CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
THE ESCAPE
NEARLY three weeks had elapsed since the second visit of Marnoo, and itmust have been more than four months since I entered the valley, whenone day about noon, and whilst everything was in profound silence,Mow-Mow, the one-eyed chief, suddenly appeared at the door, and leaningtowards me as I lay directly facing him, said in a low tone, 'Toby pemiena' (Toby has arrived here). Gracious heaven! What a tumult of emotionsrushed upon me at this startling intelligence! Insensible to the painthat had before distracted me, I leaped to my feet, and called wildlyto Kory-Kory who was reposing by my side. The startled islanders sprangfrom their mats; the news was quickly communicated to them; and thenext moment I was making my way to the Ti on the back of Kory-Kory; andsurrounded by the excited savages.
All that I could comprehend of the particulars which Mow-Mow rehearsedto his audience as we proceeded, was that my long-lost companion hadarrived in a boat which had just entered the bay. These tidings mademe most anxious to be carried at once to the sea, lest some untowardcircumstance should prevent our meeting; but to this they would notconsent, and continued their course towards the royal abode. As weapproached it, Mehevi and several chiefs showed themselves from thepiazza, and called upon us loudly to come to them.
As soon as we had approached, I endeavoured to make them understand thatI was going down to the sea to meet Toby. To this the king objected, andmotioned Kory-Kory to bring me into the house. It was in vain to resist;and in a few moments I found myself within the Ti, surrounded by a noisygroup engaged in discussing the recent intelligence. Toby's name wasfrequently repeated, coupled with violent exclamations of astonishment.It seemed as if they yet remained in doubt with regard to the fact ofhis arrival, at at every fresh report that was brought from the shorethey betrayed the liveliest emotions.
Almost frenzied at being held in this state of suspense, I passionatelybesought Mehevi to permit me to proceed. Whether my companion hadarrived or not, I felt a presentiment that my own fate was about to bedecided. Again and again I renewed my petition to Mehevi. He regarded mewith a fixed and serious eye, but at length yielding to my importunity,reluctantly granted my request.
Accompanied by some fifty of the natives, I now rapidly continued myjourney; every few moments being transferred from the back of oneto another, and urging my bearer forward all the while with earnestentreaties. As I thus hurried forward, no doubt as to the truth of theinformation I had received ever crossed my mind.
I was alive only to the one overwhelming idea, that a chance ofdeliverance was now afforded me, if the jealous opposition of thesavages could be overcome.
Having been prohibited from approaching the sea during the whole of mystay in the valley, I had always associated with it the idea of escape.Toby too--if indeed he had ever voluntarily deserted me--must haveeffected this flight by the sea; and now that I was drawing near toit myself, I indulged in hopes which I had never felt before. It wasevident that a boat had entered the bay, and I saw little reason todoubt the truth of the report that it had brought my companion. Everytime therefore that we gained an elevation, I looked eagerly around,hoping to behold him. In the midst of an excited throng, who by theirviolent gestures and wild cries appeared to be under the influence ofsome excitement as strong as my own, I was now borne along at a rapidtrot, frequently stooping my head to avoid the branches which crossedthe path, and never ceasing to implore those who carried me toaccelerate their already swift pace.
In this manner we had proceeded about four or five miles, when we weremet by a party of some twenty islanders, between whom and those whoaccompanied me ensued an animated conference. Impatient of the delayoccasioned by this interruption, I was beseeching the man who carried meto proceed without his loitering companions, when Kory-Kory, runningto my side, informed me, in three fatal words, that the news had allproved, false--that Toby had not arrived--'Toby owlee pemi'. Heaven onlyknows how, in the state of mind and body I then was, I ever sustainedthe agony which this intelligence caused me; not that the news wasaltogether unexpected; but I had trusted that the fact might not havebeen made known until we should have arrived upon the beach. As it was,I at once foresaw the course the savages would pursue. They had onlyyielded thus far to my entreaties, that I might give a joyful welcome tomy long-lost comrade; but now that it was known he had not arrived theywould at once oblige me to turn back.
My anticipations were but too correct. In spite of the resistance Imade, they carried me into a house which was near the spot, and left meupon the mats. Shortly afterwards several of those who had accompaniedme from the Ti, detaching themselves from the others, proceeded inthe direction of the sea. Those who remained--among whom were Marheyo,Mow-Mow, Kory-Kory, and Tinor--gathered about the dwelling, and appearedto be awaiting their return.
This convinced me that strangers--perhaps some of my own countrymen--hadfor some cause or other entered the bay. Distracted at the idea of theirvicinity, and reckless of the pain which I suffered, I heeded not theassurances of the islanders, that there were no boats at the beach, butstarting to my feet endeavoured to gain the door. Instantly the passagewas blocked up by several men, who commanded me to resume my seat. Thefierce looks of the irritated savages admonished me that I could gainnothing by force, and that it was by entreaty alone that I could hope tocompass my object.
