{"id":"01KG8AKSKJC30GBP2N6JEFC1XX","cid":"bafkreic25omvk7pw5qkhm5ohsye3gvqn4z7qo5eim62aspmw5bzinh7xvi","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":7291,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.153Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 3","source_file":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","start_line":7218,"text":"from the French admiral’s steward; for whom the planters, when on a\r\nformer visit to Papeetee, had done a good turn, by introducing the\r\namorous Frenchman to the ladies ashore. Besides this, they had a\r\ncalabash filled with wild boar’s meat, baked yams, bread-fruit, and\r\nTombez potatoes. Pipes and tobacco also were produced; and while\r\nregaling ourselves, plenty of stories were told about the neighbouring\r\nislands.\r\n\r\nAt last we heard the roar of the Imeeo reef; and gliding through a\r\nbreak, floated over the expanse within, which was smooth as a young\r\ngirl’s brow, and beached the boat.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nCHAPTER LII.\r\nTHE VALLEY OF MARTAIR\r\n\r\n\r\nWe went up through groves to an open space, where we heard voices, and\r\na light was seen glimmering from out a bamboo dwelling. It was the\r\nplanters’ retreat; and in their absence, several girls were keeping\r\nhouse, assisted by an old native, who, wrapped up in tappa, lay in the\r\ncorner, smoking.\r\n\r\nA hasty meal was prepared, and after it we essayed a nap; but, alas! a\r\nplague, little anticipated, prevented. Unknown in Tahiti, the\r\nmosquitoes here fairly eddied round us. But more of them anon.\r\n\r\nWe were up betimes, and strolled out to view the country. We were in\r\nthe valley of Martair; shut in, on both sides, by lofty hills. Here and\r\nthere were steep cliffs, gay with flowering shrubs, or hung with\r\npendulous vines, swinging blossoms in the air. Of considerable width at\r\nthe sea, the vale contracts as it runs inland; terminating, at the\r\ndistance of several miles, in a range of the most grotesque elevations,\r\nwhich seem embattled with turrets and towers, grown over with verdure,\r\nand waving with trees. The valley itself is a wilderness of woodland;\r\nwith links of streams flashing through, and narrow pathways fairly\r\ntunnelled through masses of foliage.\r\n\r\nAll alone, in this wild place, was the abode of the planters; the only\r\none back from the beach—their sole neighbours, the few fishermen and\r\ntheir families, dwelling in a small grove of cocoa-nut trees whose\r\nroots were washed by the sea.\r\n\r\nThe cleared tract which they occupied comprised some thirty acres,\r\nlevel as a prairie, part of which was under cultivation; the whole\r\nbeing fenced in by a stout palisade of trunks and boughs of trees\r\nstaked firmly in the ground. This was necessary as a defence against\r\nthe wild cattle and hogs overrunning the island.\r\n\r\nThus far, Tombez potatoes were the principal crop raised; a ready sale\r\nfor them being obtained among the shipping touching at Papeetee. There\r\nwas a small patch of the taro, or Indian turnip, also; another of yams;\r\nand in one corner, a thrifty growth of the sugar-cane, just ripening.\r\n\r\nOn the side of the inclosure next the sea was the house; newly built of\r\nbamboos, in the native style. The furniture consisted of a couple of\r\nsea-chests, an old box, a few cooking utensils, and agricultural tools;\r\ntogether with three fowling-pieces, hanging from a rafter; and two\r\nenormous hammocks swinging in opposite corners, and composed of dried\r\nbullocks’ hides, stretched out with poles.\r\n\r\nThe whole plantation was shut in by a dense forest; and, close by the\r\nhouse, a dwarfed “Aoa,” or species of banian-tree, had purposely been\r\nleft twisting over the palisade, in the most grotesque manner, and thus\r\nmade a pleasant shade. The branches of this curious tree afforded low\r\nperches, upon which the natives frequently squatted, after the fashion\r\nof their race, and smoked and gossiped by the hour.\r\n\r\nWe had a good breakfast of fish—speared by the natives, before sunrise,\r\non the reef—pudding of Indian turnip, fried bananas, and roasted\r\nbread-fruit.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 3"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJM0KBRJ2HSSX6358Y8C2","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKSKJ3ZEW6QHQFEMHJY4Q","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AKT6R4J1TH906ZEPKNYFS","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.986Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:29.940Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}