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Melville, Herman, 1819-1891 [1846], A peep at Plynesian life, volume 2 (Wiley & Putnam, New York) [word count] [eaf273v2].
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CHAPTER XXXIV.

The Escape.

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Nearly three weeks had elapsed since the second visit of Marnoo,
and it must have been more than four months since I entered the
valley, when one day about noon, and whilst everything was in
profound silence, Mow-Mow, the one-eyed chief, suddenly appeared
at the door, and leaning forward towards me as I lay directly
facing him, said in a low tone, “Toby pemi ena” (Toby has arrived
here). Gracious heaven! What a tumult of emotions
rushed upon me at this startling intelligence! Insensible to the
pain that had before distracted me, I leaped to my feet, and called
wildly to Kory-Kory who was reposing by my side. The startled
islanders sprang from their mats; the news was quickly communicated
to them; and the next moment I was making my way
to the Ti on the back of Kory-Kory, and surrounded by the excited
savages.

All that I could comprehend of the particulars which Mow-Mow
rehearsed to his auditors as we proceeded, was that my long-lost
companion had arrived in a boat which had just entered the bay.
These tidings made me most anxious to be carried at once to the
sea, lest some untoward circumstance should prevent our meeting;
but to this they would not consent, and continued their course
towards the royal abode. As we approached it, Mehevi and
several chiefs showed themselves from the piazza, and called upon
us loudly to come to them.

As soon as we had approached, I endeavored to make them
understand that I was going down to the sea to meet Toby. To

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this the king objected, and motioned 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 noisy group engaged in
discussing the recent intelligence. Toby's name was frequently
repeated, coupled with violent exclamations of astonishment. It
seemed as if they yet remained in doubt with regard to the fact
of his arrival, and at every fresh report that was brought from the
shore they betrayed the liveliest emotions.

Almost frenzied at being held in this state of suspense, I passionately
besought Mehevi to permit me to proceed. Whether
my companion had arrived or not, I felt a presentiment that my
own fate was about to be decided. Again and again I renewed
my petition to Mehevi. He regarded me with 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
my journey; every few moments being transferred from
the back of one to another, and urging my bearer forward all the
while with earnest entreaties. As I thus hurried forward, no doubt
as to the truth of the information I had received ever crossed my
mind. I was alive only to the one overwhelming idea, that a
chance of deliverance was now afforded me, if the jealous opposition
of the savages could be overcome.

Having been prohibited from approaching the sea during the
whole of my stay in the valley, I had always associated with it
the idea of escape. Toby too—if indeed he had ever voluntarily
deserted me—must have effected his flight by the sea; and now
that I was drawing near to it myself, I indulged in hopes which
I had never felt before. It was evident that a boat had entered the
bay, and I saw little reason to doubt the truth of the report
that it had brought my companion. Every time therefore that
we gained an elevation, I looked eagerly around, hoping to behold
him.

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In the midst of an excited throng, who by their violent gestures
and wild cries appeared to be under the influence of some excitement
as strong as my own, I was now borne along at a rapid trot,
frequently stooping my head to avoid the branches which crossed
the path, and never ceasing to implore those who carried me to
accelerate their already swift pace.

In this manner we had proceeded about four or five miles, when
we were met by a party of some twenty islanders, between whom
and those who accompanied me ensued an animated conference.
Impatient of the delay occasioned by this interruption, I was beseeching
the man who carried me to proceed without his loitering
companions, when Kory-Kory, running to my side, informed me,
in three fatal words, that the news had all proved false—that Toby
had not arrived—“Toby owlee permi.” Heaven only knows how,
in the state of mind and body I then was, I ever sustained the
agony which this intelligence caused me; not that the news was
altogether unexpected; but I had trusted that the fact might not
have been 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 only yielded thus far to my entreaties, that I
might give a joyful welcome to my long-lost comrade; but now
that it was known he had not arrived, they would at once oblige
me to turn back.

