Welookedaboutusuncertainwhithertodirectoursteps，sincethepathwehadsofarfollowedappearedtobelostintheopenspacearoundus。Atlastweresolvedtoenteragrovenearathand，andhadadvancedafewrods，when，justuponitsskirts，Ipickedupaslenderbread-fruitshootperfectlygreen，andwiththetenderbarkfreshlystriptfromit。Itwasslipperywithmoisture，andappearedasifithadbeenbutthatmomentthrownaside。Isaidnothing，butmerelyheldituptoToby，whostartedatthisundeniableevidenceofthevicinityofthesavages。
Theplotwasnowthickening-Ashortdistancefartherlayalittlefaggotofthesameshootsboundtogetherwithastripofbark。Couldithavebeenthrowndownbysomesolitarynative，who，alarmedatseeingus，hadhurriedforwardtocarrythetidingsofourapproachtohiscountrymen？-TypeeorHappar？-Butitwastoolatetorecede，sowemovedonslowly，mycompanioninadvancecastingeagerglancesunderthetreesoneitherside，untilallatonceI
sawhimrecoilasifstungbyanadder。Sinkingonhisknee，hewavedmeoffwithonehand，whilewiththeotherheheldasidesomeinterveningleaves，andgazedintentlyatsomeobject。
Disregardinghisinjunction，Iquicklyapproachedhimandcaughtaglimpseoftwofigurespartlyhiddenbythedensefoliage；theywerestandingclosetogether，andwereperfectlymotionless。Theymusthavepreviouslyperceivedus，andwithdrawnintothedepthsofthewoodtoeludeourobservation。
Mymindwasatoncemadeup。Droppingmystaff，andtearingopenthepackageofthingswehadbroughtfromtheship，Iunrolledthecottoncloth，andholdingitinonehand，pluckedwiththeotheratwigfromthebushesbesideme，andtellingTobytofollowmyexample，Ibrokethroughthecovertandadvanced，wavingthebranchintokenofpeacetowardstheshrinkingformsbeforeme。
Theywereaboyandagirl，slenderandgraceful，andcompletelynaked，withtheexceptionofaslightgirdleofbark，fromwhichdependedatoppositepointstwooftherussetleavesofthebread-fruittree。Anarmoftheboy，halfscreenedfromsightbyherwildtresses，wasthrownabouttheneckofthegirl，whilewiththeotherheheldoneofherhandsinhis；andthustheystoodtogether，theirheadsinclinedforward，catchingthefaintnoisewemadeinourprogress，andwithonefootinadvance，asifhalfinclinedtoflyfromourpresence。
Aswedrewnear，theiralarmevidentlyincreased。Apprehensivethattheymightflyfromusaltogether，IstoppedshortandmotionedthemtoadvanceandreceivethegiftIextendedtowardsthem，buttheywouldnot；IthenutteredafewwordsoftheirlanguagewithwhichI
wasacquainted，scarcelyexpectingthattheywouldunderstandme，buttoshowthatwehadnotdroppedfromthecloudsuponthem。Thisappearedtogivethemalittleconfidence，soIapproachednearer，presentingtheclothwithonehand，andholdingtheboughwiththeother，whiletheyslowlyretreated。Atlasttheysufferedustoapproachsoneartothemthatwewereenabledtothrowthecottonclothacrosstheirshoulders，givingthemtounderstandthatitwastheirs，andbyavarietyofgesturesendeavouringtomakethemunderstandthatweentertainedthehighestpossibleregardforthem。
Thefrightenedpairnowstoodstill，whilstweendeavouredtomakethemcomprehendthenatureofourwants。IndoingthisTobywentthroughwithacompleteseriesofpantomimicillustrations-openinghismouthfromeartoear，andthrustinghisfingersdownhisthroat，gnashinghisteethandrollinghiseyesabout，tillIverilybelievethepoorcreaturestookusforacoupleofwhitecannibalswhowereabouttomakeamealofthem。When，however，theyunderstoodus，theyshowednoinclinationtorelieveourwants。Atthisjunctureitbegantorainviolently，andwemotionedthemtoleadustosomeplaceofshelter。Withthisrequesttheyappearedwillingtocomply，butnothingcouldevincemorestronglytheapprehensionwithwhichtheyregardedus，thanthewayinwhich，whilstwalkingbeforeus，theykepttheireyesconstantlyturnedbacktowatcheverymovementwemade，andevenourverylooks。
