CHAPTER XVII
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 everythingaround me. I sought to diversify my time by as many enjoyments as laywithin my reach. Bathing in company with troops of girls, formed one of mychief amusements. We sometimes enjoyed the recreation in the waters of aminiature lake, into which the central stream of the valley expanded. Thislovely sheet of water was almost circular in figure, and about threehundred yards across. Its beauty was indescribable. All around its bankswaved luxuriant masses of tropical foliage, soaring high above which wereseen, here and there, the symmetrical shaft of the cocoa-nut tree,surmounted by its tuft of graceful branches, drooping in the air like somany waving ostrich plumes.
The ease and grace with which the maidens of the valley propelledthemselves through the water, and their familiarity with the element, weretruly astonishing. Sometimes they might be seen gliding along just underthe surface, without apparently moving hand or foot; then throwingthemselves on their sides, they darted through the water, revealingglimpses of their forms, as, in the course of their rapid progress, theyshot for an instant partly into the air; at one moment they dived deepdown into the water, and the next they rose bounding to the surface.
I remember upon one occasion plunging in among a parcel of theseriver-nymphs, and counting vainly on my superior strength, sought to dragsome of them under the water; but I quickly repented my temerity. Theamphibious young creatures swarmed about me like a shoal of dolphins, andseizing hold of my devoted limbs, tumbled me about and ducked me under thesurface, until from the strange noises which rang in my ears, and thesupernatural visions dancing before my eyes, I thought I was in the landof spirits. I stood indeed as little chance among them as a cumbrous whaleattacked on all sides by a legion of sword-fish. When at length theyrelinquished their hold of me, they swam away in every direction, laughingat my clumsy endeavours to reach them.
There was no boat on the lake; but at my solicitation, and for my specialuse, some of the young men attached to Marheyo's household, under thedirection of the indefatigable Kory-Kory, brought up a light andtastefully carved canoe from the sea. It was launched upon the sheet ofwater, and floated there as gracefully as a swan. But, melancholy torelate, it produced an effect I had not anticipated. The sweet nymphs, whohad sported with me before in the lake, now all fled its vicinity. Theprohibited craft, guarded by the edicts of the "taboo," extended theprohibition to the waters in which it lay.
For a few days, Kory-Kory, with one or two other youths, accompanied me inmy excursions to the lake and, while I paddled about in my light canoe,would swim after me shouting and gambolling in pursuit. But this was farfrom contenting me. Indeed, I soon began to weary of it, and longed morethan ever for the pleasant society of the mermaids, in whose absence theamusement was dull and insipid. One morning I expressed to my faithfulservitor my desire for the return of the nymphs. The honest fellow lookedat me, bewildered for a moment, and then shook his head solemnly, andmurmured "_taboo! taboo!_" giving me to understand that unless the canoewas removed, I could not expect to have the young ladies back again. Butto this procedure I was averse; I not only wanted the canoe to stay whereit was, but I wanted the beauteous Fayaway to get into it, and paddle withme about the lake. This latter proposition completely horrifiedKory-Kory's notions of propriety. He inveighed against it, as somethingtoo monstrous to be thought of. It not only shocked their establishednotions of propriety, but was at variance with all their religiousordinances.
However, although the "taboo" was a ticklish thing to meddle with, Idetermined to test its capabilities of resisting an attack. I consultedthe chief Mehevi, who endeavoured to persuade me from my object: but I wasnot to be repulsed; and accordingly increased the warmth of mysolicitations. At last he entered into a long, and I have no doubt a verylearned and eloquent exposition of the history and nature of the "taboo"as affecting this particular case; employing a variety of mostextraordinary words, which, from their amazing length and sonorousness, Ihave every reason to believe were of a theological nature. But all that hesaid failed to convince me: partly perhaps, because I could not comprehenda word that he uttered; but chiefly, that for the life of me, I could notunderstand why a woman should not have as much right to enter a canoe as aman. At last he became a little more rational, and intimated that, out ofthe abundant love he bore me, he would consult with the priests and seewhat could be done.
