from them, if not a cordial reception, at least a shelter during
the short period we should remain in their territory.

On the other hand, the very name of Typee struck a panic into my
heart which I did not attempt to disguise. The thought of
voluntarily throwing ourselves into the hands of these cruel
savages, seemed to me an act of mere madness; and almost equally
so the idea of venturing into the valley, uncertain by which of
these two tribes it was inhabited. That the vale at our feet was
tenanted by one of them, was a point that appeared to us past all
doubt, since we knew that they resided in this quarter, although
our information did not enlighten us further.

My companion, however, incapable of resisting the tempting
prospect which the place held out of an abundant supply of food
and other means of enjoyment, still clung to his own
inconsiderate view of the subject, nor could all my reasoning
shake it. When I reminded him that it was impossible for either
of us to know anything with certainty, and when I dwelt upon the
horrible fate we should encounter were we rashly to descend into
the valley, and discover too late the error we had committed, he
replied by detailing all the evils of our present condition, and
the sufferings we must undergo should we continue to remain where
we then were.

Anxious to draw him away from the subject, if possible--for I saw
that it would be in vain to attempt changing his mind--I directed
his attention to a long bright unwooded tract of land which,
sweeping down from the elevations in the interior, descended into
the valley before us. I then suggested to him that beyond this