Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life

Each day, Tommo goes to the Ti. He spends more time with Mehevi because at the Ti he finds the best conversation and the best food. On one occasion, Tommo feels a sense of commotion around the Ti. He is told that a festival will take place the next day. The people catch and kill pigs to be eaten, while large amounts of poee-poee are made. Tommo asks Kory-Kory about the festival, so Kory-Kory takes him to the Taboo grove. There, he points to a pyramid-like structure made out of empty coconuts and calabashes. Tommo does not understand but names the upcoming festival “The Feast of the Calabashes” (160). The next day, everyone wakes and dresses in their finest clothes. Tommo dresses himself in a Typee outfit and decorates himself with flowers.

Everyone from across the valley comes to the Ti to celebrate. A vast quantity of food is served, and everyone eats until they are full. They smoke tobacco and drink an intoxicating beverage called arva. As the feast rolls into the second day, Tommo notices women crying. He is told that they are “bereaved widows,” mourning the husbands who fell in battle.