My anticipations were but too correct. In spite of the resistance
I made, they carried me into a house which was near the
spot, and left me upon the mats. Shortly afterwards several of
those who had accompanied me from the Ti, detaching themselves
from the others, proceeded in the direction of the sea. Those
who remained—among whom were Marheyo, Mow-Mow, Kory-Kory,
and Tinor—gathered about the dwelling, and appeared to be
awaiting their return.

This convinced me that strangers—perhaps some of my own
countrymen—had for some cause or other entered the bay.

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Distracted at the idea of their vicinity, and reckless of the pain
which I suffered, I heeded not the assurances of the islanders, that
there were no boats at the beach, but starting to my feet endeavored
to gain the door. Instantly the passage was blocked up by several
men, who commanded me to resume my seat. The fierce looks
of the irritated savages admonished me that I could gain nothing
by force, and that it was by entreaty alone that I could hope to
compass my object.

Guided by this consideration, I turned to Mow-Mow, the only
chief present whom I had been much in the habit of seeing, and
carefully concealing my real design, tried to make him comprehend
that I still believed Toby to have arrived on the shore, and
besought him to allow me to 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
an eloquence of gesture which the one-eyed chief appeared unable
to resist. He seemed indeed to regard me as a froward child,
to whose wishes he had not the heart to oppose force, and whom
he must consequently humor. He spoke 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
faithful servitor was nowhere to be seen. Unwilling to linger
even for a single instant when every moment might be so important,
I motioned to a muscular fellow near me to take me
upon his back: to my surprise he angrily refused. I turned to
another, but with a like result. A third attempt was as unsuccessful,
and I immediately perceived what had induced Mow-Mow
to grant my request, and why the other natives conducted
themselves in so strange a manner. It was evident that the chief
had only given me liberty to continue my progress towards the
sea, because he supposed that I was deprived of the means of
reaching it.

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Convinced by this of their determination to retain me a captive,
I became desperate; and almost insensible to the pain which I
suffered, I seized a spear which was leaning against the projecting
eaves of the house, and supporting myself with it, resumed the
path that swept by the dwelling. To my surprise, I was suffered
to proceed alone; all the natives remaining in front of the house,
and engaging in earnest conversation, which every moment became
more loud and vehement; and to my unspeakable delight I perceived
that some difference of opinion had arisen between them;
that two parties, in short, were formed, and consequently that in
their divided counsels there was some chance of my deliverance.

Before I had proceeded a hundred yards I was again surrounded
by the savages, who were still in all the heat of argument, and
appeared every moment as if they would come to blows. In the
midst of this tumult old Marheyo came to my side, and I shall
never forget the benevolent expression of his countenance. He
placed his arm upon my shoulder, and emphatically pronounced
the only two English words I had taught him—“Home” and
“Mother.” I at once understood what he meant, and eagerly
expressed my thanks to him. Fayaway and Kory-Kory were by
his side, both weeping violently; and it was not until the old man
had twice repeated the command that his son could bring himself
to obey him, and take me again upon his back. The one-eyed
chief opposed his doing so, but he was overruled, 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 I first heard the roar of the surf breaking upon the
beach. Before long I saw the flashing billows themselves through
the opening between the trees. Oh glorious sight and sound of
ocean! with what rapture did I hail you as familiar friends! By
this time the shouts of the crowd upon the beach were distinctly
audible, and in the blended confusion of sounds I almost fancied I
could distinguish the voices of my own countrymen.

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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 with her bow pointed from the shore,
and only a few fathoms distant from it. It was manned by five
islanders, dressed in short tunies of calico. My first impression
was that they were in the very act of pulling out from the bay;
and that, after all my exertions, I had come too late. My soul
sunk within me: but a second glance convinced me that the boat
was only hanging off to keep out of the surf; and the next
moment I heard my own name shouted out by a voice from the
midst of the crowd.

