{"id":"01KG8AM7A3WJK91BR3DFPGSBVP","cid":"bafkreig7ke5odugghq3nh2pctxad2adfrisdouczgjj4lnd4osz5awirwa","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":9431,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:25.203Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 2","source_file":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","start_line":9371,"text":"In spite of all the efforts of the poor old man, sundry twitchings and\r\nscrewings of the muscles of the face denoted the exquisite sensibility\r\nof these shutters to the windows of his soul, which he was now having\r\nrepainted. But the artist, with a heart as callous as that of an army\r\nsurgeon, continued his performance, enlivening his labours with a wild\r\nchant, tapping away the while as merrily as a woodpecker.\r\n\r\nSo deeply engaged was he in his work, that he had not observed our\r\napproach, until, after having, enjoyed an unmolested view of the\r\noperation, I chose to attract his attention. As soon as he perceived me,\r\nsupposing that I sought him in his professional capacity, he seized hold\r\nof me in a paroxysm of delight, and was an eagerness to begin the work.\r\nWhen, however, I gave him to understand that he had altogether mistaken\r\nmy views, nothing could exceed his grief and disappointment. But\r\nrecovering from this, he seemed determined not to credit my assertion,\r\nand grasping his implements, he flourished them about in fearful\r\nvicinity to my face, going through an imaginary performance of his art,\r\nand every moment bursting into some admiring exclamation at the beauty\r\nof his designs.\r\n\r\nHorrified at the bare thought of being rendered hideous for life if the\r\nwretch were to execute his purpose upon me, I struggled to get away\r\nfrom him, while Kory-Kory, turning traitor, stood by, and besought me\r\nto comply with the outrageous request. On my reiterated refusals the\r\nexcited artist got half beside himself, and was overwhelmed with sorrow\r\nat losing so noble an opportunity of distinguishing himself in his\r\nprofession.\r\n\r\nThe idea of engrafting his tattooing upon my white skin filled him\r\nwith all a painter’s enthusiasm; again and again he gazed into my\r\ncountenance, and every fresh glimpse seemed to add to the vehemence\r\nof his ambition. Not knowing to what extremities he might proceed,\r\nand shuddering at the ruin he might inflict upon my figure-head, I now\r\nendeavoured to draw off his attention from it, and holding out my arm\r\nin a fit of desperation, signed to him to commence operations. But he\r\nrejected the compromise indignantly, and still continued his attack on\r\nmy face, as though nothing short of that would satisfy him. When his\r\nforefinger swept across my features, in laying out the borders of those\r\nparallel bands which were to encircle my countenance, the flesh fairly\r\ncrawled upon my bones. At last, half wild with terror and indignation, I\r\nsucceeded in breaking away from the three savages, and fled towards old\r\nMarheyo’s house, pursued by the indomitable artist, who ran after me,\r\nimplements in hand. Kory-Kory, however, at last interfered and drew him\r\noff from the chase.\r\n\r\nThis incident opened my eyes to a new danger; and I now felt convinced\r\nthat in some luckless hour I should be disfigured in such a manner as\r\nnever more to have the FACE to return to my countrymen, even should an\r\nopportunity offer.\r\n\r\nThese apprehensions were greatly increased by the desire which King\r\nMehevi and several of the inferior chiefs now manifested that I should\r\nbe tattooed. The pleasure of the king was first signified to me some\r\nthree days after my casual encounter with Karky the artist. Heavens!\r\nwhat imprecations I showered upon that Karky. Doubtless he had plotted a\r\nconspiracy against me and my countenance, and would never rest until his\r\ndiabolical purpose was accomplished. Several times I met him in various\r\nparts of the valley, and, invariably, whenever he descried me, he came\r\nrunning after me with his mallet and chisel, flourishing them about my\r\nface as if he longed to begin. What an object he would have made of me!\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 2"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJRVDMZY05FRQ5JENW1SE","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AM7A3RPNNGF0AXMJN7V9R","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AM7VH7J2GJGN1FD6A8DFC","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:30.019Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:42.684Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}