“TypeeorHappar，Toby？“askedI，aswewalkedafterthem。
“Ofcourse，Happar，“hereplied，withashowofconfidencewhichwasintendedtodisguisehisdoubts。
“Weshallsoonknow，“Iexclaimed；andatthesamemomentI
steppedforwardtowardsourguides，andpronouncingthetwonamesinterrogatively，andpointingtothelowestpartofthevalley，endeavouredtocometothepointatonce。Theyrepeatedthewordsaftermeagainandagain，butwithoutgivinganypeculiaremphasistoeither，sothatIwascompletelyatalosstounderstandthem；
foracoupleofwilieryoungthingsthanweafterwardsfoundthemtohavebeenonthisparticularoccasionneverprobablyfellinanytraveller’sway。
Moreandmorecurioustoascertainourfate，Inowthrewtogetherintheformofaquestionthewords“Happar“and“Mortarkee，“
thelatterbeingequivalenttotheword“good。“Thetwonativesinterchangedglancesofpeculiarmeaningwithoneanotheratthis，andmanifestednolittlesurprise；butontherepetitionofthequestion，aftersomeconsultationtogether，tothegreatjoyofToby，theyansweredintheaffirmative。Tobywasnowinecstasies，especiallyastheyoungsavagescontinuedtoreiteratetheiranswerwithgreatenergy，asthoughdesirousofimpressinguswiththeideathatbeingamongtheHappars，weoughtconsiderourselvesperfectlysecure。
AlthoughIhadsomelingeringdoubts，IfeignedgreatdelightwithTobyatthisannouncement，whilemycompanionbrokeoutintoapantomimicabhorrenceofTypee，andimmeasurablelovefortheparticularvalleyinwhichwewere；ourguidesallthewhilegazinguneasilyatoneanother，asifatalosstoaccountforourconduct。
Theyhurriedon，andwefollowedthem；untilsuddenlytheysetupastrangehalloo，whichwasansweredfrombeyondthegrovethroughwhichwewerepassing，andthenextmomentweentereduponsomeopenground，attheextremityofwhichwedescriedalong，lowhut，andinfrontofitwereseveralyounggirls。Assoonastheyperceivedustheyfledwithwildscreamsintotheadjoiningthickets，somanystartledfawns。Afewmomentsafterthewholevalleyresoundedwithsavageoutcries，andthenativescamerunningtowardsusfromeverydirection。
Hadanarmyofinvadersmadeanirruptionintotheirterritory，theycouldnothaveevincedgreaterexcitement。Weweresooncompletelyencircledbyadensethrong，andintheireagerdesiretobeholdus，theyalmostarrestedourprogress；anequalnumbersurroundingouryouthfulguides，who，withamazingvolubility，appearedtobedetailingthecircumstanceswhichhadattendedtheirmeetingwithus。Everyitemofintelligenceappearedtoredoubletheastonishmentoftheislanders，andtheygazedatuswithinquiringlooks。
Atlastwereachedalargeandhandsomebuildingofbamboos，andwerebysignstoldtoenterit，thenativesopeningalaneforusthroughwhichtopass；onentering，withoutceremonywethrewourexhaustedframesuponthematsthatcoveredthefloor。Inamomenttheslighttenementwascompletelyfullofpeople，whilstthosewhowereunabletoobtainadmittancegazedatusthroughitsopencane-work。
Itwasnowevening，andbythedimlightwecouldjustdiscernthesavagecountenancesaroundus，gleamingwithwildcuriosityandwonder；thenakedformsandtattooedlimbsofbrawnywarriors，withhereandtheretheslighterfiguresofyounggirls，allengagedinaperfectstormofconversation，ofwhichwewereofcoursetheoneonlytheme；whilstourrecentguideswerefullyoccupiedinansweringtheinnumerablequestionswhicheveryoneputtothem。Nothingcanexceedthefiercegesticulationofthesepeoplewhenanimatedinconversation，andonthisoccasiontheygaveloosetoalltheirnaturalvivacity，shoutinganddancingaboutinamannerthatwell-nighintimidatedus。