Looking in the direction of the sound, I perceived, to my indescribable
joy, the tall figure of Karakoee, an Oahu Kannaka, who
had often been aboard the “Dolly,” while she lay in Nukuheva.
He wore the green shooting-jacket with gilt buttons, which had
been given to him by an officer of the Reine Blanche—the French
flag-ship—and in which I had always seen him dressed. I now
remembered the Kannaka had frequently told me that his
person was tabooed in all the valleys of the island, and the sight
of him at such a moment as this filled my heart with a tumult of
delight.

Karakoee stood near the edge of the water with a large roll of
cotton-cloth thrown over one arm, and holding two or three canvas
bags of powder, while with the other hand he grasped a
musket, which he appeared to be proffering to several of the chiefs
around him. But they turned with disgust from his offers, and
seemed to be impatient at his presence, with vehement gestures
waving him off to his boat, and commanding him to depart.

The Kannaka, however, still maintained his ground, and I at
once perceived that he was seeking to purchase my freedom.
Animated by the idea, I called upon him loudly to come to me;
but he replied, in broken English, that the islanders had threatened
to pierce him with their spears, if he stirred a foot towards

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me. At this time I was still advancing, surrounded by a dense
throng of the natives, several of whom had their hands upon me,
and more than one javelin was threateningly pointed at me.
Still I perceived clearly that many of those least friendly towards
me looked irresolute and anxious.

I was still some thirty yards from Karakoee when my farther
progress was prevented by the natives, who compelled me to sit
down upon the ground, while they still retained 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 of whom
were evidently urging Mow-Mow and the other chiefs to prevent
my departure; and the detestable word “Roo-ne! Roo-ne!”
which I had heard repeated a thousand times during the day, was
now shouted out on every side of me. Still I saw that the
Kannaka continued his exertions in my favor—that he was boldly
debating the matter with the savages, and was striving to entice
them by displaying his cloth and powder, and snapping the lock
of his musket. But all he said or did appeared only to augment
the clamors of those around him, who seemed bent upon driving
him into the sea.

When I remembered the extravagant value placed by these
people upon the articles which were offered to them in exchange
for me, and which were so indignantly rejected, I saw a new
proof of the same fixed determination of purpose they had all
along manifested with regard to me, and in despair, and reckless
of consequences, I exerted all my strength, and shaking myself
free from the grasp of those who held me, I sprang upon my feet
and rushed towards Karakoee.

The rash attempt nearly decided my fate; for, fearful that I
might slip from them, several of the islanders now raised a simultaneous
shout, and pressing upon Karakoee, they menaced him
with furious gestures, and actually forced him into the sea.
Appalled at their violence, the poor fellow, standing nearly to the

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waist in the surf, endeavored to pacify them; 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 the boat.

It was at this agonizing moment, when I thought all hope was
ended, that a new contest arose between the two parties who had
accompanied me to the shore; blows were struck, wounds were
given, and blood flowed. In the 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, I looked
imploringly at Marheyo, and moved towards the now almost
deserted beach. The tears were in the old man's eyes, but
neither he nor Kory-Kory attempted to hold me, and I soon reached
the Kannaka, who had anxiously watched my movements; the
rowers pulled in as near as they dared to the edge of the surf; I
gave one parting embrace to Fayaway, who seemed speechless
with sorrow, and the next instant I found myself safe in the boat,
and Karakoee by my side, who told the rowers at once to 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 of gratitude I could show, to give them the articles which
had been brought as my ransom. I handed the musket to Kory-Kory,
with a rapid gesture which was equivalent to a “Deed of
Gift;” threw the roll of cotton to old Marheyo, pointing as I did
so to poor Fayaway, who had retired from the 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 whom were
vastly willing to take them. This distribution did not occupy ten
seconds, and before it was over the boat was under full way; the
Kannaka all the while exclaiming loudly against what he considered
a useless throwing away of valuable property.

