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- CHAPTER IV.
Hivohitee MDCCCXLVIII
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.
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