nt 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 nigh 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 the strange
desire these people manifested to retain me among 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 so. 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. Freed from
apprehensions on this point, and resolved to regard the future witho