{"id":"01KG8AM56K767CMZVQWNP8EJ0E","cid":"bafkreibznf2ax257xdxujdvskpksyozgoh44icfjsoy44lscfqduwlcxzq","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":7621,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:25.203Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 3","source_file":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","start_line":7568,"text":"likeness either in heaven or on earth, could hardly be called an idol.\r\nAs the islanders always maintained a discreet reserve with regard to\r\nmy own peculiar views on religion, I thought it would be excessively\r\nill-bred of me to pry into theirs.\r\n\r\nBut, although my knowledge of the religious faith of the Typees was\r\nunavoidably limited, one of their superstitious observances with which I\r\nbecame acquainted interested me greatly.\r\n\r\nIn one of the most secluded portions of the valley within a stone’s\r\ncast of Fayaway’s lake--for so I christened the scene of our island\r\nyachting--and hard by a growth of palms, which stood ranged in order\r\nalong both banks of the stream, waving their green arms as if to do\r\nhonour to its passage, was the mausoleum of a deceased, warrior chief.\r\nLike all the other edifices of any note, it was raised upon a small\r\npi-pi of stones, which, being of unusual height, was a conspicuous\r\nobject from a distance. A light thatching of bleached palmetto-leaves\r\nhung over it like a self supported canopy; for it was not until you\r\ncame very near that you saw it was supported by four slender columns of\r\nbamboo rising at each corner to a little more than the height of a man.\r\nA clear area of a few yards surrounded the pi-pi, and was enclosed by\r\nfour trunks of cocoanut trees resting at the angles on massive blocks of\r\nstone. The place was sacred. The sign of the inscrutable Taboo was seen\r\nin the shape of a mystic roll of white tappa, suspended by a twisted\r\ncord of the same material from the top of a slight pole planted within\r\nthe enclosure*. The sanctity of the spot appeared never to have been\r\nviolated. The stillness of the grave was there, and the calm solitude\r\naround was beautiful and touching. The soft shadows of those lofty\r\npalm-trees!--I can see them now--hanging over the little temple, as if\r\nto keep out the intrusive sun.\r\n\r\n*White appears to be the sacred colour among the Marquesans.\r\n\r\nOn all sides as you approached this silent spot you caught sight of the\r\ndead chief’s effigy, seated in the stern of a canoe, which was raised on\r\na light frame a few inches above the level of the pi-pi. The canoe was\r\nabout seven feet in length; of a rich, dark coloured wood, handsomely\r\ncarved and adorned in many places with variegated bindings of stained\r\nsinnate, into which were ingeniously wrought a number of sparkling\r\nseashells, and a belt of the same shells ran all round it. The body\r\nof the figure--of whatever material it might have been made--was\r\neffectually concealed in a heavy robe of brown tappa, revealing; only\r\nthe hands and head; the latter skilfully carved in wood, and surmounted\r\nby a superb arch of plumes. These plumes, in the subdued and gentle\r\ngales which found access to this sequestered spot, were never for one\r\nmoment at rest, but kept nodding and waving over the chief’s brow. The\r\nlong leaves of the palmetto drooped over the eaves, and through them you\r\nsaw the warrior holding his paddle with both hands in the act of rowing,\r\nleaning forward and inclining his head, as if eager to hurry on his\r\nvoyage. Glaring at him forever, and face to face, was a polished human\r\nskull, which crowned the prow of the canoe. The spectral figurehead,\r\nreversed in its position, glancing backwards, seemed to mock the\r\nimpatient attitude of the warrior.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 3"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJR250Y3B8PH384FGZ4CM","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AM56F01SVQ7MPBRFQ2M8B","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AM56F2KE3463PJ9NSAJ4R","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:27.859Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:40.559Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}