Guided by this consideration, I turned to Mow-Mow, the only chiefpresent whom I had been much in the habit of seeing, and carefullyconcealing, my real design, tried to make him comprehend that I stillbelieved Toby to have arrived on the shore, and besought him to allow meto go forward to welcome him.
To all his repeated assertions, that my companion had not been seen,I pretended to turn a deaf ear, while I urged my solicitations with aneloquence of gesture which the one-eyed chief appeared unable to resist.He seemed indeed to regard me as a forward child, to whose wishes he hadnot the heart to oppose force, and whom he must consequently humour. Hespoke a few words to the natives, who at once retreated from the door,and I immediately passed out of the house.
Here I looked earnestly round for Kory-Kory; but that hitherto faithfulservitor was nowhere to be seen. Unwilling to linger even for a singleinstant when every moment might be so important, I motioned to amuscular fellow near me to take me upon his back; to my surprise heangrily refused. I turned to another, but with a like result. A thirdattempt was as unsuccessful, and I immediately perceived what hadinduced Mow-Mow to grant my request, and why the other natives conductedthemselves in so strange a manner. It was evident that the chief hadonly given me liberty to continue my progress towards the sea, becausehe supposed that I was deprived of the means of reaching it.
Convinced by this of their determination to retain me a captive, Ibecame desperate; and almost insensible to the pain which I suffered,I seized a spear which was leaning against the projecting eaves of thehouse, and supporting myself with it, resumed the path that swept bythe dwelling. To my surprise, I was suffered to proceed alone; allthe natives remaining in front of the house, and engaging in earnestconversation, which every moment became more loud and vehement; and tomy unspeakable delight, I perceived that some difference of opinionhad arisen between them; that two parties, in short, were formed, andconsequently that in their divided counsels there was some chance of mydeliverance.
Before I had proceeded a hundred yards I was again surrounded by thesavages, who were still in all the heat of argument, and appeared everymoment as if they would come to blows. In the midst of this tumultold Marheyo came to my side, and I shall never forget the benevolentexpression of his countenance. He placed his arm upon my shoulder, andemphatically pronounced the only two English words I had taught him'Home' and 'Mother'. I at once understood what he meant, and eagerlyexpressed my thanks to him. Fayaway and Kory-Kory were by his side, bothweeping violently; and it was not until the old man had twice repeatedthe command that his son could bring himself to obey him, and take meagain upon his back. The one-eyed chief opposed his doing so, but he
wasoverruled, and, as it seemed to me, by some of his own party.
We proceeded onwards, and never shall I forget the ecstasy I felt when Ifirst heard the roar of the surf breaking upon the beach. Before longI saw the flashing billows themselves through the opening between thetrees. Oh glorious sight and sound of ocean! with what rapture did Ihail you as familiar friends! By this time the shouts of the crowdupon the beach were distinctly audible, and in the blended confusionof sounds I almost fancied I could distinguish the voices of my owncountrymen.
When we reached the open space which lay between the groves and the sea,the first object that met my view was an English whale-boat, lying withher bow pointed from the shore, and only a few fathoms distant from it.It was manned by five islanders, dressed in shirt tunics of calico. Myfirst impression was that they were in the very act of pulling out fromthe bay; and that, after all my exertions, I had come too late. My soulsunk within me: but a second glance convinced me that the boat was onlyhanging off to keep out of the surf; and the next moment I heard my ownname shouted out by a voice from the midst of the crowd.
Looking in the direction of the sound, I perceived, to my indescribablejoy, the tall figure of Karakoee, an Oahu Kanaka, who had often beenaboard the 'Dolly', while she lay in Nukuheva. He wore the greenshooting-jacket with gilt buttons, which had been given to him by anofficer of the Reine Blanche--the French flag-ship--and in which I hadalways seen him dressed. I now remembered the Kanaka had frequently toldme that his person was tabooed in all the valleys of the island, and thesight of him at such a moment as this filled my heart with a tumult ofdelight.
Karakoee stood near the edge of the water with a large roll ofcotton-cloth thrown over one arm, and holding two or three canvas bagsof powder, while with the other hand he grasped a musket, which heappeared to be proffering to several of the chiefs around him. But theyturned with disgust from his offers and seemed to be impatient athis presence, with vehement gestures waving him off to his boat, andcommanding him to depart.
The Kanaka, however, still maintained his ground, and I at onceperceived that he was seeking to purchase my freedom. Animated by theidea, I called upon him loudly to come to me; but he replied, in brokenEnglish, that the islanders had threatened to pierce him with theirspears, if he stirred a foot towards me. At this time I was stilladvancing, surrounded by a dense throng of the natives, several of whomhad their hands upon me, and more than one javelin was threateninglypointed at me. Still I perceived clearly that many of those leastfriendly towards me looked irresolute and anxious. I was still somethirty yards from Karakoee when my farther progress was prevented by thenatives, who compelled me to sit down upon the ground, while they stillretained their hold upon my arms. The din and tumult now became tenfold,and I perceived that several of the priests were on the spot, all ofwhom were evidently urging Mow-Mow and the other chiefs to prevent mydeparture; and the detestable word 'Roo-ne! Roo-ne!' which I had heardrepeated a thousand times during the day, was now shouted out on everyside of me. Still I saw that the Kanaka continued his exertions in myfavour--that he was boldly debating the matter with the savages, and wasstriving to entice them by displaying his cloth and powder, and snappingthe lock of his musket. But all he said or did appeared only to augmentthe clamours of those around him, who seemed bent upon driving him intothe sea.
