CHAPTER EIGHT

THE IMPORTANT QUESTION, TYPEE OR HAPPAR?--A WILD GOOSE CHASE--MY
SUFFERINGS--DISHEARTENING SITUATION--A NIGHT IN A RAVINE--MORNING
MEAL--HAPPY IDEA OF TOBY--JOURNEY TOWARDS THE VALLEY

RECOVERING from my astonishment at the beautiful scene before me,
I quickly awakened Toby, and informed him of the discovery I had
made. Together we now repaired to the border of the precipice,
and my companion's admiration was equal to my own. A little
reflection, however, abated our surprise at coming so
unexpectedly upon this valley, since the large vales of Happar
and Typee, lying upon this side of Nukuheva, and extending a
considerable distance from the sea towards the interior, must
necessarily terminate somewhere about this point.

The question now was as to which of those two places we were
looking down upon. Toby insisted that it was the abode of the
Happar, and I that it was tenanted by their enemies the ferocious
Typees. To be sure I was not entirely convinced by my own
arguments, but Toby's proposition to descend at once into the
valley, and partake of the hospitality of its inmates, seemed to
me to be risking so much upon the strength of a mere supposition,
that I resolved to oppose it until we had more evidence to
proceed upon.

The point was one of vital importance, as the natives of Happar
were not only at peace with Nukuheva, but cultivated with its
inhabitants the most friendly relations, and enjoyed besides a
reputation for gentleness and humanity which led us to expect