Typee: A Romance of the South Seas

by Herman Melville

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  OFFICIOUSNESS OF KORY-KORY--HIS DEVOTION--A BATH IN THE STREAM--WANTOF REFINEMENT OF THE TYPEE DAMSELS--STROLL WITH MEHEVI--A TYPEEHIGHWAY--THE TABOO GROVES--THE HOOLAH HOOLAH GROUND--THE TI--TIMEWORNSAVAGES--HOSPITALITY OF MEHEVI--MIDNIGHT MUSINGS--ADVENTURES IN THEDARK--DISTINGUISHED HONOURS PAID TO THE VISITORS--STRANGE PROCESSION ANDRETURN TO THE HOUSE OF MARHEYO

  WHEN Mehevi had departed from the house, as related in the precedingchapter, 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, ofcourse, most earnestly objected, but in vain; and having laid a calabashof kokoo before me, he washed his fingers in a vessel of water, and thenputting his hands into the dish and rolling the food into little balls,put them one after another into my mouth. All my remonstrances againstthis measure only provoked so great a clamour on his part, that Iwas obliged to acquiesce; and the operation of feeding being thusfacilitated, the meal was quickly despatched. As for Toby, he wasallowed to help himself after his own fashion.

  The repast over, my attendant arranged the mats for repose, and, biddingme lie down, covered me with a large robe of tappa, at the same timelooking approvingly upon me, and exclaiming 'Ki-Ki, nuee nuee, ah! moeemoee motarkee' (eat plenty, ah! sleep very good). The philosophy ofthis sentiment I did not pretend to question; for deprived of sleep forseveral preceding nights, and the pain of my limb having much abated, Inow felt inclined to avail myself of the opportunity afforded me.

  The next morning, on waking, I found Kory-Kory stretched out on one sideof me, while my companion lay upon the other. I felt sensibly refreshedafter a night of sound repose, and immediately agreed to the propositionof my valet that I should repair to the water and wash, althoughdreading the suffering that the exertion might produce. From thisapprehension, however, I was quickly relieved; for Kory-Kory, leapingfrom the pi-pi, and then backing himself up against it, like a porterin readiness to shoulder a trunk, with loud vociferations and asuperabundance of gestures, gave me to understand that I was to mountupon his back and be thus transported to the stream, which flowedperhaps two hundred yards from the house.

  Our appearance upon the verandah in front of the habitation drewtogether quite a crowd, who stood looking on and conversing with oneanother in the most animated manner. They reminded one of a group ofidlers gathered about the door of a village tavern when the equipageof some distinguished traveller is brought round previously to hisdeparture. As soon as I clasped my arms about the neck of the devotedfellow, and he jogged off with me, the crowd--composed chiefly of younggirls and boys--followed after, shouting and capering with infiniteglee, and accompanied us to the banks of the stream.

  On gaining it, Kory-Kory, wading up to his hips in the water, carried mehalf way across, and deposited me on a smooth black stone which rose afew inches above the surface. The amphibious rabble at our heels plungedin after us, and climbing to the summit of the grass-grown rocks withwhich the bed of the brook was here and there broken, waited curiouslyto witness our morning ablutions.

  Somewhat embarrassed by the presence of the female portion of thecompany, and feeling my cheeks burning with bashful timidity, I formeda primitive basin by joining my hands together, and cooled my blushesin the water it contained; then removing my frock, bent over and washedmyself down to my waist in the stream. As soon as Kory-Kory comprehendedfrom my motions that this was to be the extent of my performance, heappeared perfectly aghast with astonishment, and rushing towards me,poured out a torrent of words in eager deprecation of so limited anoperation, enjoining me by unmistakable signs to immerse my whole body.To this I was forced to consent; and the honest fellow regarding me as afroward, inexperienced child, whom it was his duty to serve at the riskof offending, lifted me from the rocks, and tenderly bathed my limbs.This over, and resuming my seat, I could not avoid bursting intoadmiration 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 duckingbeneath the surface in all directions--the young girls springingbuoyantly into the air, and revealing their naked forms to the waist,with their long tresses dancing about their shoulders, their eyessparkling like drops of dew in the sun, and their gay laughter pealingforth at every frolicsome incident. On the afternoon of the day that Itook 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 quiteas cordial in his manner as before. After remaining about an hour, herose from the mats, and motioning to leave the house, invited Toby andmyself to accompany him. I pointed to my leg; but Mehevi in his turnpointed to Kory-Kory, and removed that objection; so, mounting upon thefaithful fellow's shoulders again--like the old man of the sea astrideof Sindbad--I followed after the chief.

