{"id":"01KG8AM5Y4C6NS3W93P8G4EW32","cid":"bafkreidnh5ue54g5m7lhfuzfu2q4jzo2usq6lhyyhy3574jrihm54ntyle","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":8386,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:25.203Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 3","source_file":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","start_line":8334,"text":"damsel Moonoony smiled--the young fellow of fifteen, who permanently\r\nresided in the home with her, was decidedly in her good graces. I\r\nsometimes beheld both him and the chief making love at the same time. Is\r\nit possible, thought I, that the valiant warrior can consent to give\r\nup a corner in the thing he loves? This too was a mystery which, with\r\nothers of the same kind, was afterwards satisfactorily explained.\r\n\r\nDuring the second day of the Feast of Calabashes, Kory-Kory--being\r\ndetermined that I should have some understanding on these matters--had,\r\nin the course of his explanations, directed my attention to\r\na peculiarity I had frequently remarked among many of the\r\nfemales;--principally those of a mature age and rather matronly\r\nappearance. This consisted in having the right hand and the left foot\r\nmost elaborately tattooed; whilst the rest of the body was wholly free\r\nfrom the operation of the art, with the exception of the minutely dotted\r\nlips and slight marks on the shoulders, to which I have previously\r\nreferred as comprising the sole tattooing exhibited by Fayaway, in\r\ncommon with other young girls of her age. The hand and foot thus\r\nembellished were, according to Kory-Kory, the distinguishing badge of\r\nwedlock, so far as that social and highly commendable institution is\r\nknown among those people. It answers, indeed, the same purpose as the\r\nplain gold ring worn by our fairer spouses.\r\n\r\nAfter Kory-Kory’s explanation of the subject, I was for some time\r\nstudiously respectful in the presence of all females thus distinguished,\r\nand never ventured to indulge in the slightest approach to flirtation\r\nwith any of their number. Married women, to be sure!--I knew better than\r\nto offend them.\r\n\r\nA further insight, however, into the peculiar domestic customs of the\r\ninmates of the valley did away in a measure with the severity of my\r\nscruples, and convinced me that I was deceived in some at least of my\r\nconclusions. A regular system of polygamy exists among the islanders;\r\nbut of a most extraordinary nature,--a plurality of husbands, instead of\r\nwives! and this solitary fact speaks volumes for the gentle disposition\r\nof the male population.\r\n\r\nWhere else, indeed, could such a practice exist, even for a single\r\nday?--Imagine a revolution brought about in a Turkish seraglio, and\r\nthe harem rendered the abode of bearded men; or conceive some beautiful\r\nwoman in our own country running distracted at the sight of her numerous\r\nlovers murdering one another before her eyes, out of jealousy for the\r\nunequal distribution of her favours!--Heaven defend us from such a state\r\nof things!--We are scarcely amiable and forbearing enough to submit to\r\nit.\r\n\r\nI was not able to learn what particular ceremony was observed in forming\r\nthe marriage contract, but am inclined to think that it must have been\r\nof a very simple nature. Perhaps the mere ‘popping the question’, as\r\nit is termed with us, might have been followed by an immediate nuptial\r\nalliance. At any rate, I have more than one reason to believe that\r\ntedious courtships are unknown in the valley of Typee.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 3"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJR25VD49M8PDP0DQV6HE","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AM5Y8WX03HQVE8XZEQBYR","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AM5Y4C8XG7ZJ7Z2R6N8FD","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:28.612Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:41.717Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}