{"id":"01KG8AJK78M6R85G3404EF07ZG","cid":"bafkreifvyd3y4xg7v2ewh7u7bfebhxbt3lmaj26btvu2vwt4sl6fnvdpnu","type":"chapter","properties":{"description":"# CHAPTER XLIII. ONE IS JUDGED BY THE COMPANY HE KEEPS\n## Overview\nThis is a chapter from the novel [Omoo: Adventures in the South Seas](arke:01KG8AJ7VM7B8YZ2568YF8PQ5J) by Herman Melville. The chapter, titled \"CHAPTER XLIII. ONE IS JUDGED BY THE COMPANY HE KEEPS,\" recounts the narrator's experiences with social prejudice in Tahiti. It was extracted from the source file [omoo.txt](arke:01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ) and is part of the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection.\n\n## Context\nThe chapter is positioned between [CHAPTER XLII. MOTOO-OTOO A TAHITIAN CASUIST](arke:01KG8AJK7BX2GF7K9R1H40PHYG) and [CHAPTER XLIV. CATHEDRAL OF PAPOAR—THE CHURCH OF THE COCOA-NUTS](arke:01KG8AJK7HSRQYKTR9AQ3B6S2Z) within the novel.\n\n## Contents\nIn this chapter, the narrator describes the social isolation experienced by the sailors at Captain Bob's in Tahiti. Shunned by the \"respectably-dressed Europeans\" due to the negative perception fostered by the consul and others, the narrator recounts an incident where he attempts to greet a missionary's wife and daughter, only to be met with screams and near-fainting. This experience highlights the narrator's sensitivity to social judgment and the challenges of maintaining dignity in his current circumstances.\n","description_generated_at":"2026-01-30T20:49:18.487Z","description_model":"gemini-2.5-flash-lite","description_title":"CHAPTER XLIII. ONE IS JUDGED BY THE COMPANY HE KEEPS","end_line":5989,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:33.380Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"CHAPTER XLIII. ONE IS JUDGED BY THE COMPANY HE KEEPS","source_file":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","start_line":5920,"text":"CHAPTER XLIII.\r\nONE IS JUDGED BY THE COMPANY HE KEEPS\r\n\r\n\r\nAltough, from its novelty, life at Captain Bob’s was pleasant enough,\r\nfor the time; there were some few annoyances connected with it anything\r\nbut agreeable to a “soul of sensibility.”\r\n\r\nPrejudiced against us by the malevolent representations of the consul\r\nand others, many worthy foreigners ashore regarded us as a set of\r\nlawless vagabonds; though, truth to speak, better behaved sailors never\r\nstepped on the island, nor any who gave less trouble to the natives.\r\nBut, for all this, whenever we met a respectably-dressed European, ten\r\nto one he shunned us by going over to the other side of the road. This\r\nwas very unpleasant, at least to myself; though, certes, it did not\r\nprey upon the minds of the others.\r\n\r\nTo give an instance.\r\n\r\nOf a fine evening in Tahiti—but they are all fine evenings there—you\r\nmay see a bevy of silk bonnets and parasols passing along the Broom\r\nRoad: perhaps a band of pale, little white urchins—sickly exotics—and,\r\noftener still, sedate, elderly gentlemen, with canes; at whose\r\nappearance the natives, here and there, slink into their huts. These\r\nare the missionaries, their wives, and children, taking a family\r\nairing. Sometimes, by the bye, they take horse, and ride down to Point\r\nVenus and back; a distance of several miles. At this place is settled\r\nthe only survivor of the first missionaries that landed—an old,\r\nwhite-headed, saint-like man, by the name of Wilson, the father of our\r\nfriend, the consul.\r\n\r\nThe little parties on foot were frequently encountered; and, recalling,\r\nas they did, so many pleasant recollections of home and the ladies, I\r\nreally longed for a dress coat and beaver that I might step up and pay\r\nmy respects. But, situated as I was, this was out of the question. On\r\none occasion, however, I received a kind, inquisitive glance from a\r\nmatron in gingham. Sweet lady! I have not forgotten her: her gown was a\r\nplaid.\r\n\r\nBut a glance, like hers, was not always bestowed.\r\n\r\nOne evening, passing the verandah of a missionary’s dwelling, the dame,\r\nhis wife, and a pretty, blonde young girl, with ringlets, were sitting\r\nthere, enjoying the sea-breeze, then coming in, all cool and\r\nrefreshing, from the spray of the reef. As I approached, the old lady\r\npeered hard at me; and her very cap seemed to convey a prim rebuke. The\r\nblue, English eyes, by her side, were also bent on me. But, oh Heavens!\r\nwhat a glance to receive from such a beautiful creature! As for the mob\r\ncap, not a fig did I care for it; but, to be taken for anything but a\r\ncavalier, by the ringleted one, was absolutely unendurable.\r\n\r\nI resolved on a courteous salute, to show my good-breeding, if nothing\r\nmore. But, happening to wear a sort of turban—hereafter to be\r\nparticularly alluded to—there was no taking it off and putting it on\r\nagain with anything like dignity. At any rate, then, here goes a how.\r\nBut, another difficulty presented itself; my loose frock was so\r\nvoluminous that I doubted whether any spinal curvature would be\r\nperceptible.\r\n\r\n“Good evening, ladies,” exclaimed I, at last, advancing winningly; “a\r\ndelightful air from the sea, ladies.”\r\n\r\nHysterics and hartshorn! who would have thought it? The young lady\r\nscreamed, and the old one came near fainting. As for myself, I\r\nretreated in double-quick time; and scarcely drew breath until safely\r\nhoused in the Calabooza.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r","title":"CHAPTER XLIII. ONE IS JUDGED BY THE COMPANY HE KEEPS"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJ7VM7B8YZ2568YF8PQ5J","peer_type":"novel","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AJK7BX2GF7K9R1H40PHYG","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AJK7HSRQYKTR9AQ3B6S2Z","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"next"}],"ver":3,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:36.680Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:49:19.382Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF5C36SQEVDHC9CBNZZJH9K"}}