THE knowledge I had now obtained as to the intention of the savages2 deeply affected3 me.
Marnoo, I perceived, was a man who, by reason of his superior acquirements, and the knowledge he possessed4 of the events which were taking place in the different bays of the island, was held in no little estimation by the inhabitants of the valley. He had been received with the most cordial welcome and respect. The natives had hung upon the accents of his voice, and, had manifested the highest gratification at being individually noticed by him. And yet despite all this, a few words urged in my behalf, with the intent of obtaining my release from captivity5, had sufficed not only to banish6 all harmony and good-will; but, if I could believe what he told me, had gone on to endanger his own personal safety.
How strongly rooted, then, must be the determination of the Typees with regard to me, and how suddenly could they display the strangest passions! The mere7 suggestion of my departure had estranged8 from me, for the time at least, Mehevi, who was the most influential9 of all the chiefs, and who had previously10 exhibited so many instances of his friendly sentiments. The rest of the natives had likewise evinced their strong repugnance11 to my wishes, and even Kory-Kory himself seemed to share in the general disapprobation bestowed12 upon me.
In vain I racked my invention to find out some motive13 for them, but I could discover none.
But however this might be, the scene which had just occurred admonished14 me of the danger of trifling15 with the wayward and passionate16 spirits against whom it was vain to struggle, and might even be fatal to do go. My only hope was to induce the natives to believe that I was reconciled to my detention17 in the valley, and by assuming a tranquil18 and cheerful demeanour, to allay19 the suspicions which I had so unfortunately aroused. Their confidence revived, they might in a short time remit20 in some degree their watchfulness21 over my movements, and I should then be the better enabled to avail myself of any opportunity which presented itself for escape. I determined22, therefore, to make the best of a bad bargain, and to bear up manfully against whatever might betide. In this endeavour, I succeeded beyond my own expectations. At the period of Marnoo’s visit, I had been in the valley, as nearly as I could conjecture23, some two months. Although not completely recovered from my strange illness, which still lingered about me, I was free from pain and able to take exercise. In short, I had every reason to anticipate a perfect recovery. Freed from apprehension24 on this point, and resolved to regard the future without flinching25, I flung myself anew into all the social pleasures of the valley, and sought to bury all regrets, and all remembrances of my previous existence in the wild enjoyments27 it afforded.
In my various wanderings through the vale, and as I became better acquainted with the character of its inhabitants, I was more and more struck with the light-hearted joyousness28 that everywhere prevailed. The minds of these simple savages, unoccupied by matters of graver moment, were capable of deriving29 the utmost delight from circumstances which would have passed unnoticed in more intelligent communities. All their enjoyment26, indeed, seemed to be made up of the little trifling incidents of the passing hour; but these diminutive30 items swelled31 altogether to an amount of happiness seldom experienced by more enlightened individuals, whose pleasures are drawn32 from more elevated but rarer sources.
What community, for instance, of refined and intellectual mortals would derive33 the least satisfaction from shooting pop-guns? The mere supposition of such a thing being possible would excite their indignation, and yet the whole population of Typee did little else for ten days but occupy themselves with that childish amusement, fairly screaming, too, with the delight it afforded them.
One day I was frolicking with a little spirited urchin34, some six years old, who chased me with a piece of bamboo about three feet long, with which he occasionally belaboured me. Seizing the stick from him, the idea happened to suggest itself, that I might make for the youngster, out of the slender tube, one of those nursery muskets35 with which I had sometimes seen children playing.
Accordingly, with my knife I made two parallel slits36 in the cane37 several inches in length, and cutting loose at one end the elastic38 strip between them, bent39 it back and slipped the point into a little notch40 made for the purse. Any small substance placed against this would be projected with considerable force through the tube, by merely springing the bent strip out of the notch.
Had I possessed the remotest idea of the sensation this piece of ordnance41 was destined42 to produce, I should certainly have taken out a patent for the invention. The boy scampered43 away with it, half delirious44 with ecstasy45, and in twenty minutes afterwards I might have been seen surrounded by a noisy crowd—venerable old graybeards—responsible fathers of families—valiant warriors—matrons—young men—girls and children, all holding in their hands bits of bamboo, and each clamouring to be served first.
For three or four hours I was engaged in manufacturing pop-guns, but at last made over my good-will and interest in the concern to a lad of remarkably47 quick parts, whom I soon initiated48 into the art and mystery.
Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop, now resounded49 all over the valley. Duels50, skirmishes, pitched battles, and general engagements were to be seen on every side. Here, as you walked along a path which led through a thicket51, you fell into a cunningly laid ambush52, and became a target for a body of musketeers whose tattooed53 limbs you could just see peeping into view through the foliage54. There you were assailed55 by the intrepid56 garrison57 of a house, who levelled their bamboo rifles at you from between the upright canes58 which composed its sides. Farther on you were fired upon by a detachment of sharpshooters, mounted upon the top of a pi-pi.
Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop! green guavas, seeds, and berries were flying about in every direction, and during this dangerous state of affairs I was half afraid that, like the man and his brazen59 bull, I should fall a victim to my own ingenuity60. Like everything else, however, the excitement gradually wore away, though ever after occasionally pop-guns might be heard at all hours of the day.
It was towards the close of the pop-gun war, that I was infinitely61 diverted with a strange freak of Marheyo’s.
I had worn, when I quitted the ship, a pair of thick pumps, which, from the rough usage they had received in scaling precipices62 and sliding down gorges63, were so dilapidated as to be altogether unfit for use—so, at least, would have thought the generality of people, and so they most certainly were, when considered in the light of shoes. But things unservicable in one way, may with advantage be applied64 in another, that is, if one have genius enough for the purpose. This genius Marheyo possessed in a superlative degree, as he abundantly evinced by the use to which he put those sorely bruised65 and battered66 old shoes.
Every article, however trivial, which belonged to me, the natives appeared to regard as sacred; and I observed that for several days after becoming an inmate67 of the house, my pumps were suffered to remain, untouched, where I had first happened to throw them. I remembered, however, that after awhile I had missed them from their accustomed place; but the matter gave me no concern, supposing that Tinor—like any other tidy housewife, having come across them in some of her domestic occupations—had pitched the useless things out of the house. But I was soon undeceived.
One day I observed old Marheyo bustling68 about me with unusual activity, and to such a degree as almost to supersede69 Kory-Kory in the functions of his office. One moment he volunteered to trot70 off with me on his back to the stream; and when I refused, noways daunted71 by the repulse72, he continued to frisk about me like a superannuated73 house-dog. I could not for the life of me conjecture what possessed the old gentleman, until all at once, availing himself of the temporary absence of the household, he went through a variety of of uncouth74 gestures, pointing eagerly down to my feet, then up to a little bundle, which swung from the ridge75 pole overhead. At last I caught a faint idea of his meaning, and motioned him to lower the package. He executed the order in the twinkling of an eye, and unrolling a piece of tappa, displayed to my astonished gaze the identical pumps which I thought had been destroyed long before.
I immediately comprehended his desire, and very generously gave him the shoes, which had become quite mouldy, wondering for what earthly purpose he could want them. The same afternoon I descried76 the venerable warrior46 approaching the house, with a slow, stately gait, ear-rings in ears, and spear in hand, with this highly ornamental77 pair of shoes suspended from his neck by a strip of bark, and swinging backwards78 and forwards on his capacious chest. In the gala costume of the tasteful Marheyo, these calf-skin pendants ever after formed the most striking feature.
But to turn to something a little more important. Although the whole existence of the inhabitants of the valley seemed to pass away exempt79 from toil80, yet there were some light employments which, although amusing rather than laborious81 as occupations, contributed to their comfort and luxury. Among these the most important was the manufacture of the native cloth,—‘tappa’,—so well known, under various modifications82, throughout the whole Polynesian Archipelago. As is generally understood, this useful and sometimes elegant article is fabricated from the bark of different trees. But, as I believe that no description of its manufacture has ever been given, I shall state what I know regarding it.
In the manufacture of the beautiful white tappa generally worn on the Marquesan Islands, the preliminary operation consists in gathering83 a certain quantity of the young branches of the cloth-tree. The exterior84 green bark being pulled off as worthless, there remains85 a slender fibrous substance, which is carefully stripped from the stick, to which it closely adheres. When a sufficient quantity of it has been collected, the various strips are enveloped86 in a covering of large leaves, which the natives use precisely87 as we do wrapping-paper, and which are secured by a few turns of a line passed round them. The package is then laid in the bed of some running stream, with a heavy stone placed over it, to prevent its being swept away. After it has remained for two or three days in this state, it is drawn out, and exposed, for a short time, to the action of the air, every distinct piece being attentively88 inspected, with a view of ascertaining89 whether it has yet been sufficiently90 affected by the operation. This is repeated again and again, until the desired result is obtained.