Closetowherewelay，squattingupontheirhaunches，weresomeeightortennoble-lookingchiefs-forsuchtheysubsequentlyprovedtobe-who，morereservedthantherest，regardeduswithafixedandsternattention，whichnotalittlediscomposedourequanimity。
Oneoftheminparticular，whoappearedtobethehighestinrank，placedhimselfdirectlyfacingme，lookingatmewitharigidityofaspectunderwhichIabsolutelyquailed。Heneveronceopenedhislips，butmaintainedhissevereexpressionofcountenance，withoutturninghisfaceasideforasinglemoment。NeverbeforehadIbeensubjectedtosostrangeandsteadyaglance；itrevealednothingofthemindofthesavage，butitappearedtobereadingmyown。
AfterundergoingthisscrutinytillIgrewabsolutelynervous，withaviewofdivertingitifpossible，andconciliatingthegoodopinionofthewarrior，Itooksometobaccofromthebosomofmyfrock，andofferedittohim。Hequietlyrejectedtheprofferedgift，and，withoutspeaking，motionedmetoreturnittoitsplace。
InmypreviousintercoursewiththenativesofNukuhevaandTior，Ihadfoundthatthepresentofasmallpieceoftobaccowouldhaverenderedanyofthemdevotedtomyservice。Wasthisactofthechiefatokenofhisenmity？TypeeorHappar？Iaskedwithinmyself。I
started，foratthesamemomentthisidenticalquestionwasaskedbythestrangebeingbeforeme。IturnedtoToby；theflickeringlightofanativetapershowedmehiscountenancepalewithtrepidationatthisfatalquestion。Ipausedforasecond，andIknownotbywhatimpulseitwasthatIanswered，“Typee。“Thepieceofduskystatuarynoddedinapproval，andthenmurmured，“Mortarkee？““Mortarkee，“
saidI，withoutfurtherhesitation-“Typeemortarkee。“
Whatatransition！Thedarkfiguresaroundusleapedtotheirfeet，clappedtheirhandsintransport，andshoutedagainandagainthetalismanicsyllables，theutteranceofwhichappearedtohavesettledeverything。
Whenthiscommotionhadalittlesubsided，theprincipalchiefsquattedoncemorebeforeme，andthrowinghimselfintoasuddenrage，pouredforthastringofphilippics，whichIwasatnolosstounderstand，fromthefrequentrecurrenceofthewordHappar，asbeingdirectedagainstthenativesoftheadjoiningvalley。InallthesedenunciationsmycompanionandIacquiesced，whileweextolledthecharacterofthewarlikeTypees。Tobesureourpanegyricsweresomewhatlaconic，consistingintherepetitionofthatname，unitedwiththepotentadjective，“Mortarkee。“Butthiswassufficient，andservedtoconciliatethegood-willofthenatives，withwhomourcongenialityofsentimentonthispointdidmoretowardsinspiringafriendlyfeelingthananythingelsethatcouldhavehappened。
Atlastthewrathofthechiefevaporated，andinafewmomentshewasasplacidasever。Layinghishanduponhisbreast，hegavemetounderstandthathisnamewas“Mehevi，“andthat，inreturn，hewishedmetocommunicatemyappellation。Ihesitatedforaninstant，thinkingthatitmightbedifficultforhimtopronouncemyrealname，andthen，withthemostpraiseworthyintentions，intimatedthatI
wasknownas“Tom。“ButIcouldnothavemadeaworseselection；thechiefcouldnotmasterit:“Tommo，““Tomma，““Tommee，“everythingbutplain“Tom。“Ashepersistedingarnishingthewordwithanadditionalsyllable，Icompromisedthematterwithhimattheword“Tommo“；andbythatnameIwentduringtheentireperiodofmystayinthevalley。ThesameproceedingwasgonethroughwithToby，whosemellifluousappellationwasmoreeasilycaught。
