{"id":"01KG8AM3CSC6TPYQSE6XP5Y14M","cid":"bafkreiaiq5hb3monsxkhp6hevztxiqcqm47dwwye54ygd3yoln3x3zrsem","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":6187,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:25.203Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 5","source_file":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","start_line":6123,"text":"not yet enjoyed the honour of an audience, was desirous of paying his\r\nrespects on the present occasion. So vain had I become by the lavish\r\nattention to which I had been accustomed, that I felt half inclined,\r\nas a punishment for such neglect, to give this Marnoo a cold reception,\r\nwhen the excited throng came within view, convoying one of the most\r\nstriking specimens of humanity that I ever beheld.\r\n\r\nThe stranger could not have been more than twenty-five years of age, and\r\nwas a little above the ordinary height; had he a single hair’s breadth\r\ntaller, the matchless symmetry of his form would have been destroyed.\r\nHis unclad limbs were beautifully formed; whilst the elegant outline of\r\nhis figure, together with his beardless cheeks, might have entitled him\r\nto the distinction of standing for the statue of the Polynesian Apollo;\r\nand indeed the oval of his countenance and the regularity of every\r\nfeature reminded one of an antique bust. But the marble repose of art\r\nwas supplied by a warmth and liveliness of expression only to be seen in\r\nthe South Sea Islander under the most favourable developments of nature.\r\nThe hair of Marnoo was a rich curling brown, and twined about his\r\ntemples and neck in little close curling ringlets, which danced up and\r\ndown continually, when he was animated in conversation. His cheek was\r\nof a feminine softness, and his face was free from the least blemish\r\nof tattooing, although the rest of his body was drawn all over with\r\nfanciful figures, which--unlike the unconnected sketching usual among\r\nthese natives--appeared to have been executed in conformity with some\r\ngeneral design.\r\n\r\nThe tattooing on his back in particular attracted my attention. The\r\nartist employed must indeed have excelled in his profession. Traced\r\nalong the course of the spine was accurately delineated the slender,\r\ntapering and diamond checkered shaft of the beautiful ‘artu’ tree.\r\nBranching from the stem on each side, and disposed alternately, were\r\nthe graceful branches drooping with leaves all correctly drawn and\r\nelaborately finished. Indeed the best specimen of the Fine Arts I had\r\nyet seen in Typee. A rear view of the stranger might have suggested the\r\nidea of a spreading vine tacked against a garden wall. Upon his breast,\r\narms and legs, were exhibited an infinite variety of figures; every\r\none of which, however, appeared to have reference to the general\r\neffect sought to be produced. The tattooing I have described was of the\r\nbrightest blue, and when contrasted with the light olive-colour of the\r\nskin, produced an unique and even elegant effect. A slight girdle of\r\nwhite tappa, scarcely two inches in width, but hanging before and behind\r\nin spreading tassels, composed the entire costume of the stranger.\r\n\r\nHe advanced surrounded by the islanders, carrying under one arm a small\r\nroll of native cloth, and grasping in his other hand a long and richly\r\ndecorated spear. His manner was that of a traveller conscious that he is\r\napproaching a comfortable stage in his journey. Every moment he turned\r\ngood-humouredly on the throng around him, and gave some dashing sort of\r\nreply to their incessant queries, which appeared to convulse them with\r\nuncontrollable mirth.\r\n\r\nStruck by his demeanour, and the peculiarity of his appearance, so\r\nunlike that of the shaven-crowned and face-tattooed natives in general,\r\nI involuntarily rose as he entered the house, and proffered him a seat\r\non the mats beside me. But without deigning to notice the civility, or\r\neven the more incontrovertible fact of my existence, the stranger passed\r\non, utterly regardless of me, and flung himself upon the further end\r\nof the long couch that traversed the sole apartment of Marheyo’s\r\nhabitation.\r\n\r\nHad the belle of the season, in the pride of her beauty and power, been\r\ncut in a place of public resort by some supercilious exquisite, she\r\ncould not have felt greater indignation than I did at this unexpected\r\nslight.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 5"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJR251ZEN5NNWESSQRASD","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AM3CM67B4WEH1S8Y5BQRZ","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AM3CSPMEFEJJAYX7FS02D","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:26.009Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:38.549Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}