{"id":"01KG8AJTRH5KA8V2MQG2VVM5FM","cid":"bafkreif4c32tdfu2kpqzmft7qv7nn2a3ek6v4rwcqiuri3sqjpttlgsggi","type":"chapter","properties":{"description":"# CHAPTER LXVII. Little King Peepi\n## Overview\nThis chapter, titled \"Little King Peepi,\" 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. The chapter begins on line 7147 and ends on line 7185 of its source text.\n\n## Context\nThis chapter follows \"CHAPTER LXVI. With A Fair Wind, At Sunrise They Sail\" and precedes \"CHAPTER LXVIII. How Teeth Were Regarded In Valapee.\" It is situated within the larger narrative of [Mardi: And a Voyage Thither](arke:01KG8AJA6157W2830190N652KA), a novel by Herman Melville.\n\n## Contents\nThe chapter describes the arrival at Valapee, also known as the Isle of Yams. The island is characterized by two prominent parallel elevations forming a central vale. Upon landing, the voyagers are greeted by islanders who carry them ashore. The narrative introduces Peepi, the young ruler of Valapee, who appears to be no more than ten years old. Peepi is depicted being carried on the neck of a mute, shaded by banana leaves, and adorned with a red robe and a royal symbol consisting of a string of shells woven into his hair, featuring a carved nutmeg serpent's head. The text notes the boy's precocious and unembarrassed demeanor.","description_generated_at":"2026-01-30T20:49:10.999Z","description_model":"gemini-2.5-flash-lite","description_title":"CHAPTER LXVII. Little King Peepi","end_line":7185,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:39.468Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"CHAPTER LXVII.\nLittle King Peepi","source_file":"01KG89J1HYC04JWXEK48P07WPK","start_line":7147,"text":"CHAPTER LXVII.\r\nLittle King Peepi\r\n\r\n\r\nValapee, or the Isle of Yams, being within plain sight of Media’s\r\ndominions, we were not very long in drawing nigh to its shores.\r\n\r\nTwo long parallel elevations, rising some three arrow-flights into the\r\nair, double-ridge the island’s entire length, lapping between, a\r\nwidening vale, so level withal, that at either extremity, the green of\r\nits groves blends with the green of the lagoon; and the isle seems\r\ndivided by a strait.\r\n\r\nWithin several paces of the beach, our canoes keeled the bottom, and\r\ncamel-like mutely hinted that we voyagers must dismount.\r\n\r\nHereupon, the assembled islanders ran into the water, and with bent\r\nshoulders obsequiously desired the honor of transporting us to land.\r\nThe beach gained, all present wearing robes instantly stripped them to\r\nthe waist; a naked chest being their salute to kings. Very convenient\r\nfor the common people, this; their half-clad forms presenting a\r\nperpetual and profound salutation.\r\n\r\nPresently, Peepi, the ruler of Valapee drew near: a boy, hardly ten\r\nyears old, striding the neck of a burly mute, bearing a long spear\r\nerect before him, to which was attached a canopy of five broad banana\r\nleaves, new plucked. Thus shaded, little Peepi advanced, steadying\r\nhimself by the forelock of his bearer.\r\n\r\nBesides his bright red robe, the young prince wore nothing but the\r\nsymbol of Valapeean royalty; a string of small, close-fitting, concave\r\nshells, coiled and ambushed in his profuse, curly hair; one end falling\r\nover his ear, revealing a serpent’s head, curiously carved from a\r\nnutmeg.\r\n\r\nQuite proverbial, the unembarrassed air of young slips of royalty. But\r\nthere was something so surprisingly precocious in this young Peepi,\r\nthat at first one hardly knew what to conclude.\r\n\r","title":"CHAPTER LXVII.\nLittle King Peepi"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJA6157W2830190N652KA","peer_type":"novel","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1HYC04JWXEK48P07WPK","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AJTRHM53HNVK4DFB58KWN","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AJTRHA8V1GX4JW08V2MXR","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"next"}],"ver":3,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:44.401Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:49:12.021Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF5C36SQEVDHC9CBNZZJH9K"}}