Typee

Herman Melville was born in August 1, 1819, in New York City, the son of a merchant. Only twelve when his father died bankrupt, young Herman tried work as a bank clerk, as a cabin-boy on a trip to Liverpool, and as an elementary schoolteacher, before shipping in January 1841 on the whaler Acushnet, bound for the Pacific. Deserting ship the following year in the Marquesas, he made his way to Tahiti and Honolulu, returning as ordinary seaman on the frigate United States to Boston, where he was discharged in October 1844. Books based on these adventures won him immediate success. By 1850 he was married, had acquired a farm near Pittsfield, Massachussetts (where he was the impetuous friend and neighbor of Nathaniel Hawthorne), and was hard at work on his masterpiece Moby-Dick.Literary success soon faded; his complexity increasingly alienated readers. After a visit to the Holy Land in January 1857, he turned from writing prose fiction to poetry. In 1863, during the Civil War, he moved back to New York City, where from 1866-1885 he was a deputy inspector in the Custom House, and where, in 1891, he died. A draft of a final prose work, Billy Budd, Sailor, was left unfinished and uncollated, packed tidily away by his widow, where it remained until its rediscovery and publication in 1924.

• TypeeIntroduction by John BryantWorks Cited and Suggested for Further ReadingA Note on the TextTYPEEPrefaceChapter 1The SeaLonging for ShoreA Land-sick ShipDestination of the VoyagersThe MarquesasAdventures of a Missionary's Wife Among the SavagesCharacteristic Anecdote of the Queen of NukuhevaChapter 2Passage from the Cruising Ground to the MarquesasSleepy times aboard ShipSouth Sea SceneryLand ho!The French Squadron discovered at Anchor in the Bay of NukuhevaStrange PilotEscort of CanoesA Flotilla of Cocoa-nutsSwimming VisitorsThe Dolly boarded by themState of affairs that ensueChapter 3Some Account of the late operations of the French at the MarquesasPrudent Conduct of the AdmiralSensation produced by the Arrival of the StrangersThe first Horse seen by the IslandersReflectionsMiserable Subterfuge of the FrenchDigression concerning TahitiSeizure of the Island by the AdmiralSpirited Conduct of an English LadyChapter 4State of Affairs aboard the ShipContents of her LarderLength of South Seamen's VoyagesAccount of a Flying WhalemanDetermination to Leave the VesselThe Bay of NukuhevaThe TypeesInvasion of their Valley by PorterReflectionsGlen of TiorInterview between the old King and the French AdmiralChapter 5Thoughts previous to attempting an EscapeToby, a Fellow Sailor, agrees to share the AdventureLast Night aboard the ShipChapter 6A Specimen of Nautical OratoryCriticisms of the SailorsThe Starboard Watch are given a HolidayThe Escape to the MountainsChapter 7The other side of the MountainDisappointmentInventory of Articles brought from the ShipDivision of the Stock of BreadAppearance of the Interior of the IslandA DiscoveryA Ravine and WaterfallsA sleepless NightFurther DiscoveriesMy IllnessA Marquesan LandscapeChapter 8The Important Question, Typee or Happar?A Wild-Goose ChaceMy SufferingDisheartening SituationA Night in a RavineMorning MealHappy Idea of TobyJourney towards the ValleyChapter 9Perilous Passage of the RavineDescent into the ValleyChapter 10The Head of the ValleyCautions AdvanceA PathFruitDiscovery of Two of the NativesTheir singular ConductApproach towards the inhabited parts of the ValeSensation produced by our AppearanceReception at the House of one of the NativesChapter 11Midnight ReflectionsMorning VisitorsA Warrior in CostumeA Savage AesculapiusPractice of the Healing ArtBody ServantA Dwelling-house of the Valley describedPortraits of its InmatesChapter 12Officiousness of Kory-KoryHis DevotionA Bath in the StreamWant of Refinement of the Typee DamselsStroll with MehviA Typee HighwayThe Taboo GrovesThe Hoolah-Hoolah GroundThe TiTimeworn SavagesHospitality of MeheviMidnight MisgivingsAdventure in the DarkDistinguished Honors paid to the VisitorsStrange Procession and Return to the House of MarheyoChapter 13Attempt to procure Relief from NukuhevaPerilous Adventure of Toby in the Happar MountainEloquence of Kory-KoryChapter 14A great Event happens in the ValleyThe Island TelegraphSomething befalls