CHAPTER XV
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 numberlessproofs of kindness and respect which I received from the natives of thevalley, I can scarcely understand how it was that, in the midst of so manyconsolatory circumstances, my mind should still have been consumed by themost dismal forebodings, and have remained a prey to the profoundestmelancholy. It is true that the suspicious circumstances which hadattended the disappearance of Toby were enough of themselves to excitedistrust with regard to the savages, in whose power I felt myself to beentirely placed, especially when it was combined with the knowledge thatthese 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 temporaryenjoyment, was the mysterious disease in my leg, which still remainedunabated. All the herbal applications of Tinor, united with the severerdiscipline 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 enduredat intervals was agonizing. The unaccountable malady showed no signs ofamendment; on the contrary, its violence increased day by day, andthreatened the most fatal results, unless some powerful means wereemployed to counteract it. It seemed as if I were destined to sink underthis grievous affliction, or at least that it would hinder me fromavailing myself of any opportunity of escaping from the valley.
An incident which occurred as nearly as I can estimate about three weeksafter the disappearance of Toby, convinced me that the natives, from somereason or other, would interpose every possible obstacle to my leavingthem.
One morning there was no little excitement evinced by the people near myabode, and which I soon discovered proceeded from a vague report thatboats had been seen at a great distance approaching the bay. Immediatelyall was bustle and animation. It so happened that day that the pain Isuffered having somewhat abated, and feeling in much better spirits thanusual, I had complied with Kory-Kory's invitation to visit the chiefMehevi at the place called the "Ti," which I have before described asbeing situated within the precincts of the Taboo groves. These sacredrecesses were at no great distance from Marheyo's habitation, and laybetween it and the sea; the path that conducted to the beach passingdirectly in front of the Ti, and thence skirting along the border of thegroves.
I was reposing upon the mats, within the sacred building, in company withMehevi and several other chiefs, when the announcement was first made. Itsent a thrill of joy through my whole frame;--perhaps Toby was about toreturn. I rose at once to my feet, and my instinctive impulse was to hurrydown to the beach, equally regardless of the distance that separated mefrom it, and of my disabled condition. As soon as Mehevi noticed theeffect the intelligence had produced upon me, and the impatience Ibetrayed to reach the sea, his countenance assumed that inflexiblerigidity of expression which had so awed me on the afternoon of ourarrival at the house of Marheyo, As I was proceeding to leave the Ti, helaid his hand upon my shoulder, and said gravely, "abo, abo" (wait, wait).Solely intent upon the one thought that occupied my mind, and heedless ofhis request, I was brushing past him, when suddenly he reassumed a tone ofauthority, and told me to "moee" (sit down). Though struck by thealteration in his demeanour, the excitement under which I laboured was toostrong to permit me to obey the unexpected command, and I was stilllimping towards the edge of the pi-pi with Kory-Kory clinging to one armin his efforts to restrain me when the natives around me started to theirfeet, ranged themselves along the open front of the building, while Mehevilooked at me scowlingly, and reiterated his commands still more sternly.
It was at this moment, when fifty savage countenances were glaring uponme, that I first truly experienced I was indeed a captive in the valley.The conviction rushed upon me with staggering force, and I was overwhelmedby this confirmation of my worst fears. I saw at once that it was uselessfor me to resist, and sick at heart, I reseated myself upon the mats, andfor the moment abandoned myself to despair.
I now perceived the natives one after the other hurrying past the Ti andpursuing 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 Iwas in. No language can describe the wretchedness which I felt; and in thebitterness of my soul I imprecated a thousand curses on the perfidiousToby, who had thus abandoned me to destruction. It was in vain thatKory-Kory tempted me with food, or lighted my pipe, or sought to attractmy attention by performing the uncouth antics that had sometimes divertedme. I was fairly knocked down by this last misfortune, which, much as Ihad feared it, I had never before had the courage calmly to contemplate.
Regardless of everything but my own sorrow, I remained in the Ti forseveral hours, until shouts proceeding at intervals from the groves beyondthe house proclaimed the return of the natives from the beach.
Whether any boats visited the bay that morning or not, I never couldascertain. The savages assured me that there had not--but I was inclined tobelieve that by deceiving me in this particular they sought to allay theviolence of my grief. However that might be, this incident showed plainlythat the Typees intended to hold me a prisoner. As they still treated mewith the same sedulous attention as before, I was utterly at a loss how toaccount for their singular conduct. Had I been in a situation to instructthem in any of the rudiments of the mechanic arts, or had I manifested adisposition to render myself in any way useful among them, their conductmight have been attributed to some adequate motive, but as it was, thematter seemed to me inexplicable.
