{"id":"01KG8AJS9RNQDB2S8NJ3Y2CRMX","cid":"bafkreibkq35k4bmqnk6fmotzrs6goxdkhhyncqbtzn3xdqv54tkf5lugm4","type":"chapter","properties":{"description":"# CHAPTER XLVII. Yillah, Jarl, And Samoa\n## Overview\nThis chapter, titled \"Yillah, Jarl, And Samoa,\" is part of the novel [Mardi: And a Voyage Thither](arke:01KG8AJA6157W2830190N652KA). It was extracted from the file [mardi_vol1.txt](arke:01KG89J1HYC04JWXEK48P07WPK) and is part of the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. This chapter follows [CHAPTER XLV. Reminiscences](arke:01KG8AJS9RCW46WRW5ND2HCZAF) and precedes [CHAPTER XLVIII. Something Under The Surface](arke:01KG8AJS9YQXJMM5K2N3X1Y8AV).\n\n## Context\nThe chapter delves into the complex relationships and perceptions surrounding the characters Yillah, Jarl, and Samoa within the narrative of [Mardi: And a Voyage Thither](arke:01KG8AJA6157W2830190N652KA). It explores how these individuals view and interact with each other, highlighting contrasting perspectives and developing interpersonal dynamics.\n\n## Contents\nThis chapter focuses on the evolving relationships between Yillah, Samoa, and Jarl. Yillah, initially wary of Samoa due to his appearance, gradually comes to see him as a \"harmless and good-natured goblin.\" She influences Samoa to modify his adornments, though he retains the right to reinstate them. Samoa, in turn, views Yillah with a superstitious reverence, attributing a celestial origin to her. The narrator, \"Bravo,\" observes this dynamic, considering Yillah an idol to both himself and Samoa. Jarl, however, regards Yillah with suspicion, seeing her as a potential distraction from the narrator's path. The chapter also details Yillah's fascination with a tattoo of the crucified Christ on Jarl's arm, which he proudly displays. Yillah's interactions with Jarl and Samoa reveal her innocent nature, seemingly unaware of the differing opinions she inspires.","description_generated_at":"2026-01-30T20:49:19.027Z","description_model":"gemini-2.5-flash-lite","description_title":"CHAPTER XLVII. Yillah, Jarl, And Samoa","end_line":5263,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:39.468Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"CHAPTER XLVI. The Chamois With A Roving Commission","source_file":"01KG89J1HYC04JWXEK48P07WPK","start_line":5192,"text":"CHAPTER XLVII.\r\nYillah, Jarl, And Samoa\r\n\r\n\r\nBut time to tell, how Samoa and Jarl regarded this mystical Yillah; and\r\nhow Yillah regarded them.\r\n\r\nAs Beauty from the Beast, so at first shrank the damsel from my one-\r\narmed companion. But seeing my confidence in the savage, a reaction\r\nsoon followed. And in accordance with that curious law, by which, under\r\ncertain conditions, the ugliest mortals become only amiably hideous,\r\nYillah at length came to look upon Samoa as a sort of harmless and\r\ngood-natured goblin. Whence came he, she cared not; or what was his\r\nhistory; or in what manner his fortunes were united to mine.\r\n\r\nMay be, she held him a being of spontaneous origin.\r\n\r\nNow, as every where women are the tamers of the menageries of men; so\r\nYillah in good time tamed down Samoa to the relinquishment of that\r\nhorrible thing in his ear, and persuaded him to substitute a vacancy\r\nfor the bauble in his nose. On his part, however, all this was\r\nconditional. He stipulated for the privilege of restoring both trinkets\r\nupon suitable occasions.\r\n\r\nBut if thus gayly the damsel sported with Samoa; how different his\r\nemotions toward her? The fate to which she had been destined, and every\r\nnameless thing about her, appealed to all his native superstitions,\r\nwhich ascribed to beings of her complexion a more than terrestrial\r\norigin. When permitted to approach her, he looked timid and awkwardly\r\nstrange; suggesting the likeness of some clumsy satyr, drawing in his\r\nhorns; slowly wagging his tail; crouching abashed before some radiant\r\nspirit.\r\n\r\nAnd this reverence of his was most pleasing to me, Bravo! thought I; be\r\na pagan forever. No more than myself; for, after a different fashion,\r\nYillah was an idol to both.\r\n\r\nBut what of my Viking? Why, of good Jarl I grieve to say, that the\r\nold-fashioned interest he took in my affairs led him to look upon\r\nYillah as a sort of intruder, an Ammonite syren, who might lead me\r\nastray. This would now and then provoke a phillipic; but he would only\r\nturn toward my resentment his devotion; and then I was silent.\r\n\r\nUnsophisticated as a wild flower in the germ, Yillah seemed incapable\r\nof perceiving the contrasted lights in which she was regarded by our\r\ncompanions. And like a true beauty seemed to cherish the presumption,\r\nthat it was quite impossible for such a person as hers to prove\r\notherwise than irresistible to all.\r\n\r\nShe betrayed much surprise at my Vikings appearance. But most of all\r\nwas she struck by a characteristic device upon the arm of the wonderful\r\nmariner—our Saviour on the cross, in blue; with the crown of thorns,\r\nand three drops of blood in vermilion, falling one by one from each\r\nhand and foot.\r\n\r\nNow, honest Jarl did vastly pride himself upon this ornament. It was\r\nthe only piece of vanity about him. And like a lady keeping gloveless\r\nher hand to show off a fine Turquoise ring, he invariably wore that\r\nsleeve of his frock rolled up, the better to display the embellishment.\r\n\r\nAnd round and round would Yillah turn Jarl’s arm, till Jarl was fain to\r\nstand firm, for fear of revolving all over. How such untutored homage\r\nwould have thrilled the heart of the ingenious artist!\r\n\r\nEventually, through the Upoluan, she made overtures to the Skyeman,\r\nconcerning the possession of his picture in her own proper right. In\r\nher very simplicity, little heeding, that like a landscape in fresco,\r\nit could not be removed.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r","title":"CHAPTER XLVI. The Chamois With A Roving Commission"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJA6157W2830190N652KA","peer_type":"novel","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1HYC04JWXEK48P07WPK","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AJS9RCW46WRW5ND2HCZAF","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AJS9YQXJMM5K2N3X1Y8AV","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"next"}],"ver":3,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:42.904Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:49:19.913Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF5C36SQEVDHC9CBNZZJH9K"}}