TobyFayaway displays a tender HeartMelancholy ReflectionsMysterious Conduct of the IslandersDevotion of Kory-KoryA rural CouchA LuxuryKory-Kory strikes a Light à la TypeeChapter 15Kindness of Marheyo and the rest of the IslandersA full Description of the Bread-fruit TreeDifferent Modes of preparing the FruitChapter 16Melancholy conditionOccurrence at the TiAnecdote of MarheyoShaving the Head of a WarriorChapter 17Improvement in Health and SpiritsFelicity of the TypeesTheir enjoyment compared with those of more enlightened CommunitiesComparative Wickedness of civilized and unenlightened PeopleA Skirmish in the Mountain with the Warriors of HapparChapter 18Swimming in company with the Girls of the ValleyA CanoeEffects of the TabooA pleasure Excursion on the PondBeautiful freak of FayawayMantua-makingA Stranger arrives in the ValleyHis mysterious conductNative OratoryThe InterviewIts ResultsDeparture of the StrangerChapter 19Reflections after Marnoo's DepartureBattle of the Pop-gunsStrange conceit of MarheyoProcess of making TappaChapter 20 History of a day as usually spent in the Typee ValleyDances of the Marquesan GirlsChapter 21 The Spring of Arva WaiRemarkable Monumental RemainsSome ideas with regard to the History of the Pi-Pis found in the ValleyChapter 22 Preparations for a Grand Festival in the ValleyStrange doings in the Taboo GrovesMonument of CalabashesGala costume of the Typee damselsDeparture for the FestivalChapter 23 The Feast of CalabashesChapter 24 Ideas suggested by the Feast of CalabashesInaccuracy of certain published Accounts of the IslandsA ReasonNeglected State of Heathenism in the ValleyEffigy of a dead WarriorA singular SuperstitionThe Priest Kolory and the God Moa ArtuaAmazing Religious ObservanceA dilapidated ShrineKory-Kory and the IdolAn InferenceChapter 25 General Information gathered at the FestivalPersonal Beauty of the TypeesTheir Superiority over the Inhabitants of the other IslandsDiversity of ComplexionA Vegetable Cosmetic and OintmentTestimony of Voyagers to the uncommon Beauty of the MarquesansFew Evidences of Intercourse with Civilized BeingsDilapidated MusketPrimitive Simplicity of GovernmentRegal Dignity of MeheviChapter 26 King MeheviAllusion to his Hawiian MajestyConduct of Marheyo and Mehevi in certain delicate mattersPeculiar system of MarriageNumber of PopulationUniformityEmbalmingPlaces of SepultureFuneral obsequies at NukuhevaNumber of Inhabitants at TypeeLocation of the DwellingsHappiness enjoyed in the ValleyA WarningSome ideas with regard to the Civilization of the IslandsReference to the Present state of the HawiiansStory of a Missionary's WifeFashionable Equipages at OahuReflectionsChapter 27 The Social Condition and General Character of the TypeesChapter 28 Fishing PartiesMode of distributing the FishMidnight BanquetTimekeeping TapersUnceremonious style of eating the FishChapter 29 Natural History of the ValleyGolden LizardsTameness of the BirdsMosquitosFliesDogsA solitary CatThe ClimateThe Cocoa-nut TreeSingular modes of climbing itAn agile young ChiefFearlessness of the ChildrenToo-Too and the Cocoa-nut TreeThe Birds of the ValleyChapter 30 A Professor of the Fine ArtsHis PersecutionsSomething about Tattooing and TabooingTwo Anecdotes in illustration of the latterA few thoughts on the Typee DialectChapter 31Strange custom of the IslandersTheir Chanting, and the peculiarity of their VoiceRapture of the King at first hearing a SongA new Dignity conferred on the AuthorMusical Instruments in the ValleyAdmiration of the Savages at Beholding a Pugilistic PerformanceSwimming InfantBeautiful Tresses of the GirlsOintment for the HairChapter 32 Apprehensions of EvilFrightful DiscoverySome remarks on CannibalismSecond Battle with the HapparsSavage SpectacleMysterious FeastSubsequent DisclosuresChapter 33 The Stranger again arrives in the ValleySingular Interview with himAttempt to EscapeFailureMelancholy SituationSympathy of MarheyoChapter 34 The EscapeAppendix: Provisional cession to Lord George Paulet of the Sandwich IslandsSequel: The Story of TobyAppendixes: List of Textual Expurgations; List of Textual EmendationsThe Typee Manuscript: A Reading TextExplanatory Notes

"A classic of American literature [and] the pioneer in South Sea romance." - Arthur Stedman