  The nature of the route we now pursued struck me more forcibly thananything I had yet seen, as illustrating the indolent disposition ofthe islanders. The path was obviously the most beaten one in thevalley, several others leading from each side into it, and perhaps forsuccessive generations it had formed the principal avenue of the place.And yet, until I grew more familiar with its impediments, it seemed asdifficult to travel as the recesses of a wilderness. Part of it sweptaround an abrupt rise of ground, the surface of which was broken byfrequent inequalities, and thickly strewn with projecting masses ofrocks, whose summits were often hidden from view by the drooping foliageof the luxurious vegetation. Sometimes directly over, sometimes evadingthese obstacles with a wide circuit, the path wound along;--one momentclimbing over a sudden eminence smooth with continued wear, thendescending on the other side into a steep glen, and crossing the flintychannel of a brook. Here it pursued the depths of a glade, occasionallyobliging you to stoop beneath vast horizontal branches; and now youstepped over huge trunks and boughs that lay rotting across the track.

  Such was the grand thoroughfare of Typee. After proceeding a littledistance along it--Kory-Kory panting and blowing with the weight ofhis burden--I dismounted from his back, and grasping the long spear ofMehevi in my hand, assisted my steps over the numerous obstacles ofthe road; preferring this mode of advance to one which, from thedifficulties of the way, was equally painful to myself and my weariedservitor.

  Our journey was soon at an end; for, scaling a sudden height, we cameabruptly upon the place of our destination. I wish that it were possibleto sketch in words this spot as vividly as I recollect it.

  Here were situated the Taboo groves of the valley--the scene of many aprolonged feast, of many a horrid rite. Beneath the dark shadows ofthe consecrated bread-fruit trees there reigned a solemn twilight--acathedral-like gloom. The frightful genius of pagan worship seemed tobrood in silence over the place, breathing its spell upon every objectaround. Here and there, in the depths of these awful shades, halfscreened from sight by masses of overhanging foliage, rose theidolatrous altars of the savages, built of enormous blocks of black andpolished stone, placed one upon another, without cement, to the heightof twelve or fifteen feet, and surmounted by a rustic open temple,enclosed with a low picket of canes, within which might be seen, invarious stages of decay, offerings of bread-fruit and cocoanuts, and theputrefying relics of some recent sacrifice.

  In the midst of the wood was the hallowed 'Hoolah Hoolah' ground--setapart for the celebration of the fantastical religious ritual of thesepeople--comprising an extensive oblong pi-pi, terminating at either endin a lofty terraced altar, guarded by ranks of hideous wooden idols, andwith the two remaining sides flanked by ranges of bamboo sheds, openingtowards the interior of the quadrangle thus formed. Vast trees, standingin the middle of this space, and throwing over it an umbrageous shade,had their massive trunks built round with slight stages, elevated a fewfeet above the ground, and railed in with canes, forming so many rusticpulpits, from which the priests harangued their devotees.

  This holiest of spots was defended from profanation by the strict
estedicts of the all-pervading 'taboo', which condemned to instant deaththe sacrilegious female who should enter or touch its sacred precincts,or even so much as press with her feet the ground made holy by theshadows that it cast.

  Access was had to the enclosure through an embowered entrance, on oneside, facing a number of towering cocoanut trees, planted at intervalsalong a level area of a hundred yards. At the further extremity of thisspace was to be seen a building of considerable size, reserved for thehabitation of the priests and religious attendants of the groves.