When I remembered the extravagant value placed by these people upon thearticles which were offered to them in exchange for me, and whichwere so indignantly rejected, I saw a new proof of the same fixeddetermination of purpose they had all along manifested with regardto me, and in despair, and reckless of consequences, I exerted all mystrength, and shaking myself free from the grasp of those who held me, Isprang upon my feet and rushed towards Karakoee.
The rash attempt nearly decided my fate; for, fearful that I might slipfrom them, several of the islanders now raised a simultaneous shout,and pressing upon Karakoee, they menaced him with furious gestures, andactually forced him into the sea. Appalled at their violence, the poorfellow, standing nearly to the waist in the surf, endeavoured to pacifythem; but at length fearful that they would do him some fatal violence,he beckoned to his comrades to pull in at once, and take him into theboat.
It was at this agonizing moment, when I thought all hope was ended, thata new contest arose between the two parties who had accompanied me tothe shore; blows were struck, wounds were given, and blood flowed. Inthe interest excited by the fray, every one had left me except Marheyo,Kory-Kory and poor dear Fayaway, who clung to me, sobbing indignantly.I saw that now or never was the moment. Clasping my hands together, Ilooked imploringly at Marheyo, and move towards the now almost desertedbeach. The tears were in the old man's eyes, but neither he norKory-Kory attempted to hold me, and I soon reached the Kanaka, who hadanxiously watched my movements; the rowers pulled in as near as theydared to the edge of the surf; I gave one parting embrace to Fayaway,who seemed speechless with sorrow, and the next instant I found myselfsafe in the boat, and Karakoee by my side, who told the rowers at onceto give way. Marheyo and Kory-Kory, and a great many of the women,followed me into the water, and I was determined, as the only mark ofgratitude I could show, to give them the articles which had been broughtas my ransom. I handed the musket to Kory-Kory, with a rapid gesturewhich was equivalent to a 'Deed of Gift'; threw the roll of cotton toold Marheyo, pointing as I did so to poor Fayaway, who had retired fromthe edge of the water and was sitting down disconsolate on the shingles;and tumbled the powder-bags out to the nearest young ladies, all of whomwere vastly willing to take them. This distribution did not occupy tenseconds, and before it was over the boat was under full way; the Kanakaall the while exclaiming loudly against what he considered a uselessthrowing away of valuable property.
Although it was clear that my movements had been noticed by several ofthe natives, still they had not suspended the conflict in which theywere engaged, and it was not until the boat was above fifty yards fromthe shore that Mow-Mow and some six or seven other warriors rushed intothe sea and hurled their javelins at us. Some of the weapons passedquite as close to us as was desirable, but no one was wounded, and themen pulled away gallantly. But although soon out of the reach of thespears, our progress was extremely slow; it blew strong upon the shore,and the tide was against us; and I saw Karakoee, who was steering theboat, give many a look towards a jutting point of the bay round which wehad to pass.
For a minute or two after our departure, the savages, who had formedinto different groups, remained perfectly motionless and silent. Allat-once the enraged chief showed by his gestures that he had resolvedwhat course he would take. Shouting loudly to his companions, andpointing with his tomahawk towards the headland, he set off at fullspeed in that direction, and was followed by about thirty of thenatives, among whom were several of the priests, all yelling out'Roo-ne! Roo-ne!' at the very top of their voices. Their intention wasevidently to swim off from the headland and intercept us in our course.The wind was freshening every minute, and was right in our teeth, and itwas one of those chopping angry seas in which it is so difficult torow. Still the chances seemed in our favour, but when we came within ahundred yards of the point, the active savages were already dashing intothe water, and we all feared that within five minutes' time we shouldhave a score of the infuriated wretches around us. If so our doomwas sealed, for these savages, unlike the feeble swimmer of civilizedcountries, are, if anything, more formidable antagonists in the waterthan when on the land. It was all a trial of strength; our nativespulled till their oars bent again, and the crowd of swimmers shotthrough the water despite its roughness, with fearful rapidity.
By the time we had reached the headland, the savages were spread rightacross our course. Our rowers got out their knives and held them readybetween their teeth, and I seized the boat-hook. We were all aware thatif they succeeded in intercepting us they would practise upon us themanoeuvre which has proved so fatal to many a boat's crew in these seas.They would grapple the oars, and seizing hold of the gunwhale, capsizethe boat, and
then we should be entirely at their mercy.
