{"id":"01KG8AM4K2GDVB8MQHD4RD8GWX","cid":"bafkreibkvixiwjhuqc7qgzoyvjfzam7475slffxuaht4ylhwqoil4vnvam","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":7404,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:25.203Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 3","source_file":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","start_line":7345,"text":"and a magnificent bunch of bananas, for my especial comfort and\r\ngratification. These various matters were at once placed before me; but\r\nKory-Kory deemed the banquet entirely insufficient for my wants until\r\nhe had supplied me with one of the leafy packages of pork, which,\r\nnotwithstanding the somewhat hasty manner in which it had been prepared,\r\npossessed a most excellent flavour, and was surprisingly sweet and\r\ntender.\r\n\r\nPork is not a staple article of food among the people of the Marquesas;\r\nconsequently they pay little attention to the BREEDING of the swine. The\r\nhogs are permitted to roam at large on the groves, where they obtain\r\nno small part of their nourishment from the cocoanuts which continually\r\nfall from the trees. But it is only after infinite labour and\r\ndifficulty, that the hungry animal can pierce the husk and shell so as\r\nto get at the meat. I have frequently been amused at seeing one of\r\nthem, after crunching the obstinate nut with his teeth for a long time\r\nunsuccessfully, get into a violent passion with it. He would then root\r\nfuriously under the cocoanut, and, with a fling of his snout, toss it\r\nbefore him on the ground. Following it up, he would crunch at it again\r\nsavagely for a moment, and then next knock it on one side, pausing\r\nimmediately after, as if wondering how it could so suddenly have\r\ndisappeared. In this way the persecuted cocoanuts were often chased half\r\nacross the valley.\r\n\r\nThe second day of the Feast of Calabashes was ushered in by still more\r\nuproarious noises than the first. The skins of innumerable sheep seemed\r\nto be resounding to the blows of an army of drummers. Startled from my\r\nslumbers by the din, I leaped up, and found the whole household engaged\r\nin making preparations for immediate departure. Curious to discover of\r\nwhat strange events these novel sounds might be the precursors, and not\r\na little desirous to catch a sight of the instruments which produced\r\nthe terrific noise, I accompanied the natives as soon as they were in\r\nreadiness to depart for the Taboo Groves.\r\n\r\nThe comparatively open space that extended from the Ti toward the rock,\r\nto which I have before alluded as forming the ascent to the place, was,\r\nwith the building itself, now altogether deserted by the men; the whole\r\ndistance being filled by bands of females, shouting and dancing under\r\nthe influence of some strange excitement.\r\n\r\nI was amused at the appearance of four or five old women who, in a state\r\nof utter nudity, with their arms extended flatly down their sides, and\r\nholding themselves perfectly erect, were leaping stiffly into the\r\nair, like so many sticks bobbing to the surface, after being pressed\r\nperpendicularly into the water. They preserved the utmost gravity of\r\ncountenance, and continued their extraordinary movements without\r\na single moment’s cessation. They did not appear to attract the\r\nobservation of the crowd around them, but I must candidly confess that\r\nfor my own part, I stared at them most pertinaciously.\r\n\r\nDesirous of being enlightened in regard to the meaning of this peculiar\r\ndiversion, I turned, inquiringly to Kory-Kory; that learned Typee\r\nimmediately proceeded to explain the whole matter thoroughly. But all\r\nthat I could comprehend from what he said was, that the leaping figures\r\nbefore me were bereaved widows, whose partners had been slain in battle\r\nmany moons previously; and who, at every festival, gave public evidence\r\nin this manner of their calamities. It was evident that Kory-Kory\r\nconsidered this an all-sufficient reason for so indecorous a custom; but\r\nI must say that it did not satisfy me as to its propriety.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 3"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJR1PBJ817EEJ8BWRW4R0","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AM4KDXPEPWQBXZ3R6SZRQ","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AM4K24SC1RC49PH7QW8H5","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:27.234Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:40.101Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}