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- disbanding the levies, turned his attention to the terraces of yams.
And so on in rotation to the end.
Whence, though capable of action, Peepi, by reason of these revolving
souls in him, was one of the most unreliable of beings. What the
open-handed Zonoree promised freely to-day, the parsimonious Titonti
withheld to-morrow; and forever Raymonda was annulling the doings of
Voyo; and Voyo the doings of Raymonda.
What marvel then, that in Valapee all was legislative uproar and
confusion; advance and retreat; abrogations and revivals; foundations
without superstructures; nothing permanent but the island itself.
Nor were there those in the neighboring countries, who failed to reap
profit from this everlasting transition state of the affairs of the
kingdom. All boons from Peepi were entreated when the prodigal Zonoree
was lord of the ascendant. And audacious claims were urged upon the
state when the pusillanimous Blandoo shrank from the thought of
resisting them.
Thus subject to contrary impulses, over which he had not the faintest
control, Peepi was plainly denuded of all moral obligation to virtue.
He was no more a free agent, than the heart which beat in his bosom.
Wherefore, his complaisant parliament had passed a law, recognizing
that curious, but alarming fact; solemnly proclaiming, that King Peepi
was minus a conscience. Agreeable to truth. But when they went further,
and vowed by statute, that Peepi could do no wrong, they assuredly did
violence to the truth; besides, making a sad blunder in their logic.
For far from possessing an absolute aversion to evil, by his very
nature it was the hardest thing in the world for Peepi to do right.
Taking all these things into consideration, then, no wonder that this
wholly irresponsible young prince should be a lad of considerable
assurance, and the easiest manners imaginable.
CHAPTER LXVIII.
How Teeth Were Regarded In Valapee
Coiling through the thickets, like the track of a serpent, wound along
the path we pursued. And ere long we came to a spacious grove,
embowering an oval arbor. Here, we reclined at our ease, and
refreshments were served.
Little worthy of mention occurred, save this. Happening to catch a
glimpse of the white even teeth of Hohora one of our attendants, King
Peepi coolly begged of Media the favor, to have those same dentals
drawn on the spot, and presented to him.
Now human teeth, extracted, are reckoned among the most valuable
ornaments in Mardi. So open wide thy strong box, Hohora, and show thy
treasures. What a gallant array! standing shoulder to shoulder, without
a hiatus between. A complete set of jewelry, indeed, thought Peepi.
But, it seems, not destined for him; Media leaving it to the present
proprietor, whether his dentals should change owners or not.
And here, to prepare the way for certain things hereafter to be
narrated, something farther needs be said concerning the light in which
men’s molars are regarded in Mardi.
Strung together, they are sported for necklaces, or hung in drops from
the ear; they are wrought into dice; in lieu of silken locks, are
exchanged for love tokens.
As in all lands, men smite their breasts, and tear their hair, when
transported with grief; so, in some countries, teeth are stricken out
under the sway of similar emotions. To a very great extent, this was
once practiced in the Hawaiian Islands, ere idol and altar went down.
Still living in Oahu, are many old chiefs, who were present at the
famous obsequies of their royal old generalissimo, Tammahammaha, when
there is no telling how many pounds of ivory were cast upon his grave.
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