 Kory-Kory perceived that
I was in one of my inquiring, scientific moods, to my astonishment he sprang to
the side of the idol, and pushing it away from the stones against which it
rested, endeavoured to make it stand upon its legs. But the divinity had lost
the use of them altogether; and while Kory-Kory was trying to prop it up, by
placing a stick between it and the pi-pi, the monster fell clumsily to the
ground, and would infallibly have broken its neck had not Kory-Kory
providentially broken its fall by receiving its whole weight on his own
half-crushed back. I never saw the honest fellow in such a rage before. He
leaped furiously to his feet, and, seizing the stick, began beating the poor
image, every moment or two pausing and talking to it in the most violent manner,
as if upbraiding it for the accident. When his indignation had subsided a
little, he whirled the idol about most profanely, so as to give me an
opportunity of examining it on all sides. I am quite sure I never should have
presumed to have taken such liberties with the god myself, and I was not a
little shocked at Kory-Kory's impiety.
    This anecdote speaks for itself. When one of the inferior order of natives
could show such contempt for a venerable and decrepit God of the Groves, what
the state of religion must be among the people in general is easily to be
imagined. In truth, I regard the Typees as a back-slidden generation. They are
sunk in religious sloth, and require a spiritual revival. A long prosperity of
bread-fruit and cocoa-nuts has rendered them remiss in the performance of their
higher obligations. The wood-rot malady is spreading among the idols - the fruit
upon their altars is becoming offensive - the temples themselves need
re-thatching - the tattooed clergy are altogether too light-hearted and lazy -
and their flocks are going astray.
 

                                  Chapter XXV

    General Information gathered at the Festival - Personal Beauty of the Typees
    - Their Superiority over the Inhabitants of the other Islands-Diversity of
    Complexion - A Vegetable Cosmetic and Ointment - Testimony of Voyagers to
    the uncommon Beauty of the Marquesans - Few Evidences of Intercourse with
    Civilised Beings - Dilapidated Musket - Primitive Simplicity of Government -
    Regal Dignity of Mehevi.
 
Although I had been unable during the late festival to obtain information on
many interesting subjects which had much excited my curiosity, still that
important event had not passed by without adding materially to my general
knowledge of the islanders.
    I was especially struck by the physical strength and
