbed the serenity of the tribe, I began to distrust +the truth of those reports which ascribed so fierce and +belligerent a character to the Typee nation. Surely, thought I, +all these terrible stories I have heard about the inveteracy with +which they carried on the feud, their deadly intensity, of hatred +and the diabolical malice with which they glutted their revenge +upon the inanimate forms of the slain, are nothing more than +fables, and I must confess that I experienced something like a +sense of regret at having my hideous anticipations thus +disappointed. I felt in some sort like a 'prentice boy who, +going to the play in the expectation of being delighted with a +cut-and-thrust tragedy, is almost moved to tears of +disappointment at the exhibition of a genteel comedy. + +I could not avoid thinking that I had fallen in with a greatly +traduced people, and I moralized not a little upon the +disadvantage of having a bad name, which in this instance had +given a tribe of savages, who were as pacific as so many +lambkins, the reputation of a confederacy of giant-killers. + +But subsequent events proved that I had been a little too +premature in coming to this conclusion. One, day about noon, +happening to be at the Ti, I had lain down on the mats with +several of the chiefs, and had gradually sunk into a most +luxurious siesta, when I was awakened by a tremendous outcry, and +starting up beheld the natives seizing their spears and hurrying +out, while the most puissant of the chiefs, grasping the six +muskets which were ranged against the bamboos, followed after, +and soon disappeared in the groves. These movements were +accompanied by wild shouts, in which 'Happar, Happar,' greatly +predominated. The islanders were now seen running past the Ti, +and striking across the valley to the Happar side. Presently I +heard the sharp report of a musket from the adjoining hills, and +then a burst of voices in the same direction. At this the women +who had congregated in the groves, set up the most violent +clamours, as they invariably do here as elsewhere on every +occasion of excitement and alarm, with a view of tranquillizing +their own minds and disturbing other people. On this particular +occasion they made such an outrageous noise, and continued it +with such perseverance, that for awhile, had entire volleys of +musketry been fired off in the neighbouring mountains, I should +not have been able to have heard them. + +When this female commotion had a little subsided I listened +eagerly for further information. At last bang went another shot, +and then a second volley of yells from the hills. Again all was +quiet, and continued so for such a length of time that I began to +think the contending armies had agreed upon a suspension of +hostilities; when pop went a third gun, followed as before with a +yell. After this, for nearly two hours nothing occurred worthy +of comment, save some straggling shouts from the hillside, +sounding like the halloos of a parcel of truant boys who had lost +themselves in the woods. + +During this interval I had remained standing on the piazza of the +'Ti,' which directly fronted the Happar mountain, and with no one +near me but Kory-Kory and the old superannuated savages I have +described. These latter never stirred from their mats, and +seemed altogether unconscious that anything unusual was going on. + +As for Kory-Kory, he appeared to think that we were in the midst +of great events, and sought most zealously to impress me with a +due sense of their importance. Every sound that reached us +conveyed some momentous item of intelligence to him. At such +times, as if he were gifted with second sight, he would go +through a variety of pantomimic illustrations, showing me the +precise manner in which the redoubtable Typees were at that very +moment chastising the insolence of the enemy. 'Mehevi hanna +pippee nuee Happar,' he exclaimed every five minutes, giving me +to understand that under that distinguished captain the warriors +of his nation were performing prodigies of valour. + +Having heard only four reports from the muskets, I was led to +believe that they were worked by the islanders in the same manner +as the Sultan Solyman's ponderous artillery at the siege of +Byzantium, one of them taking an hour or two to load and train. +At last, no sound whatever proceeding from the mountains, I +concluded that the contest had been determined one way or the +other. Such appeared, indeed, to be the case, for in a little +while a courier arrived at the 'Ti', almost breathless with his +exertions, and communicated the news of a great victory having +been achieved by his countrymen: 'Happar poo arva!--Happar poo +arva!' (the cowards had fled). Kory-Kory was in ecstasies, and +commenced a vehement harangue, which, so far as I understood it, +implied that the result exactly agreed with his expectations, and +which, moreover, was intended to convince me that it would be a +perfectly useless undertaking, even for an army of fire-eaters, +to offer battle to the irresistible heroes of our valley. In all +this I of course acquiesced, and looked forward with no little +interest to the return of the conquerors, whose victory I feared +might not have been purchased without cost to themselves. + +But here I was again mistaken; for Mehevi, in conducting his +warlike operations, rather inclined to the Fabian than to the +Bonapartean tactics, husbanding his resources and exposing his +troops to no unnecessary hazards. The total loss of the victors +in this obstinately contested affair was, in killed, wounded, and +missing--one forefinger and part of a thumb-nail (which the late +proprietor brought along with him in his hand), a severely +contused arm, and a considerable effusion of blood flowing from +the thigh of a chief, who had received an ugly thrust from a +Happar spear. What the enemy had suffered I could not discover, +but I presume they had succeeded in taking off with them the +bodies of their slain. + +Such was the issue of the battle, as far as its results came +under my observation: and as it appeared to be considered an +event of prodigious importance, I reasonably concluded that the +wars of the natives were marked by no very sanguinary traits. I +afterwards learned how the skirmish had originated. A number of +the Happars had been discovered prowling for no good purpose on +the Typee side of the mountain; the alarm sounded, and the +invaders, after a protracted resistance, had been chased over the +frontier. But why had not the intrepid Mehevi carried the war +into Happar? Why had he not made a descent into the hostile +vale, and brought away some trophy of his victory--some materials +for the cannibal entertainment which I had heard usually +terminated every engagement? After all, I was much inclined to +believe that these shocking festivals must occur very rarely +among the islanders, if, indeed, they ever take place. + +For two or three days the late event was the theme of general +comment; after which the excitement gradually wore away, and the +valley resumed its accustomed tranquility. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN + +SWIMMING IN COMPANY WITH THE GIRLS OF THE VALLEY--A +CANOE--EFFECTS OF THE TABOO--A PLEASURE EXCURSION ON THE +POND--BEAUTIFUL FREAK OF FAYAWAY--MANTUA-MAKING--A STRANGER +ARRIVES IN THE VALLEY--HIS MYSTERIOUS CONDUCT--NATIVE +ORATORY--THE INTERVIEW--ITS RESULTS--DEPARTURE OF THE STRANGER + +RETURNING health and peace of mind gave a new interest to +everything around me. I sought to diversify my time by as many +enjoyments as lay within my reach. Bathing in company with +troops of girls formed one of my chief amusements. We sometimes +enjoyed the recreation in the waters of a miniature lake, to +which the central stream of the valley expanded. This lovely +sheet of water was almost circular in figure, and about three +hundred yards across. Its beauty was indescribable. All around +its banks waved luxuriant masses of tropical foliage, soaring +high above which were seen, here and there, the symmetrical shaft +of the cocoanut tree, surmounted by its tufts of graceful +branches, drooping in the air like so many waving ostrich plumes. + +The ease and grace with which the maidens of the valley propelled +themselves through the water, and their familiarity with the +element, were truly astonishing. Sometimes they might be seen +gliding along just under the surface, without apparently moving +hand or foot--then throwing themselves on their sides, they +darted through the water, revealing glimpses of their forms, as, +in the course of their rapid progress, they shot for an instant +partly into the air--at one moment they dived deep down into the +water, and the next they rose bounding to the surface. + +I remember upon one occasion plunging in among a parcel of these +river-nymphs, and counting vainly on my superior strength, sought +to drag some of them under the water, but I quickly repented my +temerity. The amphibious young creatures swarmed about me like a +shoal of dolphins, and seizing hold of my devoted limbs, tumbled +me about and ducked me under the surface, until from the strange +noises which rang in my ears, and the supernatural visions +dancing before my eyes, I thought I was in the land of the +spirits. I stood indeed as little chance among them as a +cumbrous whale attacked on all sides by a legion of swordfish. +When at length they relinquished their hold of me, they swam away +in every direction, laughing at my clumsy endeavours to reach +them. + +There was no boat on the lake; but at my solicitation and for my +special use, some of the young men attached to Marheyo's +household, under the direction of the indefatigable Kory-Kory, +brought up a light and tastefully carved canoe from the sea. It +was launched upon the sheet of water, and floated there as +gracefully as a swan. But, melancholy to relate, it produced an +effect I had not anticipated. The sweet nymphs, who had sported +with me before on the lake, now all fled its vicinity. The +prohibited craft, guarded by the edicts of the 'taboo,' extended +the prohibition to the waters in which it lay. + +For a few days, Kory-Kory, with one or two other youths, +accompanied me in my excursions to the lake, and while I paddled +about in my light canoe, would swim after me shouting and +gambolling in pursuit. But I as ever partial to what is termed +in the 'Young Men's Own Book'--'the society of virtuous and +intelligent young ladies;' and in the absence of the mermaids, +the amusement became dull and insipid. One morning I expressed +to my faithful servitor my desire for the return of the nymphs. +The honest fellow looked at me bewildered for a moment, and then +shook his head solemnly, and murmured 'taboo! taboo!' giving me +to understand that unless the canoe was removed I could not +expect to have the young ladies back again. But to this +procedure I was averse; I not only wanted the canoe to stay where +it was, but I wanted the beauteous Fayaway to get into it, and +paddle with me about the lake. This latter proposition +completely horrified Kory-Kory's notions of propriety. He +inveighed against it, as something too monstrous to be thought +of. It not only shocked their established notions of propriety, +but was at variance with all their religious ordinances. + +However, although the 'taboo' was a ticklish thing to meddle +with, I determined to test its capabilities of resisting an +attack. I consulted the chief Mehevi, who endeavoured to +dissuade me from my object; but I was not to be repulsed; and +accordingly increased the warmth of my solicitations. At last he +entered into a long, and I have no doubt a very learned and +eloquent exposition of the history and nature of the 'taboo' as +affecting this particular case; employing a variety of most +extraordinary words, which, from their amazing length and +sonorousness, I have every reason to believe were of a +theological nature. But all that he said failed to convince me: +partly, perhaps, because I could not comprehend a word that he +uttered; but chiefly, that for the life of me I could not +understand why a woman would not have as much right to enter a +canoe as a man. At last he became a little more rational, and +intimated that, out of the abundant love he bore me, he would +consult with the priests and see what could be done. + +How it was that the priesthood of Typee satisfied the affair with +their consciences, I know not; but so it was, and Fayaway +dispensation from this portion of the taboo was at length +procured. Such an event I believe never before had occurred in +the valley; but it was high time the islanders should be taught a +little gallantry, and I trust that the example I set them may +produce beneficial effects. Ridiculous, indeed, that the lovely +creatures should be obliged to paddle about in the water, like so +many ducks, while a parcel of great strapping fellows skimmed +over its surface in their canoes. + +The first day after Fayaway's emancipation, I had a delightful +little party on the lake--the damsels' Kory-Kory, and myself. My +zealous body-servant brought from the house a calabash of +poee-poee, half a dozen young cocoanuts--stripped of their +husks--three pipes, as many yams, and me on his back a part of +the way. Something of a load; but Kory-Kory was a very strong +man for his size, and by no means brittle in the spine. We had a +very pleasant day; my trusty valet plied the paddle and swept us +gently along the margin of the water, beneath the shades of the +overhanging thickets. Fayaway and I reclined in the stern of the +canoe, on the very best terms possible with one another; the +gentle nymph occasionally placing her pipe to her lip, and +exhaling the mild fumes of the tobacco, to which her rosy breath +added a fresh perfume. Strange as it may seem, there is nothing +in which a young and beautiful female appears to more advantage +than in the act of smoking. How captivating is a Peruvian lady, +swinging in her gaily-woven hammock of grass, extended between +two orange-trees, and inhaling the fragrance of a choice cigarro! + +But Fayaway, holding in her delicately formed olive hand the long +yellow reed of her pipe, with its quaintly carved bowl, and every +few moments languishingly giving forth light wreaths of vapour +from her mouth and nostrils, looked still more engaging. + +We floated about thus for several hours, when I looked up to the +warm, glowing, tropical sky, and then down into the transparent +depths below; and when my eye, wandering from the bewitching +scenery around, fell upon the grotesquely-tattooed form of +Kory-Kory, and finally, encountered the pensive gaze of Fayaway, +I thought I had been transported to some fairy region, so unreal +did everything appear. + +This lovely piece of water was the coolest spot in all the +valley, and I now made it a place of continual resort during the +hottest period of the day. One side of it lay near the +termination of a long gradually expanding gorge, which mounted to +the heights that environed the vale. The strong trade wind, met +in its course by these elevations, circled and eddied about their +summits, and was sometimes driven down the steep ravine and swept +across the valley, ruffling in its passage the otherwise tranquil +surface of the lake. + +One day, after we had been paddling about for some time, I +disembarked Kory-Kory, and paddled the canoe to the windward side +of the lake. As I turned the canoe, Fayaway, who was with me, +seemed all at once to be struck with some happy idea. With a +wild exclamation of delight, she disengaged from her person the +ample robe of tappa which was knotted over her shoulder (for the +purpose of shielding her from the sun), and spreading it out like +a sail, stood erect with upraised arms in the head of the canoe. +We American sailors pride ourselves upon our straight, clean +spars, but a prettier little mast than Fayaway made was never +shipped aboard of any craft. + +In a moment the tappa was distended by the breeze--the long brown +tresses of Fayaway streamed in the air--and the canoe glided +rapidly through the water, and shot towards the shore. Seated in +the stern, I directed its course with my paddle until it dashed up +the soft sloping bank, and Fayaway, with a light spring alighted +on the ground; whilst Kory-Kory, who had watched our manoeuvres +with admiration, now clapped his hands in transport, and shouted +like a madman. Many a time afterwards was this feat repeated. + +If the reader has not observed ere this that I was the declared +admirer of Miss Fayaway, all I can say is that he is little +conversant with affairs of the heart, and I certainly shall not +trouble myself to enlighten him any farther. Out of the calico I +had brought from the ship I made a dress for this lovely girl. +In it she looked, I must confess, something like an opera-dancer. + +The drapery of the latter damsel generally commences a little +above the elbows, but my island beauty's began at the waist, and +terminated sufficiently far above the ground to reveal the most +bewitching ankle in the universe. + +The day that Fayaway first wore this robe was rendered memorable +by a new acquaintance being introduced to me. In the afternoon I +was lying in the house when I heard a great uproar outside; but +being by this time pretty well accustomed to the wild halloos +which were almost continually ringing through the valley, I paid +little attention to it, until old Marheyo, under the influence of +some strange excitement, rushed into my presence and communicated +the astounding tidings, 'Marnoo pemi!' which being interpreted, +implied that an individual by the name of Marnoo was approaching. + +My worthy old friend evidently expected that this intelligence +would produce a great effect upon me, and for a time he stood +earnestly regarding me, as if curious to see how I should conduct +myself, but as I remained perfectly unmoved, the old gentleman +darted out of the house again, in as great a hurry as he had +entered it. + +'Marnoo, Marnoo,' cogitated I, 'I have never heard that name +before. Some distinguished character, I presume, from the +prodigious riot the natives are making;' the tumultuous noise +drawing nearer and nearer every moment, while 'Marnoo!--Marnoo!' +was shouted by every tongue. + +I made up my mind that some savage warrior of consequence, who +had not yet enjoyed the honour of an audience, was desirous of +paying his respects on the present occasion. So vain had I +become by the lavish attention to which I had been accustomed, +that I felt half inclined, as a punishment for such neglect, to +give this Marnoo a cold reception, when the excited throng came +within view, convoying one of the most striking specimens of +humanity that I ever beheld. + +The stranger could not have been more than twenty-five years of +age, and was a little above the ordinary height; had he a single +hair's breadth taller, the matchless symmetry of his form would +have been destroyed. His unclad limbs were beautifully formed; +whilst the elegant outline of his figure, together with his +beardless cheeks, might have entitled him to the distinction of +standing for the statue of the Polynesian Apollo; and indeed the +oval of his countenance and the regularity of every feature +reminded one of an antique bust. But the marble repose of art +was supplied by a warmth and liveliness of expression only to be +seen in the South Sea Islander under the most favourable +developments of nature. The hair of Marnoo was a rich curling +brown, and twined about his temples and neck in little close +curling ringlets, which danced up and down continually, when he +was animated in conversation. His cheek was of a feminine +softness, and his face was free from the least blemish of +tattooing, although the rest of his body was drawn all over with +fanciful figures, which--unlike the unconnected sketching usual +among these natives--appeared to have been executed in conformity +with some general design. + +The tattooing on his back in particular attracted my attention. +The artist employed must indeed have excelled in his profession. +Traced along the course of the spine was accurately delineated +the slender, tapering and diamond checkered shaft of the +beautiful 'artu' tree. Branching from the stem on each side, and +disposed alternately, were the graceful branches drooping with +leaves all correctly drawn and elaborately finished. Indeed the +best specimen of the Fine Arts I had yet seen in Typee. A rear +view of the stranger might have suggested the idea of a spreading +vine tacked against a garden wall. Upon his breast, arms and +legs, were exhibited an infinite variety of figures; every one of +which, however, appeared to have reference to the general effect +sought to be produced. The tattooing I have described was of the +brightest blue, and when contrasted with the light olive-colour +of the skin, produced an unique and even elegant effect. A +slight girdle of white tappa, scarcely two inches in width, but +hanging before and behind in spreading tassels, composed the +entire costume of the stranger. + +He advanced surrounded by the islanders, carrying under one arm a +small roll of native cloth, and grasping in his other hand a long +and richly decorated spear. His manner was that of a traveller +conscious that he is approaching a comfortable stage in his +journey. Every moment he turned good-humouredly on the throng +around him, and gave some dashing sort of reply to their +incessant queries, which appeared to convulse them with +uncontrollable mirth. + +Struck by his demeanour, and the peculiarity of his appearance, +so unlike that of the shaven-crowned and face-tattooed natives in +general, I involuntarily rose as he entered the house, and +proffered him a seat on the mats beside me. But without deigning +to notice the civility, or even the more incontrovertible fact of +my existence, the stranger passed on, utterly regardless of me, +and flung himself upon the further end of the long couch that +traversed the sole apartment of Marheyo's habitation. + +Had the belle of the season, in the pride of her beauty and +power, been cut in a place of public resort by some supercilious +exquisite, she could not have felt greater indignation than I did +at this unexpected slight. + +I was thrown into utter astonishment. The conduct of the savages +had prepared me to anticipate from every newcomer the same +extravagant expressions of curiosity and regard. The singularity +of his conduct, however, only roused my desire to discover who +this remarkable personage might be, who now engrossed the +attention of every one. + +Tinor placed before him a calabash of poee-poee, from which the +stranger regaled himself, alternating every mouthful with some +rapid exclamation, which was eagerly caught up and echoed by the +crowd that completely filled the house. When I observed the +striking devotion of the natives to him, and their temporary +withdrawal of all attention from myself, I felt not a little +piqued. The glory of Tommo is departed, thought I, and the +sooner he removes from the valley the better. These were my +feelings at the moment, and they were prompted by that glorious +principle inherent in all heroic natures--the strong-rooted +determination to have the biggest share of the pudding or to go +without any of it. + +Marnoo, that all-attractive personage, having satisfied his +hunger and inhaled a few whiffs from a pipe which was handed to +him, launched out into an harangue which completely enchained the +attention of his auditors. + +Little as I understood of the language, yet from his animated +gestures and the varying expression of his features--reflected as +from so many mirrors in the countenances around him, I could +easily discover the nature of those passions which he sought to +arouse. From the frequent recurrence of the words 'Nukuheva' and +'Frannee' (French), and some others with the meaning of which I +was acquainted, he appeared to be rehearsing to his auditors +events which had recently occurred in the neighbouring bays. But +how he had gained the knowledge of these matters I could not +understand, unless it were that he had just come from Nukuheva--a +supposition which his travel-stained appearance not a little +supported. But, if a native of that region, I could not account +for his friendly reception at the hands of the Typees. + +Never, certainly, had I beheld so powerful an exhibition of +natural eloquence as Marnoo displayed during the course of his +oration. The grace of the attitudes into which he threw his +flexible figure, the striking gestures of his naked arms, and +above all, the fire which shot from his brilliant eyes, imparted +an effect to the continually changing accents of his voice, of +which the most accomplished orator might have been proud. At one +moment reclining sideways upon the mat, and leaning calmly upon +his bended arm, he related circumstantially the aggressions of +the French--their hostile visits to the surrounding bays, +enumerating each one in succession--Happar, Puerka, Nukuheva, +Tior,--and then starting to his feet and precipitating himself +forward with clenched hands and a countenance distorted with +passion, he poured out a tide of invectives. Falling back into +an attitude of lofty command, he exhorted the Typees to resist +these encroachments; reminding them, with a fierce glance of +exultation, that as yet the terror of their name had preserved +them from attack, and with a scornful sneer he sketched in +ironical terms the wondrous intrepidity of the French, who, with +five war-canoes and hundreds of men, had not dared to assail the +naked warriors of their valley. + +The effect he produced upon his audience was electric; one and +all they stood regarding him with sparkling eyes and trembling +limbs, as though they were listening to the inspired voice of a +prophet. + +But it soon appeared that Marnoo's powers were as versatile as +they were extraordinary. As soon as he had finished his vehement +harangue, he threw himself again upon the mats, and, singling out +individuals in the crowd, addressed them by name, in a sort of +bantering style, the humour of which, though nearly hidden from +me filled the whole assembly with uproarious delight. + +He had a word for everybody; and, turning rapidly from one to +another, gave utterance to some hasty witticism, which was sure +to be followed by peals of laughter. To the females as well as +to the men, he addressed his discourse. Heaven only knows what +he said to them, but he caused smiles and blushes to mantle their +ingenuous faces. I am, indeed, very much inclined to believe +that Marnoo, with his handsome person and captivating manners, +was a sad deceiver among the simple maidens of the island. + +During all this time he had never, for one moment, deigned to +regard me. He appeared, indeed, to be altogether unconscious of +my presence. I was utterly at a loss how to account for this +extraordinary conduct. I easily perceived that he was a man of +no little consequence among the islanders; that he possessed +uncommon talents; and was gifted with a higher degree of +knowledge than the inmates of the valley. For these reasons, I +therefore greatly feared lest having, from some cause or other, +unfriendly feelings towards me, he might exert his powerful +influence to do me mischief. + +It seemed evident that he was not a permanent resident of the +vale, and yet, whence could he have come? On all sides the +Typees were girt in by hostile tribes, and how could he possibly, +if belonging to any of these, be received with so much +cordiality? + +The personal appearance of the enigmatical stranger suggested +additional perplexities. The face, free from tattooing, and the +unshaven crown, were peculiarities I had never before remarked in +any part of the island, and I had always heard that the contrary +were considered the indispensable distinction of a Marquesan +warrior. Altogether the matter was perfectly incomprehensible to +me, and I awaited its solution with no small degree of anxiety. + +At length, from certain indications, I suspected that he was +making me the subject of his remarks, although he appeared +cautiously to avoid either pronouncing my name, or looking in the +direction where I lay. All at once he rose from the mats where +he had been reclining, and, still conversing, moved towards me, +his eye purposely evading mine, and seated himself within less +than a yard of me. I had hardly recovered from my surprise, when +he suddenly turned round, and, with a most benignant countenance +extended his right hand gracefully towards me. Of course I +accepted the courteous challenge, and, as soon as our palms met, +he bent towards me, and murmured in musical accents--'How you +do?' 'How long you been in this bay?' 'You like this bay?' + +Had I been pierced simultaneously by three Happar spears, I could +not have started more than I did at hearing these simple +questions. For a moment I was overwhelmed with astonishment, and +then answered something I know not what; but as soon as I +regained my self-possession, the thought darted through my mind +that from this individual I might obtain that information +regarding Toby which I suspected the natives had purposely +withheld from me. Accordingly I questioned him concerning the +disappearance of my companion, but he denied all knowledge of the +matter. I then inquired from whence he had come? He replied, +from Nukuheva. When I expressed my surprise, he looked at me for +a moment, as if enjoying my perplexity, and then with his strange +vivacity, exclaimed,--'Ah! Me taboo,--me go Nukuheva,--me go +Tior,--me go Typee,--me go everywhere,--nobody harm me,--me +taboo.' + +This explanation would have been altogether unintelligible to me, +had it not recalled to my mind something I had previously heard +concerning a singular custom among these islanders. Though the +country is possessed by various tribes, whose mutual hostilities +almost wholly prelude any intercourse between them; yet there are +instances where a person having ratified friendly relations with +some individual belonging longing to the valley, whose inmates +are at war with his own, may, under particular restrictions, +venture with impunity into the country of his friend, where, +under other circumstances, he would have been treated as an +enemy. In this light are personal friendships regarded among +them, and the individual so protected is said to be 'taboo', and +his person, to a certain extent, is held as sacred. Thus the +stranger informed me he had access to all the valleys in the +island. + +Curious to know how he had acquired his knowledge of English, I +questioned him on the subject. At first, for some reason or +other, he evaded the inquiry, but afterwards told me that, when a +boy, he had been carried to sea by the captain of a trading +vessel, with whom he had stayed three years, living part of the +time with him at Sidney in Australia, and that at a subsequent +visit to the island, the captain had, at his own request, +permitted him to remain among his countrymen. The natural +quickness of the savage had been wonderfully improved by his +intercourse with the white men, and his partial knowledge of a +foreign language gave him a great ascendancy over his less +accomplished countrymen. + +When I asked the now affable Marnoo why it was that he had not +previously spoken to me, he eagerly inquired what I had been led +to think of him from his conduct in that respect. I replied, +that I had supposed him to be some great chief or warrior, who +had seen plenty of white men before, and did not think it worth +while to notice a poor sailor. At this declaration of the +exalted opinion I had formed of him, he appeared vastly +gratified, and gave me to understand that he had purposely +behaved in that manner, in order to increase my astonishment, as +soon as he should see proper to address me. + +Marnoo now sought to learn my version of the story as to how I +came to be an inmate of the Typee valley. When I related to him +the circumstances under which Toby and I had entered it, he +listened with evident interest; but as soon as I alluded to the +absence, yet unaccounted for, of my comrade, he endeavoured to +change the subject, as if it were something he desired not to +agitate. It seemed, indeed, as if everything connected with Toby +was destined to beget distrust and anxiety in my bosom. +Notwithstanding Marnoo's denial of any knowledge of his fate, I +could not avoid suspecting that he was deceiving me; and this +suspicion revived those frightful apprehensions with regard to my +own fate, which, for a short time past, had subsided in my +breast. + +Influenced by these feelings, I now felt a strong desire to avail +myself of the stranger's protection, and under his safeguard to +return to Nukuheva. But as soon as I hinted at this, he +unhesitatingly pronounced it to be entirely impracticable; +assuring me that the Typees would never consent to my leaving the +valley. Although what he said merely confirmed the impression +which I had before entertained, still it increased my anxiety to +escape from a captivity which, however endurable, nay, delightful +it might be in some respects, involved in its issues a fate +marked by the most frightful contingencies. + +I could not conceal from my mind that Toby had been treated in +the same friendly manner as I had been, and yet all their +kindness terminated with his mysterious disappearance. Might not +the same fate await me?--a fate too dreadful to think of. +Stimulated by these considerations, I urged anew my request to +Marnoo; but he only set forth in stronger colours the +impossibility of my escape, and repeated his previous declaration +that the Typees would never be brought to consent to my +departure. + +When I endeavoured to learn from him the motives which prompted +them to hold me a prisoner, Marnoo again presumed that mysterious +tone which had tormented me with apprehension when I had +questioned him with regard to the fate of my companion. + +Thus repulsed, in a manner which only served, by arousing the +most dreadful forebodings, to excite me to renewed attempts, I +conjured him to intercede for me with the natives, and endeavour +to procure their consent to my leaving them. To this he appeared +strongly averse; but, yielding at last to my importunities, he +addressed several of the chiefs, who with the rest had been +eyeing us intently during the whole of our conversation. His +petition, however, was at once met with the most violent +disapprobation, manifesting itself in angry glances and gestures, +and a perfect torrent of passionate words, directed to both him +and myself. Marnoo, evidently repenting the step he had taken, +earnestly deprecated the resentment of the crowd, and, in a few +moments succeeded in pacifying to some extent the clamours which +had broken out as soon as his proposition had been understood. + +With the most intense interest had I watched the reception his +intercession might receive; and a bitter pang shot through my +heart at the additional evidence, now furnished, of the +unchangeable determination of the islanders. Marnoo told me with +evident alarm in his countenance, that although admitted into the +bay on a friendly footing with its inhabitants, he could not +presume to meddle with their concerns, as such procedure, if +persisted in, would at once absolve the Typees from the +restraints of the 'taboo', although so long as he refrained from +such conduct, it screened him effectually from the consequences +of the enmity they bore his tribe. At this moment, Mehevi, who +was present, angrily interrupted him; and the words which he +uttered in a commanding tone, evidently meant that he must at +once cease talking to me and withdraw to the other part of the +house. Marnoo immediately started up, hurriedly enjoining me not +to address him again, and as I valued my safety, to refrain from +all further allusion to the subject of my departure; and then, in +compliance with the order of the determined chief, but not before +it had again been angrily repeated, he withdrew to a distance. + +I now perceived, with no small degree of apprehension, the same +savage expression in the countenances of the natives, which had +startled me during the scene at the Ti. They glanced their eyes +suspiciously from Marnoo to me, as if distrusting the nature of +an intercourse carried on, as it was, in a language they could +not understand, and they seemed to harbour the belief that +already we had concerted measures calculated to elude their +vigilance. + +The lively countenances of these people are wonderfully +indicative of the emotions of the soul, and the imperfections of +their oral language are more than compensated for by the nervous +eloquence of their looks and gestures. I could plainly trace, in +every varying expression of their faces, all those passions which +had been thus unexpectedly aroused in their bosoms. + +It required no reflection to convince me, from what was going on, +that the injunction of Marnoo was not to be rashly slighted; and +accordingly, great as was the effort to suppress my feelings, I +accosted Mehevi in a good-humoured tone, with a view of +dissipating any ill impression he might have received. But the +ireful, angry chief was not so easily mollified. He rejected my +advances with that peculiarly stern expression I have before +described, and took care by the whole of his behaviour towards me +to show the displeasure and resentment which he felt. + +Marnoo, at the other extremity of the house, apparently desirous +of making a diversion in my favour, exerted himself to amuse with +his pleasantries the crowd about him; but his lively attempts +were not so successful as they had previously been, and, foiled +in his efforts, he rose gravely to depart. No one expressed any +regret at this movement, so seizing his roll of tappa, and +grasping his spear, he advanced to the front of the pi-pi, and +waving his hand in adieu to the now silent throng, cast upon me a +glance of mingled pity and reproach, and flung himself into the +path which led from the house. I watched his receding figure +until it was lost in the obscurity of the grove, and then gave +myself up to the most desponding reflections. