[Typee by Herman Melville]@TWC D-Link bookTypee CHAPTER THIRTEEN 1/12
ATTEMPT TO PROCURE RELIEF FROM NUKUHEVA--PERILOUS ADVENTURE OF TOBY IN THE HAPPAR MOUNTAINS--ELOQUENCE OF KORY-KORY AMIDST these novel scenes a week passed away almost imperceptibly.
The natives, actuated by some mysterious impulse, day after day redoubled their attentions to us.
Their manner towards us was unaccountable. Surely, thought I, they would not act thus if they meant us any harm. But why this excess of deferential kindness, or what equivalent can they imagine us capable of rendering them for it? We were fairly puzzled.
But despite the apprehensions I could not dispel, the horrible character imputed to these Typees appeared to be wholly undeserved. 'Why, they are cannibals!' said Toby on one occasion when I eulogized the tribe.
'Granted,' I replied, 'but a more humane, gentlemanly and amiable set of epicures do not probably exist in the Pacific.' But, notwithstanding the kind treatment we received, I was too familiar with the fickle disposition of savages not to feel anxious to withdraw from the valley, and put myself beyond the reach of that fearful death which, under all these smiling appearances, might yet menace us.
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