CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
SWIMMING IN COMPANY WITH THE GIRLS OF THE VALLEY--A CANOE--EFFECTSOF THE TABOO--A PLEASURE EXCURSION ON THE POND--BEAUTIFUL FREAK OFFAYAWAY--MANTUA-MAKING--A STRANGER ARRIVES IN THE VALLEY--HIS MYSTERIOUSCONDUCT--NATIVE ORATORY--THE INTERVIEW--ITS RESULTS--DEPARTURE OF THESTRANGER
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 ofmy chief amusements. We sometimes enjoyed the recreation in the watersof a miniature lake, to which the central stream of the valley expanded.This lovely sheet of water was almost circular in figure, and aboutthree hundred yards across. Its beauty was indescribable. All aroundits banks waved luxuriant masses of tropical foliage, soaring high abovewhich were seen, here and there, the symmetrical shaft of the cocoanuttree, surmounted by its tufts of graceful branches, drooping in the airlike so many waving ostrich plumes.
The ease and grace with which the maidens of the valley propelledthemselves through the water, and their familiarity with the element,were truly astonishing. Sometimes they might be seen gliding along justunder the 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 todrag some of them under the water, but I quickly repented my temerity.The amphibious young creatures swarmed about me like a shoal ofdolphins, and seizing hold of my devoted limbs, tumbled me about andducked me under the surface, until from the strange noises which rang inmy ears, and the supernatural visions dancing before my eyes, I thoughtI was in the land of the spirits. I stood indeed as little chance amongthem 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 inevery direction, laughing at 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, underthe direction of the indefatigable Kory-Kory, brought up a light andtastefully carved canoe from the sea. It was launched upon the sheetof water, and floated there as gracefully as a swan. But, melancholy torelate, 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 theprohibition to the waters in which it lay.
For a few days, Kory-Kory, with one or two other youths, accompaniedme in my excursions to the lake, and while I paddled about in my lightcanoe, would swim after me shouting and gambolling in pursuit. But Ias ever partial to what is termed in the 'Young Men's Own Book'--'thesociety of virtuous and intelligent young ladies;' and in the absenceof the mermaids, the amusement became dull and insipid. One morningI expressed to my faithful servitor my desire for the return of thenymphs. The honest fellow looked at me bewildered for a moment, andthen shook his head solemnly, and murmured 'taboo! taboo!' giving me tounderstand that unless the canoe was removed I could not expect to havethe young ladies back again. But to this procedure I was averse; I notonly wanted the canoe to stay where it was, but I wanted the beauteousFayaway to get into it, and paddle with me about the lake. This latterproposition completely horrified Kory-Kory's notions of propriety. Heinveighed against it, as something too monstrous to be thought of. Itnot only shocked their established notions of propriety, but was atvariance with all their religious ordinances.
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 dissuade me from my object; butI was not to be repulsed; and accordingly increased the warmth of mysolicitations. At last he entered into a long, and I have no doubt avery learned 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,I have every reason to believe were of a theological nature. But allthat he said failed to convince me: partly, perhaps, because I could notcomprehend a word that he uttered; but chiefly, that for the life of meI could not understand why a woman would not have as much right toenter a canoe as a man. At last he became a little more rational, andintimated that, out of the abundant love he bore me, he would consultwith the priests and see what 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 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 timethe islanders 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 thewater, like so many ducks, while a parcel of great strapping fellowsskimmed over its surface in their canoes.
The first day after Fayaway's emancipation, I had a delightful littleparty on the lake--the damsels' Kory-Kory, and myself. My zealousbody-servant brought from the house a calabash of poee-poee, half adozen young cocoanuts--stripped of their husks--three pipes, as manyyams, and me on his back a part of the way. Something of a load; butKory-Kory was a very strong man for his size, and by no means brittle inthe spine. We had a very pleasant day; my trusty valet plied the paddleand swept us gently along the margin of the water, beneath the shadesof the overhanging thickets. Fayaway and I reclined in the stern ofthe canoe, on the very best terms possible with one another; the gentlenymph occasionally placing her pipe to her lip, 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 ofa choice cigarro!