Although it was clear that my movements had been noticed by
several of the natives, still they had not suspended the conflict in

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which they were engaged, and it was not until the boat was above
fifty yards from the shore that Mow-Mow and some six or seven
other warriors rushed into the sea and hurled their javelins at us.
Some of the weapons passed quite as close to us as was desirable,
but no one was wounded, and the men pulled away gallantly.
But although soon out of the reach of the spears, our progress
was extremely slow; it blew strong upon the shore, and the tide
was against us; and I saw Karakoee, who was steering the boat,
give many a look towards a jutting point of the bay round which
we had to pass.

For a minute or two after our departure, the savages, who had
formed into different groops, remained perfectly motionless and
silent. All at once the enraged chief showed by his gestures
that he had resolved what course he would take. Shouting loudly
to his companions, and pointing with his tomahawk towards the
headland, he set off at full speed in that direction, and was
followed by about thirty of the natives, among whom were several
of the priests, all yelling out “Roo-ne! Roo-ne!” at the very top
of their voices. Their intention was evidently 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 it was
one of those chopping angry seas in which it is so difficult to row.
Still the chances seemed in our favor, but when we came within a
hundred yards of the point, the active savages were already dashing
into the water, and we all feared that within five minutes'
time we should have a score of the infuriated wretches around us.
If so our doom was sealed, for these savages, unlike the feeble
swimmers of civilized countries, are, if anything, more formidable
antagonists in the water than when on the land. It was all a trial of
strength; our natives pulled till their oars bent again, and the
crowd of swimmers shot through the water despite its roughness,
with fearful rapidity.

By the time we had reached the headland, the savages were

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spread right across our course. Our rowers got out their knives
and held them ready between their teeth, and I seized the boat-hook.
We were all aware that if they succeeded in intercepting
us they would practise upon us the manœuvre which has proved
so fatal to many a boat's crew in these seas. They would grapple
the oars, and seizing hold of the gunwale, capsize the boat, and
then we should be entirely at their mercy.

After a few breathless moments I discerned Mow-Mow. The
athletic islander, with his tomahawk between his teeth, was
dashing the water before him till it foamed again. He was the
nearest to us, and in another instant he would have seized one of
the oars. Even at the moment I felt horror at the act I was
about to commit; but it was no time for pity or compunction, and
with a true aim, and exerting all my strength, I dashed the boat-hook
at him. It struck him just below the throat, and forced
him downwards. I had no time to repeat the blow, but I saw him
rise to the surface in the wake of the boat, and never shall I forget
the ferocious expression of his countenance.

Only one other of the savages reached the boat. He seized
the gunwale, but the knives of our rowers so mauled his wrists,
that he was forced to quit 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 I fell back fainting into the
arms of Karakoee.

The circumstances connected with my most unexpected escape
may be very briefly stated. The captain of an Australian vessel,
being in distress for men in these remote seas, had put into Nukuheva
in order to recruit his ship's company, but not a single
man was to be obtained; and the barque was about to get under
weigh, when she was boarded by Karakoee, who informed the
disappointed Englishman that an American sailor was detained by
the savages in the neighboring bay of Typee; and he offered,

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if supplied with suitable articles of traffic, to undertake his release.
The Kannaka 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, again repaired aboard the barque, which in
a few hours sailed to that part of the island, and threw her main-top-sail
aback right off the entrance to the Typee bay. The
whale-boat, manned by the tabooed crew, pulled towards the
head of the inlet, while the ship lay “off and on” awaiting its
return.

The events which ensued have already been detailed, and little
more remains to be related. On reaching the “Julia” I was
lifted over the side, and my strange appearance and remarkable
adventure occasioned the liveliest interest. Every attention was
bestowed upon me that humanity could suggest. But to such a
state was I reduced, that three months elapsed before I recovered
my health.

The mystery which hung over the fate of my friend and companion
Toby has never been cleared up. I still remain ignorant
whether he succeeded in leaving the valley, or perished at the
hands of the islanders.

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Melville, Herman, 1819-1891 [1846], A peep at Plynesian life, volume 2 (Wiley & Putnam, New York) [word count] [eaf273v2].
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