How it was that the priesthood of Typee satisfied the affair with theirconsciences, I know not; but so it was, and Fayaway's dispensation fromthis portion of the taboo was at length procured. Such an event, Ibelieve, never before had occurred in the valley; but it was high time theislanders should be taught a little gallantry, and I trust that theexample 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 overits surface in their canoes.
The first day after Fayaway's emancipation, I had a delightful littleparty on the lake--the damsel, Kory-Kory, and myself. My zealousbody-servant brought from the house a calabash of poee-poee, half a dozenyoung cocoa-nuts--stripped of their husks--three pipes, as many yams, and meon his back a part of the way. Something of a load; but Kory-Kory was avery strong man for his size, and by no means brittle in the spine. We hada very pleasant day; my trusty valet plied the paddle and swept us gentlyalong the margin of the water, beneath the shades of the overhangingthickets. Fayaway and I reclined in the stern of the canoe, the gentlenymph occasionally placing her pipe to her lips, and exhaling the mildfumes 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 beautifulfemale appears to more advantage than in the act of smoking. Howcaptivating is a Peruvian lady, swinging in her gaily-woven hammock ofgrass, extended between two orange-trees, and inhaling the fragrance of achoice cigarro! But Fayaway, holding in her delicately-formed olive handthe long yellow reed of her pipe, with its quaintly carved bowl, and everyfew moments languishingly giving forth light wreaths of vapour from hermouth and nostrils, looked still more engaging.
We boated 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 uponthe grotesquely-tattooed form of Kory-Kory, and finally encountered thepensive gaze of Fayaway, I thought I had been transported to some fairyregion, so unreal did everything appear.
This lovely piece of water was the coolest spot in all the valley, and Inow made it a place of continual resort during the hottest period of theday. One side of it lay near the termination of a long gradually expandinggorge, which mounted to the heights that environed the vale. The strongtrade-wind, met in its course by these elevations, circled and eddiedabout their summits, and was sometimes driven down the steep ravine andswept across the valley, ruffling in its passage the otherwise tranquilsurface of the lake.
One day, after we had been paddling about for some time, I disembarkedKory-Kory, and paddled the canoe to the windward side of the lake. As Iturned the canoe, Fayaway, who was with me, seemed all at once to bestruck with some happy idea. With a wild exclamation of delight, shedisengaged from her person the ample robe of tappa which was knotted overher shoulder (for the purpose of shielding her from the sun), andspreading it out like a sail, stood erect with up-raised arms in the headof the canoe. We American sailors pride ourselves upon our straight cleanspars, but a prettier little mast than Fayaway made was never shippedaboard of any craft.
In a moment the tappa was distended by the breeze--the long brown tressesof
Fayaway streamed in the air--and the canoe glided rapidly through thewater, and shot towards the shore. Seated in the stern, I directed itscourse with my paddle until it dashed up the soft sloping bank, andFayaway, with a light spring, alighted on the ground; whilst Kory-Kory,who had watched our manoeuvres with admiration, now clapped his hands intransport, and shouted like a madman. Many a time afterwards was this featrepeated.
If the reader has not observed ere this that I was the declared admirer ofMiss Fayaway, all I can say is, that he is little conversant with affairsof the heart, and I certainly shall not trouble myself to enlighten himany farther. Out of the calico I had brought from the ship a dress wasmade for this lovely girl. In it she looked, I must confess, somethinglike an opera-dancer. The drapery of the latter damsel generally commencesa little above the elbows, but my island beauty's began at the waist, andterminated sufficiently far above the ground to reveal the most bewitchingankle in the universe.
