ther pleasant than otherwise; but the rainy
season had now come on, and the tent was little protection against the
storms. Noticing this, the natives volunteered to put up such
buildings as the captain desired, and proceeded to do so in a most
expeditious manner. At early dawn four thousand men set about the
work, and by night had completed a walled village, containing a
dwelling-house for the captain, another for his officers, a cooper's
shop, hospital, bake-house, guard-house, and a shed for the sentinel
to walk under. For their services the men received old nails, bits of
iron hoop, and other metal scraps, with which they were highly
delighted. The Americans were then living on the terms of the most
perfect friendship with the natives. Many of the jackies had been
taken into the families of the islanders, and all had formed most
tender attachment for the beautiful island women; who, in their turn,
were devoted to the "Malleekees," who were such mighty men of war, and
brought them such pretty presents of beads and whales' teeth. The
Americans entered into the celebrations and festivities of the
islanders, watched their dances, joined their fishing expeditions, and
soon were on the friendliest footing with their dusky hosts.

[Illustration: Firing The Howitzer.]

But so pleasant and peaceful an existence was not destined to continue
long. The Typees, who inhabited the interior of the island, were
beginning to stir up strife against the Americans; and Porter saw that
their insolence must be crushed, or the whole native population would
unite in war against him. But to begin a war with the Typees was far
from Porter's wish. The way to their country lay over rugged
precipices and through almost impenetrable jungles. The light-footed
natives could easily enough scale the peaks, or thread the forests;
but to Porter's sailors it would be an exhausting undertaking. No
artillery could be taken into the field, and the immense number of
natives that might be arrayed against the sailors made the success of
the expedition very uncertain. Porter, therefore, determined to try to
adjust the difficulty amicably, and with this purpose sent an
ambassador to the Typees, proposing a peaceful alliance. The reply of
the natives is an amusing example of the ignorant vainglory of savage
tribes, unacquainted with the power of civilized peoples. The Typees
saw no reason to desire the friendship of the Americans. They had
always got along very