ent among a
people, then I may truly pronounce the Typees to be as polished a
community as ever the sun shone upon. The religious restrictions of the
taboo alone excepted, the women of the valley were allowed every possible
indulgence. Nowhere are the ladies more assiduously courted; nowhere are
they better appreciated as the contributors to our highest enjoyments; and
nowhere are they more sensible of their power. Far different from their
condition among many rude nations, where the women are made to perform all
the work, while their ungallant lords and masters lie buried in sloth, the
gentle sex in the valley of Typee were exempt from toil--if toil it might
be called--that, even in that tropical climate, never distilled one drop of
perspiration. Their light household occupations, together with the
manufacture of tappa, the platting of mats, and the polishing of
drinking-vessels, were the only employments pertaining to the women. And
even these resembled those pleasant avocations which fill up the elegant
morning leisure of our fashionable ladies at home. But in these
occupations, slight and agreeable though they were, the giddy young girls
very seldom engaged. Indeed, these wilful, care-killing damsels were
averse to all useful employment. Like so many spoiled beauties, they
ranged through the groves--bathed in the stream--danced--flirted--played all
manner of mischievous pranks, and passed their days in one merry round of
thoughtless happiness.

During my whole stay on the island I never witnessed a single quarrel, nor
anything that in the slightest degree approached even to a dispute. The
natives appeared to form one household, whose members were bound together
by the ties of strong affection. The love of kindred I did not so much
perceive, for it seemed blended in the general love; and where all were
treated as brothers and sisters, it was hard to tell who were actually
related to each other by blood.

Let it not be supposed that I have overdrawn this picture. I have not done
so. Nor let it be urged, that the hostility of this tribe to foreigners,
and the hereditary feuds they carry on against their fellow-islanders
beyond the mountains, are facts which contradict me. Not so; these
apparent discrepancies are easily reconciled. By many a legendary tale of
violence and wrong, as well as by events which have passed before their
eyes, these people have been taught to look upon white men with
abhorrence. The cruel inva