The day that Fayaway first wore this robe was rendered memorable by a newacquaintance being introduced to me. In the afternoon I was lying in thehouse, when I heard a great uproar outside; but being by this time prettywell accustomed to the wild halloos which were almost continually ringingthrough the valley, I paid little attention to it, until old Marheyo,under the influence of some strange excitement, rushed into my presenceand communicated the astounding tidings, "Marnoo pemi!" which beinginterpreted, implied that an individual by the name of Marnoo wasapproaching. My worthy old friend evidently expected that thisintelligence would produce a great effect upon me, and for a time he stoodearnestly regarding me, as if curious to see how I should conduct myself,but as I remained perfectly unmoved, the old gentleman darted out of thehouse again, in as great a hurry as he had entered it.
"Marnoo, Marnoo," cogitated I, "I have never heard that name before. Somedistinguished character, I presume, from the prodigious riot the nativesare 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 yetenjoyed the honour of an audience, was desirous of paying his respects onthe present occasion. So vain had I become by the lavish attention towhich I had been accustomed, that I felt half inclined, as a punishmentfor such neglect, to give this Marnoo a cold reception, when the excitedthrong came within view, convoying one of the most striking specimens ofhumanity that I ever beheld.
The stranger could not have been more than twenty-five years of age, andwas a little above the ordinary height; had he been a single hair'sbreadth taller, the matchless symmetry of his form would have beendestroyed. His unclad limbs were beautifully formed; whilst the elegantoutline of his figure, together with his beardless cheeks, might haveentitled him to the distinction of standing for the statue of thePolynesian Apollo; and indeed the oval of his countenance and theregularity of every feature reminded me of an antique bust. But the marblerepose of art was supplied by a warmth and liveliness of expression onlyto be seen in the South Sea islander under the most favourabledevelopments of nature. The hair of Marnoo was a rich curling brown, andtwined about his temples and neck in little close curling ringlets, whichdanced up and down continually when he was animated in conversation. Hischeek was of a feminine softness, and his face was free from the leastblemish of tattooing, although the rest of his body was drawn all overwith fanciful figures, which--unlike the unconnected sketching usual amongthese natives--appeared to have been executed in conformity with somegeneral design.
The tattooing on his back in particular attracted my attention. The artistemployed must indeed have excelled in his profession. Traced along thecourse of the spine was accurately delineated the slender, tapering, anddiamond-checkered shaft of the beautiful "artu" tree. Branching from thestem on either side, and disposed alternately, were the graceful branchesdrooping with leaves all correctly drawn, and elaborately finished.Indeed, this piece of tattooing was the best specimen of the Fine Arts Ihad yet seen in Typee. A rear view of the stranger might have suggestedthe idea of a spreading vine tacked against a garden wall. Upon hisbreast, arms, and legs, were exhibited an infinite variety of figures;every one of which, however, appeared to have reference to the generaleffect sought to be produced. The tattooing I have described was of thebrightest blue, and when contrasted with the light olive-colour of theskin, produced an unique and even elegant effect. A slight girdle of whitetappa, scarcely two inches in width, but hanging before and behind inspreading tassels, composed the entire costume of the stranger.
He advanced surrounded by the islanders, carrying under one arm a smallroll of the native cloth, and grasping in his other hand a long andrichly-decorated spear. His manner was that of a traveller conscious thathe is approaching a comfortable stage in his journey. Every moment heturned good-humouredly to the throng around him, and gave some dashingsort of reply to their incessant queries, which appeared to convulse themwith uncontrollable mirth.
Struck by his demeanour, and the peculiarity of his appearance, so unlikethat of the shaven-crowned and face-tattooed natives in general, Iinvoluntarily rose as he entered the house, and proffered him a seat onthe mats beside me. But without deigning to notice the civility, or eventhe more incontrovertible fact of my existence, the stranger passed on,utterly regardless of me, and flung himself upon the farther end of thelong couch that traversed the sole apartment of Marheyo's habitation.
Had the belle of the season, in the pride of her beauty and power, beencut in a place of public resort by some supercilious exquisite, she couldnot have felt greater indignation than I did at this unexpected slight.
