TYPEE
About this ebook
by Herman Melville
PREFACE
MORE than three years have elapsed since the occurrence of the
events recorded in this volume. The interval, with the exception of
the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing
about on the wide ocean. Sailors are the only class of men who
now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things which
to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them seem as
commonplace as a jacket out at elbows. Yet, notwithstanding the
familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure, the
incidents recorded in the following pages have often served, when
"spun as a yarn," not only to relieve the weariness of many a
night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest sympathies of the
author's shipmates. He has been, therefore, led to think that his
story could scarcely fail to interest those who are less familiar than
the sailor with a life of adventure.
In his account of the singular and interesting people among whom
he was thrown, it will be observed that he chiefly treats of their
more obvious peculiarities; and, in describing their customs, refrains
in most cases from entering into explanations concerning their
origin and purposes. As writers of travels among barbarous communities
are generally very diffuse on these subjects, he deems it right to
advert to what may be considered a culpable omission. No one can be
more sensible than the author of his deficiencies in this and many
other respects; but when the very peculiar circumstances in which he
was placed are understood, he feels assured that all these omissions
will be excused.
In very many published narratives no little degree of attention is
bestowed upon dates; but as the author lost all knowledge of the
days of the week, during the occurrence of the scenes herein
related, he hopes that the reader will charitably pass over his
shortcomings in this particular.
In the Polynesian words used in this volume- except in those cases
where the spelling has been previously determined by others- that form
of orthography has been employed which might be supposed most easily
to convey their sound to a stranger. In several works descriptive of
the islands in the Pacific, many of the most beautiful combinations of
vocal sounds have been altogether lost to the ear of the reader by
an over-attention to the ordinary rules of spelling.
There are some things related in the narrative which will be
sure to appear strange, or perhaps entirely incomprehensible, to the
reader; but they cannot appear more so to him than they did to the
author at the time. He has stated such matters just as they
occurred, and leaves every one to form his own opinion concerning
them, trusting that his anxious desire to speak the unvarnished
truth will gain for him the confidence of his readers.