After a few breathless moments discerned Mow-Mow. The athletic islander,with his tomahawk between his teeth, was dashing the water before himtill it foamed again. He was the nearest to us, and in another instanthe would have seized one of the oars. Even at the moment I felt horrorat the act I was about to commit; but it was no time for pity orcompunction, and with a true aim, and exerting all my strength, I dashedthe boat-hook at him. It struck him just below the throat, and forcedhim downwards. I had no time to repeat the blow, but I saw him riseto the surface in the wake of the boat, and never shall I forget theferocious expression of his countenance.
Only one other of the savages reached the boat. He seized the gunwhale,but the knives of our rowers so mauled his wrists, that he was forced toquit his hold, and the next minute we were past them all, and in safety.The strong excitement which had thus far kept me up, now left me, and Ifell back fainting into the arms of Karakoee.
. . . . . . . .
The circumstances connected with my most unexpected escape may be verybriefly stated. The captain of an Australian vessel, being in distressfor men in these remote seas, had put into Nukuheva in order to recruithis ship's company; but not a single man was to be obtained; and thebarque was about to get under weigh, when she was boarded by Karakoee,who informed the disappointed Englishman that an American sailorwas detained by the savages in the neighbouring bay of Typee; and heoffered, if supplied with suitable articles of traffic, to undertake hisrelease. The Kanaka had gained his intelligence from Marnoo, to whom,after all, I was indebted for my escape. The proposition was acceded to;and Karakoee, taking with him five tabooed natives of Nukuheva, againrepaired aboard the barque, which in a few hours sailed to that part ofthe island, and threw her main-top-sail aback right off the entranceto the Typee bay. The whale-boat, manned by the tabooed crew, pulledtowards the head of the inlet, while the ship lay 'off and on' awaitingits return.
The events which ensued have already been detailed, and little moreremains to be related. On reaching the 'Julia' I was lifted over theside, and my strange appearance and remarkable adventure occasioned theliveliest interest. Every attention was bestowed upon me that humanitycould suggest. But to such a state was I reduced, that three monthselapsed before I recovered my health.
The mystery which hung over the fate of my friend and companion Toby hasnever been cleared up. I still remain ignorant whether he succeeded inleaving the valley, or perished at the hands of the islanders.
THE STORY OF TOBY
THE morning my comrade left me, as related in the narrative, he wasaccompanied by a large party of the natives, some of them carrying fruitand hogs for the purposes of traffic, as the report had spread thatboats had touched at the bay.
As they proceeded through the settled parts of the valley, numbersjoined them from every side, running with animated cries from everypathway. So excited were the whole party, that eager as Toby was to gainthe beach, it was almost as much as he could do to keep up with them.Making the valley ring with their shouts, they hurried along on a swifttrot, those in advance pausing now and then, and flourishing theirweapons to urge the rest forward.
Presently they came to a place where the paths crossed a bend of themain stream of the valley. Here a strange sound came through the grovebeyond, and the Islanders halted. It was Mow-Mow, the one-eyed chief,who had gone on before; he was striking his heavy lance against thehollow bough of a tree.
This was a signal of alarm;--for nothing was now heard but shoutsof 'Happar! Happar!'--the warriors tilting with their spears andbrandishing them in the air, and the women and boys shouting to eachother, and picking up the stones in the bed of the stream. In a momentor two Mow-Mow and two or three other chiefs ran out from the grove, andthe din increased ten fold.
Now, thought Toby, for a fray; and being unarmed, he besought one of theyoung men domiciled with Marheyo for the loan of his spear. But he wasrefused; the youth roguishly telling him that the weapon was very goodfor him (the Typee), but that a white man could fight much better withhis fists.
The merry humour of this young wag seemed to be shared by the rest, forin spite of their warlike cries and gestures, everybody was caperingand laughing, as if it was one of the funniest things in the world to beawaiting the flight of a score or two of Happar javelins from an ambushin the thickets.
While my comrade was in vain trying to make out the meaning of all this,a good number of the natives separated themselves from the rest and ranoff into the grove on one side, the others now keeping perfectly still,as if awaiting the result. After a little while, however, Mow-Mow, whostood in advance, motioned them to come on stealthily, which they did,scarcely rustling a leaf. Thus they crept along for ten or fifteenminutes, every now and then pausing to listen.
Toby by no means relished this sort of skulking; if there was going tobe a fight, he wanted it to begin at once. But all in good time,--forjust then, as they went prowling into the thickest of the wood, terrifichowls burst upon them on all sides, and volleys of darts and stones flewacross the path. Not an enemy was to be seen, and what was still moresurprising, not a single man dropped, though the pebbles fell among theleaves like hail.
There was a moment's pause, when the Typees, with wild shrieks, flungthemselves into the covert, spear in hand; nor was Toby behindhand.Coming so near getting his skull broken by the stones, and animated byan old grudge he bore the Happars, he was among the first to dash atthem. As he broke his way through the underbush, trying, as he didso, to wrest a spear from a young chief, the shouts of battle all of asudden ceased, and the wood was as still as death. The next moment, theparty who had left them so mysteriously rushed out from behind everybush and tree, and united with the rest in long and merry peals oflaughter.