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN + +REFLECTIONS AFTER MARNOO'S DEPARTURE-BATTLE OF THE +POP-GUNS--STRANGE CONCEIT OF MARHEYO--PROCESS OF MAKING TAPPA + +THE knowledge I had now obtained as to the intention of the +savages deeply affected me. + +Marnoo, I perceived, was a man who, by reason of his superior +acquirements, and the knowledge he possessed of the events which +were taking place in the different bays of the island, was held +in no little estimation by the inhabitants of the valley. He had +been received with the most cordial welcome and respect. The +natives had hung upon the accents of his voice, and, had +manifested the highest gratification at being individually +noticed by him. And yet despite all this, a few words urged in +my behalf, with the intent of obtaining my release from +captivity, had sufficed not only to banish all harmony and +good-will; but, if I could believe what he told me, had gone on +to endanger his own personal safety. + +How strongly rooted, then, must be the determination of the +Typees with regard to me, and how suddenly could they display the +strangest passions! The mere suggestion of my departure had +estranged from me, for the time at least, Mehevi, who was the +most influential of all the chiefs, and who had previously +exhibited so many instances of his friendly sentiments. The +rest of the natives had likewise evinced their strong repugnance +to my wishes, and even Kory-Kory himself seemed to share in the +general disapprobation bestowed upon me. + +In vain I racked my invention to find out some motive for them, +but I could discover none. + +But however this might be, the scene which had just occurred +admonished me of the danger of trifling with the wayward and +passionate spirits against whom it was vain to struggle, and +might even be fatal to do go. My only hope was to induce the +natives to believe that I was reconciled to my detention in the +valley, and by assuming a tranquil and cheerful demeanour, to +allay the suspicions which I had so unfortunately aroused. Their +confidence revived, they might in a short time remit in some +degree their watchfulness over my movements, and I should then be +the better enabled to avail myself of any opportunity which +presented itself for escape. I determined, therefore, to make +the best of a bad bargain, and to bear up manfully against +whatever might betide. In this endeavour, I succeeded beyond my +own expectations. At the period of Marnoo's visit, I had been in +the valley, as nearly as I could conjecture, some two months. +Although not completely recovered from my strange illness, which +still lingered about me, I was free from pain and able to take +exercise. In short, I had every reason to anticipate a perfect +recovery. Freed from apprehension on this point, and resolved to +regard the future without flinching, I flung myself anew into all +the social pleasures of the valley, and sought to bury all +regrets, and all remembrances of my previous existence in the +wild enjoyments it afforded. + +In my various wanderings through the vale, and as I became better +acquainted with the character of its inhabitants, I was more and +more struck with the light-hearted joyousness that everywhere +prevailed. The minds of these simple savages, unoccupied by +matters of graver moment, were capable of deriving the utmost +delight from circumstances which would have passed unnoticed in +more intelligent communities. All their enjoyment, indeed, +seemed to be made up of the little trifling incidents of the +passing hour; but these diminutive items swelled altogether to an +amount of happiness seldom experienced by more enlightened +individuals, whose pleasures are drawn from more elevated but +rarer sources. + +What community, for instance, of refined and intellectual mortals +would derive the least satisfaction from shooting pop-guns? The +mere supposition of such a thing being possible would excite +their indignation, and yet the whole population of Typee did +little else for ten days but occupy themselves with that childish +amusement, fairly screaming, too, with the delight it afforded +them. + +One day I was frolicking with a little spirited urchin, some six +years old, who chased me with a piece of bamboo about three feet +long, with which he occasionally belaboured me. Seizing the +stick from him, the idea happened to suggest itself, that I might +make for the youngster, out of the slender tube, one of those +nursery muskets with which I had sometimes seen children playing. + +Accordingly, with my knife I made two parallel slits in the cane +several inches in length, and cutting loose at one end the +elastic strip between them, bent it back and slipped the point +into a little notch made for the purse. Any small substance +placed against this would be projected with considerable force +through the tube, by merely springing the bent strip out of the +notch. + +Had I possessed the remotest idea of the sensation this piece of +ordnance was destined to produce, I should certainly have taken +out a patent for the invention. The boy scampered away with it, +half delirious with ecstasy, and in twenty minutes afterwards I +might have been seen surrounded by a noisy crowd--venerable old +graybeards--responsible fathers of families--valiant +warriors--matrons--young men--girls and children, all holding in +their hands bits of bamboo, and each clamouring to be served +first. + +For three or four hours I was engaged in manufacturing pop-guns, +but at last made over my good-will and interest in the concern to +a lad of remarkably quick parts, whom I soon initiated into the +art and mystery. + +Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop, now resounded all over the valley. Duels, +skirmishes, pitched battles, and general engagements were to be +seen on every side. Here, as you walked along a path which led +through a thicket, you fell into a cunningly laid ambush, and +became a target for a body of musketeers whose tattooed limbs you +could just see peeping into view through the foliage. There you +were assailed by the intrepid garrison of a house, who levelled +their bamboo rifles at you from between the upright canes which +composed its sides. Farther on you were fired upon by a +detachment of sharpshooters, mounted upon the top of a pi-pi. + +Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop! green guavas, seeds, and berries were flying +about in every direction, and during this dangerous state of +affairs I was half afraid that, like the man and his brazen bull, +I should fall a victim to my own ingenuity. Like everything +else, however, the excitement gradually wore away, though ever +after occasionally pop-guns might be heard at all hours of the +day. + +It was towards the close of the pop-gun war, that I was +infinitely diverted with a strange freak of Marheyo's. + +I had worn, when I quitted the ship, a pair of thick pumps, +which, from the rough usage they had received in scaling +precipices and sliding down gorges, were so dilapidated as to be +altogether unfit for use--so, at least, would have thought the +generality of people, and so they most certainly were, when +considered in the light of shoes. But things unservicable in one +way, may with advantage be applied in another, that is, if one +have genius enough for the purpose. This genius Marheyo +possessed in a superlative degree, as he abundantly evinced by +the use to which he put those sorely bruised and battered old +shoes. + +Every article, however trivial, which belonged to me, the natives +appeared to regard as sacred; and I observed that for several +days after becoming an inmate of the house, my pumps were +suffered to remain, untouched, where I had first happened to +throw them. I remembered, however, that after awhile I had +missed them from their accustomed place; but the matter gave me +no concern, supposing that Tinor--like any other tidy housewife, +having come across them in some of her domestic occupations--had +pitched the useless things out of the house. But I was soon +undeceived. + +One day I observed old Marheyo bustling about me with unusual +activity, and to such a degree as almost to supersede Kory-Kory +in the functions of his office. One moment he volunteered to +trot off with me on his back to the stream; and when I refused, +noways daunted by the repulse, he continued to frisk about me +like a superannuated house-dog. I could not for the life of me +conjecture what possessed the old gentleman, until all at once, +availing himself of the temporary absence of the household, he +went through a variety of of uncouth gestures, pointing eagerly +down to my feet, then up to a little bundle, which swung from the +ridge pole overhead. At last I caught a faint idea of his +meaning, and motioned him to lower the package. He executed the +order in the twinkling of an eye, and unrolling a piece of tappa, +displayed to my astonished gaze the identical pumps which I +thought had been destroyed long before. + +I immediately comprehended his desire, and very generously gave +him the shoes, which had become quite mouldy, wondering for what +earthly purpose he could want them. The same afternoon I +descried the venerable warrior approaching the house, with a +slow, stately gait, ear-rings in ears, and spear in hand, with +this highly ornamental pair of shoes suspended from his neck by a +strip of bark, and swinging backwards and forwards on his +capacious chest. In the gala costume of the tasteful Marheyo, +these calf-skin pendants ever after formed the most striking +feature. + +But to turn to something a little more important. Although the +whole existence of the inhabitants of the valley seemed to pass +away exempt from toil, yet there were some light employments +which, although amusing rather than laborious as occupations, +contributed to their comfort and luxury. Among these the most +important was the manufacture of the native cloth,--'tappa',--so +well known, under various modifications, throughout the whole +Polynesian Archipelago. As is generally understood, this useful +and sometimes elegant article is fabricated from the bark of +different trees. But, as I believe that no description of its +manufacture has ever been given, I shall state what I know +regarding it. + +In the manufacture of the beautiful white tappa generally worn on +the Marquesan Islands, the preliminary operation consists in +gathering a certain quantity of the young branches of the +cloth-tree. The exterior green bark being pulled off as +worthless, there remains a slender fibrous substance, which is +carefully stripped from the stick, to which it closely adheres. +When a sufficient quantity of it has been collected, the various +strips are enveloped in a covering of large leaves, which the +natives use precisely as we do wrapping-paper, and which are +secured by a few turns of a line passed round them. The package +is then laid in the bed of some running stream, with a heavy +stone placed over it, to prevent its being swept away. After it +has remained for two or three days in this state, it is drawn +out, and exposed, for a short time, to the action of the air, +every distinct piece being attentively inspected, with a view of +ascertaining whether it has yet been sufficiently affected by the +operation. This is repeated again and again, until the desired +result is obtained. + +When the substance is in a proper state for the next process, it +betrays evidences of incipient decomposition; the fibres are +relaxed and softened, and rendered perfectly malleable. The +different strips are now extended, one by one, in successive +layers, upon some smooth surface--generally the prostrate trunk +of a cocoanut tree--and the heap thus formed is subjected, at +every new increase, to a moderate beating, with a sort of wooden +mallet, leisurely applied. The mallet is made of a hard heavy +wood resembling ebony, is about twelve inches in length, and +perhaps two in breadth, with a rounded handle at one end, and in +shape is the exact counterpart of one of our four-sided +razor-strops. The flat surfaces of the implement are marked with +shallow parallel indentations, varying in depth on the different +sides, so as to be adapted to the several stages of the +operation. These marks produce the corduroy sort of stripes +discernible in the tappa in its finished state. After being +beaten in the manner I have described, the material soon becomes +blended in one mass, which, moistened occasionally with water, is +at intervals hammered out, by a kind of gold-beating process, to +any degree of thinness required. In this way the cloth is easily +made to vary in strength and thickness, so as to suit the +numerous purposes to which it is applied. + +When the operation last described has been concluded, the +new-made tappa is spread out on the grass to bleach and dry, and +soon becomes of a dazzling whiteness. Sometimes, in the first +stages of the manufacture, the substance is impregnated with a +vegetable juice, which gives it a permanent colour. A rich brown +and a bright yellow are occasionally seen, but the simple taste +of the Typee people inclines them to prefer the natural tint. + +The notable wife of Kamehameha, the renowned conqueror and king +of the Sandwich Islands, used to pride herself in the skill she +displayed in dyeing her tappa with contrasting colours disposed +in regular figures; and, in the midst of the innovations of the +times, was regarded, towards the decline of her life, as a lady +of the old school, clinging as she did to the national cloth, in +preference to the frippery of the European calicoes. But the art +of printing the tappa is unknown upon the Marquesan Islands. In +passing along the valley, I was often attracted by the noise of +the mallet, which, when employed in the manufacture of the cloth +produces at every stroke of its hard, heavy wood, a clear, +ringing, and musical sound, capable of being heard at a great +distance. When several of these implements happen to be in +operation at the same time, near one another, the effect upon the +ear of a person, at a little distance, is really charming. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY + +HISTORY OF A DAY AS USUALLY SPENT IN TYPEE VALLEY--DANCES OF THE +MARQUESAN GIRLS + +NOTHING can be more uniform and undiversified than the life of +the Typees; one tranquil day of ease and happiness follows +another in quiet succession; and with these unsophisicated +savages the history of a day is the history of a life. I will, +therefore, as briefly as I can, describe one of our days in the +valley. + +To begin with the morning. We were not very early risers--the +sun would be shooting his golden spikes above the Happar +mountain, ere I threw aside my tappa robe, and girding my long +tunic about my waist, sallied out with Fayaway and Kory-Kory, and +the rest of the household, and bent my steps towards the stream. +Here we found congregated all those who dwelt in our section of +the valley; and here we bathed with them. The fresh morning air +and the cool flowing waters put both soul and body in a glow, and +after a half-hour employed in this recreation, we sauntered back +to the house--Tinor and Marheyo gathering dry sticks by the way +for fire-wood; some of the young men laying the cocoanut trees +under contribution as they passed beneath them; while Kory-Kory +played his outlandish pranks for my particular diversion, and +Fayaway and I, not arm in arm to be sure, but sometimes hand in +hand, strolled along, with feelings of perfect charity for all +the world, and especial good-will towards each other. + +Our morning meal was soon prepared. The islanders are somewhat +abstemious at this repast; reserving the more powerful efforts of +their appetite to a later period of the day. For my own part, +with the assistance of my valet, who, as I have before stated, +always officiated as spoon on these occasions, I ate sparingly +from one of Tinor's trenchers, of poee-poee; which was devoted +exclusively for my own use, being mixed with the milky meat of +ripe cocoanut. A section of a roasted bread-fruit, a small cake +of 'Amar', or a mess of 'Cokoo,' two or three bananas, or a +mammee-apple; an annuee, or some other agreeable and nutritious +fruit served from day to day to diversify the meal, which was +finished by tossing off the liquid contents of a young cocoanut +or two. + +While partaking of this simple repast, the inmates of Marheyo's +house, after the style of the ancient Romans, reclined in +sociable groups upon the divan of mats, and digestion was +promoted by cheerful conversation. + +After the morning meal was concluded, pipes were lighted; and +among them my own especial pipe, a present from the noble Mehevi. + +The islanders, who only smoke a whiff or two at a time, and at +long intervals, and who keep their pipes going from hand to hand +continually, regarded my systematic smoking of four or five +pipefuls of tobacco in succession, as something quite wonderful. +When two or three pipes had circulated freely, the company +gradually broke up. Marheyo went to the little hut he was +forever building. Tinor began to inspect her rolls of tappa, or +employed her busy fingers in plaiting grass-mats. The girls +anointed themselves with their fragrant oils, dressed their hair, +or looked over their curious finery, and compared together their +ivory trinkets, fashioned out of boar's tusks or whale's teeth. +The young men and warriors produced their spears, paddles, +canoe-gear, battle-clubs, and war-conchs, and occupied themselves +in carving, all sorts of figures upon them with pointed bits of +shell or flint, and adorning them, especially the war-conchs, +with tassels of braided bark and tufts of human hair. Some, +immediately after eating, threw themselves once more upon the +inviting mats, and resumed the employment of the previous night, +sleeping as soundly as if they had not closed their eyes for a +week. Others sallied out into the groves, for the purpose of +gathering fruit or fibres of bark and leaves; the last two being +in constant requisition, and applied to a hundred uses. A few, +perhaps, among the girls, would slip into the woods after +flowers, or repair to the stream will; small calabashes and +cocoanut shells, in order to polish them by friction with a +smooth stone in the water. In truth these innocent people seemed +to be at no loss for something to occupy their time; and it would +be no light task to enumerate all their employments, or rather +pleasures. + +My own mornings I spent in a variety of ways. Sometimes I +rambled about from house to house, sure of receiving a cordial +welcome wherever I went; or from grove to grove, and from one +shady place to another, in company with Kory-Kory and Fayaway, +and a rabble rout of merry young idlers. Sometimes I was too +indolent for exercise, and accepting one of the many invitations +I was continually receiving, stretched myself out on the mats of +some hospitable dwelling, and occupied myself pleasantly either +in watching the proceedings of those around me or taking part in +them myself. Whenever I chose to do the latter, the delight of +the islanders was boundless; and there was always a throng of +competitors for the honour of instructing me in any particular +craft. I soon became quite an accomplished hand at making +tappa--could braid a grass sling as well as the best of them--and +once, with my knife, carved the handle of a javelin so +exquisitely, that I have no doubt, to this day, Karnoonoo, its +owner, preserves it as a surprising specimen of my skill. As +noon approached, all those who had wandered forth from our +habitation, began to return; and when midday was fairly come +scarcely a sound was to be heard in the valley: a deep sleep fell +upon all. The luxurious siesta was hardly ever omitted, except +by old Marheyo, who was so eccentric a character, that he seemed +to be governed by no fixed principles whatever; but acting just +according to the humour of the moment, slept, ate, or tinkered +away at his little hut, without regard to the proprieties of time +or place. Frequently he might have been seen taking a nap in the +sun at noon-day, or a bath in the stream of mid-night. Once I +beheld him perched eighty feet from the ground, in the tuft of a +cocoanut tree, smoking; and often I saw him standing up to the +waist in water, engaged in plucking out the stray hairs of his +beard, using a piece of muscle-shell for tweezers. + +The noon-tide slumber lasted generally an hour and a half: very +often longer; and after the sleepers had arisen from their mats +they again had recourse to their pipes, and then made +preparations for the most important meal of the day. + +I, however, like those gentlemen of leisure who breakfast at home +and dine at their club, almost invariably, during my intervals of +health, enjoyed the afternoon repast with the bachelor chiefs of +the Ti, who were always rejoiced to see me, and lavishly spread +before me all the good things which their larder afforded. +Mehevi generally introduced among other dainties a baked pig, an +article which I have every reason to suppose was provided for my +sole gratification. + +The Ti was a right jovial place. It did my heart, as well as my +body, good to visit it. Secure from female intrusion, there was +no restraint upon the hilarity of the warriors, who, like the +gentlemen of Europe after the cloth is drawn and the ladies +retire, freely indulged their mirth. + +After spending a considerable portion of the afternoon at the Ti, +I usually found myself, as the cool of the evening came on, +either sailing on the little lake with Fayaway, or bathing in the +waters of the stream with a number of the savages, who, at this +hour, always repaired thither. As the shadows of night +approached Marheyo's household were once more assembled under his +roof: tapers were lit, long curious chants were raised, +interminable stories were told (for which one present was little +the wiser), and all sorts of social festivities served to while +away the time. + +The young girls very often danced by moonlight in front of their +dwellings. There are a great variety of these dances, in which, +however, I never saw the men take part. They all consist of +active, romping, mischievous evolutions, in which every limb is +brought into requisition. Indeed, the Marquesan girls dance all +over, as it were; not only do their feet dance, but their arms, +hands, fingers, ay, their very eyes, seem to dance in their +heads. + +The damsels wear nothing but flowers and their compendious gala +tunics; and when they plume themselves for the dance, they look +like a band of olive-coloured Sylphides on the point of taking +wing. In good sooth, they so sway their floating forms, arch +their necks, toss aloft their naked arms, and glide, and swim, +and whirl, that it was almost too much for a quiet, sober-minded, +modest young man like myself. + +Unless some particular festivity was going forward, the inmates +of Marheyo's house retired to their mats rather early in the +evening; but not for the night, since, after slumbering lightly +for a while, they rose again, relit their tapers, partook of the +third and last meal of the day, at which poee-poee alone was +eaten, and then, after inhaling a narcotic whiff from a pipe of +tobacco, disposed themselves for the great business of night, +sleep. With the Marquesans it might almost most be styled the +great business of life, for they pass a large portion of their +time in the arms of Somnus. The native strength of their +constitution is no way shown more emphatically than in the +quantity of sleep they can endure. To many of them, indeed, life +is little else than an often interrupted and luxurious nap. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE + +THE SPRING OF ARVA WAI--REMARKABLE MONUMENTAL REMAINS--SOME IDEAS +WITH REGARD TO THE HISTORY OF THE PI-PIS FOUND IN THE VALLEY + +ALMOST every country has its medicinal springs famed for their +healing virtues. The Cheltenham of Typee is embosomed in the +deepest solitude, and but seldom receives a visitor. It is +situated remote from any dwelling, a little way up the mountain, +near the head of the valley; and you approach it by a pathway +shaded by the most beautiful foliage, and adorned with a thousand +fragrant plants. The mineral waters of Arva Wai* ooze forth from +the crevices of a rock, and gliding down its mossy side, fall at +last, in many clustering drops, into a natural basin of stone +fringed round with grass and dewy-looking little violet-coloured +flowers, as fresh and beautiful as the perpetual moisture they +enjoy can make them. + +*I presume this might be translated into 'Strong Waters'. Arva +is the name bestowed upon a root the properties of which are both +inebriating and medicinal. 'Wai' is the Marquesan word for +water. + + + +The water is held in high estimation by the islanders, some of +whom consider it an agreeable as well as a medicinal beverage; +they bring it from the mountain in their calabashes, and store it +away beneath heaps of leaves in some shady nook near the house. +Old Marheyo had a great love for the waters of the spring. Every +now and then he lugged off to the mountain a great round demijohn +of a calabash, and, panting with his exertions, brought it back +filled with his darling fluid. + +The water tasted like a solution of a dozen disagreeable things, +and was sufficiently nauseous to have made the fortune of the +proprietor, had the spa been situated in the midst of any +civilized community. + +As I am no chemist, I cannot give a scientific analysis of the +water. All I know about the matter is, that one day Marheyo in +my presence poured out the last drop from his huge calabash, and +I observed at the bottom of the vessel a small quantity of +gravelly sediment very much resembling our common sand. Whether +this is always found in the water, and gives it its peculiar +flavour and virtues, or whether its presence was merely +incidental, I was not able to ascertain. + +One day in returning from this spring by a circuitous path, I +came upon a scene which reminded me of Stonehenge and the +architectural labours of the Druids. + +At the base of one of the mountains, and surrounded on all sides +by dense groves, a series of vast terraces of stone rises, step +by step, for a considerable distance up the hill side. These +terraces cannot be less than one hundred yards in length and +twenty in width. Their magnitude, however, is less striking than +the immense size of the blocks composing them. Some of the +stones, of an oblong shape, are from ten to fifteen feet in +length, and five or six feet thick. Their sides are quite +smooth, but though square, and of pretty regular formation, they +bear no mark of the chisel. They are laid together without +cement, and here and there show gaps between. The topmost +terrace and the lower one are somewhat peculiar in their +construction. They have both a quadrangular depression in the +centre, leaving the rest of the terrace elevated several feet +above it. In the intervals of the stones immense trees have +taken root, and their broad boughs stretching far over, and +interlacing together, support a canopy almost impenetrable to the +sun. Overgrowing the greater part of them, and climbing from one +to another, is a wilderness of vines, in whose sinewy embrace +many of the stones lie half-hidden, while in some places a thick +growth of bushes entirely covers them. There is a wild pathway +which obliquely crosses two of these terraces; and so profound is +the shade, so dense the vegetation, that a stranger to the place +might pass along it without being aware of their existence. + +These structures bear every indication of a very high antiquity +and Kory-Kory, who was my authority in all matters of scientific +research, gave me to understand that they were coeval with the +creation of the world; that the great gods themselves were the +builders; and that they would endure until time shall be no more. + +Kory-Kory's prompt explanation and his attributing the work to a +divine origin, at once convinced me that neither he nor the rest +of his country-men knew anything about them. + +As I gazed upon this monument, doubtless the work of an extinct +and forgotten race, thus buried in the green nook of an island at +the ends of the earth, the existence of which was yesterday +unknown, a stronger feeling of awe came over me than if I had +stood musing at the mighty base of the Pyramid of Cheops. There +are no inscriptions, no sculpture, no clue, by which to +conjecture its history; nothing but the dumb stones. How many +generations of the majestic trees which overshadow them have +grown and flourished and decayed since first they were erected! + +These remains naturally suggest many interesting reflections. +They establish the great age of the island, an opinion which the +builders of theories concerning, the creation of the various +groups in the South Seas are not always inclined to admit. For +my own part, I think it just as probable that human beings were +living in the valleys of the Marquesas three thousand years ago +as that they were inhabiting the land of Egypt. The origin of +the island of Nukuheva cannot be imputed to the coral insect; for +indefatigable as that wonderful creature is, it would be hardly +muscular enough to pile rocks one upon the other more than three +thousand feet above the level of the sea. That the land may have +been thrown up by a submarine volcano is as possible as anything +else. No one can make an affidavit to the contrary, and +therefore I still say nothing against the supposition: indeed, +were geologists to assert that the whole continent of America had +in like manner been formed by the simultaneous explosion of a +train of Etnas laid under the water all the way from the North +Pole to the parallel of Cape Horn, I am the last man in the world +to contradict them. + +I have already mentioned that the dwellings of the islanders were +almost invariably built upon massive stone foundations, which +they call pi-pis. The dimensions of these, however, as well as +of the stones composing them, are comparatively small: but there +are other and larger erections of a similar description +comprising the 'morais', or burying grounds, and festival-places, +in nearly all the valleys of the island. Some of these piles are +so extensive, and so great a degree of labour and skill must have +been requisite in constructing them, that I can scarcely believe +they were built by the ancestors of the present inhabitants. If +indeed they were, the race has sadly deteriorated in their +knowledge of the mechanic arts. To say nothing of their habitual +indolence, by what contrivance within the reach of so simple a +people could such enormous masses have been moved or fixed in +their places? and how could they with their rude implements have +chiselled and hammered them into shape? + +All of these larger pi-pis--like that of the Hoolah Hoolah ground +in the Typee valley--bore incontestible marks of great age; and I +am disposed to believe that their erection may be ascribed to the +same race of men who were the builders of the still more ancient +remains I have just described. + +According to Kory-Kory's account, the pi-pi upon which stands the +Hoolah Hoolah ground was built a great many moons ago, under the +direction of Monoo, a great chief and warrior, and, as it would +appear, master-mason among the Typees. It was erected for the +express purpose to which it is at present devoted, in the +incredibly short period of one sun; and was dedicated to the +immortal wooden idols by a grand festival, which lasted ten days +and nights. + +Among the smaller pi-pis, upon which stand the dwelling-houses of +the natives, I never observed any which intimated a recent +erection. There are in every part of the valley a great many of +these massive stone foundations which have no houses upon them. +This is vastly convenient, for whenever an enterprising islander +chooses to emigrate a few hundred yards from the place where he +was born, all he has to do in order to establish himself in some +new locality, is to select one of the many unappropriated +pi-pis, and without further ceremony pitch his bamboo tent upon +it. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO + +PREPARATIONS FOR A GRAND FESTIVAL IN THE VALLEY--STRANGE DOINGS +IN THE TABOO GROVES--MONUMENT OF CALABASHES--GALA COSTUME OF THE +TYPEE DAMSELS--DEPARTURE FOR THE FESTIVAL + +FROM the time that my lameness had decreased I had made a daily +practice of visiting Mehevi at the Ti, who invariably gave me a +most cordial reception. I was always accompanied in these +excursions by Fayaway and the ever-present Kory-Kory. The +former, as soon as we reached the vicinity of the Ti--which was +rigorously tabooed to the whole female sex--withdrew to a +neighbouring hut, as if her feminine delicacy 'restricted' her +from approaching a habitation which might be regarded as a sort +of Bachelor's Hall. + +And in good truth it might well have been so considered. +Although it was the permanent residence of several distinguished +chiefs, and of the noble Mehevi in particular, it was still at +certain seasons the favourite haunt of all the jolly, talkative, +and elderly savages of the vale, who resorted thither in the same +way that similar characters frequent a tavern in civilized +countries. There they would remain hour after hour, chatting, +smoking, eating poee-poee, or busily engaged in sleeping for the +good of their constitutions. + +This building appeared to be the head-quarters of the valley, +where all flying rumours concentrated; and to have seen it filled +with a crowd of the natives, all males, conversing in animated +clusters, while multitudes were continually coming and going, one +would have thought it a kind of savage Exchange, where the rise +and fall of Polynesian Stock was discussed. + +Mehevi acted as supreme lord over the place, spending the greater +portion of his time there: and often when, at particular hours of +the day, it was deserted by nearly every one else except the +verd-antique looking centenarians, who were fixtures in the +building, the chief himself was sure to be found enjoying his +'otium cum dignitate'--upon the luxurious mats which covered the +floor. Whenever I made my appearance he invariably rose, and +like a gentleman doing the honours of his mansion, invited me to +repose myself wherever I pleased, and calling out 'tamaree!' +(boy), a little fellow would appear, and then retiring for an +instant, return with some savoury mess, from which the chief +would press me to regale myself. To tell the truth, Mehevi was +indebted to the excellence of his viands for the honour of my +repeated visits--a matter which cannot appear singular, when it +is borne in mind that bachelors, all the world over, are famous +for serving up unexceptionable repasts. + +One day, on drawing near to the Ti, I observed that extensive +preparations were going forward, plainly betokening some +approaching festival. Some of the symptoms reminded me of the +stir produced among the scullions of a large hotel, where a grand +jubilee dinner is about to be given. The natives were hurrying +about hither and thither, engaged in various duties, some lugging +off to the stream enormous hollow bamboos, for the purpose of +filling them with water; others chasing furious-looking hogs +through the bushes, in their endeavours to capture them; and +numbers employed in kneading great mountains of poee-poee heaped +up in huge wooden vessels. + +After observing these lively indications for a while, I was +attracted to a neighbouring grove by a prodigious squeaking which +I heard there. On reaching the spot I found it proceeded from a +large hog which a number of natives were forcibly holding to the +earth, while a muscular fellow, armed with a bludgeon, was +ineffectually aiming murderous blows at the skull of the +unfortunate porker. Again and again he missed his writhing and +struggling victim, but though puffing and panting with his +exertions, he still continued them; and after striking a +sufficient number of blows to have demolished an entire drove of +oxen, with one crashing stroke he laid him dead at his feet. + +Without letting any blood from the body, it was immediately +carried to a fire which had been kindled near at hand and four +savages taking hold of the carcass by its legs, passed it rapidly +to and fro in the flames. In a moment the smell of burning +bristles betrayed the object of this procedure. Having got thus +far in the matter, the body was removed to a little distance and, +being disembowelled, the entrails were laid aside as choice +parts, and the whole carcass thoroughly washed with water. An +ample thick green cloth, composed of the long thick leaves of a +species of palm-tree, ingeniously tacked together with little +pins of bamboo, was now spread upon the ground, in which the body +being carefully rolled, it was borne to an oven previously +prepared to receive it. Here it was at once laid upon the heated +stones at the bottom, and covered with thick layers of leaves, +the whole being quickly hidden from sight by a mound of earth +raised over it. + +Such is the summary style in which the Typees convert +perverse-minded and rebellious hogs into the most docile and +amiable pork; a morsel of which placed on the tongue melts like a +soft smile from the lips of Beauty. + +I commend their peculiar mode of proceeding to the consideration +of all butchers, cooks, and housewives. The hapless porker whose +fate I have just rehearsed, was not the only one who suffered in +that memorable day. Many a dismal grunt, many an imploring +squeak, proclaimed what was going on throughout the whole extent +of the valley; and I verily believe the first-born of every +litter perished before the setting of that fatal sun. + +The scene around the Ti was now most animated. Hogs and +poee-poee were baking in numerous ovens, which, heaped up with +fresh earth into slight elevations, looked like so many +ant-hills. Scores of the savages were vigorously plying their +stone pestles in preparing masses of poee-poee, and numbers were +gathering green bread-fruit and young cocoanuts in the +surrounding groves; when an exceeding great multitude, with a +view of encouraging the rest in their labours, stood still, and +kept shouting most lustily without intermission. + +It is a peculiarity among these people, that, when engaged in an +employment, they always make a prodigious fuss about it. So +seldom do they ever exert themselves, that when they do work they +seem determined that so meritorious an action shall not escape +the observation of those around if, for example, they have +occasion to remove a stone to a little distance, which perhaps +might be carried by two able-bodied men, a whole swarm gather +about it, and, after a vast deal of palavering, lift it up among +them, every one struggling to get hold of it, and bear it off +yelling and panting as if accomplishing some mighty achievement. +Seeing them on these occasions, one is reminded of an infinity of +black ants clustering about and dragging away to some hole the +leg of a deceased fly. + +Having for some time attentively observed these demonstrations of +good cheer, I entered the Ti, where Mehevi sat complacently +looking out upon the busy scene, and occasionally issuing his +orders. The chief appeared to be in an extraordinary flow of +spirits and gave me to understand that on the morrow there would +be grand doings in the Groves generally, and at the Ti in +particular; and urged me by no means to absent myself. In +commemoration of what event, however, or in honour of what +distinguished personage, the feast was to be given, altogether +passed my comprehension. Mehevi sought to enlighten my +ignorance, but he failed as signally as when he had endeavoured +to initiate me into the perplexing arcana of the taboo. + +On leaving the Ti, Kory-Kory, who had as a matter of course +accompanied me, observing that my curiosity remained unabated, +resolved to make everything plain and satisfactory. With this +intent, he escorted me through the Taboo Groves, pointing out to +my notice a variety of objects, and endeavoured to explain them +in such an indescribable jargon of words, that it almost put me +in bodily pain to listen to him. In particular, he led me to a +remarkable pyramidical structure some three yards square at the +base, and perhaps ten feet in height, which had lately been +thrown up, and occupied a very conspicuous position. It was +composed principally of large empty calabashes, with a few +polished cocoanut shells, and looked not unlike a cenotaph of +skulls. My cicerone perceived the astonishment with which I +gazed at this monument of savage crockery, and immediately +addressed himself in the task of enlightening me: but all in +vain; and to this hour the nature of the monument remains a +complete mystery to me. As, however, it formed so prominent a +feature in the approaching revels, I bestowed upon the latter, in +my own mind, the title of the 'Feast of Calabashes'. + +The following morning, awaking rather late, I perceived the whole +of Marheyo's family busily engaged in preparing for the festival. + +The old warrior himself was arranging in round balls the two grey +locks of hair that were suffered to grow from the crown of his +head; his earrings and spear, both well polished, lay beside him, +while the highly decorative pair of shoes hung suspended from a +projecting cane against the side of the house. The young men +were similarly employed; and the fair damsels, including Fayaway, +were anointing themselves with 'aka', arranging their long +tresses, and performing other matters connected with the duties +of the toilet. + +Having completed their preparations, the girls now exhibited +themselves in gala costume; the most conspicuous feature of which +was a necklace of beautiful white flowers, with the stems +removed, and strung closely together upon a single fibre of +tappa. Corresponding ornaments were inserted in their ears, and +woven garlands upon their heads. About their waist they wore a +short tunic of spotless white tappa, and some of them super-added +to this a mantle of the same material, tied in an elaborate bow +upon the left shoulder, and falling about the figure in +picturesque folds. + +Thus arrayed, I would have matched the charming Fayaway against +any beauty in the world. + +People may say what they will about the taste evinced by our +fashionable ladies in dress. Their jewels, their feathers, their +silks, and their furbelows, would have sunk into utter +insignificance beside the exquisite simplicity of attire adopted +by the nymphs of the vale on this festive occasion. I should +like to have seen a gallery of coronation beauties, at +Westminster Abbey, confronted for a moment by this band of island +girls; their stiffness, formality, and affectation, contrasted +with the artless vivacity and unconcealed natural graces of these +savage maidens. It would be the Venus de' Medici placed beside a +milliner's doll. It was not long before Kory-Kory and myself +were left alone in the house, the rest of its inmates having +departed for the Taboo Groves. My valet was all impatience to +follow them; and was as fidgety about my dilatory movements as a +diner out waiting hat in hand at the bottom of the stairs for +some lagging companion. At last, yielding to his importunities, +I set out for the Ti. As we passed the houses peeping out from +the groves through which our route lay, I noticed that they were +entirely deserted by their inhabitants. + +When we reached the rock that abruptly terminated the path, and +concealed from us the festive scene, wild shouts and a confused +blending of voices assured me that the occasion, whatever it +might be, had drawn together a great multitude. Kory-Kory, +previous to mounting the elevation, paused for a moment, like a +dandy at a ball-room door, to put a hasty finish to his toilet. +During this short interval, the thought struck me that I ought +myself perhaps to be taking some little pains with my appearance. + +But as I had no holiday raiment, I was not a little puzzled to +devise some means of decorating myself. However, as I felt +desirous to create a sensation, I determined to do all that lay +in my power; and knowing that I could not delight the savages +more than by conforming to their style of dress, I removed from +my person the large robe of tappa which I was accustomed to wear +over my shoulders whenever I sallied into the open air, and +remained merely girt about with a short tunic descending from my +waist to my knees. + +My quick-witted attendant fully appreciated the compliment I was +paying to the costume of his race, and began more sedulously to +arrange the folds of the one only garment which remained to me. +Whilst he was doing this, I caught sight of a knot of young +lasses, who were sitting near us on the grass surrounded by heaps +of flowers which they were forming into garlands. I motioned to +them to bring some of their handywork to me; and in an instant a +dozen wreaths were at my disposal. One of them I put round the +apology for a hat which I had been forced to construct for myself +out of palmetto-leaves, and some of the others I converted into a +splendid girdle. These operations finished, with the slow and +dignified step of a full-dressed beau I ascended the rock. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE + +THE FEAST OF CALABASHES + +THE whole population of the valley seemed to be gathered within +the precincts of the grove. In the distance could be seen the +long front of the Ti, its immense piazza swarming with men, +arrayed in every variety of fantastic costume, and all +vociferating with animated gestures; while the whole interval +between it and the place where I stood was enlivened by groups of +females fancifully decorated, dancing, capering, and uttering +wild exclamations. As soon as they descried me they set up a +shout of welcome; and a band of them came dancing towards me, +chanting as they approached some wild recitative. The change in +my garb seemed to transport them with delight, and clustering +about me on all sides, they accompanied me towards the Ti. When +however we drew near it these joyous nymphs paused in their +career, and parting on either side, permitted me to pass on to +the now densely thronged building. + +So soon as I mounted to the pi-pi I saw at a glance that the +revels were fairly under way. + +What lavish plenty reigned around?--Warwick feasting his +retainers with beef and ale, was a niggard to the noble +Mehevi!--All along the piazza of the Ti were arranged elaborately +carved canoe-shaped vessels, some twenty feet in length, tied +with newly made poee-poee, and sheltered from the sun by the +broad leaves of the banana. At intervals were heaps of green +bread-fruit, raised in pyramidical stacks, resembling the regular +piles of heavy shot to be seen in the yard of an arsenal. +Inserted into the interstices of the huge stones which formed the +pi-pi were large boughs of trees; hanging from the branches of +which, and screened from the sun by their foliage, were +innumerable little packages with leafy coverings, containing the +meat of the numerous hogs which had been slain, done up in this +manner to make it more accessible to the crowd. Leaning against +the railing on the piazza were an immense number of long, heavy +bamboos, plugged at the lower end, and with their projecting +muzzles stuffed with a wad of leaves. These were filled with +water from the stream, and each of them might hold from four to +five gallons. + +The banquet being thus spread, naught remained but for everyone +to help himself at his pleasure. Accordingly not a moment passed +but the transplanted boughs I have mentioned were rifled by the +throng of the fruit they certainly had never borne before. +Calabashes of poee-poee were continually being replenished from +the extensive receptacle in which that article was stored, and +multitudes of little fires were kindled about the Ti for the +purpose of roasting the bread-fruit. + +Within the building itself was presented a most extraordinary +scene. The immense lounge of mats lying between the parallel +rows of the trunks of cocoanut trees, and extending the entire +length of the house, at least two hundred feet, was covered by +the reclining forms of a host of chiefs and warriors who were +eating at a great rate, or soothing the cares of Polynesian life +in the sedative fumes of tobacco. The smoke was inhaled from +large pipes, the bowls of which, made out of small cocoanut +shells, were curiously carved in strange heathenish devices. +These were passed from mouth to mouth by the recumbent smokers, +each of whom, taking two or three prodigious whiffs, handed the +pipe to his neighbour; sometimes for that purpose stretching +indolently across the body of some dozing individual whose +exertions at the dinner-table had already induced sleep. + +The tobacco used among the Typees was of a very mild and pleasing +flavour, and as I always saw it in leaves, and the natives +appeared pretty well supplied with it, I was led to believe that +it must have been the growth of the valley. Indeed Kory-Kory +gave me to understand that this was the case; but I never saw a +single plant growing on the island. At Nukuheva, and, I believe, +in all the other valleys, the weed is very scarce, being only +obtained in small quantities from foreigners, and smoking is +consequently with the inhabitants of these places a very great +luxury. How it was that the Typees were so well furnished with +it I cannot divine. I should think them too indolent to devote +any attention to its culture; and, indeed, as far as my +observation extended, not a single atom of the soil was under any +other cultivation than that of shower and sunshine. The +tobacco-plant, however, like the sugar-cane, may grow wild in +some remote part of the vale. + +There were many in the Ti for whom the tobacco did not furnish a +sufficient stimulus, and who accordingly had recourse to 'arva', +as a more powerful agent in producing the desired effect. + +'Arva' is a root very generally dispersed over the South Seas, +and from it is extracted a juice, the effects of which upon the +system are at first stimulating in a moderate degree; but it soon +relaxes the muscles, and exerting a narcotic influence produces a +luxurious sleep. In the valley this beverage was universally +prepared in the following way:--Some half-dozen young boys seated +themselves in a circle around an empty wooden vessel, each one of +them being supplied with a certain quantity of the roots of the +'arva', broken into small bits and laid by his side. A cocoanut +goblet of water was passed around the juvenile company, who +rinsing their mouths with its contents, proceeded to the business +before them. This merely consisted in thoroughly masticating the +'arva', and throwing it mouthful after mouthful into the +receptacle provided. When a sufficient quantity had been thus +obtained water was poured upon the mass, and being stirred about +with the forefinger of the right hand, the preparation was soon +in readiness for use. The 'arva' has medicinal qualities. + +Upon the Sandwich Islands it has been employed with no small +success in the treatment of scrofulous affections, and in +combating the ravages of a disease for whose frightful inroads +the ill-starred inhabitants of that group are indebted to their +foreign benefactors. But the tenants of the Typee valley, as yet +exempt from these inflictions, generally employ the 'arva' as a +minister to social enjoyment, and a calabash of the liquid +circulates among them as the bottle with us. + +Mehevi, who was greatly delighted with the change in my costume, +gave me a cordial welcome. He had reserved for me a most +delectable mess of 'cokoo', well knowing my partiality for that +dish; and had likewise selected three or four young cocoanuts, +several roasted bread-fruit, and a magnificent bunch of bananas, +for my especial comfort and gratification. These various matters +were at once placed before me; but Kory-Kory deemed the banquet +entirely insufficient for my wants until he had supplied me with +one of the leafy packages of pork, which, notwithstanding the +somewhat hasty manner in which it had been prepared, possessed a +most excellent flavour, and was surprisingly sweet and tender. + +Pork is not a staple article of food among the people of the +Marquesas; consequently they pay little attention to the BREEDING +of the swine. The hogs are permitted to roam at large on the +groves, where they obtain no small part of their nourishment from +the cocoanuts which continually fall from the trees. But it is +only after infinite labour and difficulty, that the hungry animal +can pierce the husk and shell so as to get at the meat. I have +frequently been amused at seeing one of them, after crunching the +obstinate nut with his teeth for a long time unsuccessfully, get +into a violent passion with it. He would then root furiously +under the cocoanut, and, with a fling of his snout, toss it +before him on the ground. Following it up, he would crunch at it +again savagely for a moment, and then next knock it on one side, +pausing immediately after, as if wondering how it could so +suddenly have disappeared. In this way the persecuted cocoanuts +were often chased half across the valley. + +The second day of the Feast of Calabashes was ushered in by still +more uproarious noises than the first. The skins of innumerable +sheep seemed to be resounding to the blows of an army of +drummers. Startled from my slumbers by the din, I leaped up, and +found the whole household engaged in making preparations for +immediate departure. Curious to discover of what strange events +these novel sounds might be the precursors, and not a little +desirous to catch a sight of the instruments which produced the +terrific noise, I accompanied the natives as soon as they were in +readiness to depart for the Taboo Groves. + +The comparatively open space that extended from the Ti toward the +rock, to which I have before alluded as forming the ascent to the +place, was, with the building itself, now altogether deserted by +the men; the whole distance being filled by bands of females, +shouting and dancing under the influence of some strange +excitement. + +I was amused at the appearance of four or five old women who, in +a state of utter nudity, with their arms extended flatly down +their sides, and holding themselves perfectly erect, were leaping +stiffly into the air, like so many sticks bobbing to the surface, +after being pressed perpendicularly into the water. They +preserved the utmost gravity of countenance, and continued their +extraordinary movements without a single moment's cessation. +They did not appear to attract the observation of the crowd +around them, but I must candidly confess that for my, own part, I +stared at them most pertinaciously. + +Desirous of being enlightened in regard to the meaning of this +peculiar diversion, I turned, inquiringly to Kory-Kory; that +learned Typee immediately proceeded to explain the whole matter +thoroughly. But all that I could comprehend from what he said +was, that the leaping figures before me were bereaved widows, +whose partners had been slain in battle many moons previously; +and who, at every festival, gave public evidence in this manner +of their calamities. It was evident that Kory-Kory considered +this an all-sufficient reason for so indecorous a custom; but I +must say that it did not satisfy me as to its propriety. + +Leaving these afflicted females, we passed on to the Hoolah +Hoolah ground. Within the spacious quadrangle, the whole +population of the valley seemed to be assembled, and the sight +presented was truly remarkable. Beneath the sheds of bamboo +which opened towards the interior of the square reclined the +principal chiefs and warriors, while a miscellaneous throng lay +at their ease under the enormous trees which spread a majestic +canopy overhead. Upon the terraces of the gigantic altars, at +each end, were deposited green bread-fruit in baskets of cocoanut +leaves, large rolls of tappa, bunches of ripe bananas, clusters +of mammee-apples, the golden-hued fruit of the artu-tree, and +baked hogs, laid out in large wooden trenchers, fancifully +decorated with freshly plucked leaves, whilst a variety of rude +implements of war were piled in confused heaps before the ranks +of hideous idols. Fruits of various kinds were likewise +suspended in leafen baskets, from the tops of poles planted +uprightly, and at regular intervals, along the lower terraces of +both altars. At their base were arranged two parallel rows of +cumbersome drums, standing at least fifteen feet in height, and +formed from the hollow trunks of large trees. Their heads were +covered with shark skins, and their barrels were elaborately +carved with various quaint figures and devices. At regular +intervals they were bound round by a species of sinnate of +various colours, and strips of native cloth flattened upon them +here and there. Behind these instruments were built slight +platforms, upon which stood a number of young men who, beating +violently with the palms of their hands upon the drum-heads, +produced those outrageous sounds which had awakened me in the +morning. Every few minutes these musical performers hopped down +from their elevation into the crowd below, and their places were +immediately supplied by fresh recruits. Thus an incessant din +was kept up that might have startled Pandemonium. + +Precisely in the middle of the quadrangle were placed +perpendicularly in the ground, a hundred or more slender, +fresh-cut poles, stripped of their bark, and decorated at the end +with a floating pennon of white tappa; the whole being fenced +about with a little picket of canes. For what purpose these +angular ornaments were intended I in vain endeavoured to +discover. + +Another most striking feature of the performance was exhibited by +a score of old men, who sat cross-legged in the little pulpits, +which encircled the trunks of the immense trees growing in the +middle of the enclosure. These venerable gentlemen, who I +presume were the priests, kept up an uninterrupted monotonous +chant, which was partly drowned in the roar of drums. In the +right hand they held a finely woven grass fan, with a heavy black +wooden handle curiously chased: these fans they kept in continual +motion. + +But no attention whatever seemed to be paid to the drummers or to +the old priests; the individuals who composed the vast crowd +present being entirely taken up in chanting and laughing with one +another, smoking, drinking 'arva', and eating. For all the +observation it attracted, or the good it achieved, the whole +savage orchestra might with great advantage to its own members +and the company in general, have ceased the prodigious uproar +they were making. + +In vain I questioned Kory-Kory and others of the natives, as to +the meaning of the strange things that were going on; all their +explanations were conveyed in such a mass of outlandish gibberish +and gesticulation that I gave up the attempt in despair. All +that day the drums resounded, the priests chanted, and the +multitude feasted and roared till sunset, when the throng +dispersed, and the Taboo Groves were again abandoned to quiet and +repose. The next day the same scene was repeated until night, +when this singular festival terminated. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR + +IDEAS SUGGESTED BY THE FEAST OF CALABASHES--INACCURACY OF CERTAIN +PUBLISHED ACCOUNTS OF THE ISLANDS--A REASON--NEGLECTED STATE OF +HEATHENISM IN THE VALLEY--EFFIGY OF A DEAD WARRIOR--A SINGULAR +SUPERSTITION--THE PRIEST KOLORY AND THE GOD MOA ARTUA--AMAZING +RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE--A DILAPIDATED SHRINE--KORY-KORY AND THE +IDOL--AN INFERENCE + +ALTHOUGH I had been baffled in my attempts to learn the origin of +the Feast of Calabashes, yet it seemed very plain to me that it +was principally, if not wholly, of a religious character. As a +religious solemnity, however, it had not at all corresponded with +the horrible descriptions of Polynesian worship which we have +received in some published narratives, and especially in those +accounts of the evangelized islands with which the missionaries +have favoured us. Did not the sacred character of these persons +render the purity of their intentions unquestionable, I should +certainly be led to suppose that they had exaggerated the evils +of Paganism, in order to enhance the merit of their own +disinterested labours. + +In a certain work incidentally treating of the 'Washington, or +Northern Marquesas Islands,' I have seen the frequent immolation +of human victims upon the altars of their gods, positively and +repeatedly charged upon the inhabitants. The same work gives +also a rather minute account of their religion--enumerates a +great many of their superstitions--and makes known the particular +designations of numerous orders of the priesthood. One would +almost imagine from the long list that is given of cannibal +primates, bishops, arch-deacons, prebendaries, and other inferior +ecclesiastics, that the sacerdotal order far outnumbered the rest +of the population, and that the poor natives were more severely +priest-ridden than even the inhabitants of the papal states. +These accounts are likewise calculated to leave upon the reader's +mind an impression that human victims are daily cooked and served +up upon the altars; that heathenish cruelties of every +description are continually practised; and that these ignorant +Pagans are in a state of the extremest wretchedness in +consequence of the grossness of their superstitions. Be it +observed, however, that all this information is given by a man +who, according to his own statement, was only at one of the +islands, and remained there but two weeks, sleeping every night +on board his ship, and taking little kid-glove excursions ashore +in the daytime, attended by an armed party. + +Now, all I can say is, that in all my excursions through the +valley of Typee, I never saw any of these alleged enormities. If +any of them are practised upon the Marquesas Islands they must +certainly have come to my knowledge while living for months with +a tribe of savages, wholly unchanged from their original +primitive condition, and reputed the most ferocious in the South +Seas. + +The fact is, that there is a vast deal of unintentional +humbuggery in some of the accounts we have from scientific men +concerning the religious institutions of Polynesia. These +learned tourists generally obtain the greater part of their +information from retired old South-Sea rovers, who have +domesticated themselves among the barbarous tribes of the +Pacific. Jack, who has long been accustomed to the long-bow, and +to spin tough yarns on the ship's forecastle, invariably +officiates as showman of the island on which he has settled, and +having mastered a few dozen words of the language, is supposed to +know all about the people who speak it. A natural desire to make +himself of consequence in the eyes of the strangers, prompts him +to lay claim to a much greater knowledge of such matters than he +actually possesses. In reply to incessant queries, he +communicates not only all he knows but a good deal more, and if +there be any information deficient still he is at no loss to +supply it. The avidity with which his anecdotes are noted down +tickles his vanity, and his powers of invention increase with the +credulity auditors. He knows just the sort of information +wanted, and furnishes it to any extent. + +This is not a supposed case; I have met with several individuals +like the one described, and I have been present at two or three +of their interviews with strangers. + +Now, when the scientific voyager arrives at home with his +collection of wonders, he attempts, perhaps, to give a +description of some of the strange people he has been visiting. +Instead of representing them as a community of lusty savages, who +are leading a merry, idle, innocent life, he enters into a very +circumstantial and learned narrative of certain unaccountable +superstitions and practices, about which he knows as little as +the islanders themselves. Having had little time, and scarcely +any opportunity, to become acquainted with the customs he +pretends to describe, he writes them down one after another in an +off-hand, haphazard style; and were the book thus produced to be +translated into the tongue of the people of whom it purports to +give the history, it would appear quite as wonderful to them as +it does to the American public, and much more improbable. + +For my own part, I am free to confess my almost entire inability +to gratify any curiosity that may be felt with regard to the +theology of the valley. I doubt whether the inhabitants +themselves could do so. They are either too lazy or too sensible +to worry themselves about abstract points of religious belief. +While I was among them, they never held any synods or councils to +settle the principles of their faith by agitating them. An +unbounded liberty of conscience seemed to prevail. Those who +pleased to do so were allowed to repose implicit faith in an +ill-favoured god with a large bottle-nose and fat shapeless arms +crossed upon his breast; whilst others worshipped an image which, +having no likeness either in heaven or on earth, could hardly be +called an idol. As the islanders always maintained a discreet +reserve with regard to my own peculiar views on religion, I +thought it would be excessively ill-bred of me to pry into +theirs. + +But, although my knowledge of the religious faith of the Typees +was unavoidably limited, one of their superstitious observances +with which I became acquainted interested me greatly. + +In one of the most secluded portions of the valley within a +stone's cast of Fayaway's lake--for so I christened the scene of +our island yachting--and hard by a growth of palms, which stood +ranged in order along both banks of the stream, waving their +green arms as if to do honour to its passage, was the mausoleum +of a deceased, warrior chief. Like all the other edifices of any +note, it was raised upon a small pi-pi of stones, which, being of +unusual height, was a conspicuous object from a distance. A +light thatching of bleached palmetto-leaves hung over it like a +self supported canopy; for it was not until you came very near +that you saw it was supported by four slender columns of bamboo +rising at each corner to a little more than the height of a man. +A clear area of a few yards surrounded the pi-pi, and was +enclosed by four trunks of cocoanut trees resting at the angles +on massive blocks of stone. The place was sacred. The sign of +the inscrutable Taboo was seen in the shape of a mystic roll of +white tappa, suspended by a twisted cord of the same material +from the top of a slight pole planted within the enclosure*. The +sanctity of the spot appeared never to have been violated. The +stillness of the grave was there, and the calm solitude around +was beautiful and touching. The soft shadows of those lofty +palm-trees!--I can see them now--hanging over the little temple, +as if to keep out the intrusive sun. + +*White appears to be the sacred colour among the Marquesans. + +On all sides as you approached this silent spot you caught sight +of the dead chief's effigy, seated in the stern of a canoe, which +was raised on a light frame a few inches above the level of the +pi-pi. The canoe was about seven feet in length; of a rich, dark +coloured wood, handsomely carved and adorned in many places with +variegated bindings of stained sinnate, into which were +ingeniously wrought a number of sparkling seashells, and a belt +of the same shells ran all round it. The body of the figure--of +whatever material it might have been made--was effectually +concealed in a heavy robe of brown tappa, revealing; only the +hands and head; the latter skilfully carved in wood, and +surmounted by a superb arch of plumes. These plumes, in the +subdued and gentle gales which found access to this sequestered +spot, were never for one moment at rest, but kept nodding and +waving over the chief's brow. The long leaves of the palmetto +drooped over the eaves, and through them you saw the warrior +holding his paddle with both hands in the act of rowing, leaning +forward and inclining his head, as if eager to hurry on his +voyage. Glaring at him forever, and face to face, was a polished +human skull, which crowned the prow of the canoe. The spectral +figurehead, reversed in its position, glancing backwards, seemed +to mock the impatient attitude of the warrior. + +When I first visited this singular place with Kory-Kory, he told +me--or at least I so understood him--that the chief was paddling +his way to the realms of bliss, and bread-fruit--the Polynesian +heaven--where every moment the bread-fruit trees dropped their +ripened spheres to the ground, and where there was no end to the +cocoanuts and bananas: there they reposed through the livelong +eternity upon mats much finer than those of Typee; and every day +bathed their glowing limbs in rivers of cocoanut oil. In that +happy land there were plenty of plumes and feathers, and +boars'-tusks and sperm-whale teeth, far preferable to all the +shining trinkets and gay tappa of the white men; and, best of +all, women far lovelier than the daughters of earth were there in +abundance. 'A very pleasant place,' Kory-Kory said it was; 'but +after all, not much pleasanter, he thought, than Typee.' 'Did he +not then,' I asked him, 'wish to accompany the warrior?' 'Oh no: +he was very happy where he was; but supposed that some time or +other he would go in his own canoe.' + +Thus far, I think, I clearly comprehended Kory-Kory. But there +was a singular expression he made use of at the time, enforced by +as singular a gesture, the meaning of which I would have given +much to penetrate. I am inclined to believe it must have been a +proverb he uttered; for I afterwards heard him repeat the same +words several times, and in what appeared to me to be a somewhat: +similar sense. Indeed, Kory-Kory had a great variety of short, +smart-sounding sentences, with which he frequently enlivened his +discourse; and he introduced them with an air which plainly +intimated, that in his opinion, they settled the matter in +question, whatever it might be. + +Could it have been then, that when I asked him whether he desired +to go to this heaven of bread-fruit, cocoanuts, and young ladies, +which he had been describing, he answered by saying something +equivalent to our old adage--'A bird in the hand is worth two in +the bush'?--if he did, Kory-Kory was a discreet and sensible +fellow, and I cannot sufficiently admire his shrewdness. + +Whenever, in the course of my rambles through the valley I +happened to be near the chief's mausoleum, I always turned aside +to visit it. The place had a peculiar charm for me; I hardly +know why, but so it was. As I leaned over the railing and gazed +upon the strange effigy and watched the play of the feathery +head-dress, stirred by the same breeze which in low tones +breathed amidst the lofty palm-trees, I loved to yield myself up +to the fanciful superstition of the islanders, and could almost +believe that the grim warrior was bound heavenward. In this mood +when I turned to depart, I bade him 'God speed, and a pleasant +voyage.' Aye, paddle away, brave chieftain, to the land of +spirits! To the material eye thou makest but little progress; +but with the eye of faith, I see thy canoe cleaving the bright +waves, which die away on those dimly looming shores of Paradise. + +This strange superstition affords another evidence of the fact, +that however ignorant man may be, he still feels within him his +immortal spirit yearning, after the unknown future. + +Although the religious theories of the islands were a complete +mystery to me, their practical every-day operation could not be +concealed. I frequently passed the little temples reposing in +the shadows of the taboo groves and beheld the offerings--mouldy +fruit spread out upon a rude altar, or hanging in half-decayed +baskets around some uncouth jolly-looking image; I was present +during the continuance of the festival; I daily beheld the +grinning idols marshalled rank and file in the Hoolah Hoolah +ground, and was often in the habit of meeting those whom I +supposed to be the priests. But the temples seemed to be +abandoned to solitude; the festival had been nothing more than a +jovial mingling of the tribe; the idols were quite harmless as +any other logs of wood; and the priests were the merriest dogs +in the valley. + +In fact religious affairs in Typee were at a very low ebb: all +such matters sat very lightly upon the thoughtless inhabitants; +and, in the celebration of many of their strange rites, they +appeared merely to seek a sort of childish amusement. + +A curious evidence of this was given in a remarkable ceremony in +which I frequently saw Mehevi and several other chefs and +warriors of note take part; but never a single female. + +Among those whom I looked upon as forming the priesthood of the +valley, there was one in particular who often attracted my +notice, and whom I could not help regarding as the head of the +order. He was a noble looking man, in the prime of his life, and +of a most benignant aspect. The authority this man, whose name +was Kolory, seemed to exercise over the rest, the episcopal part +he took in the Feast of Calabashes, his sleek and complacent +appearance, the mystic characters which were tattooed upon his +chest, and above all the mitre he frequently wore, in the shape +of a towering head-dress, consisting of part of a cocoanut +branch, the stalk planted uprightly on his brow, and the leaflets +gathered together and passed round the temples and behind the +ears, all these pointed him out as Lord Primate of Typee. Kolory +was a sort of Knight Templar--a soldier-priest; for he often wore +the dress of a Marquesan warrior, and always carried a long +spear, which, instead of terminating in a paddle at the lower +end, after the general fashion of these weapons, was curved into +a heathenish-looking little image. This instrument, however, +might perhaps have been emblematic of his double functions. With +one end in carnal combat he transfixed the enemies of his tribe; +and with the other as a pastoral crook he kept in order his +spiritual flock. But this is not all I have to say about Kolory. + +His martial grace very often carried about with him what seemed +to me the half of a broken war-club. It was swathed round with +ragged bits of white tappa, and the upper part, which was +intended to represent a human head, was embellished with a strip +of scarlet cloth of European manufacture. It required little +observation to discover that this strange object was revered as a +god. By the side of the big and lusty images standing sentinel +over the altars of the Hoolah Hoolah ground, it seemed a mere +pigmy in tatters. But appearances all the world over are +deceptive. Little men are sometimes very potent, and rags +sometimes cover very extensive pretensions. In fact, this funny +little image was the 'crack' god of the island; lording it over +all the wooden lubbers who looked so grim and dreadful; its name +was Moa Artua*. And it was in honour of Moa Artua, and for the +entertainment of those who believe in him, that the curious +ceremony I am about to describe was observed. + +*The word 'Artua', although having some other significations, is +in nearly all the Polynesian dialects used as the general +designation of the gods. + + + +Mehevi and the chieftains of the Ti have just risen from their +noontide slumbers. There are no affairs of state to dispose of; +and having eaten two or three breakfasts in the course of the +morning, the magnates of the valley feel no appetite as yet for +dinner. How are their leisure moments to be occupied? They +smoke, they chat, and at last one of their number makes a +proposition to the rest, who joyfully acquiescing, he darts out +of the house, leaps from the pi-pi, and disappears in the grove. +Soon you see him returning with Kolory, who bears the god Moa +Artua in his arms, and carries in one hand a small trough, +hollowed out in the likeness of a canoe. The priest comes along +dandling his charge as if it were a lachrymose infant he was +endeavouring to put into a good humour. Presently entering the +Ti, he seats himself on the mats as composedly as a juggler about +to perform his sleight-of-hand tricks; and with the chiefs +disposed in a circle around him, commences his ceremony. In +the first place he gives Moa Artua an affectionate hug, then +caressingly lays him to his breast, and, finally, whispers +something in his ear; the rest of the company listening eagerly +for a reply. But the baby-god is deaf or dumb,--perhaps both, +for never a word does, he utter. At last Kolory speaks a little +louder, and soon growing angry, comes boldly out with what he has +to say and bawls to him. He put me in mind of a choleric fellow, +who, after trying in vain to communicated a secret to a deaf man, +all at once flies into a passion and screams it out so that every +one may hear. Still Moa Artua remains as quiet as ever; and +Kolory, seemingly losing his temper, fetches him a box over the +head, strips him of his tappa and red cloth, and laying him in a +state of nudity in a little trough, covers him from sight. At +this proceeding all present loudly applaud and signify their +approval by uttering the adjective 'motarkee' with violent +emphasis. Kolory however, is so desirous his conduct should meet +with unqualified approbation, that he inquires of each individual +separately whether under existing circumstances he has not done +perfectly right in shutting up Moa Artua. The invariable +response is 'Aa, Aa' (yes, yes), repeated over again and again in +a manner which ought to quiet the scruples of the most +conscientious. After a few moments Kolory brings forth his doll +again, and while arraying it very carefully in the tappa and red +cloth, alternately fondles and chides it. The toilet being +completed, he once more speaks to it aloud. The whole company +hereupon show the greatest interest; while the priest holding Moa +Artua to his ear interprets to them what he pretends the god is +confidentially communicating to him. Some items intelligence +appear to tickle all present amazingly; for one claps his hands +in a rapture; another shouts with merriment; and a third leaps to +his feet and capers about like a madman. + +What under the sun Moa Artua on these occasions had to say to +Kolory I never could find out; but I could not help thinking that +the former showed a sad want of spirit in being disciplined into +making those disclosures, which at first he seemed bent on +withholding. Whether the priest honestly interpreted what he +believed the divinity said to him, or whether he was not all the +while guilty of a vile humbug, I shall not presume to decide. At +any rate, whatever as coming from the god was imparted to those +present seemed to be generally of a complimentary nature: a fact +which illustrates the sagacity of Kolory, or else the timeserving +disposition of this hardly used deity. + +Moa Artua having nothing more to say, his bearer goes to nursing +him again, in which occupation, however, he is soon interrupted +by a question put by one of the warriors to the god. Kolory +hereupon snatches it up to his ear again, and after listening +attentively, once more officiates as the organ of communication. +A multitude of questions and answers having passed between the +parties, much to the satisfaction of those who propose them, the +god is put tenderly to bed in the trough, and the whole company +unite in a long chant, led off by Kolory. This ended, the +ceremony is over; the chiefs rise to their feet in high good +humour, and my Lord Archbishop, after chatting awhile, and +regaling himself with a whiff or two from a pipe of tobacco, +tucks the canoe under his arm and marches off with it. + +The whole of these proceedings were like those of a parcel of +children playing with dolls and baby houses. + +For a youngster scarcely ten inches high, and with so few early +advantages as he doubtless had had, Moa Artua was certainly a +precocious little fellow if he really said all that was imputed +to him; but for what reason this poor devil of a deity, thus +cuffed about, cajoled, and shut up in a box, was held in greater +estimation than the full-grown and dignified personages of the +Taboo Groves, I cannot divine. And yet Mehevi, and other chiefs +of unquestionable veracity--to say nothing of the Primate +himself--assured me over and over again that Moa Artua was the +tutelary deity of Typee, and was more to be held in honour than a +whole battalion of the clumsy idols in the Hoolah Hoolah grounds. + +Kory-Kory--who seemed to have devoted considerable attention to +the study of theology, as he knew the names of all the graven +images in the valley, and often repeated them over to +me--likewise entertained some rather enlarged ideas with regard +to the character and pretensions of Moa Artua. He once gave me +to understand, with a gesture there was no misconceiving, that if +he (Moa Artua) were so minded he could cause a cocoanut tree to +sprout out of his (Kory-Kory's) head; and that it would be the +easiest thing in life for him (Moa Artua) to take the whole +island of Nukuheva in his mouth and dive down to the bottom of +the sea with it. + +But in sober seriousness, I hardly knew what to make of the +religion of the valley. There was nothing that so much perplexed +the illustrious Cook, in his intercourse with the South Sea +islanders, as their sacred rites. Although this prince of +navigators was in many instances assisted by interpreters in the +prosecution of his researches, he still frankly acknowledges that +he was at a loss to obtain anything like a clear insight into the +puzzling arcana of their faith. A similar admission has been +made by other eminent voyagers: by Carteret, Byron, Kotzebue, and +Vancouver. + +For my own part, although hardly a day passed while I remained +upon the island that I did not witness some religious ceremony or +other, it was very much like seeing a parcel of 'Freemasons' +making secret signs to each other; I saw everything, but could +comprehend nothing. + +On the whole, I am inclined to believe, that the islanders in the +Pacific have no fixed and definite ideas whatever on the subject +of religion. I am persuaded that Kolory himself would be +effectually posed were he called upon to draw up the articles of +his faith and pronounce the creed by which he hoped to be saved. +In truth, the Typees, so far as their actions evince, submitted +to no laws human or divine--always excepting the thrice +mysterious Taboo. The 'independent electors' of the valley were +not to be brow-beaten by chiefs, priests, idol or devils. As for +the luckless idols, they received more hard knocks than +supplications. I do not wonder that some of them looked so grim, +and stood so bolt upright as if fearful of looking to the right +or the left lest they should give any one offence. The fact is, +they had to carry themselves 'PRETTY STRAIGHT,' or suffer the +consequences. Their worshippers were such a precious set of +fickle-minded and irreverent heathens, that there was no telling +when they might topple one of them over, break it to pieces, and +making a fire with it on the very altar itself, fall to roasting +the offerings of bread-fruit, and at them in spite of its teeth. + +In how little reverence these unfortunate deities were held by +the natives was on one occasion most convincingly proved to +me.