fokter's journal 



to the tribe that had treated him so cavalierly* It was 

 the warhke tribe of the Typees of the valley of Vieehee, 

 who had excited so much alarm in the minds of the Shou- 

 ernes. They had always been the allies of each other ; 

 their valleys were only separated by a small ridge ; they 

 had intermarried and became almost as one tribe. The 

 principal villages of the Shouemes were situated near the 

 water, and v^liolly exposed to our attacks ; while those of 

 the Typees were considered as secured by their distance 

 from the sea, and the almost impenetrable forests and per- 

 pendicular mountains by which only they were to be 

 approached. The first consulted prudence, the others felt 

 their own strength and security, and losing sight of the 

 exposed situation of the Shouemes, attributed their conduct 

 to [^cowardice alone, and spurned them as a degenerate 

 tribe, unworthy of future alliance with them. Temaa 

 Tipee claimed my protection, which I promised him. He 

 then requested me to exchange names. I told him I had 

 but two, one of which, (and the one I most esteemed) I 

 liad exchanged with Gattanewa, the other, however, was at 

 his service as long as he and his tribe remained faithful to 

 us. He and all present promised fidelity, and I gave him 

 the name of David, while I took that of Temaa Tipee, 

 Tavce (for so he called himself) and all his tribe were 

 greatly pleased at the compliment, and from that time to 

 the time of our departure conducted themselves with the 

 utmost fidelity and friendship, and seldom permitted more 

 than four or five days to elapse without sending in presents. 

 Tavee was one of the handsomest men on the island, re- 

 markably fond of ornamenting his person, a strip of red 

 cloth, a string of beads, or a whale's tooth, had charms for 

 him which were irresistible, and every thing which he 

 held most dear were oifered to obtain them. 



The wife of Tavee was said to be the handsomest wo- 

 man on the island, and he the fondest husband. Yet 

 Tavee has repeatedly offered her to me for a string of 

 glass beads. 



Sometime after this 1 sent a messenger to the Typees to 

 inquire if they wished to be at peace with us, and to say 

 that we were strongly disposed to be at peace with all the 

 tribes on the island; but that this disposition did not proceed 

 from fear, as I had strength enough to drive their united for- 