It was all a sham, and Toby, who was quite out of breath withexcitement, was much incensed at being made a fool of.
It afterwards turned out that the whole affair had been concerted forhis particular benefit, though with what precise view it would be hardto tell. My comrade was the more enraged at this boys' play, since ithad consumed so much time, every moment of which might be precious.Perhaps, however, it was partly intended for this very purpose; and hewas led to think so, because when the natives started again, he observedthat they did not seem to be in so great a hurry as before. At last,after they had gone some distance, Toby, thinking all the while thatthey never would get to the sea, two men came running towards them,and a regular halt ensued, followed by a noisy discussion, during whichToby's name was often repeated. All this made him more and more anxiousto learn what was going on at the beach; but it was in vain that he nowtried to push forward; the natives held him back.
In a few moments the conference ended, and many of them ran down thepath in the direction of the water, the rest surrounding Toby, andentreating him to 'Moee', or sit down and rest himself. As an additionalinducement, several calabashes of food, which had been brought along,were now placed on the ground, and opened, and pipes also were lighted.Toby bridled his impatience a while, but at last sprang to his feetand dashed forward again. He was soon overtaken nevertheless, and againsurrounded, but without further detention was then permitted to go downto the sea.
They came out upon a bright green space between the groves and thewater, and close under the shadow of the Happar mountain, where a pathwas seen winding out of sight through a gorge.
No sign of a boat, however, was beheld, nothing but a tumultuous crowdof men and women, and some one in their midst, earnestly talking tothem. As my comrade advanced, this person came forward and proved tobe no stranger. He was an old grizzled sailor, whom Toby and myself hadfrequently seen in Nukuheva, where he lived an easy devil-may-care lifein the household of Mowanna the king, going by the name of 'Jimmy'.In fact he was the royal favourite, and had a good deal to say in hismaster's councils. He wore a Manilla hat and a sort of tappa morninggown, sufficiently loose and negligent to show the verse of a songtattooed upon his chest, and a variety of
spirited cuts by nativeartists in other parts of his body. He sported a fishing rod in hishand, and carried a sooty old pipe slung about his neck.
This old rover having retired from active life, had resided in Nukuhevasome time--could speak the language, and for that reason was frequentlyemployed by the French as an interpreter. He was an arrant old gossiptoo; for ever coming off in his canoe to the ships in the bay, andregaling their crews with choice little morsels of court scandal--such,for instance, as a shameful intrigue of his majesty with a Happardamsel, a public dancer at the feasts--and otherwise relating someincredible tales about the Marquesas generally. I remember in particularhis telling the Dolly's crew what proved to be literally a cock-and-bullstory, about two natural prodigies which he said were then on theisland. One was an old monster of a hermit, having a marvellousreputation for sanctity, and reputed a famous sorcerer, who lived awayoff in a den among the mountains, where he hid from the world agreat pair of horns that grew out of his temples. Notwithstanding hisreputation for piety, this horrid old fellow was the terror of all theisland round, being reported to come out from his retreat, and go aman-hunting every dark night. Some anonymous Paul Pry, too, coming downthe mountain, once got a peep at his den, and found it full of bones. Inshort, he was a most unheard-of monster.
The other prodigy Jimmy told us about was the younger son of a chief,who, although but just turned of ten, had entered upon holy orders,because his superstitious countrymen thought him especially intendedfor the priesthood from the fact of his having a comb on his head likea rooster. But this was not all; for still more wonderful to relate, theboy prided himself upon his strange crest, being actually endowed with acock's voice, and frequently crowing over his peculiarity.
But to return to Toby. The moment he saw the old rover on the beach, heran up to him, the natives following after, and forming a circle roundthem.
After welcoming him to the shore, Jimmy went on to tell him how that heknew all about our having run away from the ship, and being among theTypees. Indeed, he had been urged by Mowanna to come over to the valley,and after visiting his friends there, to bring us back with him, hisroyal master being exceedingly anxious to share with him the rewardwhich had been held out for our capture. He, however, assured Toby thathe had indignantly spurned the offer.
All this astonished my comrade not a little, as neither of us hadentertained the least idea that any white man ever visited the Typeessociably. But Jimmy told him that such was the case nevertheless,although he seldom came into the bay, and scarcely ever went backfrom the beach. One of the priests of the valley, in some way or otherconnected with an old tattooed divine in Nukuheva, was a friend of his,and through him he was 'taboo'.
He said, moreover, that he was sometimes employed to come round to thebay, and engage fruit for ships lying in Nukuheva. In fact, he was nowon that very errand, according to his own account, having just comeacross the mountains by the way of Happar. By noon of the next day thefruit would be heaped up in stacks on the beach, in readiness for theboats which he then intended to bring into the bay.