--Walking with Kory-Kory through the deepest recesses of the +groves, I perceived a curious looking image, about six feet in +height which originally had been placed upright against a low +pi-pi, surmounted by a ruinous bamboo temple, but having become +fatigued and weak in the knees, was now carelessly leaning +against it. The idol was partly concealed by the foliage of a +tree which stood near, and whose leafy boughs drooped over the +pile of stones, as if to protect the rude fane from the decay to +which it was rapidly hastening. The image itself was nothing +more than a grotesquely shaped log, carved in the likeness of a +portly naked man with the arms clasped over the head, the jaws +thrown wide apart, and its thick shapeless legs bowed into an +arch. It was much decayed. The lower part was overgrown with a +bright silky moss. Thin spears of grass sprouted from the +distended mouth, and fringed the outline of the head and arms. +His godship had literally attained a green old age. All its +prominent points were bruised and battered, or entirely rotted +away. The nose had taken its departure, and from the general +appearance of the head it might have, been supposed that the +wooden divinity, in despair at the neglect of its worshippers, +had been trying to beat its own brains out against the +surrounding trees. + +I drew near to inspect more closely this strange object of +idolatry, but halted reverently at the distance of two or three +paces, out of regard to the religious prejudices of my valet. As +soon, however, as Kory-Kory perceived that I was in one of my +inquiring, scientific moods, to my astonishment, he sprang to the +side of the idol, and pushing it away from the stones against +which it rested, endeavoured to make it stand upon its legs. But +the divinity had lost the use of them altogether; and while +Kory-Kory was trying to prop it up, placing a stick between it +and the pi-pi, the monster fell clumsily to the ground, and would +have infallibly have broken its neck had not Kory-Kory +providentially broken its fall by receiving its whole weight on +his own half-crushed back. I never saw the honest fellow in such +a rage before. He leaped furiously to his feet, and seizing the +stick, began beating the poor image: every moment, or two pausing +and talking to it in the most violent manner, as if upbraiding it +for the accident. When his indignation had subsided a little he +whirled the idol about most profanely, so as to give me an +opportunity of examining it on all sides. I am quite sure I +never should have presumed to have taken such liberties with the +god myself, and I was not a little shocked at Kory-Kory's +impiety. + +This anecdote speaks for itself. When one of the inferior order +of natives could show such contempt for a venerable and decrepit +God of the Groves, what the state of religion must be among the +people in general is easy to be imagined. In truth, I regard the +Typees as a back-slidden generation. They are sunk in religious +sloth, and require a spiritual revival. A long prosperity of +bread-fruit and cocoanuts has rendered them remiss in the +performance of their higher obligations. The wood-rot malady is +spreading among the idols--the fruit upon their altars is +becoming offensive--the temples themselves need rethatching--the +tattooed clergy are altogether too light-hearted and lazy--and +their flocks are going astray. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE + +GENERAL INFORMATION GATHERED AT THE FESTIVAL--PERSONAL BEAUTY OF +THE TYPEES--THEIR SUPERIORITY OVER THE INHABITANTS OF THE OTHER +ISLANDS--DIVERSITY OF COMPLEXION--A VEGETABLE COSMETIC AND +OINTMENT--TESTIMONY OF VOYAGERS TO THE UNCOMMON BEAUTY OF THE +MARQUESANS--FEW EVIDENCES OF INTERCOURSE WITH CIVILIZED +BEINGS--DILAPIDATED MUSKET--PRIMITIVE SIMPLICITY OF GOVERNMENT-- +REGAL DIGNITY OF MEHEVI + +ALTHOUGH I had been unable during the late festival to obtain +information on many interesting subjects which had much excited +my curiosity, still that important event had not passed by +without adding materially to my general knowledge of the +islanders. + +I was especially struck by the physical strength and beauty which +they displayed, by their great superiority in these respects over +the inhabitants of the neighbouring bay of Nukuheva, and by the +singular contrasts they presented among themselves in their +various shades of complexion. + +In beauty of form they surpassed anything I had ever seen. Not a +single instance of natural deformity was observable in all the +throng attending the revels. Occasionally I noticed among the +men the scars of wounds they had received in battle; and +sometimes, though very seldom, the loss of a finger, an eye, or +an arm, attributable to the same cause. With these exceptions, +every individual appeared free from those blemishes which +sometimes mar the effect of an otherwise perfect form. But their +physical excellence did not merely consist in an exemption from +these evils; nearly every individual of their number might have +been taken for a sculptor's model. + +When I remembered that these islanders derived no advantage from +dress, but appeared in all the naked simplicity of nature, I +could not avoid comparing them with the fine gentlemen and +dandies who promenade such unexceptionable figures in our +frequented thoroughfares. Stripped of the cunning artifices of +the tailor, and standing forth in the garb of Eden--what a sorry, +set of round-shouldered, spindle-shanked, crane-necked varlets +would civilized men appear! Stuffed calves, padded breasts, and +scientifically cut pantaloons would then avail them nothing, and +the effect would be truly deplorable. + +Nothing in the appearance of the islanders struck me more +forcibly than the whiteness of their teeth. The novelist always +compares the masticators of his heroine to ivory; but I boldly +pronounce the teeth of the Typee to be far more beautiful than +ivory itself. The jaws of the oldest graybeards among them were +much better garnished than those of most of the youths of +civilized countries; while the teeth of the young and +middle-aged, in their purity and whiteness, were actually +dazzling to the eye. Their marvellous whiteness of the teeth is +to be ascribed to the pure vegetable diet of these people, and +the uninterrupted healthfulness of their natural mode of life. + +The men, in almost every instance, are of lofty stature, scarcely +ever less than six feet in height, while the other sex are +uncommonly diminutive. The early period of life at which the +human form arrives at maturity in this generous tropical climate, +likewise deserves to be mentioned. A little creature, not more +than thirteen years of age, and who in other particulars might be +regarded as a mere child, is often seen nursing her own baby, +whilst lads who, under less ripening skies, would be still at +school, are here responsible fathers of families. + +On first entering the Typee Valley, I had been struck with the +marked contrast presented by its inhabitants with those of the +bay I had previously left. In the latter place, I had not been +favourably impressed with the personal appearance of the male +portion of the population; although with the females, excepting +in some truly melancholy instances, I had been wonderfully +pleased. I had observed that even the little intercourse +Europeans had carried on with the Nukuheva natives had not failed +to leave its traces amongst them. One of the most dreadful +curses under which humanity labours had commenced its havocks, +and betrayed, as it ever does among the South Sea islanders, the +most aggravated symptoms. From this, as from all other foreign +inflictions, the yet uncontaminated tenants of the Typee Valley +were wholly exempt; and long may they continue so. Better will +it be for them for ever to remain the happy and innocent heathens +and barbarians that they now are, than, like the wretched +inhabitants of the Sandwich Islands, to enjoy the mere name of +Christians without experiencing any of the vital operations of +true religion, whilst, at the same time, they are made the +victims of the worst vices and evils of civilized life. + +Apart, however, from these considerations, I am inclined to +believe that there exists a radical difference between the two +tribes, if indeed they are not distinct races of men. To those +who have merely touched at Nukuheva Bay, without visiting other +portions of the island, it would hardly appear credible the +diversities presented between the various small clans inhabiting +so diminutive a spot. But the hereditary hostility which has +existed between them for ages, fully accounts for this. + +Not so easy, however, is it to assign an adequate cause for the +endless variety of complexions to be seen in the Typee Valley. +During the festival, I had noticed several young females whose +skins were almost as white as any Saxon damsel's; a slight dash +of the mantling brown being all that marked the difference. This +comparative fairness of complexion, though in a great degree +perfectly natural, is partly the result of an artificial process, +and of an entire exclusion from the sun. The juice of the 'papa' +root found in great abundance at the head of the valley, is held +in great esteem as a cosmetic, with which many of the females +daily anoint their whole person. The habitual use of it whitens +and beautifies the skin. Those of the young girls who resort to +this method of heightening their charms, never expose themselves +selves to the rays of the sun; an observance, however, that +produces little or no inconvenience, since there are but few of +the inhabited portions of the vale which are not shaded over with +a spreading canopy of boughs, so that one may journey from house +to house, scarcely deviating from the direct course, and yet +never once see his shadow cast upon the ground. + +The 'papa', when used, is suffered to remain upon the skin for +several hours; being of a light green colour, it consequently +imparts for the time a similar hue to the complexion. Nothing, +therefore, can be imagined more singular than the appearance of +these nearly naked damsels immediately after the application of +the cosmetic. To look at one of them you would almost suppose +she was some vegetable in an unripe state; and that, instead of +living in the shade for ever, she ought to be placed out in the +sun to ripen. + +All the islanders are more or less in the habit of anointing +themselves; the women preferring the 'aker' to 'papa', and the +men using the oil of the cocoanut. Mehevi was remarkable fond of +mollifying his entire cuticle with this ointment. Sometimes he +might be seen, with his whole body fairly reeking with the +perfumed oil of the nut, looking as if he had just emerged from a +soap-boiler's vat, or had undergone the process of dipping in a +tallow-chandlery. To this cause perhaps, united to their +frequent bathing and extreme cleanliness, is ascribable, in a +great measure, the marvellous purity and smoothness of skin +exhibited by the natives in general. + +The prevailing tint among the women of the valley was a light +olive, and of this style of complexion Fayaway afforded the most +beautiful example. Others were still darker; while not a few +were of a genuine golden colour, and some of a swarthy hue. + +As agreeing with much previously mentioned in this narrative I +may here observe that Mendanna, their discoverer, in his account +of the Marquesas, described the natives as wondrously beautiful +to behold, and as nearly resembling the people of southern +Europe. The first of these islands seen by Mendanna was La +Madelena, which is not far distant from Nukuheva; and its +inhabitants in every respect resemble those dwelling on that and +the other islands of the group. Figueroa, the chronicler of +Mendanna's voyage, says, that on the morning the land was +descried, when the Spaniards drew near the shore, there sallied +forth, in rude progression, about seventy canoes, and at the same +time many of the inhabitants (females I presume) made towards the +ships by swimming. He adds, that 'in complexion they were nearly +white; of good stature, and finely formed; and on their faces and +bodies were delineated representations of fishes and other +devices'. The old Don then goes on to say, 'There came, among +others, two lads paddling their canoe, whose eyes were fixed on +the ship; they had beautiful faces and the most promising +animation of countenance; and were in all things so becoming, +that the pilot-mayor Quiros affirmed, nothing in his life ever +caused him so much regret as the leaving such fine creatures to +be lost in that country.'* More than two hundred years have gone +by since the passage of which the above is a translation was +written; and it appears to me now, as I read it, as fresh and +true as if written but yesterday. The islanders are still the +same; and I have seen boys in the Typee Valley of whose +'beautiful faces' and promising 'animation of countenance' no one +who has not beheld them can form any adequate idea. Cook, in the +account of his voyage, pronounces the Marquesans as by far the +most splendid islanders in the South Seas. Stewart, the chaplain +of the U.S. ship Vincennes, in his 'Scenes in the South Seas', +expresses, in more than one place, his amazement at the +surpassing loveliness of the women; and says that many of the +Nukuheva damsels reminded him forcibly of the most celebrated +beauties in his own land. Fanning, a Yankee mariner of some +reputation, likewise records his lively impressions of the +physical appearance of these people; and Commodore David Porter +of the U.S. frigate Essex, is said to have been vastly smitten +by the beauty of the ladies. Their great superiority over all +other Polynesians cannot fail to attract the notice of those who +visit the principal groups in the Pacific. The voluptuous +Tahitians are the only people who at all deserve to be compared +with them; while the dark-haired Hawaiians and the woolly-headed +Feejees are immeasurably inferior to them. The distinguishing +characteristic of the Marquesan islanders, and that which at once +strikes you, is the European cast of their features--a +peculiarity seldom observable among other uncivilized people. +Many of their faces present profiles classically beautiful, and +in the valley of Typee I saw several who, like the stranger +Marnoo, were in every respect models of beauty. + +* This passage, which is cited as an almost literal translation +from the original, I found in a small volume entitled +'Circumnavigation of the Globe, in which volume are several +extracts from 'Dalrymple's Historical Collections'. The +last-mentioned work I have never seen, but it is said to contain +a very correct English version of great part of the learned +Doctor Christoval Suaverde da Figueroa's History of Mendanna's +Voyage, published at Madrid, A.D. 1613. + + + +Some of the natives present at the Feast of Calabashes had +displayed a few articles of European dress; disposed however, +about their persons after their own peculiar fashion. Among +these I perceived two pieces of cotton-cloth which poor Toby and +myself had bestowed upon our youthful guides the afternoon we +entered the valley. They were evidently reserved for gala days; +and during those of the festival they rendered the young +islanders who wore them very distinguished characters. The small +number who were similarly adorned, and the great value they +appeared to place upon the most common and most trivial articles, +furnished ample evidence of the very restricted intercourse they +held with vessels touching at the island. A few cotton +handkerchiefs, of a gay pattern, tied about the neck, and +suffered to fall over the shoulder; strips of fanciful calico, +swathed about the loins, were nearly all I saw. + +Indeed, throughout the valley, there were few things of any kind +to be seen of European origin. All I ever saw, besides the +articles just alluded to, were the six muskets preserved in the +Ti, and three or four similar implements of warfare hung up in +other houses; some small canvas bags, partly filled with bullets +and powder, and half a dozen old hatchet-heads, with the edges +blunted and battered to such a degree as to render them utterly +useless. These last seemed to be regarded as nearly worthless +by the natives; and several times they held up, one of them +before me, and throwing it aside with a gesture of disgust, +manifested their contempt for anything that could so soon become +unserviceable. + +But the muskets, the powder, and the bullets were held in most +extravagant esteem. The former, from their great age and the +peculiarities they exhibited, were well worthy a place in any +antiquarian's armoury. I remember in particular one that hung in +the Ti, and which Mehevi--supposing as a matter of course that I +was able to repair it--had put into my hands for that purpose. +It was one of those clumsy, old-fashioned, English pieces known +generally as Tower Hill muskets, and, for aught I know, might +have been left on the island by Wallace, Carteret, Cook, or +Vancouver. The stock was half rotten and worm-eaten; the lock +was as rusty and about as well adapted to its ostensible purpose +as an old door-hinge; the threading of the screws about the +trigger was completely worn away; while the barrel shook in the +wood. Such was the weapon the chief desired me to restore to its +original condition. As I did not possess the accomplishments of +a gunsmith, and was likewise destitute of the necessary tools, I +was reluctantly obliged to signify my inability to perform the +task. At this unexpected communication Mehevi regarded me, for a +moment, as if he half suspected I was some inferior sort of white +man, who after all did not know much more than a Typee. However, +after a most laboured explanation of the matter, I succeeded in +making him understand the extreme difficulty of the task. +Scarcely satisfied with my apologies, however, he marched off +with the superannuated musket in something of a huff, as if he +would no longer expose it to the indignity of being manipulated +by such unskilful fingers. + +During the festival I had not failed to remark the simplicity of +manner, the freedom from all restraint, and, to certain degree, +the equality of condition manifested by the natives in general. +No one appeared to assume any arrogant pretensions. There was +little more than a slight difference in costume to distinguish +the chiefs from the other natives. All appeared to mix together +freely, and without any reserve; although I noticed that the +wishes of a chief, even when delivered in the mildest tone, +received the same immediate obedience which elsewhere would have +been only accorded to a peremptory command. What may be the +extent of the authority of the chiefs over the rest of the tribe, +I will not venture to assert; but from all I saw during my stay +in the valley, I was induced to believe that in matters +concerning the general welfare it was very limited. The required +degree of deference towards them, however, was willingly and +cheerfully yielded; and as all authority is transmitted from +father to son, I have no doubt that one of the effects here, as +elsewhere, of high birth, is to induce respect and obedience. + +The civil institutions of the Marquesas Islands appear to be in +this, as in other respects, directly the reverse of those of the +Tahitian and Hawiian groups, where the original power of the king +and chiefs was far more despotic than that of any tyrant in +civilized countries. At Tahiti it used to be death for one of +the inferior orders to approach, without permission, under the +shadow, of the king's house; or to fail in paying the customary +reverence when food destined for the king was borne past them by +his messengers. At the Sandwich Islands, Kaahumanu, the gigantic +old dowager queen--a woman of nearly four hundred pounds weight, +and who is said to be still living at Mowee--was accustomed, in +some of her terrific gusts of temper, to snatch up an ordinary +sized man who had offended her, and snap his spine across her +knee. Incredible as this may seem, it is a fact. While at +Lahainaluna--the residence of this monstrous Jezebel--a +humpbacked wretch was pointed out to me, who, some twenty-five +years previously, had had the vertebrae of his backbone very +seriously discomposed by his gentle mistress. + +The particular grades of rank existing among the chiefs of Typee, +I could not in all cases determine. Previous to the Feast of +Calabashes I had been puzzled what particular station to assign +to Mehevi. But the important part he took upon that occasion +convinced me that he had no superior among the inhabitants of the +valley. I had invariably noticed a certain degree of deference +paid to him by all with whom I had ever seen him brought in +contact; but when I remembered that my wanderings had been +confined to a limited portion of the valley, and that towards the +sea a number of distinguished chiefs resided, some of whom had +separately visited me at Marheyo's house, and whom, until the +Festival, I had never seen in the company of Mehevi, I felt +disposed to believe that his rank after all might not be +particularly elevated. + +The revels, however, had brought together all the warriors whom I +had seen individually and in groups at different times and +places. Among them Mehevi moved with an easy air of superiority +which was not to be mistaken; and he whom I had only looked at as +the hospitable host of the Ti, and one of the military leaders of +the tribe, now assumed in my eyes the dignity of royal station. +His striking costume, no less than his naturally commanding +figure, seemed indeed to give him pre-eminence over the rest. +The towering helmet of feathers that he wore raised him in height +above all who surrounded him; and though some others were +similarly adorned, the length and luxuriance of their plumes were +inferior to his. + +Mehevi was in fact the greatest of the chiefs--the head of his +clan--the sovereign of the valley; and the simplicity of the +social institutions of the people could not have been more +completely proved than by the fact, that after having been +several weeks in the valley, and almost in daily intercourse with +Mehevi, I should have remained until the time of the festival +ignorant of his regal character. But a new light had now broken +in upon me. The Ti was the palace--and Mehevi the king. Both +the one and the other of a most simple and patriarchal nature: it +must be allowed, and wholly unattended by the ceremonious pomp +which usually surrounds the purple. + +After having made this discovery I could not avoid congratulating +myself that Mehevi had from the first taken me as it were under +his royal protection, and that he still continued to entertain +for me the warmest regard, as far at least as I was enabled to +judge from appearances. For the future I determined to pay most +assiduous court to him, hoping that eventually through his +kindness I might obtain my liberty. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX + +KING MEHEVI--ALLUSION TO HIS HAWIIAN MAJESTY--CONDUCT OF MARHEYO +AND MEHEVI IN CERTAIN DELICATE MATTERS--PECULIAR SYSTEM OF +MARRIAGE--NUMBER OF POPULATION--UNIFORMITY--EMBALMING--PLACES OF +SEPULTURE--FUNERAL OBSEQUIES AT NUKUHEVA-NUMBER OF INHABITANTS IN +TYPEE--LOCATION OF THE DWELLINGS--HAPPINESS ENJOYED IN THE +VALLEY--A WARNING--SOME IDEAS WITH REGARD TO THE PRESENT STATE OF +THE HAWIIANS--STORY OF A MISSIONARY'S WIFE--FASHIONABLE EQUIPAGES +AT OAHU--REFLECTIONS + +KING MEHEVI!--A goodly sounding title--and why should I not +bestow it upon the foremost man in the valley of Typee? The +republican missionaries of Oahu cause to be gazetted in the Court +Journal, published at Honolulu, the most trivial movement of 'his +gracious majesty' King Kammehammaha III, and 'their highnesses +the princes of the blood royal'.* And who is his 'gracious +majesty', and what the quality of this blood royal'?--His +'gracious majesty' is a fat, lazy, negro-looking blockhead, with +as little character as power. He has lost the noble traits of +the barbarian, without acquiring the redeeming graces of a +civilized being; and, although a member of the Hawiian Temperance +Society, is a most inveterate dram-drinker. + +*Accounts like these are sometimes copied into English and +American journals. They lead the reader to infer that the arts +and customs of civilized life are rapidly refining the natives of +the Sandwich Islands. But let no one be deceived by these +accounts. The chiefs swagger about in gold lace and broadcloth, +while the great mass of the common people are nearly as primitive +in their appearance as in the days of Cook. In the progress of +events at these islands, the two classes are receding from each +other; the chiefs are daily becoming more luxurious and +extravagant in their style of living, and the common people more +and more destitute of the necessaries and decencies of life. But +the end to which both will arrive at last will be the same: the +one are fast destroying themselves by sensual indulgences, and +the other are fast being destroyed by a complication of +disorders, and the want of wholesome food. The resources of the +domineering chiefs are wrung from the starving serfs, and every +additional bauble with which they bedeck themselves is purchased +by the sufferings of their bondsmen; so that the measure of +gew-gaw refinement attained by the chiefs is only an index to the +actual state in which the greater portion of the population lie +grovelling. + + + +The 'blood royal' is an extremely thick, depraved fluid; formed +principally of raw fish, bad brandy, and European sweetmeats, and +is charged with a variety of eruptive humours, which are +developed in sundry blotches and pimples upon the august face of +'majesty itself', and the angelic countenances of the 'princes +and princesses of the blood royal'! + +Now, if the farcical puppet of a chief magistrate in the Sandwich +Islands be allowed the title of King, why should it be withheld +from the noble savage Mehevi, who is a thousand times more worthy +of the appellation? All hail, therefore, Mehevi, King of the +Cannibal Valley, and long life and prosperity to his Typeean +majesty! May Heaven for many a year preserve him, the +uncompromising foe of Nukuheva and the French, if a hostile +attitude will secure his lovely domain from the remorseless +inflictions of South Sea civilization. + +Previously to seeing the Dancing Widows I had little idea that +there were any matrimonial relations subsisting in Typee, and I +should as soon have thought of a Platonic affection being +cultivated between the sexes, as of the solemn connection of man +and wife. To be sure, there were old Marheyo and Tinor, who +seemed to have a sort of nuptial understanding with one another; +but for all that, I had sometimes observed a comical-looking old +gentleman dressed in a suit of shabby tattooing, who had the +audacity to take various liberties with the lady, and that too in +the very presence of the old warrior her husband, who looked on +as good-naturedly as if nothing was happening. This behaviour, +until subsequent discoveries enlightened me, puzzled me more than +anything else I witnessed in Typee. + +As for Mehevi, I had supposed him a confirmed bachelor, as well +as most of the principal chiefs. At any rate, if they had wives +and families, they ought to have been ashamed of themselves; for +sure I am, they never troubled themselves about any domestic +affairs. In truth, Mehevi seemed to be the president of a club +of hearty fellows, who kept 'Bachelor's Hall' in fine style at +the Ti. I had no doubt but that they regarded children as odious +incumbrances; and their ideas of domestic felicity were +sufficiently shown in the fact, that they allowed no meddlesome +housekeepers to turn topsy-turvy those snug little arrangements +they had made in their comfortable dwelling. I strongly +suspected however, that some of these jolly bachelors were +carrying on love intrigues with the maidens of the tribe; +although they did not appear publicly to acknowledge them. I +happened to pop upon Mehevi three or four times when he was +romping--in a most undignified manner for a warrior king--with +one of the prettiest little witches in the valley. She lived +with an old woman and a young man, in a house near Marheyo's; and +although in appearance a mere child herself, had a noble boy +about a year old, who bore a marvellous resemblance to Mehevi, +whom I should certainly have believed to have been the father, +were it not that the little fellow had no triangle on his +face--but on second thoughts, tattooing is not hereditary. +Mehevi, however, was not the only person upon whom the damsel +Moonoony smiled--the young fellow of fifteen, who permanently +resided in the home with her, was decidedly in her good graces. +I sometimes beheld both him and the chief making love at the same +time. Is it possible, thought I, that the valiant warrior can +consent to give up a corner in the thing he loves? This too was +a mystery which, with others of the same kind, was afterwards +satisfactorily explained. + +During the second day of the Feast of Calabashes, +Kory-Kory--being determined that I should have some understanding +on these matters--had, in the course of his explanations, +directed my attention to a peculiarity I had frequently remarked +among many of the females;--principally those of a mature age and +rather matronly appearance. This consisted in having the right +hand and the left foot most elaborately tattooed; whilst the rest +of the body was wholly free from the operation of the art, with +the exception of the minutely dotted lips and slight marks on the +shoulders, to which I have previously referred as comprising the +sole tattooing exhibited by Fayaway, in common with other young +girls of her age. The hand and foot thus embellished were, +according to Kory-Kory, the distinguishing badge of wedlock, so +far as that social and highly commendable institution is known +among those people. It answers, indeed, the same purpose as the +plain gold ring worn by our fairer spouses. + +After Kory-Kory's explanation of the subject, I was for some time +studiously respectful in the presence of all females thus +distinguished, and never ventured to indulge in the slightest +approach to flirtation with any of their number. Married women, +to be sure!--I knew better than to offend them. + +A further insight, however, into the peculiar domestic customs of +the inmates of the valley did away in a measure with the severity +of my scruples, and convinced me that I was deceived in some at +least of my conclusions. A regular system of polygamy exists +among the islanders; but of a most extraordinary nature,--a +plurality of husbands, instead of wives! and this solitary fact +speaks volumes for the gentle disposition of the male population. + +Where else, indeed, could such a practice exist, even for a +single day?--Imagine a revolution brought about in a Turkish +seraglio, and the harem rendered the abode of bearded men; or +conceive some beautiful woman in our own country running +distracted at the sight of her numerous lovers murdering one +another before her eyes, out of jealousy for the unequal +distribution of her favours!--Heaven defend us from such a state +of things!--We are scarcely amiable and forbearing enough to +submit to it. + +I was not able to learn what particular ceremony was observed in +forming the marriage contract, but am inclined to think that it +must have been of a very simple nature. Perhaps the mere +'popping the question', as it is termed with us, might have been +followed by an immediate nuptial alliance. At any rate, I have +more than one reason to believe that tedious courtships are +unknown in the valley of Typee. + +The males considerably outnumber the females. This holds true of +many of the islands of Polynesia, although the reverse of what is +the case in most civilized countries. The girls are first wooed +and won, at a very tender age, by some stripling in the household +in which they reside. This, however, is a mere frolic of the +affections, and no formal engagement is contracted. By the time +this first love has a little subsided, a second suitor presents +himself, of graver years, and carries both boy and girl away to +his own habitation. This disinterested and generous-hearted +fellow now weds the young couple--marrying damsel and lover at +the same time--and all three thenceforth live together as +harmoniously as so many turtles. I have heard of some men who +in civilized countries rashly marry large families with their +wives, but had no idea that there was any place where people +married supplementary husbands with them. Infidelity on either +side is very rare. No man has more than one wife, and no wife of +mature years has less than two husbands,--sometimes she has +three, but such instances are not frequent. The marriage tie, +whatever it may be, does not appear to be indissoluble; for +separations occasionally happen. These, however, when they do +take place, produce no unhappiness, and are preceded by no +bickerings; for the simple reason, that an ill-used wife or a +henpecked husband is not obliged to file a bill in Chancery to +obtain a divorce. As nothing stands in the way of a separation, +the matrimonial yoke sits easily and lightly, and a Typee wife +lives on very pleasant and sociable terms with her husband. On +the whole, wedlock, as known among these Typees, seems to be of a +more distinct and enduring nature than is usually the case with +barbarous people. A baneful promiscuous intercourse of the sexes +is hereby avoided, and virtue, without being clamorously invoked, +is, as it were, unconsciously practised. + +The contrast exhibited between the Marquesas and other islands of +the Pacific in this respect, is worthy of being noticed. At +Tahiti the marriage tie was altogether unknown; and the relation +of husband and wife, father and son, could hardly be said to +exist. The Arreory Society--one of the most singular +institutions that ever existed in any part of the world--spread +universal licentiousness over the island. It was the voluptuous +character of these people which rendered the disease introduced +among them by De Bougainville's ships, in 1768, doubly +destructive. It visited them like a plague, sweeping them off by +hundreds. + +Notwithstanding the existence of wedlock among the Typees, the +Scriptural injunction to increase and multiply seems to be but +indifferently attended to. I never saw any of those large +families in arithmetical or step-ladder progression which one +often meets with at home. I never knew of more than two +youngsters living together in the same home, and but seldom even +that number. As for the women, it was very plain that the +anxieties of the nursery but seldom disturbed the serenity of +their souls; and they were never seen going about the valley with +half a score of little ones tagging at their apron-strings, or +rather at the bread-fruit-leaf they usually wore in the rear. + +The ratio of increase among all the Polynesian nations is very +small; and in some places as yet uncorrupted by intercourse with +Europeans, the births would appear not very little to outnumber +the deaths; the population in such instances remaining nearly the +same for several successive generations, even upon those islands +seldom or never desolated by wars, and among people with whom the +crime of infanticide is altogether unknown. This would seem +expressively ordained by Providence to prevent the overstocking +of the islands with a race too indolent to cultivate the ground, +and who, for that reason alone, would, by any considerable +increase in their numbers, be exposed to the most deplorable +misery. During the entire period of my stay in the valley of +Typee, I never saw more than ten or twelve children under the age +of six months, and only became aware of two births. + +It is to the absence of the marriage tie that the late rapid +decrease of the population of the Sandwich Islands and of Tahiti +is in part to be ascribed. The vices and diseases introduced +among these unhappy people annually swell the ordinary mortality +of the islands, while, from the same cause, the originally small +number of births is proportionally decreased. Thus the progress +of the Hawiians and Tahitians to utter extinction is accelerated +in a sort of compound ratio. + +I have before had occasion to remark, that I never saw any of the +ordinary signs of a pace of sepulture in the valley, a +circumstance which I attributed, at the time, to my living in a +particular part of it, and being forbidden to extend my rambles to +any considerable distance towards the sea. I have since thought +it probable, however, that the Typees, either desirous of +removing from their sight the evidences of mortality, or prompted +by a taste for rural beauty, may have some charming cemetery +situation in the shadowy recesses along the base of the +mountains. At Nukuheva, two or three large quadrangular +'pi-pis', heavily flagged, enclosed with regular stone walls, and +shaded over and almost hidden from view by the interlacing +branches of enormous trees, were pointed out to me as +burial-places. The bodies, I understood, were deposited in rude +vaults beneath the flagging, and were suffered to remain there +without being disinterred. Although nothing could be more +strange and gloomy than the aspect of these places, where the +lofty trees threw their dark shadows over rude blocks of stone, a +stranger looking at them would have discerned none of the +ordinary evidences of a place of sepulture. + +During my stay in the valley, as none of its inmates were so +accommodating as to die and be buried in order to gratify my +curiosity with regard to their funeral rites, I was reluctantly +obliged to remain in ignorance of them. As I have reason to +believe, however, the observances of the Typees in these matters +are the same with those of all the other tribes in the island, I +will here relate a scene I chanced to witness at Nukuheva. + +A young man had died, about daybreak, in a house near the beach. +I had been sent ashore that morning, and saw a good deal of the +preparations they were making for his obsequies. The body, +neatly wrapped in a new white tappa, was laid out in an open shed +of cocoanut boughs, upon a bier constructed of elastic bamboos +ingeniously twisted together. This was supported about two feet +from the ground, by large canes planted uprightly in the earth. +Two females, of a dejected appearance, watched by its side, +plaintively chanting and beating the air with large grass fans +whitened with pipe-clay. In the dwelling-house adjoining a +numerous company we assembled, and various articles of food were +being prepared for consumption. Two or three individuals, +distinguished by head-dresses of beautiful tappa, and wearing a +great number of ornaments, appeared to officiate as masters of +the ceremonies. By noon the entertainment had fairly begun and +we were told that it would last during the whole of the two +following days. With the exception of those who mourned by the +corpse, every one seemed disposed to drown the sense of the late +bereavement in convivial indulgence. The girls, decked out in +their savage finery, danced; the old men chanted; the warriors +smoked and chatted; and the young and lusty, of both sexes, +feasted plentifully, and seemed to enjoy themselves as pleasantly +as they could have done had it been a wedding. + +The islanders understand the art of embalming, and practise it +with such success that the bodies of their great chiefs are +frequently preserved for many years in the very houses where they +died. I saw three of these in my visit to the Bay of Tior. One +was enveloped in immense folds of tappa, with only the face +exposed, and hung erect against the side of the dwelling. The +others were stretched out upon biers of bamboo, in open, elevated +temples, which seemed consecrated to their memory. The heads of +enemies killed in battle are invariably preserved and hung up as +trophies in the house of the conqueror. I am not acquainted with +the process which is in use, but believe that fumigation is the +principal agency employed. All the remains which I saw presented +the appearance of a ham after being suspended for some time in a +smoky chimney. + +But to return from the dead to the living. The late festival had +drawn together, as I had every reason to believe, the whole +population of the vale, and consequently I was enabled to make +some estimate with regard to its numbers. I should imagine that +there were about two thousand inhabitants in Typee; and no number +could have been better adapted to the extent of the valley. The +valley is some nine miles in length, and may average one in +breadth; the houses being distributed at wide intervals +throughout its whole extent, principally, however, towards the +head of the vale. There are no villages; the houses stand here +and there in the shadow of the groves, or are scattered along the +banks of the winding stream; their golden-hued bamboo sides and +gleaming white thatch forming a beautiful contrast to the +perpetual verdure in which they are embowered. There are no +roads of any kind in the valley. Nothing but a labyrinth of +footpaths twisting and turning among the thickets without end. + +The penalty of the Fall presses very lightly upon the valley of +Typee; for, with the one solitary exception of striking a light, +I scarcely saw any piece of work performed there which caused the +sweat to stand upon a single brow. As for digging and delving +for a livelihood, the thing is altogether unknown. Nature has +planted the bread-fruit and the banana, and in her own good time +she brings them to maturity, when the idle savage stretches forth +his hand, and satisfies his appetite. + +Ill-fated people! I shudder when I think of the change a few +years will produce in their paradisaical abode; and probably when +the most destructive vices, and the worst attendances on +civilization, shall have driven all peace and happiness from the +valley, the magnanimous French will proclaim to the world that +the Marquesas Islands have been converted to Christianity! and +this the Catholic world will doubtless consider as a glorious +event. Heaven help the 'Isles of the Sea'!