tack. I consulted
the chief Mehevi, who endeavoured to persuade me from my object: but I was
not to be repulsed; and accordingly increased the warmth of my
solicitations. At last he entered into a long, and I have no doubt a very
learned and eloquent exposition of the history and nature of the "taboo"
as affecting this particular case; employing a variety of most
extraordinary words, which, from their amazing length and sonorousness, I
have every reason to believe were of a theological nature. But all that he
said failed to convince me: partly perhaps, because I could not comprehend
a word that he uttered; but chiefly, that for the life of me, I could not
understand why a woman should not have as much right to enter a canoe as a
man. At last he became a little more rational, and intimated that, out of
the abundant love he bore me, he would consult with the priests and see
what could be done.

How it was that the priesthood of Typee satisfied the affair with their
consciences, I know not; but so it was, and Fayaway's dispensation from
this portion of the taboo was at length procured. Such an event, I
believe, never before had occurred in the valley; but it was high time the
islanders should be taught a little gallantry, and I trust that the
example I set them may produce beneficial effects. Ridiculous, indeed,
that the lovely creatures should be obliged to paddle about in the water,
like so many ducks, while a parcel of great strapping fellows skimmed over
its surface in their canoes.

The first day after Fayaway's emancipation, I had a delightful little
party on the lake--the damsel, Kory-Kory, and myself. My zealous
body-servant brought from the house a calabash of poee-poee, half a dozen
young cocoa-nuts--stripped of their husks--three pipes, as many yams, and me
on his back a part of the way. Something of a load; but Kory-Kory was a
very strong man for his size, and by no means brittle in the spine. We had
a very pleasant day; my trusty valet plied the paddle and swept us gently
along the margin of the water, beneath the shades of the overhanging
thickets. Fayaway and I reclined in the stern of the canoe, the gentle
nymph occasionally placing her pipe to her lips, and exhaling the mild
fumes of the tobacco, to which her rosy breath added a fresh perfume.
Strange as it may seem, there is nothing in which a young and beautiful
female appears to more advantage than in the act of smoking. How
captivating is a Peruvian l