{"id":"01KG8AM56V08PXCS7T394R38QE","cid":"bafkreiamya2eifbwowgrtdw74yo533vs5zsfymhimydxsjj3djf4urpzbm","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":7919,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:25.203Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 9","source_file":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","start_line":7878,"text":"and arms. His godship had literally attained a green old age. All its\r\nprominent points were bruised and battered, or entirely rotted away.\r\nThe nose had taken its departure, and from the general appearance of the\r\nhead it might have, been supposed that the wooden divinity, in despair\r\nat the neglect of its worshippers, had been trying to beat its own\r\nbrains out against the surrounding trees.\r\n\r\nI drew near to inspect more closely this strange object of idolatry, but\r\nhalted reverently at the distance of two or three paces, out of regard\r\nto the religious prejudices of my valet. As soon, however, as Kory-Kory\r\nperceived that I was in one of my inquiring, scientific moods, to my\r\nastonishment, he sprang to the side of the idol, and pushing it away\r\nfrom the stones against which it rested, endeavoured to make it stand\r\nupon its legs. But the divinity had lost the use of them altogether; and\r\nwhile Kory-Kory was trying to prop it up, placing a stick between it\r\nand the pi-pi, the monster fell clumsily to the ground, and would have\r\ninfallibly have broken its neck had not Kory-Kory providentially broken\r\nits fall by receiving its whole weight on his own half-crushed back. I\r\nnever saw the honest fellow in such a rage before. He leaped furiously\r\nto his feet, and seizing the stick, began beating the poor image: every\r\nmoment, or two pausing and talking to it in the most violent manner, as\r\nif upbraiding it for the accident. When his indignation had subsided\r\na little he whirled the idol about most profanely, so as to give me an\r\nopportunity of examining it on all sides. I am quite sure I never should\r\nhave presumed to have taken such liberties with the god myself, and I\r\nwas not a little shocked at Kory-Kory’s impiety.\r\n\r\nThis anecdote speaks for itself. When one of the inferior order of\r\nnatives could show such contempt for a venerable and decrepit God of the\r\nGroves, what the state of religion must be among the people in general\r\nis easy to be imagined. In truth, I regard the Typees as a back-slidden\r\ngeneration. They are sunk in religious sloth, and require a spiritual\r\nrevival. A long prosperity of bread-fruit and cocoanuts has rendered\r\nthem remiss in the performance of their higher obligations. The wood-rot\r\nmalady is spreading among the idols--the fruit upon their altars\r\nis becoming offensive--the temples themselves need rethatching--the\r\ntattooed clergy are altogether too light-hearted and lazy--and their\r\nflocks are going astray.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 9"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJR250Y3B8PH384FGZ4CM","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AM56V7501XBXTW95Q618N","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:27.867Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:41.317Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}