Ontheotherhand,astheclamoursofwarhadnotuptothisperioddisturbedtheserenityofthetribe,IbegantodistrustthetruthofthosereportswhichascribedsofierceandbelligerentacharactertotheTypeenation。Surely,thoughtI,alltheseterriblestoriesIhaveheardabouttheinveteracywithwhichtheycarriedonthefeud,theirdeadlyintensityofhatred,andthediabolicalmalicewithwhichtheygluttedtheirrevengeupontheinanimateformsoftheslain,arenothingmorethanfables,andImustconfessthatIexperiencedsomethinglikeasenseofregretathavingmyhideousanticipationsthusdisappointed。Ifeltinsomesortlikea’prenticeboywho,goingtotheplayintheexpectationofbeingdelightedwithacut-and-thrusttragedy,isalmostmovedtotearsofdisappointmentattheexhibitionofagenteelcomedy。
IcouldnotavoidthinkingthatIhadfalleninwithagreatlytraducedpeople,andImoralizednotalittleuponthedisadvantageofhavingabadname,whichinthisinstancehadgivenatribeofsavages,whowereaspacificassomanylambkins,thereputationofaconfederacyofgiant-killers。
ButsubsequenteventsprovedthatIhadbeenalittletooprematureincomingtothisconclusion。Oneday,aboutnoon,happeningtobeattheTi,Ihadlaindownonthematswithseveralofthechiefs,andhadgraduallysunkintoamostluxurioussiesta,whenI
wasawakenedbyatremendousoutcry,andstartingup,beheldthenativesseizingtheirspearsandhurryingout,whilethemostpuissantofthechiefs,graspingthesixmusketswhichwererangedagainstthebamboos,followedafter,andsoondisappearedinthegroves。Thesemovementswereaccompaniedbywildshouts,inwhich“Happar,Happar,“greatlypredominated。TheislanderswerenowtobeseenrunningpasttheTi,andstrikingacrossthevalleytotheHapparside。PresentlyIheardthesharpreportofamusketfromtheadjoininghills,andthenaburstofvoicesinthesamedirection。
Atthisthewomen,whohadcongregatedinthegroves,setupthemostviolentclamours,astheyinvariablydohereaselsewhereoneveryoccasionofexcitementandalarm,withaviewoftranquillizingtheirownmindsanddisturbingotherpeople。Onthisparticularoccasiontheymadesuchanoutrageousnoise,andcontinueditwithsuchperseverance,thatforawhile,hadentirevolleysofmusketrybeenfiredoffintheneighbouringmountains,I