- description
- # SKETCH NINTH. HOOD’S ISLE AND THE HERMIT OBERLUS.
## Overview
This is a chapter titled "SKETCH NINTH. HOOD’S ISLE AND THE HERMIT OBERLUS." (lines 7482-7984) extracted from the text file [the_piazza_tales.txt](arke:01KG89J1F4D8P9BBX9AMGZ7TX7). It is part of the short story collection [The Piazza Tales](arke:01KG8AJ9NXJ7YCJCWAH2W8FBFN) within the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. This chapter is preceded by [SKETCH TENTH. RUNAWAYS, CASTAWAYS, SOLITARIES, GRAVE-STONES, ETC.](arke:01KG8AJKV9A3F57NRMN5E9DPZE) and followed by [THE BELL-TOWER.](arke:01KG8AJMKN77RAN04DS6QGR3D9).
## Context
The chapter is part of a larger collection of works by Herman Melville. It was extracted from the source text file by a structure-extraction process.
## Contents
The chapter details the story of Hood's Isle and the hermit Oberlus. It describes Oberlus as a wild, white creature who brought diabolical qualities to the savage region. Oberlus, who deserted on the island, built a den of lava and clinkers and cultivated degenerate potatoes and pumpkins, which he exchanged with whalemen for spirits or dollars. The text describes his appearance as beast-like, with rags, blistered skin, a flat nose, and fiery red hair. The chapter recounts his interactions with strangers, his tyrannical behavior towards slaves, and his eventual imprisonment in Payta. The chapter also includes a note explaining the author's deviations from Porter's account of Oberlus.
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- 2026-01-30T20:48:55.453Z
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- description_title
- SKETCH NINTH. HOOD’S ISLE AND THE HERMIT OBERLUS.
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- 7984
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:47:36.328Z
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- title
- SKETCH NINTH. HOOD’S ISLE AND THE HERMIT OBERLUS.