{"id":"01KG8AKRZR4TYWV7GX6G9MVQPV","cid":"bafkreibtid76kr2gfqeisnywqt3x42hiy36sbuko4sr4e6yjtybtxjqq6m","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":6460,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.152Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 2","source_file":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","start_line":6392,"text":"understand, by unmistakable gestures, that in certain other respects\r\nshe was not exactly a “mickonaree.” In short, Ideea was\r\n\r\n“A sad good Christian at the heart—A very heathen in the carnal part.”\r\n\r\nThe explanation terminated in a burst of laughter, in which all three\r\nsisters joined; and for fear of looking silly, the doctor and myself.\r\nAs soon as good-breeding would permit, we took leave.\r\n\r\nThe hypocrisy in matters of religion, so apparent in all Polynesian\r\nconverts, is most injudiciously nourished in Tahiti by a zealous and in\r\nmany cases, a coercive superintendence over their spiritual well-being.\r\nBut it is only manifested with respect to the common people, their\r\nsuperiors being exempted.\r\n\r\nOn Sunday mornings, when the prospect is rather small for a full house\r\nin the minor churches, a parcel of fellows are actually sent out with\r\nratans into the highways and byways as whippers-in of the congregation.\r\nThis is a sober fact.\r\n\r\nThese worthies constitute a religious police; and you always know them\r\nby the great white diapers they wear. On week days they are quite as\r\nbusy as on Sundays; to the great terror of the inhabitants, going all\r\nover the island, and spying out the wickedness thereof.\r\n\r\nMoreover, they are the collectors of fines—levied generally in grass\r\nmats—for obstinate non-attendance upon divine worship, and other\r\noffences amenable to the ecclesiastical judicature of the missionaries.\r\n\r\nOld Bob called these fellows “kannakippers” a corruption, I fancy, of\r\nour word constable.\r\n\r\nHe bore them a bitter grudge; and one day, drawing near home, and\r\nlearning that two of them were just then making a domiciliary visit at\r\nhis house, he ran behind a bush; and as they came forth, two green\r\nbread-fruit from a hand unseen took them each between the shoulders.\r\nThe sailors in the Calabooza were witnesses to this, as well as several\r\nnatives; who, when the intruders were out of sight, applauded Captain\r\nBob’s spirit in no measured terms; the ladies present vehemently\r\njoining in. Indeed, the kannakippers have no greater enemies than the\r\nlatter. And no wonder: the impertinent varlets, popping into their\r\nhouses at all hours, are forever prying into their peccadilloes.\r\n\r\nKooloo, who at times was patriotic and pensive, and mourned the evils\r\nunder which his country was groaning, frequently inveighed against the\r\nstatute which thus authorized an utter stranger to interfere with\r\ndomestic arrangements. He himself—quite a ladies’ man—had often been\r\nannoyed thereby. He considered the kannakippers a bore.\r\n\r\nBeside their confounded inquisitiveness, they add insult to injury, by\r\nmaking a point of dining out every day at some hut within the limits of\r\ntheir jurisdiction. As for the gentleman of the house, his meek\r\nendurance of these things is amazing. But “good easy man,” there is\r\nnothing for him but to be as hospitable as possible.\r\n\r\nThese gentry are indefatigable. At the dead of night prowling round the\r\nhouses, and in the daytime hunting amorous couples in the groves. Yet\r\nin one instance the chase completely baffled them.\r\n\r\nIt was thus.\r\n\r\nSeveral weeks previous to our arrival at the island, someone’s husband\r\nand another person’s wife, having taken a mutual fancy for each other,\r\nwent out for a walk. The alarm was raised, and with hue and cry they\r\nwere pursued; but nothing was seen of them again until the lapse of\r\nsome ninety days; when we were called out from the Calabooza to behold\r\na great mob inclosing the lovers, and escorting them for trial to the\r\nvillage.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 2"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJK7HDE51WYMDHCNCF1W3","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKRZR094Q07SJEHQYFWKR","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AKRZR0A5QE27693ND2BBT","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.352Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:29.134Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}