4. CHAPTER IV.
Now, those doleful woodlands passed, straightway converse
was renewed, and much discourse took place, concerning
Hivohitee, Pontiff of the isle.
For, during our first friendly conversation with Pani,
Media had inquired for Hivohitee, and sought to know in
what part of the island he abode.
Whereto Pani had replied, that the Pontiff would be
invisible for several days to come; being engaged with particular
company.
And upon further inquiry, as to who were the personages
monopolizing his hospitalities, Media was dumb when informed,
that they were no other than certain incorporeal
deities from above, passing the Capricorn Solstice at Maramma.
As on we journeyed, much curiosity being expressed to
know more of the Pontiff and his guests, old Mohi, familiar
with these things, was commanded to enlighten the company.
He complied; and his recital was not a little significant, of
the occasional credulity of chroniclers.
According to his statement, the deities entertained by
Hivohitee belonged to the third class of immortals. These,
however, were far elevated above the corporeal demi-gods
of Mardi. Indeed, in Hivohitee's eyes, the greatest demi-gods
were as gourds. Little wonder, then, that their superiors
were accounted the most genteel characters on his
visiting list.
These immortals were wonderfully fastidious and dainty
as to the atmosphere they breathed; inhaling no sublunary
air, but that of the elevated interior; where the Pontiff
had a rural lodge for the special accommodation of impalpable
guests; who were entertained at very small cost; dinners
being unnecessary, and dormitories superfluous.
But Hivohitee permitted not the presence of these celestial
grandees, to interfere with his own solid comfort. Passing
his mornings in highly intensified chat, he thrice reclined
at his ease; partaking of a fine plantain-pudding, and pouring
out from a calabash of celestial old wine; meanwhile,
carrying on the flow of soul with his guests. And truly,
the sight of their entertainer thus enjoying himself in
the flesh, while they themselves starved on the ether,
must have been exceedingly provoking to these aristocratic
and aerial strangers.
It was reported, furthermore, that Hivohitee, one of the
haughtiest of Pontiffs, purposely treated his angelical guests
thus cavalierly; in order to convince them, that though a
denizen of earth; a sublunarian; and in respect of heaven,
a mere provincial; he (Hivohitee) accounted himself full as
good as seraphim from the capital; and that too at the Capricorn
Solstice, or any other time of the year. Strongly
bent was Hivohitee upon humbling their supercilious pretensions.
Besides, was he not accounted a great god in the land?
supreme? having power of life and death? essaying the
deposition of kings? and dwelling in moody state, all by
himself, in the goodliest island of Mardi? Though here,
be it said, that his assumptions of temporal supremacy were
but seldom made good by express interference with the secular
concerns of the neighboring monarchs; who, by force of
arms, were too apt to argue against his claims to authority;
however, in theory, they bowed to it. And now, for the
genealogy of Hivohitee; for eighteen hundred and forty-seven
Hivohitees were alleged to have gone before him. He
came in a right line from the divine Hivohitee I.: the original
grantee of the empire of men's souls and the first swayer of
a crosier. The present Pontiff's descent was unquestionable;
his dignity having been transmitted through none but
heirs male; the whole procession of High Priests being the
fruit of successive marriages between uterine brother and
sister. A conjunction deemed incestuous in some lands;
but, here, held the only fit channel for the pure transmission
of elevated rank.
Added to the hereditary appellation, Hivohitee, which
simply denoted the sacerdotal station of the Pontiffs, and
was but seldom employed in current discourse, they were
individualized by a distinctive name, bestowed upon them at
birth. And the degree of consideration in which they were
held, may be inferred from the fact, that during the lifetime
of a Pontiff, the leading sound in his name was banned to
ordinary uses. Whence, at every new accession to the
archiepiscopal throne, it came to pass, that multitudes of
words and phrases were either essentially modified, or wholly
dropped. Wherefore, the language of Maramma was
incessantly fluctuating; and had become so full of jargonings,
that the birds in the groves were greatly puzzled; not
knowing where lay the virtue of sounds, so incoherent.
And, in a good measure, this held true of all tongues
spoken throughout the Archipelago; the birds marveling at
mankind, and mankind at the birds; wondering how they
could continually sing; when, for all man knew to the contrary,
it was impossible they could be holding intelligent
discourse. And thus, though for thousands of years, men
and birds had been dwelling together in Mardi, they remained
wholly ignorant of each other's secrets; the Islander
regarding the fowl as a senseless songster, forever in the
clouds; and the fowl him, as a screeching crane, destitute
of pinions and lofty aspirations.
Over and above numerous other miraculous powers
imputed to the Pontiffs as spiritual potentates, there was
ascribed to them one special privilege of a secular nature:
that of healing with a touch the bites of the ravenous
sharks, swarming throughout the lagoon. With these they
were supposed to be upon the most friendly terms; according
to popular accounts, sociably bathing with them in the sea;
permitting them to rub their noses against their priestly
thighs; playfully mouthing their hands, with all their tiers
of teeth.
At the ordination of a Pontiff, the ceremony was not
deemed complete, until embarking in his barge, he was saluted
High Priest by three sharks drawing near; with teeth
turned up, swimming beside his canoe.
These monsters were deified in Maramma; had altars
there; it was deemed worse than homicide to kill one.
“And what if they destroy human life?” say the Islanders,
“are they not sacred?”
Now many more wonderful things were related touching
Hivohitee; and though one could not but doubt the validity of
many prerogatives ascribed to him, it was nevertheless hard
to do otherwise, than entertain for the Pontiff that sort of
profound consideration, which all render to those who indisputably
possess the power of quenching human life with a
wish.