--The sympathy which +Christendom feels for them, has, alas! in too many instances +proved their bane. + +How little do some of these poor islanders comprehend when they +look around them, that no inconsiderable part of their disasters +originate in certain tea-party excitements, under the influence +of which benevolent-looking gentlemen in white cravats solicit +alms, and old ladies in spectacles, and young ladies in sober +russet gowns, contribute sixpences towards the creation of a +fund, the object of which is to ameliorate the spiritual +condition of the Polynesians, but whose end has almost invariably +been to accomplish their temporal destruction! + +Let the savages be civilized, but civilize them with benefits, +and not with evils; and let heathenism be destroyed, but not by +destroying the heathen. The Anglo-Saxon hive have extirpated +Paganism from the greater part of the North American continent; +but with it they have likewise extirpated the greater portion of +the Red race. Civilization is gradually sweeping from the earth +the lingering vestiges of Paganism, and at the same time the +shrinking forms of its unhappy worshippers. + +Among the islands of Polynesia, no sooner are the images +overturned, the temples demolished, and the idolators converted +into NOMINAL Christians, that disease, vice, and premature death +make their appearance. The depopulated land is then recruited +from the rapacious, hordes of enlightened individuals who settle +themselves within its borders, and clamorously announce the +progress of the Truth. Neat villas, trim gardens, shaven lawns, +spires, and cupolas arise, while the poor savage soon finds +himself an interloper in the country of his fathers, and that too +on the very site of the hut where he was born. The spontaneous +fruits of the earth, which God in his wisdom had ordained for the +support of the indolent natives, remorselessly seized upon and +appropriated by the stranger, are devoured before the eyes of the +starving inhabitants, or sent on board the numerous vessels which +now touch at their shores. + +When the famished wretches are cut off in this manner from their +natural supplies, they are told by their benefactors to work and +earn their support by the sweat of their brows! But to no fine +gentleman born to hereditary opulence, does this manual labour +come more unkindly than to the luxurious Indian when thus robbed +of the bounty of heaven. Habituated to a life of indolence, he +cannot and will not exert himself; and want, disease, and vice, +all evils of foreign growth, soon terminate his miserable +existence. + +But what matters all this? Behold the glorious result!--The +abominations of Paganism have given way to the pure rites of the +Christian worship,--the ignorant savage has been supplanted by +the refined European! Look at Honolulu, the metropolis of the +Sandwich Islands!--A community of disinterested merchants, and +devoted self-exiled heralds of the Cross, located on the very +spot that twenty years ago was defiled by the presence of +idolatry. What a subject for an eloquent Bible-meeting orator! +Nor has such an opportunity for a display of missionary rhetoric +been allowed to pass by unimproved!--But when these +philanthropists send us such glowing accounts of one half of +their labours, why does their modesty restrain them from +publishing the other half of the good they have wrought?--Not +until I visited Honolulu was I aware of the fact that the small +remnant of the natives had been civilized into draught-horses; +and evangelized into beasts of burden. But so it is. They have +been literally broken into the traces, and are harnessed to the +vehicles of their spiritual instructors like so many dumb brutes! + + . . . . . . . + +Lest the slightest misconception should arise from anything +thrown out in this chapter, or indeed in any other part of the +volume, let me here observe that against the cause of missions +in, the abstract no Christian can possibly be opposed: it is in +truth a just and holy cause. But if the great end proposed by it +be spiritual, the agency employed to accomplish that end is +purely earthly; and, although the object in view be the +achievement of much good, that agency may nevertheless be +productive of evil. In short, missionary undertaking, however it +may blessed of heaven, is in itself but human; and subject, like +everything else, to errors and abuses. And have not errors and +abuses crept into the most sacred places, and may there not be +unworthy or incapable missionaries abroad, as well as +ecclesiastics of similar character at home? May not the +unworthiness or incapacity of those who assume apostolic +functions upon the remote islands of the sea more easily escape +detection by the world at large than if it were displayed in the +heart of a city? An unwarranted confidence in the sanctity of +its apostles--a proneness to regard them as incapable of +guile--and an impatience of the least suspicion to their +rectitude as men or Christians, have ever been prevailing faults +in the Church. Nor is this to be wondered at: for subject as +Christianity is to the assaults of unprincipled foes, we are +naturally disposed to regard everything like an exposure of +ecclesiastical misconduct as the offspring of malevolence or +irreligious feeling. Not even this last consideration, however +shall deter me from the honest expression of my sentiments. + +There is something apparently wrong in the practical operations +of the Sandwich Islands Mission. Those who from pure religious +motives contribute to the support of this enterprise should take +care to ascertain that their donations, flowing through many +devious channels, at last effect their legitimate object, the +conversion of the Hawaiians. I urge this not because I doubt the +moral probity of those who disburse the funds, but because I know +that they are not rightly applied. To read pathetic accounts of +missionary hardships, and glowing descriptions of conversion, and +baptisms, taking place beneath palm-trees, is one thing; and to +go to the Sandwich Islands and see the missionaries dwelling in +picturesque and prettily furnished coral-rock villas, whilst the +miserable natives are committing all sorts of immorality around +them, is quite another. + +In justice to the missionaries, however, I will willingly admit, +that where-ever evils may have resulted from their collective +mismanagement of the business of the mission, and from the want +of vital piety evinced by some of their number, still the present +deplorable condition of the Sandwich Islands is by no means +wholly chargeable against them. The demoralizing influence of a +dissolute foreign population, and the frequent visits of all +descriptions of vessels, have tended not a little to increase the +evils alluded to. In a word, here, as in every case where +civilization has in any way been introduced among those whom we +call savages, she has scattered her vices, and withheld her +blessings. + +As wise a man as Shakespeare has said, that the bearer of evil +tidings hath but a losing office; and so I suppose will it prove +with me, in communicating to the trusting friends of the Hawiian +Mission what has been disclosed in various portions of this +narrative. I am persuaded, however, that as these disclosures +will by their very nature attract attention, so they will lead to +something which will not be without ultimate benefit to the cause +of Christianity in the Sandwich Islands. + +I have but one more thing to add in connection with this +subject--those things which I have stated as facts will remain +facts, in spite of whatever the bigoted or incredulous may say or +write against them. My reflections, however, on those facts may +not be free from error. If such be the case, I claim no further +indulgence than should be conceded to every man whose object is +to do good. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN + +THE SOCIAL CONDITION AND GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE TYPEES + +I HAVE already mentioned that the influence exerted over the +people of the valley by their chiefs was mild in the extreme; and +as to any general rule or standard of conduct by which the +commonality were governed in their intercourse with each other, +so far as my observation extended, I should be almost tempted to +say, that none existed on the island, except, indeed, the +mysterious 'Taboo' be considered as such. During the time I +lived among the Typees, no one was ever put upon his trial for +any offence against the public. To all appearance there were no +courts of law or equity. There was no municipal police for the +purpose of apprehending vagrants and disorderly characters. In +short, there were no legal provisions whatever for the well-being +and conservation of society, the enlightened end of civilized +legislation. And yet everything went on in the valley with a +harmony and smoothness unparalleled, I will venture to assert, in +the most select, refined, and pious associations of mortals in +Christendom. How are we to explain this enigma? These islanders +were heathens! savages! ay, cannibals! and how came they +without the aid of established law, to exhibit, in so eminent a +degree, that social order which is the greatest blessing and +highest pride of the social state? + +It may reasonably be inquired, how were these people governed? +how were their passions controlled in their everyday +transactions? It must have been by an inherent principle of +honesty and charity towards each other. They seemed to be +governed by that sort of tacit common-sense law which, say what +they will of the inborn lawlessness of the human race, has its +precepts graven on every breast. The grand principles of virtue +and honour, however they may be distorted by arbitrary codes, are +the same all the world over: and where these principles are +concerned, the right or wrong of any action appears the same to +the uncultivated as to the enlightened mind. It is to this +indwelling, this universally diffused perception of what is just +and noble, that the integrity of the Marquesans in their +intercourse with each other, is to be attributed. In the darkest +nights they slept securely, with all their worldly wealth around +them, in houses the doors of which were never fastened. The +disquieting ideas of theft or assassination never disturbed them. + +Each islander reposed beneath his own palmetto thatching, or sat +under his own bread-fruit trees, with none to molest or alarm +him. There was not a padlock in the valley, nor anything that +answered the purpose of one: still there was no community of +goods. This long spear, so elegantly carved, and highly +polished, belongs to Wormoonoo: it is far handsomer than the one +which old Marheyo so greatly prizes; it is the most valuable +article belonging to its owner. And yet I have seen it leaning +against a cocoanut tree in the grove, and there it was found when +sought for. Here is a sperm-whale tooth, graven all over with +cunning devices: it is the property of Karluna; it is the most +precious of the damsel's ornaments. In her estimation its price +is far above rubies--and yet there hangs the dental jewel by its +cord of braided bark, in the girl's house, which is far back in +the valley; the door is left open, and all the inmates have gone +off to bathe in the stream.* + +*The strict honesty which the inhabitants of nearly all the +Polynesian Islands manifest toward each other, is in striking +contrast with the thieving propensities some of them evince in +their intercourse with foreigners. It would almost seem that, +according to their peculiar code of morals, the pilfering of a +hatchet or a wrought nail from a European, is looked upon as a +praiseworthy action. Or rather, it may be presumed, that bearing +in mind the wholesale forays made upon them by their nautical +visitors, they consider the property of the latter as a fair +object of reprisal. This consideration, while it serves to +reconcile an apparent contradiction in the moral character of the +islanders, should in some measure alter that low opinion of it +which the reader of South Sea voyages is too apt to form. + + + +So much for the respect in which 'personal property' is held in +Typee; how secure an investment of 'real property' may be, I +cannot take upon me to say. Whether the land of the valley was +the joint property of its inhabitants, or whether it was +parcelled out among a certain number of landed proprietors who +allowed everybody to 'squat' and 'poach' as much as he or she +pleased, I never could ascertain. At any rate, musty parchments +and title-deeds there were none on the island; and I am half +inclined to believe that its inhabitants hold their broad valleys +in fee simple from Nature herself; to have and to hold, so long +as grass grows and water runs; or until their French visitors, by +a summary mode of conveyancing, shall appropriate them to their +own benefit and behoof. + +Yesterday I saw Kory-Kory hie him away, armed with a long pole, +with which, standing on the ground, he knocked down the fruit +from the topmost boughs of the trees, and brought them home in +his basket of cocoanut leaves. Today I see an islander, whom I +know to reside in a distant part of the valley, doing the +self-same thing. On the sloping bank of the stream are a number +of banana-trees I have often seen a score or two of young people +making a merry foray on the great golden clusters, and bearing +them off, one after another, to different parts of the vale, +shouting and trampling as they went. No churlish old curmudgeon +could have been the owner of that grove of bread-fruit trees, or +of these gloriously yellow bunches of bananas. + +From what I have said it will be perceived that there is a vast +difference between 'personal property' and 'real estate' in the +valley of Typee. Some individuals, of course, are more wealthy +than others. For example, the ridge-pole of Marheyo's house +bends under the weight of many a huge packet of tappa; his long +couch is laid with mats placed one upon the other seven deep. +Outside, Tinor has ranged along in her bamboo cupboard--or +whatever the place may be called--a goodly array of calabashes +and wooden trenchers. Now, the house just beyond the grove, and +next to Marheyo's, occupied by Ruaruga, is not quite so well +furnished. There are only three moderate-sized packages +swinging overhead: there are only two layers of mats beneath; and +the calabashes and trenchers are not so numerous, nor so +tastefully stained and carved. But then, Ruaruga has a +house--not so pretty a one, to be sure--but just as commodious as +Marheyo's; and, I suppose, if he wished to vie with his +neighbour's establishment, he could do so with very little +trouble. These, in short, constituted the chief differences +perceivable in the relative wealth of the people in Typee. + +Civilization does not engross all the virtues of humanity: she +has not even her full share of them. They flourish in greater +abundance and attain greater strength among many barbarous +people. The hospitality of the wild Arab, the courage of the +North American Indian, and the faithful friendship of some of the +Polynesian nations, far surpass anything of a similar kind among +the polished communities of Europe. If truth and justice, and +the better principles of our nature, cannot exist unless enforced +by the statute-book, how are we to account for the social +condition of the Typees? So pure and upright were they in all +the relations of life, that entering their valley, as I did, +under the most erroneous impressions of their character, I was +soon led to exclaim in amazement: 'Are these the ferocious +savages, the blood-thirsty cannibals of whom I have heard such +frightful tales! They deal more kindly with each other, and are +more humane than many who study essays on virtue and benevolence, +and who repeat every night that beautiful prayer breathed first +by the lips of the divine and gentle Jesus.' I will frankly +declare that after passing a few weeks in this valley of the +Marquesas, I formed a higher estimate of human nature than I had +ever before entertained. But alas! since then I have been one +of the crew of a man-of-war, and the pent-up wickedness of five +hundred men has nearly overturned all my previous theories. + +There was one admirable trait in the general character of the +Typees which, more than anything else, secured my admiration: it +was the unanimity of feeling they displayed on every occasion. +With them there hardly appeared to be any difference of opinion +upon any subject whatever. They all thought and acted alike. I +do not conceive that they could support a debating society for a +single night: there would be nothing to dispute about; and were +they to call a convention to take into consideration the state of +the tribe, its session would be a remarkably short one. They +showed this spirit of unanimity in every action of life; +everything was done in concert and good fellowship. I will give +an instance of this fraternal feeling. + +One day, in returning with Kory-Kory from my accustomed visit to +the Ti, we passed by a little opening in the grove; on one side +of which, my attendant informed me, was that afternoon to be +built a dwelling of bamboo. At least a hundred of the natives +were bringing materials to the ground, some carrying in their +hands one or two of the canes which were to form the sides, +others slender rods of the habiscus, strung with palmetto leaves, +for the roof. Every one contributed something to the work; and +by the united, but easy, and even indolent, labours of all, the +entire work was completed before sunset. The islanders, while +employed in erecting this tenement, reminded me of a colony of +beavers at work. To be sure, they were hardly as silent and +demure as those wonderful creatures, nor were they by any means +as diligent. To tell the truth they were somewhat inclined to be +lazy, but a perfect tumult of hilarity prevailed; and they worked +together so unitedly, and seemed actuated by such an instinct of +friendliness, that it was truly beautiful to behold. + +Not a single female took part in this employment: and if the +degree of consideration in which the ever-adorable sex is held by +the men be--as the philosophers affirm--a just criterion of the +degree of refinement among a people, then I may truly pronounce +the Typees to be as polished a community as ever the sun shone +upon. The religious restrictions of the taboo alone excepted, +the women of the valley were allowed every possible indulgence. +Nowhere are the ladies more assiduously courted; nowhere are they +better appreciated as the contributors to our highest enjoyments; +and nowhere are they more sensible of their power. Far different +from their condition among many rude nations, where the women are +made to perform all the work while their ungallant lords and +masters lie buried in sloth, the gentle sex in the valley of +Typee were exempt from toil, if toil it might be called that, +even in the tropical climate, never distilled one drop of +perspiration. Their light household occupations, together with +the manufacture of tappa, the platting of mats, and the polishing +of drinking-vessels, were the only employments pertaining to the +women. And even these resembled those pleasant avocations which +fill up the elegant morning leisure of our fashionable ladies at +home. But in these occupations, slight and agreeable though they +were, the giddy young girls very seldom engaged. Indeed these +wilful care-killing damsels were averse to all useful employment. + +Like so many spoiled beauties, they ranged through the +groves--bathed in the stream--danced--flirted--played all manner +of mischievous pranks, and passed their days in one merry round +of thoughtless happiness. + +During my whole stay on the island I never witnessed a single +quarrel, nor anything that in the slightest degree approached +even to a dispute. The natives appeared to form one household, +whose members were bound together by the ties of strong +affection. The love of kindred I did not so much perceive, for +it seemed blended in the general love; and where all were treated +as brothers and sisters, it was hard to tell who were actually +related to each other by blood. + +Let it not be supposed that I have overdrawn this picture. I +have not done so. Nor let it be urged, that the hostility of +this tribe to foreigners, and the hereditary feuds they carry on +against their fellow-islanders beyond the mountains, are facts +which contradict me. Not so; these apparent discrepancies are +easily reconciled. By many a legendary tale of violence and +wrong, as well as by events which have passed before their eyes, +these people have been taught to look upon white men with +abhorrence. The cruel invasion of their country by Porter has +alone furnished them with ample provocation; and I can sympathize +in the spirit which prompts the Typee warrior to guard all the +passes to his valley with the point of his levelled spear, and, +standing upon the beach, with his back turned upon his green +home, to hold at bay the intruding European. + +As to the origin of the enmity of this particular clan towards +the neighbouring tribes, I cannot so confidently speak. I will +not say that their foes are the aggressors, nor will I endeavour +to palliate their conduct. But surely, if our evil passions must +find vent, it is far better to expend them on strangers and +aliens, than in the bosom of the community in which we dwell. In +many polished countries civil contentions, as well as domestic +enmities, are prevalent, and the same time that the most +atrocious foreign wars are waged. How much less guilty, then, +are our islanders, who of these three sins are only chargeable +with one, and that the least criminal! + +The reader will ere long have reason to suspect that the Typees +are not free from the guilt of cannibalism; and he will then, +perhaps, charge me with admiring a people against whom so odious +a crime is chargeable. But this only enormity in their character +is not half so horrible as it is usually described. According to +the popular fictions, the crews of vessels, shipwrecked on some +barbarous coast, are eaten alive like so many dainty joints by +the uncivil inhabitants; and unfortunate voyagers are lured into +smiling and treacherous bays; knocked on the head with outlandish +war-clubs; and served up without any prelimary dressing. In +truth, so horrific and improbable are these accounts, that many +sensible and well-informed people will not believe that any +cannibals exist; and place every book of voyages which purports +to give any account of them, on the same shelf with Blue Beard +and Jack the Giant-Killer. While others, implicitly crediting +the most extravagant fictions, firmly believe that there are +people in the world with tastes so depraved that they would +infinitely prefer a single mouthful of material humanity to a +good dinner of roast beef and plum pudding. But here, Truth, who +loves to be centrally located, is again found between the two +extremes; for cannibalism to a certain moderate extent is +practised among several of the primitive tribes in the Pacific, +but it is upon the bodies of slain enemies alone, and horrible +and fearful as the custom is, immeasurably as it is to be +abhorred and condemned, still I assert that those who indulge in +it are in other respects humane and virtuous. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT + +FISHING PARTIES--MODE OF DISTRIBUTING THE FISH--MIDNIGHT +BANQUET--TIME-KEEPING TAPERS--UNCEREMONIOUS STYLE OF EATING THE +FISH + +THERE was no instance in which the social and kindly dispositions +of the Typees were more forcibly evinced than in the manner the +conducted their great fishing parties. Four times during my stay +in the valley the young men assembled near the full of the moon, +and went together on these excursions. As they were generally +absent about forty-eight hours, I was led to believe that they +went out towards the open sea, some distance from the bay. The +Polynesians seldom use a hook and line, almost always employing +large well-made nets, most ingeniously fabricated from the +twisted fibres of a certain bark. I examined several of them +which had been spread to dry upon the beach at Nukuheva. They +resemble very much our own seines, and I should think they were +nearly as durable. + +All the South Sea Islanders are passionately fond of fish; but +none of them can be more so than the inhabitants of Typee. I +could not comprehend, therefore, why they so seldom sought it in +their waters, for it was only at stated times that the fishing +parties were formed, and these occasions were always looked +forward to with no small degree of interest. + +During their absence the whole population of the place were in a +ferment, and nothing was talked of but 'pehee, pehee' (fish, +fish). Towards the time when they were expected to return the +vocal telegraph was put into operation--the inhabitants, who were +scattered throughout the length of the valley, leaped upon rocks +and into trees, shouting with delight at the thoughts of the +anticipated treat. As soon as the approach of the party was +announced, there was a general rush of the men towards the beach; +some of them remaining, however, about the Ti in order to get +matters in readiness for the reception of the fish, which were +brought to the Taboo Groves in immense packages of leaves, each +one of them being suspended from a pole carried on the shoulders +of two men. + +I was present at the Ti on one of these occasions, and the sight +was most interesting. After all the packages had arrived, they +were laid in a row under the verandah of the building and opened. + +The fish were all quite small, generally about the size of a +herring, and of every variety. About one-eighth of the whole +being reserved for the use of the Ti itself, the remainder was +divided into numerous smaller packages, which were immediately +dispatched in every direction to the remotest parts of the +valley. Arrived at their destination, these were in turn +portioned out, and equally distributed among the various houses +of each particular district. The fish were under a strict Taboo, +until the distribution was completed, which seemed to be effected +in the most impartial manner. By the operation of this system +every man, woman, and child in the vale, were at one and the same +time partaking of this favourite article of food. + +Once I remember the party arrived at midnight; but the +unseasonableness of the tour did not repress the impatience of +the islanders. The carriers dispatched from the Ti were to be +seen hurrying in all directions through the deep groves; each +individual preceded by a boy bearing a flaming torch of dried +cocoanut boughs, which from time to time was replenished from the +materials scattered along the path. The wild glare of these +enormous flambeaux, lighting up with a startling brilliancy the +innermost recesses of the vale, and seen moving rapidly along +beneath the canopy of leaves, the savage shout of the excited +messengers sounding the news of their approach, which was +answered on all sides, and the strange appearance of their naked +bodies, seen against the gloomy background, produced altogether +an effect upon my mind that I shall long remember. + +It was on this same occasion that Kory-Kory awakened me at the +dead hour of night, and in a sort of transport communicated the +intelligence contained in the words 'pehee perni' (fish come). +As I happened to have been in a remarkably sound and refreshing +slumber, I could not imagine why the information had not been +deferred until morning, indeed, I felt very much inclined to fly +into a passion and box my valet's ears; but on second thoughts I +got quietly up, and on going outside the house was not a little +interested by the moving illumination which I beheld. + +When old Marheyo received his share of the spoils, immediate +preparations were made for a midnight banquet; calabashes of +poee-poee were filled to the brim; green bread-fruit were +roasted; and a huge cake of 'amar' was cut up with a sliver of +bamboo and laid out on an immense banana-leaf. + +At this supper we were lighted by several of the native tapers, +held in the hands of young girls. These tapers are most +ingeniously made. There is a nut abounding in the valley, called +by the Typees 'armor', closely resembling our common +horse-chestnut. The shell is broken, and the contents extracted +whole. Any number of these are strung at pleasure upon the long +elastic fibre that traverses the branches of the cocoanut tree. +Some of these tapers are eight or ten feet in length; but being +perfectly flexible, one end is held in a coil, while the other is +lighted. The nut burns with a fitful bluish flame, and the oil +that it contains is exhausted in about ten minutes. As one burns +down, the next becomes ignited, and the ashes of the former are +knocked into a cocoanut shell kept for the purpose. This +primitive candle requires continual attention, and must be +constantly held in the hand. The person so employed marks the +lapse of time by the number of nuts consumed, which is easily +learned by counting the bits of tappa distributed at regular +intervals along the string. + +I grieve to state so distressing a fact, but the inhabitants of +Typee were in the habit of devouring fish much in the same way +that a civilized being would eat a radish, and without any more +previous preparation. They eat it raw; scales, bones, gills, and +all the inside. The fish is held by the tail, and the head being +introduced into the mouth, the animal disappears with a rapidity +that would at first nearly lead one to imagine it had been +launched bodily down the throat. + +Raw fish! Shall I ever forget my sensations when I first saw my +island beauty devour one. Oh, heavens! Fayaway, how could you +ever have contracted so vile a habit? However, after the first +shock had subsided, the custom grew less odious in my eyes, and I +soon accustomed myself to the sight. Let no one imagine, +however, that the lovely Fayaway was in the habit of swallowing +great vulgar-looking fishes: oh, no; with her beautiful small +hand she would clasp a delicate, little, golden-hued love of a +fish and eat it as elegantly and as innocently as though it were +a Naples biscuit. But alas! it was after all a raw fish; and +all I can say is, that Fayaway ate it in a more ladylike manner +than any other girl of the valley. + +When at Rome do as the Romans do, I held to be so good a proverb, +that being in Typee I made a point of doing as the Typees did. +Thus I ate poee-poee as they did; I walked about in a garb +striking for its simplicity; and I reposed on a community of +couches; besides doing many other things in conformity with their +peculiar habits; but the farthest I ever went in the way of +conformity, was on several occasions to regale myself with raw +fish. These being remarkably tender, and quite small, the +undertaking was not so disagreeable in the main, and after a few +trials I positively began to relish them; however, I subjected +them to a slight operation with a knife previously to making my +repast. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE + +NATURAL HISTORY OF THE VALLEY--GOLDEN LIZARDS--TAMENESS OF THE +BIRDS--MOSQUITOES--FLIES--DOGS--A SOLITARY CAT--THE CLIMATE--THE +COCOANUT TREE--SINGULAR MODES OF CLIMBING IT--AN AGILE YOUNG +CHIEF--FEARLESSNESS OF THE CHILDREN--TOO-TOO AND THE COCOANUT +TREE--THE BIRDS OF THE VALLEY + +I THINK I must enlighten the reader a little about the natural +history of the valley. + +Whence, in the name of Count Buffon and Baron Cuvier, came those +dogs that I saw in Typee? Dogs!