But Fayaway, holding in her delicately formed olive hand the long yellowreed of her pipe, with its quaintly carved bowl, and every few momentslanguishingly giving forth light wreaths of vapour from her mouth andnostrils, 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 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 ofthe day. One side of it lay near the termination of a long graduallyexpanding gorge, which mounted to the heights that environed the vale.The strong trade wind, met in its course by these elevations, circledand eddied about their summits, and was sometimes driven down thesteep ravine and swept across the valley, ruffling in its passage theotherwise tranquil surface 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. AsI turned 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 knottedover her shoulder (for the purpose of shielding her from the sun), andspreading it out like a sail, stood erect with upraised arms in the headof the canoe. We American sailors pride ourselves upon our straight,clean spars, but a prettier little mast than Fayaway made was nevershipped aboard of any craft.
In a moment the tappa was distended by the breeze--the long browntresses of Fayaway str
eamed in the air--and the canoe glided rapidlythrough the water, and shot towards the shore. Seated in the stern, Idirected its course with my paddle until it dashed up the soft slopingbank, and Fayaway, with a light spring alighted on the ground; whilstKory-Kory, who had watched our manoeuvres with admiration, nowclapped his hands in transport, and shouted like a madman. Many a timeafterwards was this feat repeated.
If the reader has not observed ere this that I was the declared admirerof Miss Fayaway, all I can say is that he is little conversant withaffairs of the heart, and I certainly shall not trouble myself toenlighten him any farther. Out of the calico I had brought from the shipI 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 abovethe elbows, but my island beauty's began at the waist, and terminatedsufficiently far above the ground to reveal the most bewitching ankle inthe universe.
The day that Fayaway first wore this robe was rendered memorable by anew acquaintance being introduced to me. In the afternoon I was lyingin the house when I heard a great uproar outside; but being by this timepretty well accustomed to the wild halloos which were almost continuallyringing through the valley, I paid little attention to it, until oldMarheyo, under the influence of some strange excitement, rushed into mypresence and communicated the astounding tidings, 'Marnoo pemi!' whichbeing interpreted, implied that an individual by the name of Marnoo wasapproaching.
My worthy old friend evidently expected that this intelligence wouldproduce a great effect upon me, and for a time he stood earnestlyregarding me, as if curious to see how I should conduct myself, but asI remained perfectly unmoved, the old gentleman darted out of the houseagain, 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 thenatives are making;' the tumultuous noise drawing nearer and nearerevery moment, while 'Marnoo!--Marnoo!' was shouted by every tongue.
I made up my mind that some savage warrior of consequence, who hadnot yet enjoyed the honour of an audience, was desirous of paying hisrespects on the present occasion. So vain had I become by the lavishattention 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 moststriking specimens of humanity 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 a single hair's breadthtaller, the matchless symmetry of his form would have been destroyed.His unclad limbs were beautifully formed; whilst the elegant outline ofhis figure, together with his beardless cheeks, might have entitled himto the distinction of standing for the statue of the Polynesian Apollo;and indeed the oval of his countenance and the regularity of everyfeature reminded one of an antique bust. But the marble repose of artwas supplied by a warmth and liveliness of expression only to be seen inthe South Sea Islander under the most favourable developments of nature.The hair of Marnoo was a rich curling brown, and twined about histemples and neck in little close curling ringlets, which danced up anddown continually, when he was animated in conversation. His cheek wasof a feminine softness, and his face was free from the least blemishof tattooing, although the rest of his body was drawn all over withfanciful 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. Theartist employed must indeed have excelled in his profession. Tracedalong 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, werethe graceful branches drooping with leaves all correctly drawn andelaborately finished. Indeed the best specimen of the Fine Arts I hadyet seen in Typee. A rear view of the stranger might have suggested theidea of a spreading vine tacked against a garden wall. Upon his breast,arms and legs, were exhibited an infinite variety of figures; everyone 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 ofwhite tappa, scarcely two inches in width, but hanging before and behindin spreading tassels, composed the entire costume of the stranger.
