{"id":"01KG8AKWQQ556E1D4CDA046RCN","cid":"bafkreihwg4jl7ugi25ne7owlefafmudg6jh7ap7ybzd6epvvzsaqlqf5hi","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":10092,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.153Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 2","source_file":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","start_line":10021,"text":"sitting down himself, asked us a great many questions, in mixed English\r\nand Tahitian. After giving some directions to an old man to prepare\r\nfood, our host’s wife, a large, benevolent-looking woman, upwards of\r\nforty, also sat down by us. In our soiled and travel-stained\r\nappearance, the good lady seemed to find abundant matter for\r\ncommiseration; and all the while kept looking at us piteously, and\r\nmaking mournful exclamations.\r\n\r\nBut Jeremiah and his spouse were not the only inmates of the mansion.\r\n\r\nIn one corner, upon a large native couch, elevated upon posts, reclined\r\na nymph; who, half-veiled in her own long hair, had yet to make her\r\ntoilet for the day. She was the daughter of Po-Po; and a very beautiful\r\nlittle daughter she was; not more than fourteen; with the most\r\ndelightful shape—like a bud just blown; and large hazel eyes. They\r\ncalled her Loo; a name rather pretty and genteel, and therefore quite\r\nappropriate; for a more genteel and lady-like little damsel there was\r\nnot in all Imeeo.\r\n\r\nShe was a cold and haughty young beauty though, this same little Loo,\r\nand never deigned to notice us; further than now and then to let her\r\neyes float over our persons, with an expression of indolent\r\nindifference. With the tears of the Loohooloo girls hardly dry from\r\ntheir sobbing upon our shoulders, this contemptuous treatment stung us\r\nnot a little.\r\n\r\nWhen we first entered, Po-Po was raking smooth the carpet of dried\r\nferns which had that morning been newly laid; and now that our meal was\r\nready, it was spread on a banana leaf, right upon this fragrant floor.\r\nHere we lounged at our ease, eating baked pig and breadfruit off\r\nearthen plates, and using, for the first time in many a long month,\r\nreal knives and forks.\r\n\r\nThese, as well as other symptoms of refinement, somewhat abated our\r\nsurprise at the reserve of the little Loo; her parents, doubtless, were\r\nmagnates in Partoowye, and she herself was an heiress.\r\n\r\nAfter being informed of our stay in the vale of Martair, they were very\r\ncurious to know on what errand we came to Taloo. We merely hinted that\r\nthe ship lying in the harbour was the reason of our coming.\r\n\r\nArfretee, Po-Po’s wife, was a right motherly body. The meal over, she\r\nrecommended a nap; and upon our waking much refreshed, she led us to\r\nthe doorway, and pointed down among the trees; through which we saw the\r\ngleam of water. Taking the hint, we repaired thither; and finding a\r\ndeep shaded pool, bathed, and returned to the house. Our hostess now\r\nsat down by us; and after looking with great interest at the doctor’s\r\ncloak, felt of my own soiled and tattered garments for the hundredth\r\ntime, and exclaimed plaintively—“Ah nuee nuee olee manee! olee manee!”\r\n(Alas! they are very, very old! very old!)\r\n\r\nWhen Arfretee, good soul, thus addressed us, she thought she was\r\ntalking very respectable English. The word “nuee” is so familiar to\r\nforeigners throughout Polynesia, and is so often used by them in their\r\nintercourse with the natives, that the latter suppose it to be common\r\nto all mankind. “Olee manee” is the native pronunciation of “old man,”\r\nwhich, by Society Islanders talking Saxon, is applied indiscriminately\r\nto all aged things and persons whatsoever.\r\n\r\nGoing to a chest filled with various European articles, she took out\r\ntwo suits of new sailor frocks and trousers; and presenting them with a\r\ngracious smile, pushed us behind a calico screen, and left us. Without\r\nany fastidious scruples, we donned the garments; and what with the\r\nmeal, the nap, and the bath, we now came forth like a couple of\r\nbridegrooms.\r\n\r\nEvening drawing on, lamps were lighted. They were very simple; the half\r\nof a green melon, about one third full of cocoa-nut oil, and a wick of\r\ntwisted tappa floating on the surface. As a night lamp, this\r\ncontrivance cannot be excelled; a soft dreamy light being shed through\r\nthe transparent rind.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 2"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJNJBC2VNN4PS9QE2Q060","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKWQKB80SCBXTECYM4EMR","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AKWQQT77CNDGV0YKD1M0P","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:19.191Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:32.405Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}