55. CHAPTER LV.
Upon at last drawing nigh to Odo, its appearance somewhat
disappointed me. A small island, of moderate elevation.
But plumb not the height of the house that feasts you.
The beach was lined with expectant natives, who, lifting
the Chamois, carried us up the beach.
Alighting, as they were bearing us along, King Media,
designating a canoe-house hard by, ordered our craft to be
deposited therein. This being done, we stepped upon the
soil. It was the first we had pressed in very many days.
It sent a sympathetic thrill through our frames.
Turning his steps inland, Media signed us to follow.
Soon we came to a rude sort of inclosure, fenced in by an
imposing wall. Here a halt was sounded, and in great haste
the natives proceeded to throw down a portion of the stones.
This accomplished, we were signed to enter the fortress thus
carried by storm. Upon an artificial mound, opposite the
breach, stood a small structure of bamboo, open in front.
Within, was a long pedestal, like a settee, supporting three
images, also of wood, and about the size of men; bearing,
likewise, a remote resemblance to that species of animated
nature. Before these idols was an altar, and at its base
many fine mats.
Entering the temple, as if he felt very much at home,
Media disposed these mats so as to form a very pleasant
lounge; where he deferentially entreated Yillah to recline.
Then deliberately removing the first idol, he motioned me to
seat myself in its place. Setting aside the middle one, he
quietly established himself in its stead. The displaced
ciphers, meanwhile, standing upright before us, and their
blank faces looking upon this occasion unusually expressive.
As yet, not a syllable as to the meaning of this cavalier
treatment of their wooden godships.
We now tranquilly awaited what next might happen,
and I earnestly prayed, that if sacrilege was being committed,
the vengeance of the gods might be averted from an
ignoramus like me; notwithstanding the petitioner himself
hailed from the other world. Perfect silence was preserved:
Jarl and Samoa standing a little without the temple; the
first looking quite composed, but his comrade casting wondering
glances at my sociable apotheosis with Media.
Now happening to glance upon the image last removed,
I was not long in detecting a certain resemblance between
it and our host. Both were decorated in the same manner;
the carving on the idol exactly corresponding with the tattooing
of the king.
Presently, the silence was relieved by a commotion without:
and a butler approached, staggering under an immense
wooden trencher; which, with profound genuflexions, he deposited
upon the altar before us. The tray was loaded like
any harvest wain; heaped up with good things sundry and
divers: Bread-fruit, and cocoanuts, and plantains, and
guavas; all pleasant to the eye, and furnishing good earnest
of something equally pleasant to the palate.
Transported at the sight of these viands, after so long an
estrangement from full indulgence in things green, I was
forthwith proceeding to help Yillah and myself, when, like
lightning, a most unwelcome query obtruded. Did deities
dine? Then also recurred what Media had declared about
my shrine in Odo. Was this it? Self-sacrilegious demigod
that I was, was I going to gluttonize on the very offerings,
laid before me in my own sacred fane? Give heed to thy
ways, oh Taji, lest thou stumble and be lost.
But hereupon, what saw we, but his cool majesty of Odo
tranquilly proceeding to lunch in the temple?
How now? Was Media too a god? Egad, it must be
so. Else, why his image here in the fane, and the original
so entirely at his ease, with legs full cosily tucked away under
the very altar itself. This put to flight all appalling
apprehensions of the necessity of starving to keep up the
assumption of my divinity. So without more ado I helped
myself right and left; taking the best care of Yillah; who
ever fed her flushed beauty with juicy fruits, thereby transferring
to her cheek the sweet glow of the guava.
Our hunger appeased, and Media in token thereof celestially
laying his hand upon the appropriate region, we proceeded
to quit the inclosure. But coming to the wall
where the breach had been made, lo, and behold, no breach
was to be seen. But down it came tumbling again, and
forth we issued.
This overthrowing of walls, be it known, is an incidental
compliment paid distinguished personages in this part of
Mardi. It would seem to signify, that such gentry can go
nowhere without creating an impression; even upon the
most obdurate substances.
But to return to our ambrosial lunch.
Sublimate, as you will, the idea of our ethereality as intellectual
beings; no sensible man can harbor a doubt, but that
there is a vast deal of satisfaction in dining. More: there
is a savor of life and immortality in substantial fare. Like
balloons, we are nothing till filled.
And well knowing this, nature has provided this jolly round
board, our globe, which in an endless sequence of courses
and crops, spreads a perpetual feast. Though, as with
most public banquets, there is no small crowding, and many
go away famished from plenty.
