Chapter Nineteen

CHAPTER NINETEEN

REFLECTIONS AFTER MARNOO'S DEPARTURE-BATTLE OF THE
POP-GUNS--STRANGE CONCEIT OF MARHEYO--PROCESS OF MAKING TAPPA

THE knowledge I had now obtained as to the intention of the
savages deeply affected me.

Marnoo, I perceived, was a man who, by reason of his superior
acquirements, and the knowledge he possessed 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
captivity, had sufficed not only to banish 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 mere suggestion of my departure had
estranged from me, for the time at least, Mehevi, who was the
most influential of all the chiefs, and who had previously
exhibited so many instances of his; friendly sentiments. The
rest of the natives had likewise evinced their strong repugnance
to my wishes, and even Kory-Kory himself seemed to share in the
general disapprobation bestowed upon me.

In vain I racked my invention to find out some motive for them,
but I could discover none.

But however this might be, the scene which had just occurred
admonished me of the danger of trifling with the wayward and
passionate 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 detention in the
valley, and by assuming a tranquil and cheerful demeanour, to
allay the suspicions which I had so unfortunately aroused. Their
confidence revived, they might in a short time remit in some
degree their watchfulness over my movements, and I should then be
the better enabled to avail myself of any opportunity which
presented itself for escape. I determined, 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 conjecture, 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.