I was thrown into utter astonishment. The conduct of the savages hadprepared me to anticipate from every new-comer the same extravagantexpression of curiosity and regard. The singularity of his conduct,however, only roused my desire to discover who this remarkable personagemight be, who now engrossed the attention of every one.
Tinor placed before him a calabash of poee-poee, from which the strangerregaled himself, alternating every mouthful with some rapid exclamation,which was eagerly caught up and echoed by the crowd that completely filledthe house. When I observed the striking devotion of the natives to him,and their temporary withdrawal of all attention from myself, I felt not alittle piqued. The glory of Tommo is departed, thought I, and the soonerhe removes from the valley the better. These were my feelings at themoment, and they were prompted by that glorious principle inherent in allheroic natures--the strong-rooted determination to have the biggest shareof the pudding or to go without any of it.
Marnoo, this all-attractive personage, having satisfied his hunger, andinhaled a few whiffs from a pipe which was handed to him, launched outinto an harangue which completely enchained the attention of his auditors.
Little as I understood of the language, yet from his animated gestures andthe varying expression of his features--reflected as from so many mirrorsin the countenances around him--I could easily discover the nature of thosepassions which he sought to arouse. From the frequent recurrence of thewords, "Nukuheva" and "Franee" (French), and some others with the meaningof which I was acquainted, he appeared to be rehearsing to his auditorsevents which had recently occurred in the neighboring bays. But how he hadgained the knowledge of these matters, I could not understand, unless itwere that he had just come from Nukuheva,--a supposition which histravel-stained appearance not a little supported. But, if a native of thatregion, I could not account for his friendly reception at the hands of theTypees.
Never, certainly, had I beheld so powerful an exhibition of naturaleloquence as Marnoo displayed during the course of his oration. The graceof the attitudes into which he threw his flexible figure, the strikinggestures of his naked arms, and above all, the fire which shot from hisbrilliant eyes, imparted an effect to the continually-changing accents ofhis voice, of which the most accomplished orator might have been proud. Atone moment reclining sideways upon the mat, and leaning calmly upon hisbended arm, he related circumstantially th
e aggressions of theFrench--their hostile visit to the surrounding bays, enumerating each onein succession--Happar, Puerka, Nukuheva, Tior,--and then starting to hisfeet, and precipitating himself forward with clenched hands and acountenance distorted with passion, he poured out a tide of invectives.Falling back into an attitude of lofty command, he exhorted the Typees toresist these encroachments; reminding them, with a fierce glance ofexultation, that as yet the terror of their name had preserved them fromattack; and with a scornful sneer, he sketched in ironical terms thewondrous intrepidity of the French, who, with five war-canoes and hundredsof men, had not dared to assail the naked warriors of their valley.
The effect he produced upon his audience was electric; one and all theystood regarding him with sparkling eyes and trembling limbs, as thoughthey were listening to the inspired voice of a prophet.
But it soon appeared that Marnoo's powers were as versatile as they wereextraordinary. As soon as he had finished his vehement harangue, he threwhimself 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 uproariousdelight.
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 bypeals of laughter. To the females, as well as to the men, he addressed hisdiscourse. Heaven only knows what he said to them, but he caused smilesand blushes to mantle their ingenuous faces. I am, indeed, very muchinclined to believe that Marnoo, with his handsome person and captivatingmanners, 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. Heappeared, indeed, to be altogether unconscious of my presence. I wasutterly at a loss how to account for this extraordinary conduct, I easilyperceived that he was a man of no little consequence among the islanders;that he possessed uncommon talents; and was gifted with a higher degree ofknowledge than the inmates of the valley. For these reasons, I thereforegreatly feared lest, having, from some cause or other, unfriendly feelingstowards me, he might exert his powerful influence to do me mischief.
