Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life is pretty playful for the story of a sailor who's held captive for four months. So what's Melville getting at? Perhaps it's that, as long as four months can seem for a captive, it's nothing like being an actual part of a community. Tommo can only give us what he has: just a "peep." Plus, it's classic Melville to repeat that "pee" sound between "Typee" and "peep." It's just got some pep in it, dontchya think?