He advanced surrounded by the islanders, carrying under one arm a smallroll of native cloth, and grasping in his other hand a long and richlydecorated spear. His manner was that of a traveller conscious that he isapproaching a comfortable stage in his journey. Every moment he turnedgood-humouredly on the throng around him, and gave some dashing sort ofreply to their incessant queries, which appeared to convulse them withuncontrollable mirth.
Struck by his demeanour, and the peculiarity of his appearance, sounlike that of the shaven-crowned and face-tattooed natives in general,I involuntarily rose as he entered the house, and proffered him a seaton the mats beside me. But without deigning to notice the civility, oreven the more incontrovertible fact of my existence, the stranger passedon, utterly regardless of me, and flung himself upon the further endof the long couch that traversed the sole apartment of Marheyo'shabitation.
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, shecould not have felt greater indignation than I did at this unexpectedslight.
I was thrown into utter astonishment. The conduct of the savages hadprepared me to anticipate from every newcomer the same extravagantexpressions 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 completelyfilled the house. When I observed the striking devotion of the nativesto him, and their temporary withdrawal of all attention from myself, Ifelt not a little piqued. The glory of Tommo is departed, thought I, andthe sooner he removes from the valley the better. These were my feelingsat the moment, and they were prompted by that glorious principleinherent in all heroic natures--the strong-rooted determination to havethe biggest share of the pudding or to go without any of it.
Marnoo, that all-attractive personage, having satisfied his hunger andinhaled a few whiffs from a pipe which was handed to him, launchedout into an harangue which completely enchained the attention of hisauditors.
Little as I understood of the language, yet from his animated gesturesand the varying expression of his features--reflected as from so manymirrors in the countenances around him, I could easily discover thenature of those passions which he sought to arouse. From the frequentrecurrence of the words 'Nukuheva' and 'Frannee' (French), and someothers with the meaning of which I was acquainted, he appeared to berehearsing to his auditors events which had recently occurred in theneighbouring bays. But how he had gained the knowledge of these mattersI could not understand, unless it were that he had just come fromNukuheva--a supposition which his travel-stained appearance not a littlesupported. But, if a native of that region, I could not account for hisfriendly reception at the hands of the Typees.
Never, certainly, had I beheld so powerful an exhibition of naturaleloquence as Marnoo displayed during the course of his oration. Thegrace of the attitudes into which he threw his flexible figure, thestriking gestures of his naked arms, and above all, the fire which shotfrom his brilliant eyes, imparted an effect to the continually changingaccents of his voice, of which the most accomplished orator might havebeen proud. At one moment reclining sideways upon the mat, and leaningcalmly upon his bended arm, he related circumstantially the aggressionsof the Fren
ch--their hostile visits to the surrounding bays, enumeratingeach one in succession--Happar, Puerka, Nukuheva, Tior,--and thenstarting to his feet and precipitating himself forward with clenchedhands and a countenance distorted with passion, he poured out a tide ofinvectives. Falling back into an attitude of lofty command, he exhortedthe Typees to resist these encroachments; reminding them, with a fierceglance of exultation, that as yet the terror of their name had preservedthem from attack, and with a scornful sneer he sketched in ironicalterms the wondrous intrepidity of the French, who, with five war-canoesand hundreds of men, had not dared to assail the naked warriors of theirvalley.
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 theywere extraordinary. As soon as he had finished his vehement harangue, hethrew himself again upon the mats, and, singling out individuals in thecrowd, addressed them by name, in a sort of bantering style, the humourof which, though nearly hidden from me filled the whole assembly withuproarious 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 followedby peals of laughter. To the females as well as to the men, he addressedhis discourse. Heaven only knows what he said to them, but he causedsmiles and blushes to mantle their ingenuous faces. I am, indeed, verymuch inclined to believe that Marnoo, with his handsome person andcaptivating manners, was a sad deceiver among the simple maidens of theisland.
