{"id":"01KG8AJVBM30F9YSV1FCRGECR3","cid":"bafkreieanobbf3cono23gog2yatqskf6nblfmuklhnvsquphyduhhrofrm","type":"chapter","properties":{"description":"# CHAPTER LXIII. They Seek Through The Isles Of Palms; And Pass The Isles Of Myrrh\n## Overview\nThis is a chapter from the novel [Mardi: And a Voyage Thither](arke:01KG8AJ8ZNB03D0FWFP362WQEN) by Herman Melville. It was extracted from the file [mardi_vol2.txt](arke:01KG89J1954N2G0NAERBNJXEX9) as part of the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. The chapter spans from line 8832 to line 8885 of the source file.\n\n## Context\nThis chapter is positioned between [CHAPTER LXI. They Encounter Gold-Hunters](arke:01KG8AJVBFJ75DKSYY1C4XWV9V) and [CHAPTER LXIV. Concentric, Inward, With Mardi’s Reef, They Leave Their Wake Around The World](arke:01KG8AJVBFBRHGCQDP11C10SBD) within the novel. The novel itself was extracted from the text file [mardi_vol2.txt](arke:01KG89J1954N2G0NAERBNJXEX9).\n\n## Contents\nIn this chapter, the characters continue their search, passing through various islands. They first encounter islands of palms, then islands of myrrh. The chapter describes the scenery, including emerald-green islets, coral formations, and the inhabitants of the islands. Yoomy suggests landing to search for Yillah, but Babbalanja warns against it, sensing a blight. They then pass savage islands with naked men and ominous signs of human sacrifice. Finally, they arrive at the isles of myrrh, which Yoomy laments are destined for destruction due to their beauty and resources. Despite landing on these isles, their search remains unsuccessful.\n","description_generated_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:59.984Z","description_model":"gemini-2.5-flash-lite","description_title":"CHAPTER LXIII. They Seek Through The Isles Of Palms; And Pass The Isles Of Myrrh","end_line":8885,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:38.723Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"CHAPTER LXIII. They Seek Through The Isles Of Palms; And Pass The Isles Of Myrrh","source_file":"01KG89J1954N2G0NAERBNJXEX9","start_line":8832,"text":"CHAPTER LXIII.\r\nThey Seek Through The Isles Of Palms; And Pass The Isles Of Myrrh\r\n\r\n\r\nNow, our prows we turned due west, across the blue lagoon.\r\n\r\nSoon, no land appeared. Far as the eye could sweep, one azure plain;\r\nall over flaked with foamy fleeces:—a boundless flock upon a boundless\r\nmead!\r\n\r\nAgain, all changed. Like stars in multitude, bright islets multiplied\r\naround. Emerald-green, they dotted shapes fantastic: circles, arcs, and\r\ncrescents;—atolls all, or coral carcanets, begemmed and flashing in the\r\nsun.\r\n\r\nBy these we glided, group after group; and through the foliage, spied\r\nsweet forms of maidens, like Eves in Edens ere the Fall, or Proserpines\r\nin Ennas. Artless airs came from the shore; and from the\r\ncenser-swinging roses, a bloom, as if from Hebe’s cheek.\r\n\r\n“Here, at last, we find sweet Yillah!” murmured Yoomy. “Here must she\r\nlurk in innocence! Quick! Let us land and search.”\r\n\r\n“If here,” said Babbalanja, “Yillah will not stay our coming, but fly\r\nbefore us through the groves. Wherever a canoe is beached, see you not\r\nthe palm-trees pine? Not so, where never keel yet smote the strand. In\r\nmercy, let us fly from hence. I know not why, but our breath here, must\r\nprove a blight.”\r\n\r\nThese regions passed, we came to savage islands, where the glittering\r\ncoral seemed bones imbedded, bleaching in the sun. Savage men stood\r\nnaked on the strand, and brandished uncouth clubs, and gnashed their\r\nteeth like boars.\r\n\r\nThe full red moon was rising; and, in long review there passed before\r\nit, phantom shapes of victims, led bound to altars through the groves.\r\nDeath-rattles filled the air. But a cloud descended, and all was gloom.\r\n\r\nAgain blank water spread before us; and after many days, there came a\r\ngentle breeze, fraught with all spicy breathings; cinnamon aromas; and\r\nin the rose-flushed evening air, like glow worms, glowed the islets,\r\nwhere this incense burned.\r\n\r\n“Sweet isles of myrh! oh crimson groves,” cried Yoomy. “Woe, woe’s your\r\nfate! your brightness and your bloom, like musky fire-flies,\r\ndouble-lure to death! On ye, the nations prey like bears that gorge\r\nthemselves with honey.”\r\n\r\nSwan-like, our prows sailed in among these isles; and oft we landed;\r\nbut in vain; and leaving them, we still pursued the setting sun.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r","title":"CHAPTER LXIII. They Seek Through The Isles Of Palms; And Pass The Isles Of Myrrh"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJ8ZNB03D0FWFP362WQEN","peer_type":"novel","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1954N2G0NAERBNJXEX9","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AJVBFJ75DKSYY1C4XWV9V","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AJVBFBRHGCQDP11C10SBD","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"next"}],"ver":3,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:45.012Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:49:00.542Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF5C36SQEVDHC9CBNZZJH9K"}}