  In its vicinity was another remarkable edifice, built as usual upon thesummit of a pi-pi, and at least two hundred feet in length, though notmore than twenty in breadth. The whole front of this latter structurewas completely open, and from one end to the other ran a narrowverandah, fenced in on the edge of the pi-pi with a picket of canes.Its interior presented the appearance of an immense lounging place, theentire floor being strewn with successive layers of mats, lying betweenparallel trunks of cocoanut trees, selected for the purpose from thestraightest 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 ofthe natives of both sexes; but as soon as we approached its vicinity,the females gradually separated themselves from the crowd, and standingaloof, permitted us to pass on. The merciless prohibitions of thetaboo extended likewise to this edifice, and were enforced by thesame dreadful penalty that secured the Hoolah-Hoolah ground from theimaginary pollution of a woman's presence.

  On entering the house, I was surprised to see six muskets ranged againstthe bamboo on one side, from the barrels of which depended as many smallcanvas pouches, partly filled with powder.

  Disposed about these muskets, like the cutlasses that decorate thebulkhead of a man-of-war's cabin, were a great variety of rude spearsand paddles, javelins, and war-clubs. This then, said I to Toby, must bethe armoury of the tribe.

  As we advanced further along the building, we were struck with theaspect of four or five hideous old wretches, on whose decrepit formstime and tattooing seemed to have obliterated every trace of humanity.Owing to the continued operation of this latter process, which onlyterminates among the warriors of the island after all the figuresstretched upon their limbs in youth have been blended together--aneffect, however, produced only in cases of extreme longevity--the bodiesof these men were of a uniform dull green colour--the hue which thetattooing gradually assumes as the individual advances in age. Theirskin had a frightful scaly appearance, which, united with its singularcolour, made their limbs not a little resemble dusty specimens ofverde-antique. Their flesh, in parts, hung upon them in huge folds, likethe overlapping plaits on the flank of a rhinoceros. Their heads werecompletely bald, whilst their faces were puckered into a thousandwrinkles, and they presented no vestige of a beard. But the mostremarkable peculiarity about them was the appearance of their feet;the toes, like the radiating lines of the mariner's compass, pointedto every quarter of the horizon. This was doubtless attributable tothe fact, that during nearly a hundred years of existence the said toesnever had been subjected to any artificial confinement, and in theirold age, being averse to close neighbourhood, bid one another keep openorder.

  These repulsive-looking creatures appeared to have lost the use of theirlower limbs altogether; sitting upon the floor cross-legged in a stateof torpor. They never heeded us in the least, scarcely looking consciousof our presence, while Mehevi seated us upon the mats, and Kory-Korygave utterance to some unintelligible gibberish.

  In a few moments a boy entered with a wooden trencher of poee-poee; andin regaling myself with its contents I was obliged again to submit tothe officious intervention of my indefatigable servitor. Various otherdishes followed, the chief manifesting the most hospitable importunityin 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 tomouth, and yielding to its soporific influence, the quiet of the place,and the deepening shadows of approaching night, my companion and I sankinto a kind of drowsy repose, while the chief and Kory-Kory seemed to beslumbering beside us.

  I awoke from an uneasy nap, about midnight, as I supposed; and, raisingmyself partly from the mat, became sensible that we were envelopedin utter darkness. Toby lay still asleep, but our late companions haddisappeared. The only sound that interrupted the silence of the placewas the asthmatic breathing of the old men I have mentioned, who reposedat 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 awhispered conference concerning the unexpected withdrawal of the nativeswhen all at once, from the depths of the grove, in full view of uswhere we lay, shoots of flame were seen to rise, and in a few momentsilluminated the surrounding trees, casting, by contrast, into stilldeeper gloom the darkness around us.

  While we continued gazing at this sight, dark figures appeared movingto 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, Isaid 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 bekicking 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 thiskind of style during the last three days, unless it were for somethingthat you are too much frightened at to talk about? Look at thatKory-Kory there!--has he not been stuffing you with his confoundedmushes, just in the way they treat swine before they kill them? Dependupon it, we will be eaten this blessed night, and there is the fire weshall be roasted by.'

  This view of the matter was not at all calculated to allay myapprehensions, and I shuddered when I reflected that we were indeed atthe mercy of a tribe of cannibals, and that the dreadful contingencyto which Toby had alluded was by no means removed beyond the bounds ofpossibility.

