{"id":"01KG8AM0FD0NWWR84AEPWDG9NG","cid":"bafkreig5gw3y6eqg333qsj67h5mlvadrpq3q4qogjcxosqgjcgikepela4","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":4548,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:18.535Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 2","source_file":"01KG89J1HYC04JWXEK48P07WPK","start_line":4481,"text":"waving.\r\n\r\nWe were now in high spirits. Samoa between times humming to himself\r\nsome heathenish ditty, and Jarl ten times more intent on his silence\r\nthan ever; yet his eye full of expectation and gazing broad off from\r\nour bow. Of a sudden, shading his face with his hand, he gazed fixedly\r\nfor an instant, and then springing to his feet, uttered the long-drawn\r\nsound—“Sail ho!”\r\n\r\nJust tipping the furthest edge of the sky was a little speck, dancing\r\ninto view every time we rose upon the swells. It looked like one of\r\nmany birds; for half intercepting our view, fell showers of plumage: a\r\nflight of milk-white noddies flying downward to the sea.\r\n\r\nBut soon the birds are seen no more. Yet there remains the speck;\r\nplainly a sail; but too small for a ship. Was it a boat after a whale?\r\nThe vessel to which it belonged far astern, and shrouded by the haze?\r\nSo it seemed.\r\n\r\nQuietly, however, we waited the stranger’s nearer approach; confident,\r\nthat for some time he would not be able to perceive us, owing to our\r\nbeing in what mariners denominate the “sun-glade,” or that part of the\r\nocean upon which the sun’s rays flash with peculiar intensity.\r\n\r\nAs the sail drew nigh, its failing to glisten white led us to doubt\r\nwhether it was indeed a whale-boat. Presently, it showed yellow; and\r\nSamoa declared, that it must be the sail of some island craft. True.\r\nThe stranger proving a large double-canoe, like those used by the\r\nPolynesians in making passages between distant islands.\r\n\r\nThe Upoluan was now clamorous for a meeting, to which Jarl was averse.\r\nDeliberating a moment, I directed the muskets to be loaded; then\r\nsetting the sail the wind on our quarter—we headed away for the canoe,\r\nnow sailing at right angles with our previous course.\r\n\r\nHere it must be mentioned, that from the various gay cloths and other\r\nthings provided for barter by the captain of the Parki, I had very\r\nstrikingly improved my costume; making it free, flowing, and eastern. I\r\nlooked like an Emir. Nor had my Viking neglected to follow my example;\r\nthough with some few modifications of his own. With his long tangled\r\nhair and harpoon, he looked like the sea-god, that boards ships, for\r\nthe first time crossing the Equator. For tatooed Samoa, he yet sported\r\nboth kilt and turban, reminding one of a tawny leopard, though his\r\nspots were all in one place. Besides this raiment of ours, against\r\nemergencies we had provided our boat with divers nankeens and silks.\r\n\r\nBut now into full view comes a yoke of huge clumsy prows, shaggy with\r\ncarving, and driving through the water with considerable velocity; the\r\nimmense sprawling sail holding the wind like a bag. She seemed full of\r\nmen; and from the dissonant cries borne over to us, and the canoe’s\r\nwidely yawing, it was plain that we had occasioned no small sensation.\r\nThey seemed undetermined what course to pursue: whether to court a\r\nmeeting, or avoid it; whether to regard us as friends or foes.\r\n\r\nAs we came still nearer, distinctly beholding their faces, we loudly\r\nhailed them, inviting them to furl their sails, and allow us to board\r\nthem. But no answer was returned; their confusion increasing. And now,\r\nwithin less than two ships’-lengths, they swept right across our bow,\r\ngazing at us with blended curiosity and fear.\r\n\r\nTheir craft was about thirty feet long, consisting of a pair of\r\nparallel canoes, very narrow, and at the distance of a yard or so,\r\nlengthwise, united by stout cross-timbers, lashed across the four\r\ngunwales. Upon these timbers was a raised platform or dais, quite dry;\r\nand astern an arched cabin or tent; behind which, were two broad-bladed\r\npaddles terminating in rude shark-tails, by which the craft was\r\nsteered.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 2"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJS9JV4FB7X55DNGV9GJK","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1HYC04JWXEK48P07WPK","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AM0FSWHSG8YWGJD3NJP8C","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AM0FS5EJDSR848ZX45TX4","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:23.021Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:29.526Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}