--Big hairless rats rather; all +with smooth, shining speckled hides--fat sides, and very +disagreeable faces. Whence could they have come? That they were +not the indigenous production of the region, I am firmly +convinced. Indeed they seemed aware of their being interlopers, +looking fairly ashamed, and always trying to hide themselves in +some dark corner. It was plain enough they did not feel at home +in the vale--that they wished themselves well out of it, and back +to the ugly country from which they must have come. + +Scurvy curs! they were my abhorrence; I should have liked +nothing better than to have been the death of every one of them. +In fact, on one occasion, I intimated the propriety of a canine +crusade to Mehevi; but the benevolent king would not consent to +it. He heard me very patiently; but when I had finished, shook +his head, and told me in confidence that they were 'taboo'. + +As for the animal that made the fortune of the ex-lord-mayor +Whittington, I shall never forget the day that I was lying in the +house about noon, everybody else being fast asleep; and happening +to raise my eyes, met those of a big black spectral cat, which +sat erect in the doorway, looking at me with its frightful +goggling green orbs, like one of those monstrous imps that +torment some of Teniers' saints! I am one of those unfortunate +persons to whom the sight of these animals are, at any time an +insufferable annoyance. + +Thus constitutionally averse to cats in general, the unexpected +apparition of this one in particular utterly confounded me. When +I had a little recovered from the fascination of its glance, I +started up; the cat fled, and emboldened by this, I rushed out of +the house in pursuit; but it had disappeared. It was the only +time I ever saw one in the valley, and how it got there I cannot +imagine. It is just possible that it might have escaped from one +of the ships at Nukuheva. It was in vain to seek information on +the subject from the natives, since none of them had seen the +animal, the appearance of which remains a mystery to me to this +day. + +Among the few animals which are to be met with in Typee, there +was none which I looked upon with more interest than a beautiful +golden-hued species of lizard. It measured perhaps five inches +from head to tail, and was most gracefully proportioned. Numbers +of those creatures were to be seen basking in the sunshine upon +the thatching of the houses, and multitudes at all hours of the +day showed their glittering sides as they ran frolicking between +the spears of grass or raced in troops up and down the tall +shafts of the cocoanut trees. But the remarkable beauty of these +little animals and their lively ways were not their only claims +upon my admiration. They were perfectly tame and insensible to +fear. Frequently, after seating myself upon the ground in some +shady place during the heat of the day, I would be completely +overrun with them. If I brushed one off my arm, it would leap +perhaps into my hair: when I tried to frighten it away by gently +pinching its leg, it would turn for protection to the very hand +that attacked it. + +The birds are also remarkably tame. If you happened to see one +perched upon a branch within reach of your arm, and advanced +towards it, it did not fly away immediately, but waited quietly +looking at you, until you could almost touch it, and then took +wing slowly, less alarmed at your presence, it would seem, than +desirous of removing itself from your path. Had salt been less +scarce in the valley than it was, this was the very place to have +gone birding with it. I remember that once, on an uninhabited +island of the Gallipagos, a bird alighted on my outstretched arm, +while its mate chirped from an adjoining tree. Its tameness, far +from shocking me, as a similar occurrence did Selkirk, imparted +to me the most exquisite thrill of delight I ever experienced, +and with somewhat of the same pleasure did I afterwards behold +the birds and lizards of the valley show their confidence in the +kindliness of man. + +Among the numerous afflictions which the Europeans have entailed +upon some of the natives of the South Seas, is the accidental +introduction among them of that enemy of all repose and ruffler +of even tempers--the Mosquito. At the Sandwich Islands and at +two or three of the Society group, there are now thriving +colonies of these insects, who promise ere long to supplant +altogether the aboriginal sand-flies. They sting, buzz, and +torment, from one end of the year to the other, and by +incessantly exasperating the natives materially obstruct the +benevolent labours of the missionaries. + +From this grievous visitation, however the Typees are as yet +wholly exempt; but its place is unfortunately in some degree +supplied by the occasional presence of a minute species of fly, +which, without stinging, is nevertheless productive of no little +annoyance. The tameness of the birds and lizards is as nothing +when compared to the fearless confidence of this insect. He will +perch upon one of your eye-lashes, and go to roost there if you +do not disturb him, or force his way through your hair, or along +the cavity of the nostril, till you almost fancy he is resolved +to explore the very brain itself. On one occasion I was so +inconsiderate as to yawn while a number of them were hovering +around me. I never repeated the act. Some half-dozen darted +into the open apartment, and began walking about its ceiling; the +sensation was dreadful. I involuntarily closed my mouth, and the +poor creatures being enveloped in inner darkness, must in their +consternation have stumbled over my palate, and been precipitated +into the gulf beneath. At any rate, though I afterwards +charitably held my mouth open for at least five minutes, with a +view of affording egress to the stragglers, none of them ever +availed themselves of the opportunity. + +There are no wild animals of any kind on the island unless it be +decided that the natives themselves are such. The mountains and +the interior present to the eye nothing but silent solitudes, +unbroken by the roar of beasts of prey, and enlivened by few +tokens even of minute animated existence. There are no venomous +reptiles, and no snakes of any description to be found in any of +the valleys. + +In a company of Marquesan natives the weather affords no topic of +conversation. It can hardly be said to have any vicissitudes. +The rainy season, it is true, brings frequent showers, but they +are intermitting and refreshing. When an islander bound on some +expedition rises from his couch in the morning, he is never +solicitous to peep out and see how the sky looks, or ascertain +from what quarter the wind blows. He is always sure of a 'fine +day', and the promise of a few genial showers he hails with +pleasure. There is never any of that 'remarkable weather' on the +islands which from time immemorial has been experienced in +America, and still continues to call forth the wondering +conversational exclamations of its elderly citizens. Nor do +there even occur any of those eccentric meteorological changes +which elsewhere surprise us. In the valley of Typee ice-creams +would never be rendered less acceptable by sudden frosts, nor +would picnic parties be deferred on account of inauspicious +snowstorms: for there day follows day in one unvarying round of +summer and sunshine, and the whole year is one long tropical +month of June just melting into July. + +It is this genial climate which causes the cocoanuts to flourish +as they do. This invaluable fruit, brought to perfection by the +rich soil of the Marquesas, and home aloft on a stately column +more than a hundred feet from the ground, would seem at first +almost inaccessible to the simple natives. Indeed the slender, +smooth, and soaring shaft, without a single limb or protuberance +of any kind to assist one in mounting it, presents an obstacle +only to be overcome by the surprising agility and ingenuity of +the islanders. It might be supposed that their indolence would +lead them patiently to await the period when the ripened nuts, +slowly parting from their stems, fall one by one to the ground. +This certainly would be the case, were it not that the young +fruit, encased in a soft green husk, with the incipient meat +adhering in a jelly-like pellicle to its sides, and containing a +bumper of the most delicious nectar, is what they chiefly prize. +They have at least twenty different terms to express as many +progressive stages in the growth of the nut. Many of them reject +the fruit altogether except at a particular period of its growth, +which, incredible as it may appear, they seemed to me to be able +to ascertain within an hour or two. Others are still more +capricious in their tastes; and after gathering together a heap +of the nuts of all ages, and ingeniously tapping them, will first +sip from one and then from another, as fastidiously as some +delicate wine-bibber experimenting glass in hand among his dusty +demi-johns of different vintages. + +Some of the young men, with more flexible frames than their +comrades, and perhaps with more courageous souls, had a way of +walking up the trunk of the cocoanut trees which to me seemed +little less than miraculous; and when looking at them in the act, +I experienced that curious perplexity a child feels when he +beholds a fly moving feet uppermost along a ceiling. + +I will endeavour to describe the way in which Narnee, a noble +young chief, sometimes performed this feat for my peculiar +gratification; but his preliminary performances must also be +recorded. Upon my signifying my desire that he should pluck me +the young fruit of some particular tree, the handsome savage, +throwing himself into a sudden attitude of surprise, feigns +astonishment at the apparent absurdity of the request. +Maintaining this position for a moment, the strange emotions +depicted on his countenance soften down into one of humorous +resignation to my will, and then looking wistfully up to the +tufted top of the tree, he stands on tip-toe, straining his neck +and elevating his arm, as though endeavouring to reach the fruit +from the ground where he stands. As if defeated in this childish +attempt, he now sinks to the earth despondingly, beating his +breast in well-acted despair; and then, starting to his feet all +at once, and throwing back his head, raises both hands, like a +school-boy about to catch a falling ball. After continuing this +for a moment or two, as if in expectation that the fruit was +going to be tossed down to him by some good spirit in the +tree-top, he turns wildly round in another fit of despair, and +scampers off to the distance of thirty or forty yards. Here he +remains awhile, eyeing the tree, the very picture of misery; but +the next moment, receiving, as it were, a flash of inspiration, +he rushes again towards it, and clasping both arms about the +trunk, with one elevated a little above the other, he presses the +soles of his feet close together against the tree, extending his +legs from it until they are nearly horizontal, and his body +becomes doubled into an arch; then, hand over hand and foot over +foot, he rises from the earth with steady rapidity, and almost +before you are aware of it, has gained the cradled and embowered +nest of nuts, and with boisterous glee flings the fruit to the +ground. + +This mode of walking the tree is only practicable where the trunk +declines considerably from the perpendicular. This, however, is +almost always the case; some of the perfectly straight shafts of +the trees leaning at an angle of thirty degrees. + +The less active among the men, and many of the children of the +valley have another method of climbing. They take a broad and +stout piece of bark, and secure each end of it to their ankles, +so that when the feet thus confined are extended apart, a space +of little more than twelve inches is left between them. This +contrivance greatly facilitates the act of climbing. The band +pressed against the tree, and closely embracing it, yields a +pretty firm support; while with the arms clasped about the trunk, +and at regular intervals sustaining the body, the feet are drawn +up nearly a yard at a time, and a corresponding elevation of the +hands immediately succeeds. In this way I have seen little +children, scarcely five years of age, fearlessly climbing the +slender pole of a young cocoanut tree, and while hanging perhaps +fifty feet from the ground, receiving the plaudits of their +parents beneath, who clapped their hands, and encouraged them to +mount still higher. + +What, thought I, on first witnessing one of these exhibitions, +would the nervous mothers of America and England say to a similar +display of hardihood in any of their children? The Lacedemonian +nation might have approved of it, but most modern dames would +have gone into hysterics at the sight. + +At the top of the cocoanut tree the numerous branches, radiating +on all sides from a common centre, form a sort of green and +waving basket, between the leaflets of which you just discern the +nuts thickly clustering together, and on the loftier trees +looking no bigger from the ground than bunches of grapes. I +remember one adventurous little fellow--Too-Too was the rascal's +name--who had built himself a sort of aerial baby-house in the +picturesque tuft of a tree adjoining Marheyo's habitation. He +used to spend hours there,--rustling among the branches, and +shouting with delight every time the strong gusts of wind rushing +down from the mountain side, swayed to and fro the tall and +flexible column on which he was perched. Whenever I heard +Too-Too's musical voice sounding strangely to the ear from so +great a height, and beheld him peeping down upon me from out his +leafy covert, he always recalled to my mind Dibdin's lines-- + + 'There's a sweet little cherub that sits up aloft, + To look out for the life of poor Jack.' + +Birds--bright and beautiful birds--fly over the valley of Typee. +You see them perched aloft among the immovable boughs of the +majestic bread-fruit trees, or gently swaying on the elastic +branches of the Omoo; skimming over the palmetto thatching of the +bamboo huts; passing like spirits on the wing through the shadows +of the grove, and sometimes descending into the bosom of the +valley in gleaming flights from the mountains. Their plumage is +purple and azure, crimson and white, black and gold; with bills +of every tint: bright bloody red, jet black, and ivory white, and +their eyes are bright and sparkling; they go sailing through the +air in starry throngs; but, alas! the spell of dumbness is upon +them all--there is not a single warbler in the valley! + +I know not why it was, but the sight of these birds, generally +the ministers of gladness, always oppressed me with melancholy. +As in their dumb beauty they hovered by me whilst I was walking, +or looked down upon me with steady curious eyes from out the +foliage, I was almost inclined to fancy that they knew they were +gazing upon a stranger, and that they commiserated his fate. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY + +A PROFESSOR OF THE FINE ARTS--HIS PERSECUTIONS--SOMETHING ABOUT +TATTOOING AND TABOOING--TWO ANECDOTES IN ILLUSTRATION OF THE +LATTER--A FEW THOUGHTS ON THE TYPEE DIALECT + +IN one of my strolls with Kory-Kory, in passing along the border +of a thick growth of bushes, my attention was arrested by a +singular noise. On entering the thicket I witnessed for the +first time the operation of tattooing as performed by these +islanders. + +I beheld a man extended flat upon his back on the ground, and, +despite the forced composure of his countenance, it was evident +that he was suffering agony. His tormentor bent over him, +working away for all the world like a stone-cutter with mallet +and chisel. In one hand he held a short slender stick, pointed +with a shark's tooth, on the upright end of which he tapped with +a small hammer-like piece of wood, thus puncturing the skin, and +charging it with the colouring matter in which the instrument was +dipped. A cocoanut shell containing this fluid was placed upon +the ground. It is prepared by mixing with a vegetable juice the +ashes of the 'armor', or candle-nut, always preserved for the +purpose. Beside the savage, and spread out upon a piece of +soiled tappa, were a great number of curious black-looking little +implements of bone and wood, used in the various divisions of his +art. A few terminated in a single fine point, and, like very +delicate pencils, were employed in giving the finishing touches, +or in operating upon the more sensitive portions of the body, as +was the case in the present instance. Others presented several +points distributed in a line, somewhat resembling the teeth of a +saw. These were employed in the coarser parts of the work, and +particularly in pricking in straight marks. Some presented their +points disposed in small figures, and being placed upon the body, +were, by a single blow of the hammer, made to leave their +indelible impression. I observed a few the handles of which were +mysteriously curved, as if intended to be introduced into the +orifice of the ear, with a view perhaps of beating the tattoo +upon the tympanum. Altogether the sight of these strange +instruments recalled to mind that display of cruel-looking +mother-of-pearl-handled things which one sees in their +velvet-lined cases at the elbow of a dentist. + +The artist was not at this time engaged on an original sketch, +his subject being a venerable savage, whose tattooing had become +somewhat faded with age and needed a few repairs, and accordingly +he was merely employed in touching up the works of some of the +old masters of the Typee school, as delineated upon the human +canvas before him. The parts operated upon were the eyelids, +where a longitudinal streak, like the one which adorned +Kory-Kory, crossed the countenance of the victim. + +In spite of all the efforts of the poor old man, sundry +twitchings and screwings of the muscles of the face denoted the +exquisite sensibility of these shutters to the windows of his +soul, which he was now having repainted. But the artist, with a +heart as callous as that of an army surgeon, continued his +performance, enlivening his labours with a wild chant, tapping +away the while as merrily as a woodpecker. + +So deeply engaged was he in his work, that he had not observed +our approach, until, after having, enjoyed an unmolested view of +the operation, I chose to attract his attention. As soon as he +perceived me, supposing that I sought him in his professional +capacity, he seized hold of me in a paroxysm of delight, and was +an eagerness to begin the work. When, however, I gave him to +understand that he had altogether mistaken my views, nothing +could exceed his grief and disappointment. But recovering from +this, he seemed determined not to credit my assertion, and +grasping his implements, he flourished them about in fearful +vicinity to my face, going through an imaginary performance of +his art, and every moment bursting into some admiring exclamation +at the beauty of his designs. + +Horrified at the bare thought of being rendered hideous for life +if the wretch were to execute his purpose upon me, I struggled to +get away from him, while Kory-Kory, turning traitor, stood by, +and besought me to comply with the outrageous request. On my +reiterated refusals the excited artist got half beside himself, +and was overwhelmed with sorrow at losing so noble an opportunity +of distinguishing himself in his profession. + +The idea of engrafting his tattooing upon my white skin filled +him with all a painter's enthusiasm; again and again he gazed +into my countenance, and every fresh glimpse seemed to add to the +vehemence of his ambition. Not knowing to what extremities he +might proceed, and shuddering at the ruin he might inflict upon +my figure-head, I now endeavoured to draw off his attention from +it, and holding out my arm in a fit of desperation, signed to him +to commence operations. But he rejected the compromise +indignantly, and still continued his attack on my face, as though +nothing short of that would satisfy him. When his forefinger +swept across my features, in laying out the borders of those +parallel bands which were to encircle my countenance, the flesh +fairly crawled upon my bones. At last, half wild with terror and +indignation, I succeeded in breaking away from the three savages, +and fled towards old Marheyo's house, pursued by the indomitable +artist, who ran after me, implements in hand. Kory-Kory, +however, at last interfered and drew him off from the chase. + +This incident opened my eyes to a new danger; and I now felt +convinced that in some luckless hour I should be disfigured in +such a manner as never more to have the FACE to return to my +countrymen, even should an opportunity offer. + +These apprehensions were greatly increased by the desire which +King Mehevi and several of the inferior chiefs now manifested +that I should be tattooed. The pleasure of the king was first +signified to me some three days after my casual encounter with +Karky the artist. Heavens! what imprecations I showered upon +that Karky. Doubtless he had plotted a conspiracy against me and +my countenance, and would never rest until his diabolical purpose +was accomplished. Several times I met him in various parts of +the valley, and, invariably, whenever he descried me, he came +running after me with his mallet and chisel, flourishing them +about my face as if he longed to begin. What an object he would +have made of me! + +When the king first expressed his wish to me, I made known to him +my utter abhorrence of the measure, and worked myself into such a +state of excitement, that he absolutely stared at me in +amazement. It evidently surpassed his majesty's comprehension +how any sober-minded and sensible individual could entertain the +least possible objection to so beautifying an operation. + +Soon afterwards he repeated his suggestion, and meeting with a +little repulse, showed some symptoms of displeasure at my +obduracy. On his a third time renewing his request, I plainly +perceived that something must be done, or my visage was ruined +for ever; I therefore screwed up my courage to the sticking +point, and declared my willingness to have both arms tattooed +from just above the wrist to the shoulder. His majesty was +greatly pleased at the proposition, and I was congratulating +myself with having thus compromised the matter, when he intimated +that as a thing of course my face was first to undergo the +operation. I was fairly driven to despair; nothing but the utter +ruin of my 'face divine', as the poets call it, would, I +perceived, satisfy the inexorable Mehevi and his chiefs, or +rather, that infernal Karky, for he was at the bottom of it all. + +The only consolation afforded me was a choice of patterns: I was +at perfect liberty to have my face spanned by three horizontal +bars, after the fashion of my serving-man's; or to have as many +oblique stripes slanting across it; or if, like a true courtier, +I chose to model my style on that of royalty, I might wear a sort +of freemason badge upon my countenance in the shape of a mystic +triangle. However, I would have none of these, though the king +most earnestly impressed upon my mind that my choice was wholly +unrestricted. At last, seeing my unconquerable repugnance, he +ceased to importune me. + +But not so some other of the savages. Hardly a day passed but I +was subjected to their annoying requests, until at last my +existence became a burden to me; the pleasures I had previously +enjoyed no longer afforded me delight, and all my former desire +to escape from the valley now revived with additional force. + +A fact which I soon afterwards learned augmented my apprehension. +The whole system of tattooing was, I found, connected with their +religion; and it was evident, therefore, that they were resolved +to make a convert of me. + +In the decoration of the chiefs it seems to be necessary to +exercise the most elaborate pencilling; while some of the +inferior natives looked as if they had been daubed over +indiscriminately with a house-painter's brush. I remember one +fellow who prided himself hugely upon a great oblong patch, +placed high upon his back, and who always reminded me of a man +with a blister of Spanish flies, stuck between his shoulders. +Another whom I frequently met had the hollow of his eyes tattooed +in two regular squares and his visual organs being remarkably +brilliant, they gleamed forth from out this setting like a couple +of diamonds inserted in ebony. + +Although convinced that tattooing was a religious observance, +still the nature of the connection between it and the +superstitious idolatry of the people was a point upon which I +could never obtain any information. Like the still more +important system of the 'Taboo', it always appeared inexplicable +to me. + +There is a marked similarity, almost an identity, between the +religious institutions of most of the Polynesian islands, and in +all exists the mysterious 'Taboo', restricted in its uses to a +greater or less extent. So strange and complex in its +arrangements is this remarkable system, that I have in several +cases met with individuals who, after residing for years among +the islands in the Pacific, and acquiring a considerable +knowledge of the language, have nevertheless been altogether +unable to give any satisfactory account of its operations. +Situated as I was in the Typee valley, I perceived every hour the +effects of this all-controlling power, without in the least +comprehending it. Those effects were, indeed, wide-spread and +universal, pervading the most important as well as the minutest +transactions of life. The savage, in short, lives in the +continual observance of its dictates, which guide and control +every action of his being. + +For several days after entering the valley I had been saluted at +least fifty times in the twenty-four hours with the talismanic +word 'Taboo' shrieked in my ears, at some gross violation of its +provisions, of which I had unconsciously been guilty. The day +after our arrival I happened to hand some tobacco to Toby over +the head of a native who sat between us. He started up, as if +stung by an adder; while the whole company, manifesting an equal +degree of horror, simultaneously screamed out 'Taboo!' I never +again perpetrated a similar piece of ill-manners, which, indeed, +was forbidden by the canons of good breeding, as well as by the +mandates of the taboo. But it was not always so easy to perceive +wherein you had contravened the spirit of this institution. I +was many times called to order, if I may use the phrase, when I +could not for the life of me conjecture what particular offence I +had committed. + +One day I was strolling through a secluded portion of the valley, +and hearing the musical sound of the cloth-mallet at a little +distance, I turned down a path that conducted me in a few moments +to a house where there were some half-dozen girls employed in +making tappa. This was an operation I had frequently witnessed, +and had handled the bark in all the various stages of its +preparation. On the present occasion the females were intent +upon their occupation, and after looking up and talking gaily to +me for a few moments, they resumed their employment. I regarded +them for a while in silence, and then carelessly picking up a +handful of the material that lay around, proceeded unconsciously +to pick it apart. While thus engaged, I was suddenly startled by +a scream, like that of a whole boarding-school of young ladies +just on the point of going into hysterics. Leaping up with the +idea of seeing a score of Happar warriors about to perform anew +the Sabine atrocity, I found myself confronted by the company of +girls, who, having dropped their work, stood before me with +starting eyes, swelling bosoms, and fingers pointed in horror +towards me. + +Thinking that some venomous reptile must be concealed in the bark +which I held in my hand, I began cautiously to separate and +examine it. Whilst I did so the horrified girls re-doubled their +shrieks. Their wild cries and frightened motions actually +alarmed me, and throwing down the tappa, I was about to rush from +the house, when in the same instant their clamours ceased, and +one of them, seizing me by the arm, pointed to the broken fibres +that had just fallen from my grasp, and screamed in my ears the +fatal word Taboo! + +I subsequently found out that the fabric they were engaged in +making was of a peculiar kind, destined to be worn on the heads +of the females, and through every stage of its manufacture was +guarded by a rigorous taboo, which interdicted the whole +masculine gender from even so much as touching it. + +Frequently in walking through the groves I observed bread-fruit +and cocoanut trees, with a wreath of leaves twined in a peculiar +fashion about their trunks. This was the mark of the taboo. The +trees themselves, their fruit, and even the shadows they cast +upon the ground, were consecrated by its presence. In the same +way a pipe, which the king had bestowed upon me, was rendered +sacred in the eyes of the natives, none of whom could I ever +prevail upon to smoke from it. The bowl was encircled by a woven +band of grass, somewhat resembling those Turks' heads +occasionally worked in the handles of our whip-stalks. + +A similar badge was once braided about my wrist by the royal hand +of Mehevi himself, who, as soon as he had concluded the +operation, pronounced me 'Taboo'. This occurred shortly after +Toby's disappearance; and, were it not that from the first moment +I had entered the valley the natives had treated me with uniform +kindness, I should have supposed that their conduct afterwards +was to be ascribed to the fact that I had received this sacred +investiture. + +The capricious operations of the taboo are not its least +remarkable feature: to enumerate them all would be impossible. +Black hogs--infants to a certain age--women in an interesting +situation--young men while the operation of tattooing their faces +is going on--and certain parts of the valley during the +continuance of a shower--are alike fenced about by the operation +of the taboo. + +I witnessed a striking instance of its effects in the bay of +Tior, my visit to which place has been alluded to in a former +part of this narrative. On that occasion our worthy captain +formed one of the party. He was a most insatiable sportsman. +Outward bound, and off the pitch of Cape Horn, he used to sit on +the taffrail, and keep the steward loading three or four old +fowling pieces, with which he would bring down albatrosses, Cape +pigeons, jays, petrels, and divers other marine fowl, who +followed chattering in our wake. The sailors were struck aghast +at his impiety, and one and all attributed our forty days' +beating about that horrid headland to his sacrilegious slaughter +of these inoffensive birds. + +At Tior he evinced the same disregard for the religious +prejudices of the islanders, as he had previously shown for the +superstitions of the sailors. Having heard that there were a +considerable number of fowls in the valley the progeny of some +cocks and hens accidentally left there by an English vessel, and +which, being strictly tabooed, flew about almost in a wild +state--he determined to break through all restraints, and be the +death of them. Accordingly, he provided himself with a most +formidable looking gun, and announced his landing on the beach by +shooting down a noble cock that was crowing what proved to be his +own funeral dirge, on the limb of an adjoining tree. 'Taboo', +shrieked the affrighted savages. 'Oh, hang your taboo,' says the +nautical sportsman; 'talk taboo to the marines'; and bang went +the piece again, and down came another victim. At this the +natives ran scampering through the groves, horror-struck at the +enormity of the act. + +All that afternoon the rocky sides of the valley rang with +successive reports, and the superb plumage of many a beautiful +fowl was ruffled by the fatal bullet. Had it not been that the +French admiral, with a large party, was then in the glen, I have +no doubt that the natives, although their tribe was small and +dispirited, would have inflicted summary vengeance upon the man +who thus outraged their most sacred institutions; as it was, they +contrived to annoy him not a little. + +Thirsting with his exertions, the skipper directed his steps to a +stream; but the savages, who had followed at a little distance, +perceiving his object, rushed towards him and forced him away +from its bank--his lips would have polluted it. Wearied at last, +he sought to enter a house that he might rest for a while on the +mats; its inmates gathered tumultuously about the door and denied +him admittance. He coaxed and blustered by turns, but in vain; +the natives were neither to be intimidated nor appeased, and as a +final resort he was obliged to call together his boat's crew, and +pull away from what he termed the most infernal place he ever +stepped upon. + +Lucky was it for him and for us that we were not honoured on our +departure by a salute of stones from the hands of the exasperated +Tiors. In this way, on the neighbouring island of Ropo, were +killed, but a few weeks previously, and for a nearly similar +offence, the master and three of the crew of the K---. + +I cannot determine with anything approaching to certainty, what +power it is that imposes the taboo. When I consider the slight +disparity of condition among the islanders--the very limited and +inconsiderable prerogatives of the king and chiefs--and the loose +and indefinite functions of the priesthood, most of whom were +hardly to be distinguished from the rest of their countrymen, I +am wholly at a loss where to look for the authority which +regulates this potent institution. It is imposed upon something +today, and withdrawn tomorrow; while its operations in other +cases are perpetual. Sometimes its restrictions only affect a +single individual--sometimes a particular family--sometimes a +whole tribe; and in a few instances they extend not merely over +the various clans on a single island, but over all the +inhabitants of an entire group. In illustration of this latter +peculiarity, I may cite the law which forbids a female to enter a +canoe--a prohibition which prevails upon all the northern +Marquesas Islands. + +The word itself (taboo) is used in more than one signification. +It is sometimes used by a parent to his child, when in the +exercise of parental authority he forbids it to perform a +particular action. Anything opposed to the ordinary customs of +the islanders, although not expressly prohibited, is said to be +'taboo'. + +The Typee language is one very difficult to be acquired; it bears +a close resemblance to the other Polynesian dialects, all of +which show a common origin. The duplication of words, as 'lumee +lumee', 'poee poee', 'muee muee', is one of their peculiar +features. But another, and a more annoying one, is the different +senses in which one and the same word is employed; its various +meanings all have a certain connection, which only makes the +matter more puzzling. So one brisk, lively little word is +obliged, like a servant in a poor family, to perform all sorts of +duties; for instance, one particular combination of syllables +expresses the ideas of sleep, rest, reclining, sitting, leaning, +and all other things anywise analogous thereto, the particular +meaning being shown chiefly by a variety of gestures and the +eloquent expression of the countenance. + +The intricacy of these dialects is another peculiarity. In the +Missionary College at Lahainaluna, on Mowee, one of the Sandwich +Islands, I saw a tabular exhibition of a Hawiian verb, conjugated +through all its moods and tenses. It covered the side of a +considerable apartment, and I doubt whether Sir William Jones +himself would not have despaired of mastering it. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE + +STRANGE CUSTOM OF THE ISLANDERS--THEIR CHANTING, AND THE +PECULIARITY OF THEIR VOICE--RAPTURE OF THE KING AT FIRST HEARING +A SONG--A NEW DIGNITY CONFERRED ON THE AUTHOR--MUSICAL +INSTRUMENTS IN THE VALLEY--ADMIRATION OF THE SAVAGES AT BEHOLDING +A PUGILISTIC PERFORMANCE--SWIMMING INFANT--BEAUTIFUL TRESSES OF +THE GIRLS--OINTMENT FOR THE HAIR + +SADLY discursive as I have already been, I must still further +entreat the reader's patience, as I am about to string together, +without any attempt at order, a few odds and ends of things not +hitherto mentioned, but which are either curious in themselves or +peculiar to the Typees. + +There was one singular custom observed in old Marheyo's domestic +establishment, which often excited my surprise. Every night, +before retiring, the inmates of the house gathered together on +the mats, and so squatting upon their haunches, after the +universal practice of these islanders, would commence a low, +dismal and monotonous chant, accompanying the voice with the +instrumental melody produced by two small half-rotten sticks +tapped slowly together, a pair of which were held in the hands of +each person present. Thus would they employ themselves for an +hour or two, sometimes longer. Lying in the gloom which wrapped +the further end of the house, I could not avoid looking at them, +although the spectacle suggested nothing but unpleasant +reflection. The flickering rays of the 'armor' nut just served +to reveal their savage lineaments, without dispelling the +darkness that hovered about them. + +Sometimes when, after falling into a kind of doze, and awaking +suddenly in the midst of these doleful chantings, my eye would +fall upon the wild-looking group engaged in their strange +occupation, with their naked tattooed limbs, and shaven heads +disposed in a circle, I was almost tempted to believe that I +gazed upon a set of evil beings in the act of working at a +frightful incantation. + +What was the meaning or purpose of this custom, whether it was +practiced merely as a diversion, or whether it was a religious +exercise, a sort of family prayers, I never could discover. + +The sounds produced by the natives on these occasions were of a +most singular description; and had I not actually been present, I +never would have believed that such curious noises could have +been produced by human beings. + +To savages generally is imputed a guttural articulation. This +however, is not always the case, especially among the inhabitants +of the Polynesian Archipelago. The labial melody with which the +Typee girls carry on an ordinary conversation, giving a musical +prolongation to the final syllable of every sentence, and +chirping out some of the words with a liquid, bird-like accent, +was singularly pleasing. + +The men however, are not quite so harmonious in their utterance, +and when excited upon any subject, would work themselves up into +a sort of wordy paroxysm, during which all descriptions of +rough-sided sounds were projected from their mouths, with a force +and rapidity which was absolutely astonishing. + + . . . . . . . . + +Although these savages are remarkably fond of chanting, still +they appear to have no idea whatever of singing, at least as the +art is practised in other nations. + +I shall never forget the first time I happened to roar out a +stave in the presence of noble Mehevi. It was a stanza from the +'Bavarian broom-seller'. His Typeean majesty, with all his +court, gazed upon me in amazement, as if I had displayed some +preternatural faculty which Heaven had denied to them. The King +was delighted with the verse; but the chorus fairly transported +him. At his solicitation I sang it again and again, and nothing +could be more ludicrous than his vain attempts to catch the air +and the words. The royal savage seemed to think that by screwing +all the features of his face into the end of his nose he might +possibly succeed in the undertaking, but it failed to answer the +purpose; and in the end he gave it up, and consoled himself by +listening to my repetition of the sounds fifty times over. + +Previous to Mehevi's making the discovery, I had never been aware +that there was anything of the nightingale about me; but I was +now promoted to the place of court-minstrel, in which capacity I +was afterwards perpetually called upon to officiate. + + . . . . . . . . + +Besides the sticks and the drums, there are no other musical +instruments among the Typees, except one which might +appropriately be denominated a nasal flute. It is somewhat +longer than an ordinary fife; is made of a beautiful +scarlet-coloured reed; and has four or five stops, with a large +hole near one end, which latter is held just beneath the left +nostril. The other nostril being closed by a peculiar movement +of the muscles about the nose, the breath is forced into the +tube, and produces a soft dulcet sound which is varied by the +fingers running at random over the stops. This is a favourite +recreation with the females and one in which Fayaway greatly +excelled. Awkward as such an instrument may appear, it was, in +Fayaway's delicate little hands, one of the most graceful I have +ever seen. A young lady, in the act of tormenting a guitar +strung about her neck by a couple of yards of blue ribbon, is not +half so engaging. + + . . . . . . . . + +Singing was not the only means I possessed of diverting the royal +Mehevi and his easy-going subject. Nothing afforded them more +pleasure than to see me go through the attitude of pugilistic +encounter. As not one of the natives had soul enough in him to +stand up like a man, and allow me to hammer away at him, for my +own personal gratification and that of the king, I was +necessitated to fight with an imaginary enemy, whom I invariably +made to knock under to my superior prowess. Sometimes when this +sorely battered shadow retreated precipitately towards a group of +the savages, and, following him up, I rushed among them dealing +my blows right and left, they would disperse in all directions +much to the enjoyment of Mehevi, the chiefs, and themselves. + +The noble art of self-defence appeared to be regarded by them as +the peculiar gift of the white man; and I make little doubt that +they supposed armies of Europeans were drawn up provided with +nothing else but bony fists and stout hearts, with which they set +to in column, and pummelled one another at the word of command. + + . . . . . . . . + +One day, in company with Kory-Kory, I had repaired to the stream +for the purpose of bathing, when I observed a woman sitting upon +a rock in the midst of the current, and watching with the +liveliest interest the gambols of something, which at first I +took to be an uncommonly large species of frog that was sporting +in the water near her. Attracted by the novelty of the sight, I +waded towards the spot where she sat, and could hardly credit the +evidence of my senses when I beheld a little infant, the period +of whose birth could not have extended back many days, paddling +about as if it had just risen to the surface, after being hatched +into existence at the bottom. Occasionally, the delighted parent +reached out her hand towards it, when the little thing, uttering +a faint cry, and striking out its tiny limbs, would sidle for the +rock, and the next moment be clasped to its mother's bosom. This +was repeated again and again, the baby remaining in the stream +about a minute at a time. Once or twice it made wry faces at +swallowing a mouthful of water, and choked a spluttered as if on +the point of strangling. At such times however, the mother +snatched it up and by a process scarcely to be mentioned obliged +it to eject the fluid. For several weeks afterwards I observed +this woman bringing her child down to the stream regularly every +day, in the cool of the morning and evening and treating it to a +bath. No wonder that the South Sea Islanders are so amphibious a +race, when they are thus launched into the water as soon as they +see the light. I am convinced that it is as natural for a human +being to swim as it is for a duck. And yet in civilized +communities how many able-bodied individuals die, like so many +drowning kittens, from the occurrence of the most trivial +accidents! + + . . . . . . . . + +The long luxuriant and glossy tresses of the Typee damsels often +attracted my admiration. A fine head of hair is the pride and +joy of every woman's heart. Whether against the express will of +Providence, it is twisted upon the crown of the head and there +coiled away like a rope on a ship's deck; whether it be stuck +behind the ears and hangs down like the swag of a small +window-curtain; or whether it be permitted to flow over the +shoulders in natural ringlets, it is always the pride of the +owner, and the glory of the toilette. + +The Typee girls devote much of their time to the dressing of +their fair and redundant locks. After bathing, as they sometimes +do five or six times every day, the hair is carefully dried, and +if they have been in the sea, invariably washed in fresh water, +and anointed with a highly scented oil extracted from the meat of +the cocoanut. This oil is obtained in great abundance by the +following very simple process: + +A large vessel of wood, with holes perforated in the bottom, is +filled with the pounded meat, and exposed to the rays of the sun. +As the oleaginous matter exudes, it falls in drops through the +apertures into a wide-mouthed calabash placed underneath. After +a sufficient quantity has thus been collected, the oil undergoes +a purifying process, and is then poured into the small spherical +shells of the nuts of the moo-tree, which are hollowed out to +receive it. These nuts are then hermetically sealed with a +resinous gum, and the vegetable fragrance of their green rind +soon imparts to the oil a delightful odour. After the lapse of a +few weeks the exterior shell of the nuts becomes quite dry and +hard, and assumes a beautiful carnation tint; and when opened +they are found to be about two-thirds full of an ointment of a +light yellow colour and diffusing the sweetest perfume. This +elegant little odorous globe would not be out of place even upon +the toilette of a queen. Its merits as a preparation for the hair +are undeniable--it imparts to it a superb gloss and a silky +fineness. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO + +APPREHENSIONS OF EVIL--FRIGHTFUL DISCOVERY--SOME REMARKS ON +CANNIBALISM--SECOND BATTLE WITH THE HAPPARS--SAVAGE +SPECTACLE--MYSTERIOUS FEAST--SUBSEQUENT DISCLOSURES + +FROM the time of my casual encounter with Karky the artist, my +life was one of absolute wretchedness. Not a day passed but I +was persecuted by the solicitations of some of the natives to +subject myself to the odious operation of tattooing. Their +importunities drove me half wild, for I felt how easily they +might work their will upon me regarding this or anything else +which they took into their heads. Still, however, the behaviour +of the islanders towards me was as kind as ever. Fayaway was +quite as engaging; Kory-Kory as devoted; and Mehevi the king just +as gracious and condescending as before. But I had now been +three months in their valley, as nearly as I could estimate; I +had grown familiar with the narrow limits to which my wandering +had been confined; and I began bitterly to feel the state of +captivity in which I was held. There was no one with whom I +could freely converse; no one to whom I could communicate my +thoughts; no one who could sympathize with my sufferings. A +thousand times I thought how much more endurable would have been +my lot had Toby still been with me. But I was left alone, and +the thought was terrible to me. Still, despite my griefs, I did +all in my power to appear composed and cheerful, well knowing +that by manifesting any uneasiness, or any desire to escape, I +should only frustrate my object. + +It was during the period I was in this unhappy frame of mind that +the painful malady under which I had been labouring--after having +almost completely subsided--began again to show itself, and with +symptoms as violent as ever. This added calamity nearly unmanned +me; the recurrence of the complaint proved that without powerful +remedial applications all hope of cure was futile; and when I +reflected that just beyond the elevations, which bound me in, was +the medical relief I needed, and that although so near, it was +impossible for me to avail myself of it, the thought was misery. + +In this wretched situation, every circumstance which evinced the +savage nature of the beings at whose mercy I was, augmented the +fearful apprehensions that consumed me. An occurrence which +happened about this time affected me most powerfully. + +I have already mentioned that from the ridge-pole of Marheyo's +house were suspended a number of packages enveloped in tappa. +Many of these I had often seen in the hands of the natives, and +their contents had been examined in my presence. But there were +three packages hanging very nearly over the place where I lay, +which from their remarkable appearance had often excited my +curiosity. Several times I had asked Kory-Kory to show me their +contents, but my servitor, who, in almost every other particular +had acceded to my wishes, refused to gratify me in this. + +One day, returning unexpectedly from the 'Ti', my arrival seemed +to throw the inmates of the house into the greatest confusion. +They were seated together on the mats, and by the lines which +extended from the roof to the floor I immediately perceived that +the mysterious packages were for some purpose or another under +inspection. The evident alarm the savages betrayed filled me +with forebodings of evil, and with an uncontrollable desire to +penetrate the secret so jealously guarded. Despite the efforts of +Marheyo and Kory-Kory to restrain me, I forced my way into the +midst of the circle, and just caught a glimpse of three human +heads, which others of the party were hurriedly enveloping in the +coverings from which they had been taken. + +One of the three I distinctly saw. It was in a state of perfect +preservation, and from the slight glimpse I had of it, seemed to +have been subjected to some smoking operation which had reduced +it to the dry, hard, and mummy-like appearance it presented. The +two long scalp locks were twisted up into balls upon the crown of +the head in the same way that the individual had worn them during +life. The sunken cheeks were rendered yet more ghastly by the +rows of glistening teeth which protruded from between the lips, +while the sockets of the eyes--filled with oval bits of +mother-of-pearl shell, with a black spot in the +centre--heightened the hideousness of its aspect. + +Two of the three were heads of the islanders; but the third, to +my horror, was that of a white man. Although it had been quickly +removed from my sight, still the glimpse I had of it was enough +to convince me that I could not be mistaken. + +Gracious God! what dreadful thoughts entered my head; in solving +this mystery perhaps I had solved another, and the fate of my +lost companion might be revealed in the shocking spectacle I had +just witnessed. I longed to have torn off the folds of cloth and +satisfied the awful doubts under which I laboured. But before I +had recovered from the consternation into which I had been +thrown, the fatal packages were hoisted aloft, and once more +swung over my head. The natives now gathered round me +tumultuously, and laboured to convince me that what I had just +seen were the heads of three Happar warriors, who had been slain +in battle. This glaring falsehood added to my alarm, and it was +not until I reflected that I had observed the packages swinging +from their elevation before Toby's disappearance, that I could at +all recover my composure. + +But although this horrible apprehension had been dispelled, I had +discovered enough to fill me, in my present state of mind, with +the most bitter reflections. It was plain that I had seen the +last relic of some unfortunate wretch, who must have been +massacred on the beach by the savages, in one of those perilous +trading adventures which I have before described. + +It was not, however, alone the murder of the stranger that +overcame me with gloom. I shuddered at the idea of the +subsequent fate his inanimate body might have met with. Was the +same doom reserved for me? Was I destined to perish like him-- +like him perhaps, to be devoured and my head to be preserved as a +fearful memento of the events? My imagination ran riot in these +horrid speculations, and I felt certain that the worst possible +evils would befall me. But whatever were my misgivings, I +studiously concealed them from the islanders, as well as the full +extent of the discovery I had made. + +Although the assurances which the Typees had often given me, that +they never eat human flesh, had not convinced me that such was +the case, yet, having been so long a time in the valley without +witnessing anything which indicated the existence of the +practice, I began to hope that it was an event of very rare +occurrence, and that I should be spared the horror of witnessing +it during my stay among them: but, alas, these hopes were soon +destroyed. + +It is a singular fact, that in all our accounts of cannibal +tribes we have seldom received the testimony of an eye-witness +account to this revolting practice. The horrible conclusion has +almost always been derived from the second-hand evidence of +Europeans, or else from the admissions of the savages themselves, +after they have in some degree become civilized. The Polynesians +are aware of the detestation in which Europeans hold this custom, +and therefore invariably deny its existence, and with the craft +peculiar to savages, endeavour to conceal every trace of it. + +The excessive unwillingness betrayed by the Sandwich Islanders, +even at the present day, to allude to the unhappy fate of Cook, +has often been remarked. And so well have they succeeded in +covering the event with mystery, that to this very hour, despite +all that has been said and written on the subject, it still +remains doubtful whether they wreaked upon his murdered body the +vengance they sometimes inflicted upon their enemies. + +At Kealakekau, the scene of that tragedy, a strip of ship's +copper nailed against an upright post in the ground used to +inform the traveller that beneath reposed the 'remains' of the +great circumnavigator. But I am strongly inclined to believe not +only the corpse was refused Christian burial, but that the heart +which was brought to Vancouver some time after the event, and +which the Hawiians stoutly maintained was that of Captain Cook, +was no such thing; and that the whole affair was a piece of +imposture which was sought to be palmed off upon the credulous +Englishman. + +A few years since there was living on the island of Maui (one of +the Sandwich group) an old chief, who, actuated by a morbid +desire for notoriety, gave himself out among the foreign +residents of the place as the living tomb of Captain Cook's big +toe!--affirming that at the cannibal entertainment which ensued +after the lamented Briton's death, that particular portion of his +body had fallen to his share. His indignant countrymen actually +caused him to be prosecuted in the native courts, on a charge +nearly equivalent to what we term defamation of character; but +the old fellow persisting in his assertion, and no invalidating +proof being adduced, the plaintiffs were cast in the suit, and +the cannibal reputation of the defendant firmly established. +This result was the making of his fortune; ever afterwards he was +in the habit of giving very profitable audiences to all curious +travellers who were desirous of beholding the man who had eaten +the great navigator's great toe. + +About a week after my discovery of the contents of the mysterious +packages, I happened to be at the Ti, when another war-alarm was +sounded, and the natives rushing to their arms, sallied out to +resist a second incursion of the Happar invaders. The same scene +was again repeated, only that on this occasion I heard at least +fifteen reports of muskets from the mountains during the time +that the skirmish lasted. An hour or two after its termination, +loud paeans chanted through the valley announced the approach of +the victors. I stood with Kory-Kory leaning against the railing +of the pi-pi awaiting their advance, when a tumultuous crowd of +islanders emerged with wild clamours from the neighbouring +groves. In the midst of them marched four men, one preceding the +other at regular intervals of eight or ten feet, with poles of a +corresponding length, extending from shoulder to shoulder, to +which were lashed with thongs of bark three long narrow bundles, +carefully wrapped in ample coverings of freshly plucked +palm-leaves, tacked together with slivers of bamboo. Here and +there upon these green winding-sheets might be seen the stains of +blood, while the warriors who carried the frightful burdens +displayed upon their naked limbs similar sanguinary marks. The +shaven head of the foremost had a deep gash upon it, and the +clotted gore which had flowed from the wound remained in dry +patches around it. The savage seemed to be sinking under the +weight he bore. The bright tattooing upon his body was covered +with blood and dust; his inflamed eyes rolled in their sockets, +and his whole appearance denoted extraordinary suffering and +exertion; yet sustained by some powerful impulse, he continued to +advance, while the throng around him with wild cheers sought to +encourage him. The other three men were marked about the arms +and breasts with several slight wounds, which they somewhat +ostentatiously displayed. + +These four individuals, having been the most active in the late +encounter, claimed the honour of bearing the bodies of their +slain enemies to the Ti. Such was the conclusion I drew from my +own observations, and, as far as I could understand, from the +explanation which Kory-Kory gave me. + +The royal Mehevi walked by the side of these heroes. He carried +in one hand a musket, from the barrel of which was suspended a +small canvas pouch of powder, and in the other he grasped a short +javelin, which he held before him and regarded with fierce +exultation. This javelin he had wrested from a celebrated +champion of the Happars, who had ignominiously fled, and was +pursued by his foes beyond the summit of the mountain. + +When within a short distance of the Ti, the warrior with the +wounded head, who proved to be Narmonee, tottered forward two or +three steps, and fell helplessly to the ground; but not before +another had caught the end of the pole from his shoulder, and +placed it upon his own. + +The excited throng of islanders, who surrounded the person of the +king and the dead bodies of the enemy, approached the spot where +I stood, brandishing their rude implements of warfare, many of +which were bruised and broken, and uttering continual shouts of +triumph. When the crowd drew up opposite the Ti, I set myself to +watch their proceedings most attentively; but scarcely had they +halted when my servitor, who had left my side for an instant, +touched my arm and proposed our returning to Marheyo's house. To +this I objected; but, to my surprise, Kory-Kory reiterated his +request, and with an unusual vehemence of manner. Still, +however, I refused to comply, and was retreating before him, as +in his importunity he pressed upon me, when I felt a heavy hand +laid upon my shoulder, and turning round, encountered the bulky +form of Mow-Mow, a one-eyed chief, who had just detached himself +from the crowd below, and had mounted the rear of the pi-pi upon +which we stood. His cheek had been pierced by the point of a +spear, and the wound imparted a still more frightful expression +to his hideously tattooed face, already deformed by the loss of +an eye. The warrior, without uttering a syllable, pointed +fiercely in the direction of Marheyo's house, while Kory-Kory, at +the same time presenting his back, desired me to mount. + +I declined this offer, but intimated my willingness to withdraw, +and moved slowly along the piazza, wondering what could be the +cause of this unusual treatment. A few minutes' consideration +convinced me that the savages were about to celebrate some +hideous rite in connection with their peculiar customs, and at +which they were determined I should not be present. I descended +from the pi-pi, and attended by Kory-Kory, who on this occasion +did not show his usual commiseration for my lameness, but seemed +only anxious to hurry me on, walked away from the place. As I +passed through the noisy throng, which by this time completely +environed the Ti, I looked with fearful curiosity at the three +packages, which now were deposited upon the ground; but although +I had no doubt as to their contents, still their thick coverings +prevented my actually detecting the form of a human body. + + The next morning, shortly after sunrise, the same thundering +sounds which had awakened me from sleep on the second day of the +Feast of Calabashes, assured me that the savages were on the eve +of celebrating another, and, as I fully believed, a horrible +solemnity. + +All the inmates of the house, with the exception of Marheyo, his +son, and Tinor, after assuming their gala dresses, departed in +the direction of the Taboo Groves. + +Although I did not anticipate a compliance with my request, +still, with a view of testing the truth of my suspicions, I +proposed to Kory-Kory that, according to our usual custom in the +morning, we should take a stroll to the Ti: he positively +refused; and when I renewed the request, he evinced his +determination to prevent my going there; and, to divert my mind +from the subject, he offered to accompany me to the stream. We +accordingly went, and bathed. On our coming back to the house, I +was surprised to find that all its inmates had returned, and were +lounging upon the mats as usual, although the drums still sounded +from the groves. + +The rest of the day I spent with Kory-Kory and Fayaway, wandering +about a part of the valley situated in an opposite direction from +the Ti, and whenever I so much as looked towards that building, +although it was hidden from view by intervening trees, and at the +distance of more than a mile, my attendant would exclaim, 'Taboo, +taboo!' + +At the various houses where we stopped, I found many of the +inhabitants reclining at their ease, or pursuing some light +occupation, as if nothing unusual were going forward; but amongst +them all I did not perceive a single chief or warrior. When I +asked several of the people why they were not at the 'Hoolah +Hoolah' (the feast), their uniformly answered the question in a +manner which implied that it was not intended for them, but for +Mehevi, Narmonee, Mow-Mow, Kolor, Womonoo, Kalow, running over, +in their desire to make me comprehend their meaning, the names of +all the principal chiefs. + +Everything, in short, strengthened my suspicions with regard to +the nature of the festival they were now celebrating; and which +amounted almost to a certainty. While in Nukuheva I had +frequently been informed that the whole tribe were never present +at these cannibal banquets, but the chiefs and priests only; and +everything I now observed agreed with the account. + +The sound of the drums continued without intermission the whole +day, and falling continually upon my ear, caused me a sensation +of horror which I am unable to describe. On the following day, +hearing none of those noisy indications of revelry, I concluded +that the inhuman feast was terminated; and feeling a kind of +morbid curiosity to discover whether the Ti might furnish any +evidence of what had taken place there, I proposed to Kory-Kory +to walk there. To this proposition he replied by pointing with +his finger to the newly risen sun, and then up to the zenith, +intimating that our visit must be deferred until noon. Shortly +after that hour we accordingly proceeded to the Taboo Groves, and +as soon as we entered their precincts, I looked fearfully round +in, quest of some memorial of the scene which had so lately been +acted there; but everything appeared as usual. On reaching the +Ti, we found Mehevi and a few chiefs reclining on the mats, who +gave me as friendly a reception as ever. No allusions of any +kind were made by them to the recent events; and I refrained, for +obvious reasons, from referring to them myself. + +After staying a short time I took my leave. In passing along the +piazza, previously to descending from the pi-pi, I observed a +curiously carved vessel of wood, of considerable size, with a +cover placed over it, of the same material, and which resembled +in shape a small canoe. It was surrounded by a low railing of +bamboos, the top of which was scarcely a foot from the ground. +As the vessel had been placed in its present position since my +last visit, I at once concluded that it must have some connection +with the recent festival, and, prompted by a curiosity I could +not repress, in passing it I raised one end of the cover; at the +same moment the chiefs, perceiving my design, loudly ejaculated, +'Taboo! taboo!' + +But the slight glimpse sufficed; my eyes fell upon the disordered +members of a human skeleton, the bones still fresh with moisture, +and with particles of flesh clinging to them here and there! + +Kory-Kory, who had been a little in advance of me, attracted by +the exclamations of the chiefs, turned round in time to witness +the expression of horror on my countenance. He now hurried +towards me, pointing at the same time to the canoe, and +exclaiming rapidly, 'Puarkee! puarkee!' (Pig, pig). I pretended +to yield to the deception, and repeated the words after him +several times, as though acquiescing in what he said. The other +savages, either deceived by my conduct or unwilling to manifest +their displeasure at what could not now be remedied, took no +further notice of the occurrence, and I immediately left the Ti. + +All that night I lay awake, revolving in my mind the fearful +situation in which I was placed. The last horrid revelation had +now been made, and the full sense of my condition rushed upon my +mind with a force I had never before experienced. + +Where, thought I, desponding, is there the slightest prospect of +escape? The only person who seemed to possess the ability to +assist me was the stranger Marnoo; but would he ever return to +the valley? and if he did, should I be permitted to hold any +communication with him? It seemed as if I were cut off from +every source of hope, and that nothing remained but passively to +await whatever fate was in store for me. A thousand times I +endeavoured to account for the mysterious conduct of the natives. + +For what conceivable purpose did they thus retain me a captive? +What could be their object in treating me with such apparent +kindness, and did it not cover some treacherous scheme? Or, if +they had no other design than to hold me a prisoner, how should I +be able to pass away my days in this narrow valley, deprived of +all intercourse with civilized beings, and for ever separated +from friends and home? + +One only hope remained to me. The French could not long defer a +visit to the bay, and if they should permanently locate any of +their troops in the valley, the savages could not for any length +of time conceal my existence from them. But what reason had I to +suppose that I should be spared until such an event occurred, an +event which might be postponed by a hundred different +contingencies? + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE + +THE STRANGER AGAIN ARRIVES IN THE VALLEY--SINGULAR INTERVIEW WITH +HIM--ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE--FAILURE--MELANCHOLY SITUATION--SYMPATHY +OF MARHEYO + +'MARNOO, Marnoo pemi!' Such were the welcome sounds which fell +upon my ear some ten days after the events related in the +preceding chapter. Once more the approach of the stranger was +heralded, and the intelligence operated upon me like magic. +Again I should be able to converse with him in my own language; +and I resolve at all hazards to concert with him some scheme, +however desperate, to rescue me from a condition that had now +become insupportable. + +As he drew near, I remembered with many misgivings the +inauspicious termination of our former interview, and when he +entered the house, I watched with intense anxiety the reception +he met with from its inmates. To my joy, his appearance was +hailed with the liveliest pleasure; and accosting me kindly, he +seated himself by my, side, and entered into conversation with +the natives around him. It soon appeared however, that on this +occasion he had not any intelligence of importance to +communicate. I inquired of him from whence he had just come? He +replied from Pueearka, his native valley, and that he intended to +return to it the same day. + +At once it struck me that, could I but reach that valley under +his protection, I might easily from thence reach Nukuheva by +water; and animated by the prospect which this plan held, out I +disclosed it in a few brief words to the stranger, and asked him +how it could be best accomplished. My heart sunk within me, when +in his broken English he answered me that it could never be +effected. 'Kanaka no let you go nowhere,' he said; 'you taboo. +Why you no like to stay? Plenty moee-moee (sleep)--plenty ki-ki +(eat)--plenty wahenee (young girls)--Oh, very good place Typee! +Suppose you no like this bay, why you come? You no hear about +Typee? All white men afraid Typee, so no white men come.' + +These words distressed me beyond belief; and when I had again +related to him the circumstances under which I had descended into +the valley, and sought to enlist his sympathies in my behalf by +appealing to the bodily misery I had endure, he listened with +impatience, and cut me short by exclaiming passionately, 'Me no +hear you talk any more; by by Kanaka get mad, kill you and me +too. No you see he no want you to speak at all?--you see--ah! +by by you no mind--you get well, he kill you, eat you, hang you +head up there, like Happar Kanaka.--Now you listen--but no talk +any more. By by I go;--you see way I go--Ah! then some night +Kanaka all moee-moee (sleep)--you run away, you come Pueearka. I +speak Pueearka Kanaka--he no harm you--ah! then I take you my +canoe Nukuheva--and you run away ship no more.' With these +words, enforced by a vehemence of gesture I cannot describe, +Marnoo started from my side, and immediately engaged in +conversation with some of the chiefs who had entered the house. + +It would have been idle for me to have attempted resuming the +interview so peremptorily terminated by Marnoo, who was evidently +little disposed to compromise his own safety by any rash +endeavour to ensure mine. But the plan he had suggested struck +me as one which might possibly be accomplished, and I resolved to +act upon it as speedily as possible. + +Accordingly, when he arose to depart, I accompanied him with the +natives outside of the house, with a view of carefully noting the +path he would take in leaving the valley. Just before leaping +from the pi-pi he clasped my hand, and looking significantly at +me, exclaimed, 'Now you see--you do what I tell you--ah! then +you do good;--you no do so--ah! then you die.' The next moment +he waved his spear to the islanders, and following the route that +conducted to a defile in the mountains lying opposite the Happar +side, was soon out of sight. + +A mode of escape was now presented to me, but how was I to avail +myself of it? I was continually surrounded by the savages; I +could not stir from one house to another without being attended +by some of them; and even during the hours devoted to slumber, +the slightest movement which I made seemed to attract the notice +of those who shared the mats with me. In spite of these +obstacles, however, I determined forthwith to make the attempt. +To do so with any prospect of success, it was necessary that I +should have at least two hours start before the islanders should +discover my absence; for with such facility was any alarm spread +through the valley, and so familiar, of course, were the +inhabitants with the intricacies of the groves, that I could not +hope, lame and feeble as I was, and ignorant of the route, to +secure my escape unless I had this advantage. It was also by +night alone that I could hope to accomplish my object, and then +only by adopting the utmost precaution. + +The entrance to Marheyo's habitation was through a low narrow +opening in its wicker-work front. This passage, for no +conceivable reason that I could devise, was always closed after +the household had retired to rest, by drawing a heavy slide +across it, composed of a dozen or more bits of wood, ingeniously +fastened together by seizings of sinnate. When any of the +inmates chose to go outside, the noise occasioned by the removing +of this rude door awakened every body else; and on more than one +occasion I had remarked that the islanders were nearly as +irritable as more civilized beings under similar circumstances. + +The difficulty thus placed in my way I, determined to obviate in +the following manner. I would get up boldly in the course of the +night, and drawing the slide, issue from the house, and pretend +that my object was merely to procure a drink from the calabash, +which always stood without the dwelling on the corner of the +pi-pi. On re-entering I would purposely omit closing the passage +after me, and trusting that the indolence of the savages would +prevent them from repairing my neglect, would return to my mat, +and waiting patiently until all were again asleep, I would then +steal forth, and at once take the route to Pueearka. + +The very night which followed Marnoo's departure, I proceeded to +put this project into execution. About midnight, as I imagined, +I arose and drew the slide. The natives, just as I had expected, +started up, while some of them asked, 'Arware poo awa, Tommo?' +(where are you going, Tommo?) 'Wai' (water) I laconically +answered, grasping the calabash. On hearing my reply they sank +back again, and in a minute or two I returned to my mat, +anxiously awaiting the result of the experiment. + +One after another the savages, turning restlessly, appeared to +resume their slumbers, and rejoicing at the stillness which +prevailed, I was about to rise again from my couch, when I heard +a slight rustling--a dark form was intercepted between me and the +doorway--the slide was drawn across it, and the individual, +whoever he was, returned to his mat. This was a sad blow to me; +but as it might have aroused the suspicions of the islanders to +have made another attempt that night, I was reluctantly obliged +to defer it until the next. Several times after I repeated the +same manoeuvre, but with as little success as before. As my +pretence for withdrawing from the house was to allay my thirst, +Kory-Kory either suspecting some design on my part, or else +prompted by a desire to please me, regularly every evening placed +a calabash of water by my side. + +Even, under these inauspicious circumstances I again and again +renewed the attempt, but when I did so, my valet always rose with +me, as if determined I should not remove myself from his +observation. For the present, therefore, I was obliged to +abandon the attempt; but I endeavoured to console myself with the +idea that by this mode I might yet effect my escape. + +Shortly after Marnoo's visit I was reduced to such a state that +it was with extreme difficulty I could walk, even with the +assistance of a spear, and Kory-Kory, as formerly, was obliged to +carry me daily to the stream. + +For hours and hours during the warmest part of the day I lay upon +my mat, and while those around me were nearly all dozing away in +careless ease, I remained awake, gloomily pondering over the fate +which it appeared now idle for me to resist, when I thought of +the loved friends who were thousands and thousands of miles from +the savage island in which I was held a captive, when I reflected +that my dreadful fate would for ever be concealed from them, and +that with hope deferred they might continue to await my return +long after my inanimate form had blended with the dust of the +valley--I could not repress a shudder of anguish. + +How vividly is impressed upon my mind every minute feature of the +scene which met my view during those long days of suffering and +sorrow. At my request my mats were always spread directly facing +the door, opposite which, and at a little distance, was the hut +of boughs that Marheyo was building. + +Whenever my gentle Fayaway and Kory-Kory, laying themselves down +beside me, would leave me awhile to uninterrupted repose, I took +a strange interest in the slightest movements of the eccentric +old warrior. All alone during the stillness of the tropical +mid-day, he would pursue his quiet work, sitting in the shade and +weaving together the leaflets of his cocoanut branches, or +rolling upon his knee the twisted fibres of bark to form the +cords with which he tied together the thatching of his tiny +house. Frequently suspending his employment, and noticing my +melancholy eye fixed upon him, he would raise his hand with a +gesture expressive of deep commiseration, and then moving towards +me slowly, would enter on tip-toes, fearful of disturbing the +slumbering natives, and, taking the fan from my hand, would sit +before me, swaying it gently to and fro, and gazing earnestly +into my face. + +Just beyond the pi-pi, and disposed in a triangle before the +entrance of the house, were three magnificent bread-fruit trees. +At this moment I can recap to my mind their slender shafts, and +the graceful inequalities of their bark, on which my eye was +accustomed to dwell day after day in the midst of my solitary +musings. It is strange how inanimate objects will twine +themselves into our affections, especially in the hour of +affliction. Even now, amidst all the bustle and stir of the +proud and busy city in which I am dwelling, the image of those +three trees seems to come as vividly before my eyes as if they +were actually present, and I still feel the soothing quiet +pleasure which I then had in watching hour after hour their +topmost boughs waving gracefully in the breeze. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR + +THE ESCAPE + +NEARLY three weeks had elapsed since the second visit of Marnoo, +and it must have been more than four months since I entered the +valley, when one day about noon, and whilst everything was in +profound silence, Mow-Mow, the one-eyed chief, suddenly appeared +at the door, and leaning towards me as I lay directly facing him, +said in a low tone, 'Toby pemi ena' (Toby has arrived here). +Gracious heaven! What a tumult of emotions rushed upon me at +this startling intelligence! Insensible to the pain that had +before distracted me, I leaped to my feet, and called wildly to +Kory-Kory who was reposing by my side. The startled islanders +sprang from their mats; the news was quickly communicated to +them; and the next moment I was making my way to the Ti on the +back of Kory-Kory; and surrounded by the excited savages. + +All that I could comprehend of the particulars which Mow-Mow +rehearsed to his audience as we proceeded, was that my long-lost +companion had arrived in a boat which had just entered the bay. +These tidings made me most anxious to be carried at once to the +sea, lest some untoward circumstance should prevent our meeting; +but to this they would not consent, and continued their course +towards the royal abode. As we approached it, Mehevi and several +chiefs showed themselves from the piazza, and called upon us +loudly to come to them. + +As soon as we had approached, I endeavoured to make them +understand that I was going down to the sea to meet Toby. To +this the king objected, and motioned Kory-Kory to bring me into +the house. It was in vain to resist; and in a few moments I +found myself within the Ti, surrounded by a noisy group engaged +in discussing the recent intelligence. Toby's name was +frequently repeated, coupled with violent exclamations of +astonishment. It seemed as if they yet remained in doubt with +regard to the fact of his arrival, at at every fresh report that +was brought from the shore they betrayed the liveliest emotions. + +Almost frenzied at being held in this state of suspense, I +passionately besought Mehevi to permit me to proceed. Whether my +companion had arrived or not, I felt a presentiment that my own +fate was about to be decided. Again and again I renewed my +petition to Mehevi. He regarded me with a fixed and serious eye, +but at length yielding to my importunity, reluctantly granted my +request. + +Accompanied by some fifty of the natives, I now rapidly continued +my journey; every few moments being transferred from the back of +one to another, and urging my bearer forward all the while with +earnest entreaties. As I thus hurried forward, no doubt as to +the truth of the information I had received ever crossed my mind. + +I was alive only to the one overwhelming idea, that a chance of +deliverance was now afforded me, if the jealous opposition of the +savages could be overcome. + +Having been prohibited from approaching the sea during the whole +of my stay in the valley, I had always associated with it the +idea of escape. Toby too--if indeed he had ever voluntarily +deserted me--must have effected this flight by the sea; and now +that I was drawing near to it myself, I indulged in hopes which I +had never felt before. It was evident that a boat had entered +the bay, and I saw little reason to doubt the truth of the report +that it had brought my companion. Every time therefore that we +gained an elevation, I looked eagerly around, hoping to behold +him. In the midst of an excited throng, who by their violent +gestures and wild cries appeared to be under the influence of +some excitement as strong as my own, I was now borne along at a +rapid trot, frequently stooping my head to avoid the branches +which crossed the path, and never ceasing to implore those who +carried me to accelerate their already swift pace. + +In this manner we had proceeded about four or five miles, when we +were met by a party of some twenty islanders, between whom and +those who accompanied me ensued an animated conference. +Impatient of the delay occasioned by this interruption, I was +beseeching the man who carried me to proceed without his +loitering companions, when Kory-Kory, running to my side, +informed me, in three fatal words, that the news had all proved, +false--that Toby had not arrived--'Toby owlee pemi'. Heaven only +knows how, in the state of mind and body I then was, I ever +sustained the agony which this intelligence caused me; not that +the news was altogether unexpected; but I had trusted that the +fact might not have been made known until we should have arrived +upon the beach. As it was, I at once foresaw the course the +savages would pursue. They had only yielded thus far to my +entreaties, that I might give a joyful welcome to my long-lost +comrade; but now that it was known he had not arrived they would +at once oblige me to turn back. + +My anticipations were but too correct. In spite of the +resistance I made, they carried me into a house which was near +the spot, and left me upon the mats. Shortly afterwards several +of those who had accompanied me from the Ti, detaching themselves +from the others, proceeded in the direction of the sea. Those +who remained--among whom were Marheyo, Mow-Mow, Kory-Kory, and +Tinor--gathered about the dwelling, and appeared to be awaiting +their return. + +This convinced me that strangers--perhaps some of my own +countrymen--had for some cause or other entered the bay. +Distracted at the idea of their vicinity, and reckless of the +pain which I suffered, I heeded not the assurances of the +islanders, that there were no boats at the beach, but starting to +my feet endeavoured to gain the door. Instantly the passage was +blocked up by several men, who commanded me to resume my seat. +The fierce looks of the irritated savages admonished me that I +could gain nothing by force, and that it was by entreaty alone +that I could hope to compass my object. + +Guided by this consideration, I turned to Mow-Mow, the only chief +present whom I had been much in the habit of seeing, and +carefully concealing, my real design, tried to make him +comprehend that I still believed Toby to have arrived on the +shore, and besought him to allow me to go forward to welcome him. + +To all his repeated assertions, that my companion had not been +seen, I pretended to turn a deaf ear, while I urged my +solicitations with an eloquence of gesture which the one-eyed +chief appeared unable to resist. He seemed indeed to regard me +as a forward child, to whose wishes he had not the heart to +oppose force, and whom he must consequently humour. He spoke a +few words to the natives, who at once retreated from the door, +and I immediately passed out of the house. + +Here I looked earnestly round for Kory-Kory; but that hitherto +faithful servitor was nowhere to be seen. Unwilling to linger +even for a single instant when every moment might be so +important, I motioned to a muscular fellow near me to take me +upon his back; to my surprise he angrily refused. I turned to +another, but with a like result. A third attempt was as +unsuccessful, and I immediately perceived what had induced +Mow-Mow to grant my request, and why the other natives conducted +themselves in so strange a manner. It was evident that the chief +had only given me liberty to continue my progress towards the +sea, because he supposed that I was deprived of the means of +reaching it. + +Convinced by this of their determination to retain me a captive, +I became desperate; and almost insensible to the pain which I +suffered, I seized a spear which was leaning against the +projecting eaves of the house, and supporting myself with it, +resumed the path that swept by the dwelling. To my surprise, I +was suffered to proceed alone; all the natives remaining in front +of the house, and engaging in earnest conversation, which every +moment became more loud and vehement; and to my unspeakable +delight, I perceived that some difference of opinion had arisen +between them; that two parties, in