Jimmy now asked Toby whether he wished to leave the island--if he did,there was a ship in want of men lying in the other harbour, and he wouldbe glad to take him over, and see him on board that very day.
'No,' said Toby, 'I cannot leave the island unless my comrade goes withme. I left him up the valley because they would not let him come down.Let us go now and fetch him.'
'But how is he to cross the mountain with us,' replied Jimmy, 'even ifwe get him down to the beach? Better let him stay till tomorrow, and Iwill bring him round to Nukuheva in the boats.'
'That will never do,' said Toby, 'but come along with me now, and letus get him down here at any rate,' and yielding to the impulse of themoment, he started to hurry back into the valley. But hardly was hisback turned, when a dozen hands were laid on him, and he learned that hecould not go a step further.
It was in vain that he fought with them; they would not hear of hisstirring from the beach. Cut to the heart at this unexpected repulse,Toby now conjured the sailor to go after me alone. But Jimmy replied,that in the mood the Typees then were they would not permit him so todo, though at the same time he was not afraid of their offering him anyharm.
Little did Toby then think, as he afterwards had good reason to suspect,that this very Jimmy was a heartless villain, who, by his arts, had justincited the natives to restrain him as he was in the act of going afterme. Well must the old sailor have known, too, that the natives wouldnever consent to our leaving together, and he therefore wanted to getToby off alone, for a purpose which he afterwards made plain. Of allthis, however, my comrade now knew nothing.
He was still struggling with the islanders when Jimmy again came up tohim, and warned him against irritating them, saying that he was onlymaking matters worse for both of us, and if they became enraged, therewas no telling what might happen. At last he made Toby sit down on abroken canoe by a pile of stones, upon which was a ruinous little shrinesupported by four upright poles, and in front partly screened by a net.The fishing parties met there, when they came in from the sea, for theirofferings were laid before an image, upon a smooth black stone within.This spot Jimmy said was strictly 'taboo', and no one would molest orcome near him while he stayed by its shadow. The old sailor then wentoff, and began speaking very earnestly to Mow-Mow and some other chiefs,while all the rest formed a circle round the taboo place, lookingintently at Toby, and talking to each other without ceasing.
Now, notwithstanding what Jimmy had just told him, there presently cameup to my comrade an old woman, who seated herself beside him on thecanoe.
'Typee motarkee?' said she. 'Motarkee nuee,' said Toby.
She then asked him whether he was going to Nukuheva; he nodded yes; andwith a plaintive wail and her eyes filling with tears she rose and lefthim.
This old woman, the sailor afterwards said, was the wife of an aged kingof a small island valley, communicating by a deep pass with the countryof the Typees. The inmates of the two valleys were related to each otherby blood, and were known by the same name. The old woman had gone downinto the Typee valley the day before, and was now with three chiefs, hersons, on a visit to her kinsmen.
As the old king's wife left him, Jimmy again came up to Toby, and toldhim that he had just talked the whole matter over with the natives, andthere was only one course for him to follow. They would not allow him togo back into the valley, and harm would certainly come to both him andme, if he remained much longer on the beach. 'So,' said he, 'you and Ihad better go to Nukuheva now overland, and tomorrow I will bring Tommo,as they call him, by water; they have promised to carry him down to thesea for me early in the morning, so that there will be no delay.'
'No, no,' said Toby desperately, 'I will not leave him that way; we mustescape together.'
'Then there is no hope for you,' exclaimed the sailor, 'for if I leaveyou here on the beach, as soon as I am gone you will be carried backinto the valley, and then neither of you will ever look upon thesea again.' And with many oaths he swore that if he would only go toNukuheva with him that day, he would be sure to have me there the verynext morning.
'But how do you know they will bring him down to the beach tomorrow,when they will not do so today?' said Toby. But the sailor had manyreasons, all of which were so mixed up with the mysterious customsof the islanders, that he was none the wiser. Indeed, their conduct,especially in preventing him from returning into the valley, wasabsolutely unaccountable to him; and added to everything else, was thebitter reflection, that the old sailor, after all, might possibly bedeceiving him. And then again he had to think of me, left alone with thenatives, and by no means well. If he went with Jimmy, he might at leasthope to procure some relief for me. But might not the savages who hadacted so strangely, hurry me off somewhere before his return? Then, evenif he remained, perhaps they would not let him go back into the valleywhere I was.
Thus perplexed was my poor comrade; he knew not what to do, and hiscourageous spir
it was of no use to him now. There he was, all byhimself, seated upon the broken canoe--the natives grouped around him ata distance, and eyeing him more and more fixedly. 'It is getting late:said Jimmy, who was standing behind the rest. 'Nukuheva is far off, andI cannot cross the Happar country by night. You see how it is;--if youcome along with me, all will be well; if you do not, depend upon it,neither of you will ever escape.'
'There is no help for it,' said Toby, at last, with a heavy heart, 'Iwill have to trust you,' and he came out from the shadow of the littleshrine, and cast a long look up the valley.