During all this time he had never, for one moment, deigned to regard me.He appeared, indeed, to be altogether unconscious of my presence. Iwas utterly at a loss how to account for this extraordinary conduct. Ieasily perceived that he was a man of no little consequence among theislanders; that he possessed uncommon talents; and was gifted with ahigher degree of knowledge than the inmates of the valley. For thesereasons, I therefore greatly feared lest having, from some cause orother, unfriendly feelings towards me, he might exert his powerfulinfluence 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,were peculiarities I had never before remarked in any part of theisland, and I had always heard that the contrary were considered theindispensable distinction of a Marquesan warrior. Altogether the matterwas perfectly incomprehensible to me, and I awaited its solution with nosmall degree of anxiety.
At length, from certain indications, I suspected that he was making methe subject of his remarks, although he appeared cautiously to avoideither pronouncing my name, or looking in the direction where I lay. Allat once he rose from the mats where he had been reclining, and, stillconversing, moved towards me, his eye purposely evading mine, and seatedhimself within less than a yard of me. I had hardly recovered from mysurprise, when he suddenly turned round, and, with a most benignantcountenance extended his right hand gracefully towards me. Of course Iaccepted the courteous challenge, and, as soon as our palms met, he benttowards me, and murmured in musical accents--'How you do?' 'How long youbeen in this bay?' 'You like this bay?'
Had I been pierced simultaneously by three Happar spears, I could nothave started more than I did at hearing these simple questions. For amoment I was overwhelmed with astonishment, and then answered somethingI know not what; but as soon as I regained my self-possession, thethought darted through my mind that from this individual I might obtainthat information regarding Toby which I suspected the natives hadpurposely withheld from me. Accordingly I questioned him concerningthe disappearance of my companion, but he denied all knowledge ofthe matter. I then inquired from whence he had come? He replied, fromNukuheva. 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 goTypee,--me go everywhere,--nobody harm me,--me taboo.'
This explanation would have been altogether unintelligible to me, hadit not recalled to my mind something I had previously heard concerninga singular custom among these islanders. Though the country is possessedby various tribes, whose mutual hostilities almost wholly prelude anyintercourse between them; yet there are instances where a person havingratified friendly relations with some individual belonging longing tothe valley, whose inmates are at war with his own, may, under particularrestrictions, venture with impunity into the country of his friend,where, under other circumstances, he would have been treated as anenemy. In this light are personal friendships regarded among them, andthe individual so protected is said to be 'taboo', and his person, to acertain extent, is held as sacred. Thus the stranger informed me he hadaccess to all the valleys in the island.
Curious to know how he had acquired his knowledge of English, Iquestioned him on the subject. At first, for some reason or other, heevaded the inquiry, but afterwards told me that, when a boy, he hadbeen carried to sea by the captain of a trading vessel, with whom hehad stayed three years, living part of the time with him at Sidney inAustralia, and that at a subsequent visit to the island, the captainhad, at his own request, permitted him to remain among his countrymen.The natural quickness of the savage had been wonderfully improved by hisintercourse with the white men, and his partial knowledge of a foreignlanguage gave him a great ascendancy over his less accomplishedcountrymen.
When I asked the now affable Marnoo why it was that he had notpreviously spoken to me, he eagerly inquired what I had been led tothink of him from his conduct in that respect. I replied, that I hadsupposed him to be some great chief or warrior, who had seen plentyof white men before, and did not think it worth while to notice a poorsailor. At this declaration of the exalted opinion I had formed of him,he appeared vastly gratified, and gave me to understand that he hadpurposely 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 cameto be an inmate of the Typee valley. When I related to him thecircumstances under which Toby and I had entered it, he listenedwith evident interest; but as soon as I alluded to the absence, yetunaccounted for, of my comrade, he endeavoured to change the subject, asif it were something he desired not to agitate. It seemed, indeed, asif everything connected with Toby was destined to beget distrust andanxiety in my bosom. Notwithstanding Marnoo's denial of any knowledgeof his fate, I could not avoid suspecting that he was deceiving me; andthis suspicion revived those frightful apprehensions with regard to myown fate, which, for a short 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 pronouncedit to 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 increasedmy anxiety 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 terminatedwith his mysterious disappearance. Might not the same fate await me?--afate too dreadful to think of. Stimulated by these considerations,I urged anew my request to Marnoo; but he only set forth in strongercolours the impossibility of my escape, and repeated his previousdeclaration that the Typees would never be brought to consent to mydeparture.