It seemed evident that he was not a permanent resident of the vale, andyet, whence could he have come? On all sides the Typees were girt in byhostile 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 additionalperplexities. The face, free from tattooing, and the unshaven crown, werepeculiarities I had never before remarked in any part of the island, and Ihad always heard that the contrary were considered the indispensabledistinctions of a Marquesan warrior. Altogether the matter was perfectlyincomprehensible to me, and I awaited its solution with no small degree ofanxiety.
At length, from certain indications, I suspected that he was making me thesubject of his remarks, although he appeared cautiously to avoid eitherpronouncing my name, or looking in the direction where I lay. All at oncehe rose from the mats where he had been reclining, and, still conversing,moved towards me, his eye purposely evading mine, and seated himselfwithin 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 thecourteous challenge, and, as soon as our palms met, he bent towards me,and murmured in musical accents,--"How you do? How long have you been inthis bay? You like this bay?"
Had I been pierced simultaneously by three Happar spears, I could not havestarted more than I did at hearing these simple questions. For a moment Iwas overwhelmed with astonishment, and then answered something, I know notwhat; but as soon as I regained my self-possession, the thought dartedthrough my mind that from this individual I might obtain that informationregarding Toby which I suspected the natives had purposely withheld fromme. Accordingly, I questioned him concerning the disappearance of mycompanion, but he denied all knowledge of the matter. I then inquired fromwhence he had come? He replied, from Nukuheva. When I expressed mysurprise, he looked at me for a moment, as if enjoying my perplexity, andthen, with his strange vivacity, exclaimed,--"Ah! me taboo,--me goNukuheva,--me go Tior,--me go Typee,--me go everywhere,--nobody harmme,--taboo."
This explanation would have been altogether unintelligible to me, had itnot recalled to my mind something I had previously heard concerning asingular custom among these islanders. Though the country is possessed byvarious tribes, whose mutual hostilities almost wholly preclude anyintercourse between them, yet there are instances where a person havingratified friendly relations with some individual belonging 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 othercircumstances, he would have been treated as an enemy. In this light arepersonal friendships regarded among them, and the individual so protectedis said to be "taboo" and his person, to a certain extent, is held assacred. Thus the stranger informed me he had access to all the valleys inthe island.
Curious to know how he had acquired his knowledge of English, I questionedhim on the subject. At first, for some reason or other, he evaded theinquiry, but afterwards told me that, when a boy, he had been carried tosea by the captain of a trading vessel, with whom he had stayed threeyears, living part of the time with him at Sydney, 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 thesavage had been wonderfully improved by his intercourse with the whitemen, and his partial knowledge of a foreign language gave him a greatascendancy over his less accomplished countrymen.
When I asked the now affable Marnoo why it was that he had not previouslyspoken to me, he eagerly inquired what I had been led to think of him fromhis conduct in that respect. I replied, that I had supposed him to be somegreat chief or warrior, who had seen plenty of white men before, and didnot think it worth while to notice a poor sailor. At this declaration ofthe exalted opinion I had formed of him, he appeared vastly gratified, andgave me to understand that he had purposely behaved in that manner, inorder to increase my astonishment, as soon as he should see proper toaddress me.
Marnoo now sought to learn my version of the story as to how I came to bean inmate of the Typee valley. When I related to him the circumstancesunder 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 mycomrade, he endeavoured to change the subject, as if it were something hedesired not to agitate. It seemed, indeed, as if everything connected withToby was destined to beget distrust and anxiety in my bosom.Notwithstanding Marnoo's denial of any knowledge of his fate, I could notavoid suspecting that he was deceiving me; and this suspicion revivedthose frightful apprehensions with regard to my own fate, which, for ashort time past, had subsided in my breast.
Influenced by these feelings, I now felt a strong desire to avail myselfof the stranger's protection, and under his safeguard to return toNukuheva. But as soon as I hinted at this, he unhesitatingly pronounced itto be entirely impracticable; assuring me that the Typees would neverconsent to my leaving the valley. Although what he said merely confirmedthe impression which I had before entertained, still it increased myanxiety to escape from a captivity, which, however endurable, nay,delightful it might be in some respects, involved in its issues a fatemarked by the most frightful contingencies.
