Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-05-27

feet, full 500 yards below. The course
of the stream was crowded with vegeta-
tion, and from it's great depth looked like
rill of water trickling through -four
ishing moss in a deep, broad ditch. For
many minutes we gazed, recognizing one
by one the features of the landscape,
from Melville's description the steep,
inaccessible sides, which shut in a space
nine miles long by one wide-the lower
ridge at the upper part, by which Mel
Vile and Toby had hoped to cross, and
over which we looked into another val
ley-and, to the left, the waterfall,
part of which we could see still hinging
itself glittering out of the gorge, down
which the deserters groped their weary
way. But we had far to go. The way
down was marked by a thin, indistinct
line, impracticable for litter so, di-
viding into two parties, one took the
ridge to the sea, the other, led by Eleno,
the youngest of our guides, descended.
The sun shone directly upon the rocks,
down parts of which we had to drop from
ledge to ledge; and, wherever the grass
could grow, long rope-like creepers were
lying in wait to trip US up. We reached
the shade without accident, but were
glad to cool our feet by wading across
the rapid stream. - =. ...,-,
- For some distance the tangled thicket
arched over the patch; but in small
clearing we came upon young Typee
pair and some children. The woman
modestly by; her pleasant face orna-
mented with the customary blue lines
across the lips only-that of the man
was crossed with the usual dark bars
After a moments hesitation, he came
forward and shook hands; he was fine
young fellow, 'erect and tall,' beaming
with health and good temper, his body
and limbs dressed in tattoo, and round
his waist the tapa belt. On each side
of his face, stuck into the lower jaw
part of his ear, was white flower, and
wound round his bushy hair was kind
of creeper, with one scarlet flower over
his forehead. Standing under plain
tain tree" they formed a picture worth
coming voyage to see. But we could
not linger; the sun was sinking behind
the hills to the west, and Eleno hurried
us ON to see the king, giving notice of
our approach by shouts.
About thirty Types were assembled.
The chief received us with bewilder-
ed, friendly look, and inquired whether
we were French or English; while the
brawny young savages who surrounded
US stripped the husks of the cocoanuts
with their strong white teeth, and shout
Cd i
tents. But Eleno began to move on;
and, wishing our friends "Goodby," we
made the best of our way along the path
by which Melville hobbled to his es-
cape. On slight rise, we turned for a
last look at the distant waterfall, visible
in its full length, and lighted up by the
sunshine, as it poured out of its rocky
gorge. Our path was frequently crossed
by other paths, but our trusty young
guide allowed no stragglers, stopping at
each turn till he could count all the par
ty; and at last, passing through forest
of plaintain, we reached the mouth of
the stream. The boat was on the oppo-
site side, and ignorant that the place
was infested with sharks, and too ilnpa-
IlOiiL W w dl1 lOl IL W SlOSo, WO
in and swan across, to drink the glass
of beer which was handed over the gun
vale, and-well, pale ale beats cocoanut
milk, after all 1 n.a7 ed %
After bathe, and in all the comfort
of a change of clothes, we showed off,
passed the point whence the Typee war
rior swain to cut off Melville's escape,
and imagined the scowl of the savage
face as he was showed beneath the waves;
but the valley and the rocky points
faded away in the twilight, as we pull
ed back to the ship under the dark shad-
ow OF the cliffs, gratifed that we had OBJ
tanned even glimpse of a race that is so
quickly passing away. s.r.
The Typee valley has now become the
property of specializing land and cot
ton company, who have purchased it for
a few hundred dollars and quiet, ugly
industrious Cinnamon are expected soon
to occupy what was once the land of the
merry, handsome, and lazy Typee.