When the substance is in a proper state for the next process, it betrays evidences of incipient91 decomposition92; the fibres are relaxed and softened93, and rendered perfectly94 malleable95. The different strips are now extended, one by one, in successive layers, upon some smooth surface—generally the prostrate96 trunk of a cocoanut tree—and the heap thus formed is subjected, at every new increase, to a moderate beating, with a sort of wooden mallet97, leisurely98 applied. The mallet is made of a hard heavy wood resembling ebony, is about twelve inches in length, and perhaps two in breadth, with a rounded handle at one end, and in shape is the exact counterpart of one of our four-sided razor-strops. The flat surfaces of the implement99 are marked with shallow parallel indentations, varying in depth on the different sides, so as to be adapted to the several stages of the operation. These marks produce the corduroy sort of stripes discernible in the tappa in its finished state. After being beaten in the manner I have described, the material soon becomes blended in one mass, which, moistened occasionally with water, is at intervals100 hammered out, by a kind of gold-beating process, to any degree of thinness required. In this way the cloth is easily made to vary in strength and thickness, so as to suit the numerous purposes to which it is applied.
When the operation last described has been concluded, the new-made tappa is spread out on the grass to bleach101 and dry, and soon becomes of a dazzling whiteness. Sometimes, in the first stages of the manufacture, the substance is impregnated with a vegetable juice, which gives it a permanent colour. A rich brown and a bright yellow are occasionally seen, but the simple taste of the Typee people inclines them to prefer the natural tint102.
The notable wife of Kamehameha, the renowned103 conqueror104 and king of the Sandwich Islands, used to pride herself in the skill she displayed in dyeing her tappa with contrasting colours disposed in regular figures; and, in the midst of the innovations of the times, was regarded, towards the decline of her life, as a lady of the old school, clinging as she did to the national cloth, in preference to the frippery of the European calicoes. But the art of printing the tappa is unknown upon the Marquesan Islands. In passing along the valley, I was often attracted by the noise of the mallet, which, when employed in the manufacture of the cloth produces at every stroke of its hard, heavy wood, a clear, ringing, and musical sound, capable of being heard at a great distance. When several of these implements105 happen to be in operation at the same time, near one another, the effect upon the ear of a person, at a little distance, is really charming.
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1
conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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banish
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| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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estranged
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| adj.疏远的，分离的 | |
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influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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repugnance
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| n.嫌恶 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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detention
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| n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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remit
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| v.汇款，汇寄；豁免（债务），免除（处罚等） | |
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watchfulness
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| 警惕，留心； 警觉（性） | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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flinching
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的现在分词 ) | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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enjoyments
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| 愉快( enjoyment的名词复数 )； 令人愉快的事物； 享有； 享受 | |
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joyousness
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| 快乐，使人喜悦 | |
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deriving
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| v.得到( derive的现在分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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diminutive
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| adj.小巧可爱的，小的 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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derive
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| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
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urchin
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| n.顽童；海胆 | |
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muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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slits
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| n.狭长的口子，裂缝( slit的名词复数 )v.切开，撕开( slit的第三人称单数 )；在…上开狭长口子 | |
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cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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elastic
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| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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notch
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| n.(V字形)槽口，缺口，等级 | |
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ordnance
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| n.大炮，军械 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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scampered
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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delirious
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| adj.不省人事的，神智昏迷的 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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initiated
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| n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入 | |
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resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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duels
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| n.两男子的决斗( duel的名词复数 )；竞争，斗争 | |
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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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tattooed
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| v.刺青，文身( tattoo的过去式和过去分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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intrepid
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| adj.无畏的，刚毅的 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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canes
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| n.（某些植物，如竹或甘蔗的）茎( cane的名词复数 )；（用于制作家具等的）竹竿；竹杖 | |
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brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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gorges
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| n.山峡，峡谷( gorge的名词复数 )；咽喉v.（用食物把自己）塞饱，填饱( gorge的第三人称单数 )；作呕 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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supersede
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| v.替代；充任 | |
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trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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superannuated
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| adj.老朽的，退休的；v.因落后于时代而废除，勒令退学 | |
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uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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exempt
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| adj.免除的；v.使免除；n.免税者，被免除义务者 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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82
modifications
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| n.缓和( modification的名词复数 )；限制；更改；改变 | |
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83
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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85
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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86
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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ascertaining
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
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90
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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incipient
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| adj.起初的，发端的，初期的 | |
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decomposition
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| n. 分解, 腐烂, 崩溃 | |
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softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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95
malleable
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| adj.(金属)可锻的;有延展性的；(性格)可训练的 | |
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prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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mallet
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| n.槌棒 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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99
implement
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| n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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101
bleach
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| vt.使漂白；vi.变白；n.漂白剂 | |
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102
tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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103
renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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104
conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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105
implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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