'Now keep close to my side,' said the sailor, 'and let us be movingquickly.' Tinor and Fayaway here appeared; the kindhearted old womanembracing Toby's knees, and giving way to a flood of tears; whileFayaway, hardly less moved, spoke some few words of English she hadlearned, and held up three fingers before him--in so many days he wouldreturn.
At last Jimmy pulled Toby out of the crowd, and after calling to ayoung Typee who was standing by with a young pig in his arms, all threestarted for the mountains.
'I have told them that you are coming back again,' said the old fellow,laughing, as they began the ascent, 'but they'll have to wait a longtime.' Toby turned, and saw the natives all in motion--the girls wavingtheir tappas in adieu, and the men their spears. As the last figureentered the grove with one arm raised, and the three fingers spread, hisheart smote him.
As the natives had at last consented to his going, it might have been,that some of them, at least, really counted upon his speedy return;probably supposing, as indeed he had told them when they were comingdown the valley, that his only object in leaving them was to procure themedicines I needed. This, Jimmy also must have told them. And as theyhad done before, when my comrade, to oblige me, started on his perilousjourney to Nukuheva, they looked upon me, in his absence, as one of twoinseparable friends who was a sure guaranty for the other's return.This is only my own supposition, however, for as to all their strangeconduct, it is still a mystery.
'You see what sort of a taboo man I am,' said the sailor, after for sometime silently following the path which led up the mountain. 'Mow-Mowmade me a present of this pig here, and the man who carries it willgo right through Happar, and down into Nukuheva with us. So long as hestays by me he is safe, and just so it will be with you, and tomorrowwith Tommo. Cheer up, then, and rely upon me, you will see him in themorning.'
The ascent of the mountain was not very difficult, owing to its beingnear to the sea, where the island ridges are comparatively low; thepath, too, was a fine one, so that in a short time all three werestanding on the summit with the two valleys at their feet. The whitecascade marking the green head of the Typee valley first caught Toby'seye; Marheyo's house could easily be traced by them.
As Jimmy led the way along the ridge, Toby observed that the valley ofthe Happars did not extend near so far inland as that of the Typees.This accounted for our mistake in entering the latter valley as we had.
A path leading down from the mountain was soon seen, and, following it,the party were in a short time fairly in the Happar valley.
'Now,' said Jimmy, as they hurried on, 'we taboo men have wives in allthe bays, and I am going to show you the two I have here.'
So, when they came to the house where he said they lived,--which wasclose by the base of the mountain in a shady nook among the groves--hewent in, and was quite furious at finding it empty--the ladies, had goneout. However, they soon made their appearance, and to tell the truth,welcomed Jimmy quite cordially, as well as Toby, about whom they werevery inquisitive. Nevertheless, as the report of their arrival spread,and the Happars began to assemble, it became evident that the appearanceof a white stranger among them was not by any means deemed so wonderfulan event as in the neighbouring valley.
The old sailor now bade his wives prepare something to eat, as he mustbe in Nukuheva before dark. A meal of fish, bread-fruit, and bananas,was accordingly served up, the party regaling themselves on the mats, inthe midst of a numerous company.
The Happars put many questions to Jimmy about Toby; and Toby himselflooked sharply at them, anxious to recognize the fellow who gave him thewound from which he was still suffering. But this fiery gentleman, sohandy with his spear, had the delicacy, it seemed, to keep out of view.Certainly the sight of him would not have been any added inducement tomaking a stay in the valley,--some of the afternoon loungers in Happarhaving politely urged Toby to spend a few days with them,--there was afeast coming on. He, however, declined.
All this while the young Typee stuck to Jimmy like his shadow, andthough as lively a dog as any of his tribe, he was now as meek asa lamb, never opening his mouth except to eat. Although some of theHappars looked queerly at him, others were more civil, and seemeddesirous of taking him abroad and showing him the valley. But the Typeewas not to be cajoled in that way. How many yards he would have toremove from Jimmy before the taboo would be powerless, it would be hardto tell, but probably he himself knew to a fraction.
On the promise of a red cotton handkerchief, and something else which hekept secret, this poor fellow had undertaken a rather ticklish journey,though, as far as Toby could ascertain, it was something that had neverhappened before.
The island-punch--arva--was brought in at the conclusion of the repast,and passed round in a shallow calabash.
Now my comrade, while seated in the Happar house, began to feel moretroubled than ever at leaving me; indeed, so sad did he feel that hetalked about going back to the valley, and wanted Jimmy to escort himas far as the mountains. But the sailor would not listen to him, and, byway of diverting his thoughts, pressed him to drink of the arva. Knowingits narcotic nature, he refused; but Jimmy said he would have somethingmixed with it, which would convert it into an innocent beverage thatwould inspirit them for the rest of their journey. So at last he wasinduced to drink of it, and its effects were just as the sailor hadpredicted; his spirits rose at once, and all his gloomy thoughts lefthim.