During my whole stay on the island there occurred but two or threeinstances where the natives applied to me with the view of availingthemselves of my superior information; and these now appear so ludicrousthat I cannot forbear relating them.
The few things we had brought from Nukuheva had been done up into a smallbundle which we had carried with us in our descent to the valley. Thisbundle, the first night of our arrival, I had used as a pillow, but on thesucceeding morning, opening it for the inspection of the natives, theygazed upon the miscellaneous contents as though I had just revealed tothem a casket of diamonds, and they insisted that so precious a treasureshould be properly secured. A line was accordingly attached to it, and theother end being passed over the ridge-pole of the house, it was hoisted upto the apex of the roof, where it hung suspended directly over the matswhere I usually reclined. When I desired anything from it I merely raisedmy finger to a bamboo beside me, and taking hold of the string which wasthere fastened, lowered the package. This was exceedingly handy, and Itook care to let the natives understand how much I applauded theinvention. 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 yardsof a 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 thevalley,--if, indeed, I ever should escape from it,--and considering that mywhole wardrobe consisted of a shirt and a pair of trousers, I resolved todoff these garments at once, in order to preserve them in a suitablecondition for wear, should I again appear among civilized beings. I wasconsequently obliged to assume the Typee costume, a little altered,however, to suit my own views of propriety, and in which I have no doubt Iappeared to as much advantage as a senator of Rome enveloped in the foldsof his toga. A few folds of yellow tappa, tucked about my waist, descendedto my feet in the style of a lady's petticoat, only I did not haverecourse to those voluminous paddings in the rear with which our gentledames are in the habit of augmenting the sublime rotundity of theirfigures. This usually comprised my in-door dress: whenever I walked out, Isuperadded to it an ample robe of the same material, which completelyenveloped my person, and screened it from the rays of the sun.
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nbsp; One morning I made a rent in this mantle; and to show the islanders withwhat facility it could be repaired, I lowered my bundle, and taking fromit a needle and thread, proceeded to stitch up the opening. They regardedthis wonderful application of science with intense admiration; and whilstI was stitching away, old Marheyo, who was one of the lookers-on, suddenlyclapped 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 haveprocured some time or other in traffic on the beach--and besought meeagerly to exercise a little of my art upon it. I willingly complied,though certainly so stumpy a needle as mine never took such giganticstrides over calico before. The repairs completed, old Marheyo gave me apaternal hug; and divesting himself of his "maro" (girdle), swathed thecalico about his loins, and slipping the beloved ornaments into his ears,grasped his spear and sallied out of the house, like a valiant Templararrayed in a new and costly suit of armour.
I never used my razor during my stay in the island, but, although a verysubordinate affair, it had been vastly admired by the Typees; andNarmonee, a great hero among them, who was exceedingly precise in thearrangements of his toilet and the general adjustment of his person, beingthe most accurately tattooed and laboriously horrified individual in allthe valley, thought it would be a great advantage to have it applied tothe already shaven crown of his head.
The implement they usually employ is a shark's tooth, which is about aswell adapted to the purpose as a one-pronged fork for pitching hay. Nowonder, then, that the acute Narmonee perceived the advantage my razorpossessed over the usual implement. Accordingly, one day, he requested asa personal favour, that I would just run over his head with the razor. Inreply, I gave him to understand that it was too dull, and could not beused to any purpose without being previously sharpened. To assist mymeaning, I went through an imaginary honing process on the palm of myhand. Narmonee took my meaning in an instant, and running out of thehouse, returned the next moment with a huge rough mass of rock as big as amillstone, 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 Ibegan scraping away at a great rate. He writhed and wriggled under theinfliction, but, fully convinced of my skill, endured the pain like amartyr.
Though I never saw Narmonee in battle, I will, from what I then observed,stake my life upon his courage and fortitude. Before commencingoperations, his head had presented a surface of short bristling hairs, andby the time I had concluded my unskilful operation it resembled not alittle a stubble field after being gone over with a harrow. However, asthe chief expressed the liveliest satisfaction at the result, I was toowise to dissent from his opinion.
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