I could not conceal from my mind that Toby had been treated in the samefriendly manner as I had been, and yet all their kindness terminated withhis mysterious disappearance. Might not the same fate await me?--a fate toodreadful to think of. Stimulated by these considerations, I urged anew myrequest to Marnoo; but he only set forth in stronger colours theimpossibility of my escape, and repeated his previous declaration, thatthe Typees would never be brought to consent to my departure.
When I endeavoured to learn from him the motives which prompt
ed them tohold me a prisoner, Marnoo again assumed that mysterious tone which hadtormented me with apprehensions when I had questioned him with regard tothe fate of my companion.
Thus repulsed, in a manner which only served, by arousing the mostdreadful forebodings, to excite me to renewed attempts, I conjured him tointercede for me with the natives, and endeavour to procure their consentto my leaving them. To this he appeared strongly averse; but, yielding atlast to my importunities, he addressed several of the chiefs, who with therest had been eyeing us intently during the whole of our conversation. Hispetition, however, was at once met with the most violent disapprobation,manifesting itself in angry glances and gestures, and a perfect torrent ofpassionate words, directed to both him and myself. Marnoo, evidentlyrepenting the step he had taken, earnestly deprecated the resentment ofthe crowd, and in a few moments succeeded in pacifying, to some extent,the clamours which had broken out as soon as his proposition had beenunderstood.
With the most intense interest had I watched the reception hisintercession might receive; and a bitter pang shot through my heart at theadditional evidence, now furnished, of the unchangeable determination ofthe islanders. Marnoo told me, with evident alarm in his countenance, thatalthough admitted into the bay on a friendly footing with its inhabitants,he could not presume to meddle with their concerns, as such a procedure,if persisted in, would at once absolve the Typees from the restraints ofthe "taboo," although so long as he refrained from any such conduct, itscreened him effectually from the consequences of the enmity they bore histribe.
At this moment, Mehevi, who was present, angrily interrupted him; and thewords which he uttered, in a commanding tone, evidently meant that he mustat once cease talking to me, and withdraw to the other part of the house.Marnoo immediately started up, hurriedly enjoining me not to address himagain, and, as I valued my safety, to refrain from all further allusion tothe subject of my departure; and then, in compliance with the order of thedetermined chief, but not before it had again been angrily repeated, hewithdrew to a distance.
I now perceived, with no small degree of apprehension, the same savageexpression in the countenances of the natives which had startled me duringthe scene at the Ti. They glanced their eyes suspiciously from Marnoo tome, 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 thebelief that already we had concerted measures calculated to elude theirvigilance.
The lively countenances of these people are wonderfully indicative of theemotions of the soul, and the imperfections of their oral language aremore than compensated for by the nervous eloquence of their looks andgestures. I could plainly trace, in every varying expression of theirfaces, all those passions which had been thus unexpectedly aroused intheir bosoms.
It required no reflection to convince me, from what was going on, that theinjunction of Marnoo was not to be rashly slighted; and accordingly, greatas was the effort to suppress my feelings, I accosted Mehevi in agood-humoured tone, with a view of dissipating any ill impression he mighthave received. But the ireful, angry chief was not so easily mollified. Herejected my advances with that peculiarly stern expression I have beforedescribed, and took care by the whole of his behaviour towards me to showthe displeasure and resentment which he felt.
Marnoo, at the other extremity of the house, apparently desirous of makinga diversion in my favour, exerted himself to amuse with his pleasantriesthe crowd about him; but his lively attempts were not so successful asthey had previously been, and, foiled in his efforts, he rose gravely todepart. No one expressed any regret at this movement, so seizing his rollof 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 aglance of mingled pity and reproach, and flung himself into the path whichled from the house. I watched his receding figure until it was lost in theobscurity of the grove, and then gave myself up to the most despondingreflections.