The old rover now began to reveal his true character, though he washardly suspected at the time. 'If I get you off to a ship,' said he,'you will surely give a poor fellow something for saving you.' In short,before they left the house, he made Toby promise that he would give himfive Spanish dollars if he succeeded in getting any part of his wagesadvanced from the vessel, aboard of which they were going; Toby,moreover, engaging to reward him still further, as soon as mydeliverance was accomplished.
A little while after this they started again, accompanied by many of thenatives, and going up the valley, took a steep path near its head,which led to Nukuheva. Here the Happars paused and watched them as theyascended the mountain, one group of bandit-looking fellows, shakingtheir spears and casting threatening glances at the poor Typee, whoseheart as well as heels seemed much the lighter when he came to look downupon them.
On gaining the heights once more, their way led for a time along severalridges covered with enormous ferns. At last they entered upon a woodedtract, and here they overtook a party of Nukuheva natives, well armed,and carrying bundles of long poles. Jimmy seemed to know them all verywell, and stopped for a while, and had a talk about the 'Wee-Wees', asthe people of Nukuheva call the Monsieurs.
The party with the poles were King Mowanna's men, and by his orders theyhad been gathering them in the ravines for his allies the French.
Leaving these fellows to trudge on with their loads, Toby and hiscompanions now pushed forward again, as the sun was already low in thewest. They came upon the valleys of Nukuheva on one side of the bay,where the highlands slope off into the sea. The men-of-war were stilllying in the harbour, and as Toby looked down upon them, the strangeevents which had happened so recently, seemed all a dream.
They soon descended towards the beach, and found themselves in Jimmy'shouse before it was well dark. Here he received another welcome fromhis Nukuheva wives, and after some refreshments in the shape of cocoanutmilk and poee-poee, they entered a canoe (the Typee of course goingalong) and paddled off to a whaleship which was an
chored near the shore.This was the vessel in want of men. Our own had sailed some time before.The captain professed great pleasure at seeing Toby, but thought fromhis exhausted appearance that he must be unfit for duty. However, heagreed to ship him, as well as his comrade, as soon as he should arrive.Toby begged hard for an armed boat, in which to go round to Typee andrescue me, notwithstanding the promises of Jimmy. But this the captainwould not hear of, and told him to have patience, for the sailor wouldbe faithful to his word. When, too, he demanded the five silver dollarsfor Jimmy, the captain was unwilling to give them. But Toby insistedupon it, as he now began to think that Jimmy might be a mere mercenary,who would be sure to prove faithless if not well paid. Accordingly henot only gave him the money, but took care to assure him, over and overagain, that as soon as he brought me aboard he would receive a stilllarger sum.
Before sun-rise the next day, Jimmy and the Typee started in two of theship's boats, which were manned by tabooed natives. Toby, of course, wasall eagerness to go along, but the sailor told him that if he did, itwould spoil all; so, hard as it was, he was obliged to remain.
Towards evening he was on the watch, and descried the boats turning theheadland and entering the bay. He strained his eyes, and thought he sawme; but I was not there. Descending from the mast almost distracted, hegrappled Jimmy as he struck the deck, shouting in a voice that startledhim, 'Where is Tommo?' The old fellow faltered, but soon recovering,did all he could to soothe him, assuring him that it had proved to beimpossible to get me down to the shore that morning; assigning manyplausible reasons, and adding that early on the morrow he was going tovisit the bay again in a French boat, when, if he did not find me on thebeach--as this time he certainly expected to--he would march right backinto the valley, and carry me away at all hazards. He, however, againrefused to allow Toby to accompany him. Now, situated as Toby was, hissole dependence for the present was upon this Jimmy, and therefore hewas fain to comfort himself as well as he could with what the old sailortold him. The next morning, however, he had the satisfaction of seeingthe French boat start with Jimmy in it. Tonight, then, I will see him,thought Toby; but many a long day passed before he ever saw Tommo again.Hardly was the boat out of sight, when the captain came forward andordered the anchor weighed; he was going to sea.
Vain were all Toby's ravings--they were disregarded; and when he came tohimself, the sails were set, and the ship fast leaving the land.
... 'Oh!' said he to me at our meeting, 'what sleepless nights weremine. Often I started from my hammock, dreaming you were before me, andupbraiding me for leaving you on the island.'
. . . . . . .
There is little more to be related. Toby left this vessel at NewZealand, and after some further adventures, arrived home in less thantwo years after leaving the Marquesas. He always thought of me asdead--and I had every reason to suppose that he too was no more; but astrange meeting was in store for us, one which made Toby's heart all thelighter.
NOTE.
The author was more than two years in the South Seas, after escapingfrom the valley, as recounted in the last chapter. Some time afterreturning home the foregoing narrative was published, though it waslittle thought at the time that this would be the means of revealingthe existence of Toby, who had long been given up for lost. But so itproved.
The story of his escape supplies a natural sequel to the adventure, andas such it is now added to the volume. It was related to the author byToby himself, not ten days since.
New York, July, 1846.
Typee: A Romance of the South Seas Page 42
