Typee by Herman Melville

My narration of Herman Melville’s first novel, Typee, is available free through Librivox.

1. The Sea – longings for shore – a land-sick ship – destination of the voyagers – the Marquesas – adventure of a missionary’s wife among the savages – characteristic anecdote of the Queen of Nukuheva

2. Passage from the cruising ground to the Marquesas – sleepy times aboard ship – South Sea scenery – land ho – the French squadron discovered at anchor in the bay of Nukuheva – strange pilot – escort of canoes – a flotilla of coconuts – swimming visitors – the Dolly boarded by them – state of affairs that ensue

3. Some account of the late operations of the French at the Marquesas – prudent conduct of the admiral – sensation produced by the arrival of the strangers – the first horse seen by the islanders – reflections – miserable subterfuge of the French – digression concerning Tahiti – seizure of the island by the admiral – spirited conduct of an English lady

4. State of affairs aboard the ship – contents of her larder – length of South Seamen’s voyages – account of a flying whale-man – determination to leave the vessel – the bay of Nukuheva – the Typees – invasion of their valley by Porter – reflections – glen of Tior – interview between the old king and the French admiral

5. Thoughts previous to attempting an escape – Toby, a fellow sailor, agrees to share the adventure – last night aboard the ship

6. A specimen of nautical oratory – criticisms of the sailors – the starboard watch are given a holiday – the escape to the mountains

7. The other side of the mountain – disappointment – inventory of articles brought from the ship – division of the stock of bread – appearance of the interior of the island – a discovery – a ravine and waterfalls – a sleepless night – further discoveries – my illness – a Marquesan landscape

8. The important question, Typee or Happar? – a wild goose chase – my sufferings – disheartening situation – a night in a ravine – morning meal – happy idea of Toby – journey towards the valley

9. Perilous passage of the ravine – descent into the valley

The head of the valley – cautious advance – a path – fruit – discovery of two of the natives – their singular conduct – approach towards the inhabited parts of the vale – sensation produced by our appearance – reception at the house of one of the natives

Midnight reflections – morning visitors – a warrior in costume – a savage Aesculapius – practice of the healing art – body servant – a dwelling-house of the valley described – portraits of its inmates

Officiousness of Kory-Kory – his devotion – a bath in the stream – want of refinement of the Typee damsels – stroll with Mehevi – a Typee highway – the taboo groves – the hoolah hoolah ground – the ti – timeworn savages – hospitality of Mehevi – midnight musings – adventures in the dark – distinguished honours paid to the visitors – strange procession and return to the house of Marheyo

Attempt to procure relief from Nukuheva – perilous adventure of Toby in the Happar mountains – eloquence of Kory-Kory

A great event happens in the valley – the island telegraph – something befalls Toby – Fayaway displays a tender heart – melancholy reflections – mysterious conduct of the islanders – devotion of Kory-Kory – a rural couch – a luxury – Kory-Kory strikes a light a la Typee

Kindness of Marheyo and the rest of the islanders – a full description of the bread-fruit tree – different modes of preparing the fruit

Melancholy condition – occurrence at the ti – anecdote of Marheyo – shaving the head of a warrior

Improvement in health and spirits – felicity of the Typees – their enjoyments compared with those of more enlightened communities – comparative wickedness of civilized and unenlightened people – a skirmish in the mountain with the warriors of Happar

Swimming in company with the girls of the valley – a canoe – effects of the taboo – a pleasure excursion on the pond – beautiful freak of Fayaway – mantua-making – a stranger arrives in the valley – his mysterious conduct – native oratory – the interview – its results – departure of the stranger

Reflections after Marnoo’s departure – battle of the pop-guns – strange conceit of Marheyo – process of making tappa

History of a day as usually spent in the Typee valley – dances of the Marquesan girls

The spring of Arva Wai – remarkable monumental remains – some ideas with regard to the history of the pi-pis found in the valley

Preparations for a grand festival in the valley – strange doings in the taboo groves – monument of calabashes – gala costume of the Typee damsels – departure for the festival

The feast of calabashes

Ideas suggested by the feast of calabashes – inaccuracy of certain published accounts of the islands – a reason – neglected state of heathenism in the valley – effigy of a dead warrior – a singular superstition – the priest Kolory and the god Moa Artua – amazing religious observance – a dilapidated shrine – Kory-Kory and the idol – an inference

General information gathered at the festival – personal beauty of the Typees – their superiority over the inhabitants of the other islands – diversity of complexion – a vegetable cosmetic and ointment – testimony of voyagers to the uncommon beauty of the Marquesans – few evidences of intercourse with civilized beings – dilapidated musket – primitive simplicity of government – regal dignity of Mehevi

King Mehevi – allusion to his Hawiian majesty – conduct of Marheyo and Mehevi in certain delicate matters – peculiar system of marriage – number of population – uniformity – embalming – places of sepulture – funeral obsequies at Nukuheva – number of inhabitants in Typee – location of the dwellings – happiness enjoyed in the valley – a warning – some ideas with regard to the civilization of the islands – reference to the present state of the Hawiians – story of a missionary’s wife – fashionable equipages at Oahu – reflections

The social condition and general character of the Typees

Fishing parties – mode of distributing the fish – midnight banquet – timekeeping tapers – unceremonious style of eating the fish

Natural history of the valley – golden lizards – tameness of the birds – mosquitoes – flies – dogs – a solitary cat – the climate – the coconut tree – singular modes of climbing it – an agile young chief – fearlessness of the children – Too-Too and the coconut tree – the birds of the valley

A professor of the fine arts – his persecutions – something about tattooing and tabooing – two anecdotes in illustration of the latter – a few thoughts on the Typee dialect

Strange custom of the islanders – their chanting, and the peculiarity of their voice – rapture of the King at first hearing a song – a new dignity conferred on the author – musical instruments in the valley – admiration of the savages at beholding a pugilistic performance – swimming infant – beautiful tresses of the girls – ointment for the hair

Apprehensions of evil – frightful discovery – some remarks on cannibalism – second battle with the Happars – savage spectacle – mysterious feast – subsequent disclosures

The stranger again arrives in the valley – singular interview with him – attempt to escape – failure – melancholy situation – sympathy of Marheyo

The escape

Provisional cession to Lord George Paulet of the Sandwich Islands

The story of Toby