short, were formed, and +consequently that in their divided counsels there was some chance +of my deliverance. + +Before I had proceeded a hundred yards I was again surrounded by +the savages, who were still in all the heat of argument, and +appeared every moment as if they would come to blows. In the +midst of this tumult old Marheyo came to my side, and I shall +never forget the benevolent expression of his countenance. He +placed his arm upon my shoulder, and emphatically pronounced the +only two English words I had taught him 'Home' and 'Mother'. I +at once understood what he meant, and eagerly expressed my thanks +to him. Fayaway and Kory-Kory were by his side, both weeping +violently; and it was not until the old man had twice repeated +the command that his son could bring himself to obey him, and +take me again upon his back. The one-eyed chief opposed his +doing so, but he was overruled, and, as it seemed to me, by some +of his own party. + +We proceeded onwards, and never shall I forget the ecstasy I felt +when I first heard the roar of the surf breaking upon the beach. +Before long I saw the flashing billows themselves through the +opening between the trees. Oh glorious sight and sound of ocean! +with what rapture did I hail you as familiar friends! By this +time the shouts of the crowd upon the beach were distinctly +audible, and in the blended confusion of sounds I almost fancied +I could distinguish the voices of my own countrymen. + +When we reached the open space which lay between the groves and +the sea, the first object that met my view was an English +whale-boat, lying with her bow pointed from the shore, and only a +few fathoms distant from it. It was manned by five islanders, +dressed in shirt tunics of calico. My first impression was that +they were in the very act of pulling out from the bay; and that, +after all my exertions, I had come too late. My soul sunk within +me: but a second glance convinced me that the boat was only +hanging off to keep out of the surf; and the next moment I heard +my own name shouted out by a voice from the midst of the crowd. + +Looking in the direction of the sound, I perceived, to my +indescribable joy, the tall figure of Karakoee, an Oahu Kanaka, +who had often been aboard the 'Dolly', while she lay in Nukuheva. +He wore the green shooting-jacket with gilt buttons, which had +been given to him by an officer of the Reine Blanche--the French +flag-ship--and in which I had always seen him dressed. I now +remembered the Kanaka had frequently told me that his person was +tabooed in all the valleys of the island, and the sight of him at +such a moment as this filled my heart with a tumult of delight. + +Karakoee stood near the edge of the water with a large roll of +cotton-cloth thrown over one arm, and holding two or three canvas +bags of powder, while with the other hand he grasped a musket, +which he appeared to be proffering to several of the chiefs +around him. But they turned with disgust from his offers and +seemed to be impatient at his presence, with vehement gestures +waving him off to his boat, and commanding him to depart. + +The Kanaka, however, still maintained his ground, and I at once +perceived that he was seeking to purchase my freedom. Animated +by the idea, I called upon him loudly to come to me; but he +replied, in broken English, that the islanders had threatened to +pierce him with their spears, if he stirred a foot towards me. +At this time I was still advancing, surrounded by a dense throng +of the natives, several of whom had their hands upon me, and more +than one javelin was threateningly pointed at me. Still I +perceived clearly that many of those least friendly towards me +looked irresolute and anxious. I was still some thirty yards +from Karakoee when my farther progress was prevented by the +natives, who compelled me to sit down upon the ground, while they +still retained their hold upon my arms. The din and tumult now +became tenfold, and I perceived that several of the priests were +on the spot, all of whom were evidently urging Mow-Mow and the +other chiefs to prevent my departure; and the detestable word +'Roo-ne! Roo-ne!' which I had heard repeated a thousand times +during the day, was now shouted out on every side of me. Still I +saw that the Kanaka continued his exertions in my favour--that he +was boldly debating the matter with the savages, and was striving +to entice them by displaying his cloth and powder, and snapping +the lock of his musket. But all he said or did appeared only to +augment the clamours of those around him, who seemed bent upon +driving him into the sea. + +When I remembered the extravagant value placed by these people +upon the articles which were offered to them in exchange for me, +and which were so indignantly rejected, I saw a new proof of the +same fixed determination of purpose they had all along manifested +with regard to me, and in despair, and reckless of consequences, +I exerted all my strength, and shaking myself free from the grasp +of those who held me, I sprang upon my feet and rushed towards +Karakoee. + +The rash attempt nearly decided my fate; for, fearful that I +might slip from them, several of the islanders now raised a +simultaneous shout, and pressing upon Karakoee, they menaced him +with furious gestures, and actually forced him into the sea. +Appalled at their violence, the poor fellow, standing nearly to +the waist in the surf, endeavoured to pacify them; but at length +fearful that they would do him some fatal violence, he beckoned +to his comrades to pull in at once, and take him into the boat. + +It was at this agonizing moment, when I thought all hope was +ended, that a new contest arose between the two parties who had +accompanied me to the shore; blows were struck, wounds were +given, and blood flowed. In the interest excited by the fray, +every one had left me except Marheyo, Kory-Kory and poor dear +Fayaway, who clung to me, sobbing indignantly. I saw that now or +never was the moment. Clasping my hands together, I looked +imploringly at Marheyo, and move towards the now almost deserted +beach. The tears were in the old man's eyes, but neither he nor +Kory-Kory attempted to hold me, and I soon reached the Kanaka, +who had anxiously watched my movements; the rowers pulled in as +near as they dared to the edge of the surf; I gave one parting +embrace to Fayaway, who seemed speechless with sorrow, and the +next instant I found myself safe in the boat, and Karakoee by my +side, who told the rowers at once to give way. Marheyo and +Kory-Kory, and a great many of the women, followed me into the +water, and I was determined, as the only mark of gratitude I +could show, to give them the articles which had been brought as +my ransom. I handed the musket to Kory-Kory, with a rapid +gesture which was equivalent to a 'Deed of Gift'; threw the roll +of cotton to old Marheyo, pointing as I did so to poor Fayaway, +who had retired from the edge of the water and was sitting down +disconsolate on the shingles; and tumbled the powder-bags out to +the nearest young ladies, all of whom were vastly willing to take +them. This distribution did not occupy ten seconds, and before +it was over the boat was under full way; the Kanaka all the while +exclaiming loudly against what he considered a useless throwing +away of valuable property. + +Although it was clear that my movements had been noticed by +several of the natives, still they had not suspended the conflict +in which they were engaged, and it was not until the boat was +above fifty yards from the shore that Mow-Mow and some six or +seven other warriors rushed into the sea and hurled their +javelins at us. Some of the weapons passed quite as close to us +as was desirable, but no one was wounded, and the men pulled away +gallantly. But although soon out of the reach of the spears, our +progress was extremely slow; it blew strong upon the shore, and +the tide was against us; and I saw Karakoee, who was steering the +boat, give many a look towards a jutting point of the bay round +which we had to pass. + +For a minute or two after our departure, the savages, who had +formed into different groups, remained perfectly motionless and +silent. All at-once the enraged chief showed by his gestures +that he had resolved what course he would take. Shouting loudly +to his companions, and pointing with his tomahawk towards the +headland, he set off at full speed in that direction, and was +followed by about thirty of the natives, among whom were several +of the priests, all yelling out 'Roo-ne! Roo-ne!' at the very +top of their voices. Their intention was evidently to swim off +from the headland and intercept us in our course. The wind was +freshening every minute, and was right in our teeth, and it was +one of those chopping angry seas in which it is so difficult to +row. Still the chances seemed in our favour, but when we came +within a hundred yards of the point, the active savages were +already dashing into the water, and we all feared that within +five minutes' time we should have a score of the infuriated +wretches around us. If so our doom was sealed, for these +savages, unlike the feeble swimmer of civilized countries, are, +if anything, more formidable antagonists in the water than when +on the land. It was all a trial of strength; our natives pulled +till their oars bent again, and the crowd of swimmers shot +through the water despite its roughness, with fearful rapidity. + +By the time we had reached the headland, the savages were spread +right across our course. Our rowers got out their knives and +held them ready between their teeth, and I seized the boat-hook. +We were all aware that if they succeeded in intercepting us they +would practise upon us the manoeuvre which has proved so fatal to +many a boat's crew in these seas. They would grapple the oars, +and seizing hold of the gunwhale, capsize the boat, and then we +should be entirely at their mercy. + +After a few breathless moments discerned Mow-Mow. The athletic +islander, with his tomahawk between his teeth, was dashing the +water before him till it foamed again. He was the nearest to us, +and in another instant he would have seized one of the oars. +Even at the moment I felt horror at the act I was about to +commit; but it was no time for pity or compunction, and with a +true aim, and exerting all my strength, I dashed the boat-hook at +him. It struck him just below the throat, and forced him +downwards. I had no time to repeat the blow, but I saw him rise +to the surface in the wake of the boat, and never shall I forget +the ferocious expression of his countenance. + +Only one other of the savages reached the boat. He seized the +gunwhale, but the knives of our rowers so mauled his wrists, that +he was forced to quit his hold, and the next minute we were past +them all, and in safety. The strong excitement which had thus +far kept me up, now left me, and I fell back fainting into the +arms of Karakoee. + + . . . . . . . . + +The circumstances connected with my most unexpected escape may be +very briefly stated. The captain of an Australian vessel, being +in distress for men in these remote seas, had put into Nukuheva +in order to recruit his ship's company; but not a single man was +to be obtained; and the barque was about to get under weigh, when +she was boarded by Karakoee, who informed the disappointed +Englishman that an American sailor was detained by the savages in +the neighbouring bay of Typee; and he offered, if supplied with +suitable articles of traffic, to undertake his release. The +Kanaka had gained his intelligence from Marnoo, to whom, after +all, I was indebted for my escape. The proposition was acceded +to; and Karakoee, taking with him five tabooed natives of +Nukuheva, again repaired aboard the barque, which in a few hours +sailed to that part of the island, and threw her main-top-sail +aback right off the entrance to the Typee bay. The whale-boat, +manned by the tabooed crew, pulled towards the head of the inlet, +while the ship lay 'off and on' awaiting its return. + +The events which ensued have already been detailed, and little +more remains to be related. On reaching the 'Julia' I was lifted +over the side, and my strange appearance and remarkable adventure +occasioned the liveliest interest. Every attention was bestowed +upon me that humanity could suggest. But to such a state was I +reduced, that three months elapsed before I recovered my health. + +The mystery which hung over the fate of my friend and companion +Toby has never been cleared up. I still remain ignorant whether +he succeeded in leaving the valley, or perished at the hands of +the islanders. + + + +THE STORY OF TOBY + +THE morning my comrade left me, as related in the narrative, he +was accompanied by a large party of the natives, some of them +carrying fruit and hogs for the purposes of traffic, as the +report had spread that boats had touched at the bay. + +As they proceeded through the settled parts of the valley, +numbers joined them from every side, running with animated cries +from every pathway. So excited were the whole party, that eager +as Toby was to gain the beach, it was almost as much as he could +do to keep up with them. Making the valley ring with their +shouts, they hurried along on a swift trot, those in advance +pausing now and then, and flourishing their weapons to urge the +rest forward. + +Presently they came to a place where the paths crossed a bend of +the main stream of the valley. Here a strange sound came through +the grove beyond, and the Islanders halted. It was Mow-Mow, the +one-eyed chief, who had gone on before; he was striking his heavy +lance against the hollow bough of a tree. + +This was a signal of alarm;--for nothing was now heard but shouts +of 'Happar! Happar!'--the warriors tilting with their spears and +brandishing them in the air, and the women and boys shouting to +each other, and picking up the stones in the bed of the stream. +In a moment or two Mow-Mow and two or three other chiefs ran out +from the grove, and the din increased ten fold. + +Now, thought Toby, for a fray; and being unarmed, he besought one +of the young men domiciled with Marheyo for the loan of his +spear. But he was refused; the youth roguishly telling him that +the weapon was very good for him (the Typee), but that a white +man could fight much better with his fists. + +The merry humour of this young wag seemed to be shared by the +rest, for in spite of their warlike cries and gestures, everybody +was capering and laughing, as if it was one of the funniest +things in the world to be awaiting the flight of a score or two +of Happar javelins from an ambush in the thickets. + +While my comrade was in vain trying to make out the meaning of +all this, a good number of the natives separated themselves from +the rest and ran off into the grove on one side, the others now +keeping perfectly still, as if awaiting the result. After a +little while, however, Mow-Mow, who stood in advance, motioned +them to come on stealthily, which they did, scarcely rustling a +leaf. Thus they crept along for ten or fifteen minutes, every +now and then pausing to listen. + +Toby by no means relished this sort of skulking; if there was +going to be a fight, he wanted it to begin at once. But all in +good time,--for just then, as they went prowling into the +thickest of the wood, terrific howls burst upon them on all +sides, and volleys of darts and stones flew across the path. Not +an enemy was to be seen, and what was still more surprising, not +a single man dropped, though the pebbles fell among the leaves +like hail. + +There was a moment's pause, when the Typees, with wild shrieks, +flung themselves into the covert, spear in hand; nor was Toby +behindhand. Coming so near getting his skull broken by the +stones, and animated by an old grudge he bore the Happars, he was +among the first to dash at them. As he broke his way through the +underbush, trying, as he did so, to wrest a spear from a young +chief, the shouts of battle all of a sudden ceased, and the wood +was as still as death. The next moment, the party who had left +them so mysteriously rushed out from behind every bush and tree, +and united with the rest in long and merry peals of laughter. + +It was all a sham, and Toby, who was quite out of breath with +excitement, was much incensed at being made a fool of. + +It afterwards turned out that the whole affair had been concerted +for his particular benefit, though with what precise view it +would be hard to tell. My comrade was the more enraged at this +boys' play, since it had consumed so much time, every moment of +which might be precious. Perhaps, however, it was partly +intended for this very purpose; and he was led to think so, +because when the natives started again, he observed that they did +not seem to be in so great a hurry as before. At last, after +they had gone some distance, Toby, thinking all the while that +they never would get to the sea, two men came running towards +them, and a regular halt ensued, followed by a noisy discussion, +during which Toby's name was often repeated. All this made him +more and more anxious to learn what was going on at the beach; +but it was in vain that he now tried to push forward; the natives +held him back. + +In a few moments the conference ended, and many of them ran down +the path in the direction of the water, the rest surrounding +Toby, and entreating him to 'Moee', or sit down and rest himself. +As an additional inducement, several calabashes of food, which +had been brought along, were now placed on the ground, and +opened, and pipes also were lighted. Toby bridled his impatience +a while, but at last sprang to his feet and dashed forward again. +He was soon overtaken nevertheless, and again surrounded, but +without further detention was then permitted to go down to the +sea. + +They came out upon a bright green space between the groves and +the water, and close under the shadow of the Happar mountain, +where a path was seen winding out of sight through a gorge. + +No sign of a boat, however, was beheld, nothing but a tumultuous +crowd of men and women, and some one in their midst, earnestly +talking to them. As my comrade advanced, this person came +forward and proved to be no stranger. He was an old grizzled +sailor, whom Toby and myself had frequently seen in Nukuheva, +where he lived an easy devil-may-care life in the household of +Mowanna the king, going by the name of 'Jimmy'. In fact he was +the royal favourite, and had a good deal to say in his master's +councils. He wore a Manilla hat and a sort of tappa morning +gown, sufficiently loose and negligent to show the verse of a +song tattooed upon his chest, and a variety of spirited cuts by +native artists in other parts of his body. He sported a fishing +rod in his hand, and carried a sooty old pipe slung about his +neck. + +This old rover having retired from active life, had resided in +Nukuheva some time--could speak the language, and for that reason +was frequently employed by the French as an interpreter. He was +an arrant old gossip too; for ever coming off in his canoe to the +ships in the bay, and regaling their crews with choice little +morsels of court scandal--such, for instance, as a shameful +intrigue of his majesty with a Happar damsel, a public dancer at +the feasts--and otherwise relating some incredible tales about +the Marquesas generally. I remember in particular his telling +the Dolly's crew what proved to be literally a cock-and-bull +story, about two natural prodigies which he said were then on the +island. One was an old monster of a hermit, having a marvellous +reputation for sanctity, and reputed a famous sorcerer, who lived +away off in a den among the mountains, where he hid from the +world a great pair of horns that grew out of his temples. +Notwithstanding his reputation for piety, this horrid old fellow +was the terror of all the island round, being reported to come +out from his retreat, and go a man-hunting every dark night. +Some anonymous Paul Pry, too, coming down the mountain, once got +a peep at his den, and found it full of bones. In short, he was +a most unheard-of monster. + +The other prodigy Jimmy told us about was the younger son of a +chief, who, although but just turned of ten, had entered upon +holy orders, because his superstitious countrymen thought him +especially intended for the priesthood from the fact of his +having a comb on his head like a rooster. But this was not all; +for still more wonderful to relate, the boy prided himself upon +his strange crest, being actually endowed with a cock's voice, +and frequently crowing over his peculiarity. + +But to return to Toby. The moment he saw the old rover on the +beach, he ran up to him, the natives following after, and forming +a circle round them. + +After welcoming him to the shore, Jimmy went on to tell him how +that he knew all about our having run away from the ship, and +being among the Typees. Indeed, he had been urged by Mowanna to +come over to the valley, and after visiting his friends there, to +bring us back with him, his royal master being exceedingly +anxious to share with him the reward which had been held out for +our capture. He, however, assured Toby that he had indignantly +spurned the offer. + +All this astonished my comrade not a little, as neither of us had +entertained the least idea that any white man ever visited the +Typees sociably. But Jimmy told him that such was the case +nevertheless, although he seldom came into the bay, and scarcely +ever went back from the beach. One of the priests of the valley, +in some way or other connected with an old tattooed divine in +Nukuheva, was a friend of his, and through him he was 'taboo'. + +He said, moreover, that he was sometimes employed to come round +to the bay, and engage fruit for ships lying in Nukuheva. In +fact, he was now on that very errand, according to his own +account, having just come across the mountains by the way of +Happar. By noon of the next day the fruit would be heaped up in +stacks on the beach, in readiness for the boats which he then +intended to bring into the bay. + +Jimmy now asked Toby whether he wished to leave the island--if he +did, there was a ship in want of men lying in the other harbour, +and he would be glad to take him over, and see him on board that +very day. + +'No,' said Toby, 'I cannot leave the island unless my comrade +goes with me. I left him up the valley because they would not +let him come down. Let us go now and fetch him.' + +'But how is he to cross the mountain with us,' replied Jimmy, +'even if we get him down to the beach? Better let him stay till +tomorrow, and I will bring him round to Nukuheva in the boats.' + +'That will never do,' said Toby, 'but come along with me now, and +let us get him down here at any rate,' and yielding to the +impulse of the moment, he started to hurry back into the valley. +But hardly was his back turned, when a dozen hands were laid on +him, and he learned that he could not go a step further. + +It was in vain that he fought with them; they would not hear of +his stirring from the beach. Cut to the heart at this unexpected +repulse, Toby now conjured the sailor to go after me alone. But +Jimmy replied, that in the mood the Typees then were they would +not permit him so to do, though at the same time he was not +afraid of their offering him any harm. + +Little did Toby then think, as he afterwards had good reason to +suspect, that this very Jimmy was a heartless villain, who, by +his arts, had just incited the natives to restrain him as he was +in the act of going after me. Well must the old sailor have +known, too, that the natives would never consent to our leaving +together, and he therefore wanted to get Toby off alone, for a +purpose which he afterwards made plain. Of all this, however, my +comrade now knew nothing. + +He was still struggling with the islanders when Jimmy again came +up to him, and warned him against irritating them, saying that he +was only making matters worse for both of us, and if they became +enraged, there was no telling what might happen. At last he made +Toby sit down on a broken canoe by a pile of stones, upon which +was a ruinous little shrine supported by four upright poles, and +in front partly screened by a net. The fishing parties met +there, when they came in from the sea, for their offerings were +laid before an image, upon a smooth black stone within. This +spot Jimmy said was strictly 'taboo', and no one would molest or +come near him while he stayed by its shadow. The old sailor then +went off, and began speaking very earnestly to Mow-Mow and some +other chiefs, while all the rest formed a circle round the taboo +place, looking intently at Toby, and talking to each other +without ceasing. + +Now, notwithstanding what Jimmy had just told him, there +presently came up to my comrade an old woman, who seated herself +beside him on the canoe. + +'Typee motarkee?' said she. 'Motarkee nuee,' said Toby. + +She then asked him whether he was going to Nukuheva; he nodded +yes; and with a plaintive wail and her eyes filling with tears +she rose and left him. + +This old woman, the sailor afterwards said, was the wife of an +aged king of a small island valley, communicating by a deep pass +with the country of the Typees. The inmates of the two valleys +were related to each other by blood, and were known by the same +name. The old woman had gone down into the Typee valley the day +before, and was now with three chiefs, her sons, on a visit to +her kinsmen. + +As the old king's wife left him, Jimmy again came up to Toby, and +told him that he had just talked the whole matter over with the +natives, and there was only one course for him to follow. They +would not allow him to go back into the valley, and harm would +certainly come to both him and me, if he remained much longer on +the beach. 'So,' said he, 'you and I had better go to Nukuheva +now overland, and tomorrow I will bring Tommo, as they call him, +by water; they have promised to carry him down to the sea for me +early in the morning, so that there will be no delay.' + +'No, no,' said Toby desperately, 'I will not leave him that way; +we must escape together.' + +'Then there is no hope for you,' exclaimed the sailor, 'for if I +leave you here on the beach, as soon as I am gone you will be +carried back into the valley, and then neither of you will ever +look upon the sea again.' And with many oaths he swore that if +he would only go to Nukuheva with him that day, he would be sure +to have me there the very next morning. + +'But how do you know they will bring him down to the beach +tomorrow, when they will not do so today?' said Toby. But the +sailor had many reasons, all of which were so mixed up with the +mysterious customs of the islanders, that he was none the wiser. +Indeed, their conduct, especially in preventing him from +returning into the valley, was absolutely unaccountable to him; +and added to everything else, was the bitter reflection, that the +old sailor, after all, might possibly be deceiving him. And then +again he had to think of me, left alone with the natives, and by +no means well. If he went with Jimmy, he might at least hope to +procure some relief for me. But might not the savages who had +acted so strangely, hurry me off somewhere before his return? +Then, even if he remained, perhaps they would not let him go back +into the valley where I was. + +Thus perplexed was my poor comrade; he knew not what to do, and +his courageous spirit was of no use to him now. There he was, +all by himself, seated upon the broken canoe--the natives grouped +around him at a distance, and eyeing him more and more fixedly. +'It is getting late: said Jimmy, who was standing behind the +rest. 'Nukuheva is far off, and I cannot cross the Happar +country by night. You see how it is;--if you come along with +me, all will be well; if you do not, depend upon it, neither of +you will ever escape.' + +'There is no help for it,' said Toby, at last, with a heavy +heart, 'I will have to trust you,' and he came out from the +shadow of the little shrine, and cast a long look up the valley. + +'Now keep close to my side,' said the sailor, 'and let us be +moving quickly.' Tinor and Fayaway here appeared; the +kindhearted old woman embracing Toby's knees, and giving way to a +flood of tears; while Fayaway, hardly less moved, spoke some few +words of English she had learned, and held up three fingers +before him--in so many days he would return. + +At last Jimmy pulled Toby out of the crowd, and after calling to +a young Typee who was standing by with a young pig in his arms, +all three started for the mountains. + +'I have told them that you are coming back again,' said the old +fellow, laughing, as they began the ascent, 'but they'll have to +wait a long time.' Toby turned, and saw the natives all in +motion--the girls waving their tappas in adieu, and the men their +spears. As the last figure entered the grove with one arm +raised, and the three fingers spread, his heart smote him. + +As the natives had at last consented to his going, it might have +been, that some of them, at least, really counted upon his speedy +return; probably supposing, as indeed he had told them when they +were coming down the valley, that his only object in leaving them +was to procure the medicines I needed. This, Jimmy also must +have told them. And as they had done before, when my comrade, to +oblige me, started on his perilous journey to Nukuheva, they +looked upon me, in his absence, as one of two inseparable friends +who was a sure guaranty for the other's return. This is only my +own supposition, however, for as to all their strange conduct, it +is still a mystery. + +'You see what sort of a taboo man I am,' said the sailor, after +for some time silently following the path which led up the +mountain. 'Mow-Mow made me a present of this pig here, and the +man who carries it will go right through Happar, and down into +Nukuheva with us. So long as he stays by me he is safe, and just +so it will be with you, and tomorrow with Tommo. Cheer up, then, +and rely upon me, you will see him in the morning.' + +The ascent of the mountain was not very difficult, owing to its +being near to the sea, where the island ridges are comparatively +low; the path, too, was a fine one, so that in a short time all +three were standing on the summit with the two valleys at their +feet. The white cascade marking the green head of the Typee +valley first caught Toby's eye; Marheyo's house could easily be +traced by them. + +As Jimmy led the way along the ridge, Toby observed that the +valley of the Happars did not extend near so far inland as that +of the Typees. This accounted for our mistake in entering the +latter valley as we had. + +A path leading down from the mountain was soon seen, and, +following it, the party were in a short time fairly in the Happar +valley. + +'Now,' said Jimmy, as they hurried on, 'we taboo men have wives +in all the bays, and I am going to show you the two I have here.' + +So, when they came to the house where he said they lived,--which +was close by the base of the mountain in a shady nook among the +groves--he went in, and was quite furious at finding it +empty--the ladies, had gone out. However, they soon made their +appearance, and to tell the truth, welcomed Jimmy quite +cordially, as well as Toby, about whom they were very +inquisitive. Nevertheless, as the report of their arrival +spread, and the Happars began to assemble, it became evident that +the appearance of a white stranger among them was not by any +means deemed so wonderful an event as in the neighbouring valley. + +The old sailor now bade his wives prepare something to eat, as he +must be in Nukuheva before dark. A meal of fish, bread-fruit, +and bananas, was accordingly served up, the party regaling +themselves on the mats, in the midst of a numerous company. + +The Happars put many questions to Jimmy about Toby; and Toby +himself looked sharply at them, anxious to recognize the fellow +who gave him the wound from which he was still suffering. But +this fiery gentleman, so handy with his spear, had the delicacy, +it seemed, to keep out of view. Certainly the sight of him would +not have been any added inducement to making a stay in the +valley,--some of the afternoon loungers in Happar having politely +urged Toby to spend a few days with them,--there was a feast +coming on. He, however, declined. + +All this while the young Typee stuck to Jimmy like his shadow, +and though as lively a dog as any of his tribe, he was now as +meek as a lamb, never opening his mouth except to eat. Although +some of the Happars looked queerly at him, others were more +civil, and seemed desirous of taking him abroad and showing him +the valley. But the Typee was not to be cajoled in that way. +How many yards he would have to remove from Jimmy before the +taboo would be powerless, it would be hard to tell, but probably +he himself knew to a fraction. + +On the promise of a red cotton handkerchief, and something else +which he kept secret, this poor fellow had undertaken a rather +ticklish journey, though, as far as Toby could ascertain, it was +something that had never happened before. + +The island-punch--arva--was brought in at the conclusion of the +repast, and passed round in a shallow calabash. + +Now my comrade, while seated in the Happar house, began to feel +more troubled than ever at leaving me; indeed, so sad did he feel +that he talked about going back to the valley, and wanted Jimmy +to escort him as far as the mountains. But the sailor would not +listen to him, and, by way of diverting his thoughts, pressed him +to drink of the arva. Knowing its narcotic nature, he refused; +but Jimmy said he would have something mixed with it, which would +convert it into an innocent beverage that would inspirit them for +the rest of their journey. So at last he was induced to drink of +it, and its effects were just as the sailor had predicted; his +spirits rose at once, and all his gloomy thoughts left him. + +The old rover now began to reveal his true character, though he +was hardly suspected at the time. 'If I get you off to a ship,' +said he, 'you will surely give a poor fellow something for saving +you.' In short, before they left the house, he made Toby promise +that he would give him five Spanish dollars if he succeeded in +getting any part of his wages advanced from the vessel, aboard of +which they were going; Toby, moreover, engaging to reward him +still further, as soon as my deliverance was accomplished. + +A little while after this they started again, accompanied by many +of the natives, and going up the valley, took a steep path near +its head, which led to Nukuheva. Here the Happars paused and +watched them as they ascended the mountain, one group of +bandit-looking fellows, shaking their spears and casting +threatening glances at the poor Typee, whose heart as well as +heels seemed much the lighter when he came to look down upon +them. + +On gaining the heights once more, their way led for a time along +several ridges covered with enormous ferns. At last they entered +upon a wooded tract, and here they overtook a party of Nukuheva +natives, well armed, and carrying bundles of long poles. Jimmy +seemed to know them all very well, and stopped for a while, and +had a talk about the 'Wee-Wees', as the people of Nukuheva call +the Monsieurs. + +The party with the poles were King Mowanna's men, and by his +orders they had been gathering them in the ravines for his allies +the French. + +Leaving these fellows to trudge on with their loads, Toby and his +companions now pushed forward again, as the sun was already low +in the west. They came upon the valleys of Nukuheva on one side +of the bay, where the highlands slope off into the sea. The +men-of-war were still lying in the harbour, and as Toby looked +down upon them, the strange events which had happened so +recently, seemed all a dream. + +They soon descended towards the beach, and found themselves in +Jimmy's house before it was well dark. Here he received another +welcome from his Nukuheva wives, and after some refreshments in +the shape of cocoanut milk and poee-poee, they entered a canoe +(the Typee of course going along) and paddled off to a whaleship +which was anchored near the shore. This was the vessel in want +of men. Our own had sailed some time before. The captain +professed great pleasure at seeing Toby, but thought from his +exhausted appearance that he must be unfit for duty. However, he +agreed to ship him, as well as his comrade, as soon as he should +arrive. Toby begged hard for an armed boat, in which to go round +to Typee and rescue me, notwithstanding the promises of Jimmy. +But this the captain would not hear of, and told him to have +patience, for the sailor would be faithful to his word. When, +too, he demanded the five silver dollars for Jimmy, the captain +was unwilling to give them. But Toby insisted upon it, as he now +began to think that Jimmy might be a mere mercenary, who would be +sure to prove faithless if not well paid. Accordingly he not +only gave him the money, but took care to assure him, over and +over again, that as soon as he brought me aboard he would receive +a still larger sum. + +Before sun-rise the next day, Jimmy and the Typee started in two +of the ship's boats, which were manned by tabooed natives. Toby, +of course, was all eagerness to go along, but the sailor told him +that if he did, it would spoil all; so, hard as it was, he was +obliged to remain. + +Towards evening he was on the watch, and descried the boats +turning the headland and entering the bay. He strained his eyes, +and thought he saw me; but I was not there. Descending from the +mast almost distracted, he grappled Jimmy as he struck the deck, +shouting in a voice that startled him, 'Where is Tommo?' The old +fellow faltered, but soon recovering, did all he could to soothe +him, assuring him that it had proved to be impossible to get me +down to the shore that morning; assigning many plausible reasons, +and adding that early on the morrow he was going to visit the bay +again in a French boat, when, if he did not find me on the +beach--as this time he certainly expected to--he would march +right back into the valley, and carry me away at all hazards. +He, however, again refused to allow Toby to accompany him. Now, +situated as Toby was, his sole dependence for the present was +upon this Jimmy, and therefore he was fain to comfort himself as +well as he could with what the old sailor told him. The next +morning, however, he had the satisfaction of seeing the French +boat start with Jimmy in it. Tonight, then, I will see him, +thought Toby; but many a long day passed before he ever saw Tommo +again. Hardly was the boat out of sight, when the captain came +forward and ordered the anchor weighed; he was going to sea. + +Vain were all Toby's ravings--they were disregarded; and when he +came to himself, the sails were set, and the ship fast leaving +the land. + +. . . 'Oh!' said he to me at our meeting, 'what sleepless +nights were mine. Often I started from my hammock, dreaming you +were before me, and upbraiding me for leaving you on the island.' + + . . . . . . . + +There is little more to be related. Toby left this vessel at New +Zealand, and after some further adventures, arrived home in less +than two years after leaving the Marquesas. He always thought of +me as dead--and I had every reason to suppose that he too was no +more; but a strange meeting was in store for us, one which made +Toby's heart all the lighter. + +NOTE. + +The author was more than two years in the South Seas, after +escaping from the valley, as recounted in the last chapter. Some +time after returning home the foregoing narrative was published, +though it was little thought at the time that this would be the +means of revealing the existence of Toby, who had long been given +up for lost. But so it proved. + +The story of his escape supplies a natural sequel to the +adventure, and as such it is now added to the volume. It was +related to the author by Toby himself, not ten days since. + +New York, July, 1846. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Typee: A Romance of the South Sea + diff --git a/old/typee11.zip b/old/typee11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..df228fd --- /dev/null +++ b/old/typee11.zip |