When I endeavoured to learn from him the motives which prompted them tohold me a prisoner, M
arnoo again presumed that mysterious tone which hadtormented me with apprehension 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 himto intercede for me with the natives, and endeavour to procure theirconsent to my leaving them. To this he appeared strongly averse; but,yielding at last to my importunities, he addressed several of thechiefs, who with the rest had been eyeing us intently during the wholeof our conversation. His petition, however, was at once met with themost violent disapprobation, manifesting itself in angry glances andgestures, and a perfect torrent of passionate words, directed to bothhim and myself. Marnoo, evidently repenting the step he had taken,earnestly deprecated the resentment of the crowd, and, in a few momentssucceeded in pacifying to some extent the clamours which had broken outas soon as his proposition had been understood.
With the most intense interest had I watched the reception hisintercession might receive; and a bitter pang shot through my heartat the additional evidence, now furnished, of the unchangeabledetermination of the islanders. Marnoo told me with evident alarm in hiscountenance, that although admitted into the bay on a friendly footingwith its inhabitants, he could not presume to meddle with theirconcerns, as such procedure, if persisted in, would at once absolvethe Typees from the restraints of the 'taboo', although so long ashe refrained from such conduct, it screened him effectually from theconsequences of the enmity they bore his tribe. At this moment, Mehevi,who was present, angrily interrupted him; and the words which he utteredin a commanding tone, evidently meant that he must at once cease talkingto me and withdraw to the other part of the house. Marnoo immediatelystarted up, hurriedly enjoining me not to address him again, and as Ivalued my safety, to refrain from all further allusion to the subject ofmy departure; and then, in compliance with the order of the determinedchief, but not before it had again been angrily repeated, he withdrew toa distance.
I now perceived, with no small degree of apprehension, the same savageexpression in the countenances of the natives, which had startled meduring the scene at the Ti. They glanced their eyes suspiciously fromMarnoo 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 toharbour the belief that already we had concerted measures calculated toelude their vigilance.
The lively countenances of these people are wonderfully indicative ofthe emotions of the soul, and the imperfections of their oral languageare more than compensated for by the nervous eloquence of their looksand gestures. I could plainly trace, in every varying expression oftheir faces, all those passions which had been thus unexpectedly arousedin their bosoms.
It required no reflection to convince me, from what was going on, thatthe injunction of Marnoo was not to be rashly slighted; and accordingly,great as was the effort to suppress my feelings, I accosted Mehevi ina good-humoured tone, with a view of dissipating any ill impressionhe might have received. But the ireful, angry chief was not so easilymollified. He rejected my advances with that peculiarly stern expressionI have before described, and took care by the whole of his behaviourtowards me to show the displeasure and resentment which he felt.
Marnoo, at the other extremity of the house, apparently desirous ofmaking a diversion in my favour, exerted himself to amuse with hispleasantries the crowd about him; but his lively attempts were not sosuccessful as they had previously been, and, foiled in his efforts, herose gravely to depart. No one expressed any regret at this movement,so seizing his roll of tappa, and grasping his spear, he advanced tothe front of the pi-pi, and waving his hand in adieu to the now silentthrong, cast upon me a glance of mingled pity and reproach, and flunghimself into the path which led from the house. I watched his recedingfigure until it was lost in the obscurity of the grove, and then gavemyself up to the most desponding reflections.
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