rence between "personal property" and "real estate" in the valley of
Typee. Some individuals, of course, are more wealthy than others. For
example: the ridge-pole of Marheyo's house bends under the weight of many
a huge packet of tappa; his long couch is laid with mats placed one upon
the other seven deep. Outside, Tinor has ranged along in her bamboo
cupboard--or whatever the place may be called--a goodly array of calabashes
and wooden trenchers. Now, the house just beyond the grove, and next to
Marheyo's, occupied by Ruaruga, is not quite so well furnished. There are
only three moderate-sized packages swinging overhead; there are only two
layers of mats beneath; and the calabashes and trenchers are not so
numerous, nor so tastefully stained and carved. But then, Ruaruga has a
house--not so pretty a one, to be sure--but just as commodious as Marheyo's;
and, I suppose, if he wished to vie with his neighbour's establishment, he
could do so with very little trouble. These, in short, constitute the
chief differences perceivable in the relative wealth of the people in
Typee.

They lived in great harmony with each other. I will give an instance of
their fraternal feeling.

One day, in returning with Kory-Kory from my accustomed visit to the Ti,
we passed by a little opening in the grove; on one side of which, my
attendant informed me, was that afternoon to be built a dwelling of
bamboo. At least a hundred of the natives were bringing materials to the
ground, some carrying in their hands one or two of the canes which were to
form the sides, others slender rods of the Habiscus, strung with palmetto
leaves, for the roof. Every one contributed something to the work; and by
the united, but easy, and even indolent, labours of all, the entire work
was completed before sunset. The islanders, while employed in erecting
this tenement, reminded me of a colony of beavers at work. To be sure,
they were hardly as silent and demure as those wonderful creatures, nor
were they by any means as diligent. To tell the truth, they were somewhat
inclined to be lazy, but a perfect tumult of hilarity prevailed; and they
worked together so unitedly, and seemed actuated by such an instinct of
friendliness, that it was truly beautiful to behold.

Not a single female took part in this employment: and if the degree of
consideration in which the ever-adorable sex is held by the men be--as the
philosophers affirm--a just criterion of the degree of refinem