# XXIX explained — Typee > Chapter companion for Typee by Herman Melville. ## What happens The narrator provides a detailed natural history of the Typee valley, describing the tameness of birds and lizards, the annoyance of flies, the presence of dogs and a mysterious cat, the idyllic climate, and the remarkable methods used by the natives to climb coconut trees. He recounts the agile climbing of a young chief named Narnee and the fearless climbing of children. ## Themes in this chapter ### Civilization vs. Nature The narrator contrasts the introduced animals (dogs, cat, mosquitoes) with the native wildlife, highlighting the disruption of natural harmony by European contact. ### The Idealized Primitive The narrator idealizes the tameness of the birds and lizards and the harmonious climate, presenting the valley as a pristine, unspoiled paradise. ## Character check-ins ### Narrator Describes the natural history of the valley and his personal reactions to the animals and climate. ### Mehevi The benevolent king who refuses the narrator's suggestion of a canine crusade, citing that the dogs are 'taboo'. ### Naranee A noble young chief who performs an elaborate climbing feat to pluck young coconuts for the narrator's gratification. ## Key lines > Dogs!⁠—Big hairless rats rather; all with smooth, shining speckled hides⁠—fat sides, and very disagreeable faces. The dogs in the valley looked more like large, hairless rats with shiny spotted skin, fat bodies, and unpleasant expressions. _The narrator expresses his disdain for the dogs, which he considers ugly and out of place._ > I am one of those unfortunate persons to whom the sight of these animals is at any time an insufferable annoyance. I am someone who finds the mere sight of cats unbearably irritating. _The narrator explains his strong aversion to cats, which made the appearance of a black cat particularly distressing._ > Its tameness, far from shocking me, as a similar occurrence did Selkirk, imparted to me the most exquisite thrill of delight I ever experienced. Unlike Alexander Selkirk, who was startled by a tame bird, I felt an intense joy from the bird's trust. _The narrator contrasts his positive reaction to the bird's tameness with Selkirk's fear, emphasizing his appreciation for the valley's wildlife._ > He will perch upon one of your eyelashes, and go to roost there if you do not disturb him, or force his way through your hair, or along the cavity of the nostril, till you almost fancy he is resolved to explore the very brain itself. The fly will land on your eyelash and stay there if left alone, or crawl through your hair and into your nostril, making you think it intends to reach your brain. _The narrator describes the extreme tameness and intrusiveness of the valley's flies._ > Some half-dozen darted into the open apartment, and began walking about its ceiling; the sensation was dreadful. About six flies flew into my open mouth and started moving around on the roof of my mouth, which felt horrible. _The narrator recounts an unpleasant experience when flies entered his mouth while he yawned._ > There are no wild animals of any kind on the island unless it be decided that the natives themselves are such. The island has no wild animals, unless one considers the native people to be wild. _The narrator makes a wry observation about the absence of dangerous wildlife, playfully suggesting the natives might be the exception._ > In a company of Marquesan natives the weather affords no topic of conversation. It can hardly be said to have any vicissitudes. Among the Marquesans, the weather is never discussed because it barely changes. _The narrator highlights the consistent, unchanging climate of the valley._ > The less active among the men, and many of the children of the valley, have another method of climbing. They take a broad and stout piece of bark, and secure each end of it to their ankles, so that when the feet thus confined are extended apart, a space of little more than twelve inches is left between them. Less agile men and children use a strip of bark tied to their ankles, leaving about a foot between their feet, to help them climb coconut trees. _The narrator describes an alternative climbing technique used by those who cannot walk up the tree trunk._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/typee_se/chapters/xxix - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/typee_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/typee_se/chapters