{"id":"01KG8AKVEBDH3YQP2DGCPMR67G","cid":"bafkreibei7yfj6al5qky2l4kahahca5vfr3inj5ijtuzqssf4apkqpklnq","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":9069,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.153Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 1","source_file":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","start_line":8987,"text":"CHAPTER LXVI.\r\nHOW WE WERE TO GET TO TALOO\r\n\r\n\r\nThe inglorious circumstances of our somewhat premature departure from\r\nTamai filled the sagacious doctor, and myself, with sundry misgivings\r\nfor the future.\r\n\r\nUnder Zeke’s protection, we were secure from all impertinent\r\ninterference in our concerns on the part of the natives. But as\r\nfriendless wanderers over the island, we ran the risk of being\r\napprehended as runaways, and, as such, sent back to Tahiti. The truth\r\nis that the rewards constantly offered for the apprehension of\r\ndeserters from ships induce some of the natives to eye all strangers\r\nsuspiciously.\r\n\r\nA passport was therefore desirable; but such a thing had never been\r\nheard of in Imeeo. At last, Long Ghost suggested that, as the Yankee\r\nwas well known and much respected all over the island, we should\r\nendeavour to obtain from him some sort of paper, not only certifying to\r\nour having been in his employ, but also to our not being highwaymen,\r\nkidnappers, nor yet runaway seamen. Even written in English, a paper\r\nlike this would answer every purpose; for the unlettered natives,\r\nstanding in great awe of the document, would not dare to molest us\r\nuntil acquainted with its purport. Then, if it came to the worst, we\r\nmight repair to the nearest missionary, and have the passport\r\nexplained.\r\n\r\nUpon informing Zeke of these matters, he seemed highly flattered with\r\nthe opinion we entertained of his reputation abroad; and he agreed to\r\noblige us. The doctor at once offered to furnish him with a draught of\r\nthe paper; but he refused, saying he would write it himself. With a\r\nrooster’s quill, therefore, a bit of soiled paper, and a stout heart,\r\nhe set to work. Evidently he was not accustomed to composition; for his\r\nliterary throes were so violent that the doctor suggested that some\r\nsort of a Caesarian operation might be necessary.\r\n\r\nThe precious paper was at last finished; and a great curiosity it was.\r\nWe were much diverted with his reasons for not dating it.\r\n\r\n“In this here dummed eliminate,” he observed, “a feller can’t keep the\r\nrun of the months, nohow; cause there’s no seasons; no summer and\r\nwinter, to go by. One’s etarnally thinkin’ it’s always July, it’s so\r\npesky hot.”\r\n\r\nA passport provided, we cast about for some means of getting to Taloo.\r\n\r\nThe island of Imeeo is very nearly surrounded by a regular breakwater\r\nof coral extending within a mile or less of the shore. The smooth canal\r\nwithin furnishes the best means of communication with the different\r\nsettlements; all of which, with the exception of Tamai, are right upon\r\nthe water. And so indolent are the Imeeose that they think nothing of\r\ngoing twenty or thirty miles round the island in a canoe in order to\r\nreach a place not a quarter of that distance by land. But as hinted\r\nbefore, the fear of the bullocks has something to do with this.\r\n\r\nThe idea of journeying in a canoe struck our fancy quite pleasantly;\r\nand we at once set about chartering one, if possible. But none could we\r\nobtain. For not only did we have nothing to pay for hiring one, but we\r\ncould not expect to have it loaned; inasmuch as the good-natured owner\r\nwould, in all probability, have to walk along the beach as we paddled\r\nin order to bring back his property when we had no further use for it.\r\n\r\nAt last, it was decided to commence our journey on foot; trusting that\r\nwe would soon fall in with a canoe going our way, in which we might\r\ntake passage.\r\n\r\nThe planters said we would find no beaten path: all we had to do was to\r\nfollow the beach; and however inviting it might look inland, on no\r\naccount must we stray from it. In short, the longest way round was the\r\nnearest way to Taloo. At intervals, there were little hamlets along the\r\nshore, besides lonely fishermen’s huts here and there, where we could\r\nget plenty to eat without pay; so there was no necessity to lay in any\r\nstore.\r\n\r\nIntending to be off before sunrise the next morning, so as to have the\r\nbenefit of the coolest part of the day, we bade our kind hosts farewell\r\novernight; and then, repairing to the beach, we launched our floating\r\npallet, and slept away merrily till dawn.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 1"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJMW21V7C1AR387MA9AD8","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"}],"ver":1,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:17.867Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:17.867Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}