in tJke Pacific Oc6an. 103 



kr to that generally called a shouldcr-of-mutton sail, but placed 

 in an inverted position, the hypothenuse forming the foot of the 

 sail, to which is secured a boom. These are also worked during a 

 calm with paddles, and appear capable of resisting the sea for a 

 long time. The canoes formed for the sole purpose of going in 

 search of new lands are of a still larger construction, and are 

 rigged in the same manner. They use also occasionally a kind 

 of catamaran, which they construct in a few minutes, and a 

 kind of surf board, similar to that of the natives of the Sand- 

 wich Islands. These, however, scarcely deserve to be enume- 

 rated among their vessels, as they are used chiefly by the boys 

 and girls, and are intended solely for paddling about the 

 harbour. 



LETTER XV. 



Madison s Island. — Typee War. 



The Taeehs, the Happahs, and Shouemes, now made fresh 

 complaints of the insults and aggressions of the Typees; one 

 tribe they had threatened to drive off the land ; they had thrown 

 stones at, and otherwise insulted individuals of the other tribes. 

 The Taeehs and Happahs became very solicitous for war, and 

 began to utter loud complaints that (as all the other tribes in 

 the island had formed an alliance with me) they should be tole- 

 rated in their insolence, and excused from^ supplying us as the 

 rest had done. The more distant had now discontinued bringing 

 in their supplies, and the other tribes had fallen off considerably, 

 compla^ining that we had nearly exhausted all their stock, while 

 the Typees were enjoying abundance. Lead us to the Typees, 

 said they, and we shall be able to furnish you from their valley ; 

 you have long threatened them ; their insults have been great ; 

 you have promised to protect us against them, and yet permit 

 them to offer violence to us ; and while you have rendered every 

 other tribe tributary to you, you permit them to triumph with 

 impunity. Our canoes are in readiness, our warriors impatient, 

 and for less provocations, had you not been here, we should have 

 been engaged in hostilities. Let us punish those Typees ; bring 

 them on the same terms to which we have agreed, and the whole 

 island will then be at peace, a thing hitherto unknown, but the 

 advantages of which we can readily conceive. These were the 

 sentiments expressed by the chiefs and warriors of the Taeehs 

 and Happahs. Tavee seemed determineed to keep aloof from 

 all quarrels ; he was separated from us by the valley of the 

 Typees, and they had it in their power to retort on him at plea- 

 sure. He and his people concluded it, therefore, the wisest to 