  'There! I told you so! they are coming for us!' exclaimed my companionthe next moment, as the forms of four of the islanders were seen inbold relief against the illuminated back-ground mounting the pi-pi andapproaching towards us.

  They came on noiselessly, nay stealthily, and glided along through thegloom that surrounded us as if about to spring upon some object theywere fearful of disturbing before they should make sure of it.--Graciousheaven! the horrible reflections which crowded upon me that moment.--Acold sweat stood upon my brow, and spell-bound with terror I awaited myfate!

  Suddenly the silence was broken by the well-remembered tones of Mehevi,and at the kindly accents of his voice my fears were immediatelydissipated. 'Tommo, Toby, ki ki!' (eat). He had waited to address us,until he had assured himself that we were both awake, at which he seemedsomewhat surprised.

  'Ki ki! is it?' said Toby in his gruff tones; 'Well, cook us first, willyou--but what's this?' he added, as another savage appeared, bearingbefore him a large trencher of wood containing some kind of steamingmeat, as appeared from the odours it diffused, and which he deposited atthe feet of Mehevi. 'A baked baby, I dare say I but I will have noneof 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 oneof these mornings!--No, I see what they are at very plainly, so I amresolved 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 notgoing to eat any of that mess th
ere, in the dark, are you? Why, how canyou tell what it is?'

  'By tasting it, to be sure,' said I, masticating a morsel that Kory-Koryhad just put in my mouth, 'and excellently good it is, too, very muchlike veal.'

  'A baked baby, by the soul of Captain Cook!' burst forth Toby, withamazing vehemence; 'Veal? why there never was a calf on the islandtill you landed. I tell you you are bolting down mouthfuls from a deadHappar'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 Iresolved to satisfy myself at all hazards; and turning to Mehevi, I soonmade the ready chief understand that I wished a light to be brought.When the taper came, I gazed eagerly into the vessel, and recognized themutilated remains of a juvenile porker! 'Puarkee!' exclaimed Kory-Kory,looking complacently at the dish; and from that day to this I have neverforgotten that such is the designation of a pig in the Typee lingo.

  The next morning, after being again abundantly feasted by the hospitableMehevi, Toby and myself arose to depart. But the chief requested us topostpone our intention. 'Abo, abo' (Wait, wait), he said and accordinglywe resumed our seats, while, assisted by the zealous Kory-Kory, heappeared to be engaged in giving directions to a number of the nativesoutside, who were busily employed in making arrangements, the natureof which we could not comprehend. But we were not left long in ourignorance, for a few moments only had elapsed, when the chief beckonedus to approach, and we perceived that he had been marshalling a kind ofguard of honour to escort us on our return to the house of Marheyo.

  The procession was led off by two venerable-looking savages, eachprovided with a spear, from the end of which streamed a pennon ofmilk-white tappa. After them went several youths, bearing aloftcalabashes of poee-poee, and followed in their turn by four stalwartfellows, sustaining long bamboos, from the tops of which hungsuspended, at least twenty feet from the ground, large baskets ofgreen bread-fruits. Then came a troop of boys, carrying bunches of ripebananas, and baskets made of the woven leaflets of cocoanut boughs,filled with the young fruit of the tree, the naked shells stripped oftheir husks peeping forth from the verdant wicker-work that surroundedthem. Last of all came a burly islander, holding over his head a woodentrencher, 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 atits grotesque appearance, and the associations it naturally calledup. Mehevi, it seemed, was bent on replenishing old Marheyo's larder,fearful perhaps that without this precaution his guests might not fareas 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, carriedby Kory-Kory, and occasionally relieving him from his burden by limpingalong with spear. When we moved off in this order, the natives struckup a musical recitative, which with various alternations, they continueduntil we arrived at the place of our destination.

  As we proceeded on our way, bands of young girls, darting from thesurrounding groves, hung upon our skirts, and accompanied us with shoutsof merriment and delight, which almost drowned the deep notes of therecitative. On approaching old Marheyo's domicile, its inmates rushedout to receive us; and while the gifts of Mehevi were being disposed of,the superannuated warrior did the honours of his mansion with all thewarmth of hospitality evinced by an English squire when he regales hisfriends at some fine old patrimonial mansion.