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Nukuheva some time… he could speak the language； and for that reason
was frequently employed by the French as an interpreter。 He was an
arrant old gossip； too； for ever coming off in his canoe to the
ships in the bay； and regaling their crews with choice little
morsels of court scandal… such； for instance； as a shameful intrigue
of his majesty with a Happar damsel； a public dancer at the feasts…
and otherwise relating some incredible tales about the Marquesas
generally。 I remember； in particular； his telling the Dolly's crew
what proved to be literally a cock…and…bull story； about two natural
prodigies； which he said were then on the island。 One was an old
monster of a hermit； having a marvellous reputation for sanctity；
and reputed a famous sorcerer； who lived away off in a den among the
mountains； where he hid from the world a great pair of horns that grew
out of his temples。 Notwithstanding his reputation for piety； this
horrid old fellow was the terror of all the island round； being
reported to come out from his retreat； and go a man…hunting every dark
night。 Some anonymous Paul Pry； too； coming down the mountain； once
got a peep at his den； and found it full of bones。 In short； 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
intended for the priesthood； from the fact of his having a comb on his
head like a rooster。 But this was not all： for； still more wonderful
to relate； the boy prided himself upon this strange crest； being
actually endowed with a cock's voice； and frequently crowing over
his peculiarity。
But to return to Toby。 The moment he saw the old rover on the
beach； he ran up to him； the natives following after； and forming a
circle round them。
After welcoming him to the shore； Jimmy went on to tell him how
that he knew all about our having run away from the ship； and being
among the Typees； 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； his royal master being exceedingly anxious to share with him
the reward which had been held out for our capture。 He； however；
assured Toby that he had indignantly spurned the offer。
All this astonished my comrade not a little； as neither of us
had entertained the least idea that any white man ever visited the
Typees sociably。 But Jimmy told him that such was the case；
nevertheless； although he seldom came into the bay； and scarcely
ever went back from the beach。 One of the priests of the valley； in
some way or other connected 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
the bay； and engage fruit for ships lying in Nukuheva。 In fact； he was
now on that very errand； according to his own account； having just
come across the mountains by the way of Happar。 By noon of the next
day； the fruit would be heaped up in stacks on the beach； in readiness
for the boats； 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 would be 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 with me。 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 if we get him down to the beach？ Better let him stay till
to…morrow； and I will bring him round to Nukuheva in the boats。〃
〃That will never do；〃 said Toby； 〃but come along with me now； and
let us get him down here at any rate〃； and yielding to the impulse
of the moment； he started to hurry back into the valley。 But hardly
was his back turned； when a dozen hands were laid on him； and he
learned that he could not go a step farther。
It was in vain that he fought with them； they would not hear of
his stirring 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 to do； though； at the same time； he was not afraid of
their offering him any harm。
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 just incited the natives to restrain him； as he was in the
act of going after me。 Well must the old sailor have known； too；
that the natives would never consent to our leaving together； and he
therefore wanted to get Toby off alone； for a purpose which he
afterwards made plain。 Of all this； however； my comrade now knew
nothing。
He was still struggling with the islanders； when Jimmy again
came up to him； and warned him against irritating them； saying that he
was only making matters worse for both of us； and if they became
enraged； there was no telling what might happen。 At last he made
Toby sit down on a broken canoe； by a pile of stones； upon which was a
ruinous little shrine； supported by four upright paddles； and in front
partly screened by a net。 The fishing parties met there； when they
came in from the sea； for their offerings were laid before an image；
upon a smooth black stone within。 This spot； Jimmy said； was
strictly 〃taboo；〃 and no one would molest or come near him while he
stayed by its shadow。 The old sailor then went off； and began speaking
very earnestly to Mow…Mow and some other chiefs； while all the rest
formed a circle round the taboo place； looking intently at Toby； and
talking to each other without ceasing。
Now； notwithstanding what Jimmy had just told him； there presently
came up to my comrade an old woman； who seated herself beside him on
the canoe。
〃Typee Mortarkee？〃 said she。 〃Mortarkee muee；〃 said Toby。
She then asked him whether he was going to Nukuheva； he nodded
yes； and with a plaintive wail； and her eyes filling with tears； she
rose and left him。
This old woman； the sailor afterwards said； was the wife of an
aged king of a small inland valley； communicating by a deep pass
with the country of the Typees。 The inmates of the two valleys were
related to each other by blood； and were known by the same name。 The
old woman had gone down into the Typee valley the day before； and
was now； with three chiefs； her sons； on a visit to her kinsmen。
As the old king's wife left him； Jimmy again came up to Toby；
and told him that he had just talked the whole matter over with the
natives； and there was only one course for him to follow。 They would
not allow him to go back into the valley； and harm would certainly
come to both him and me； if he rema