Mardi: and A Voyage Thither, Vol. I

  Thus dwelt the chiefs and merry men of mark. The common sort,including serfs, and Helots, war-captives held in bondage, lived insecret places, hard to find. Whence it came, that, to a stranger, thewhole isle looked care-free and beautiful. Deep among the ravines andthe rocks, these beings lived in noisome caves, lairs for beasts, nothuman homes; or built them coops of rotten boughs--living trees werebanned them--whose mouldy hearts hatched vermin. Fearing infection ofsome plague, born of this filth, the chiefs of Odo seldom passed thatway and looking round within their green retreats, and pouring outtheir wine, and plucking from orchards of the best, marveled howthese swine could grovel in the mire, and wear such sallow cheeks.But they offered no sweet homes; from that mire they never sought todrag them out; they open threw no orchard; and intermitted not themandates that condemned their drudges to a life of deaths. Sad sight!to see those round-shouldered Helots, stooping in their trenches:artificial, three in number, and concentric: the isle well nighsurrounding. And herein, fed by oozy loam, and kindly dew fromheaven, and bitter sweat from men, grew as in hot-beds the nutritiousTaro.

  Toil is man's allotment; toil of brain, or toil of hands, or a griefthat's more than either, the grief and sin of idleness. But when mantoils and slays himself for masters who withhold the life hegives to them--then, then, the soul screams out, and every sinewcracks. So with these poor serfs. And few of them could choose but bethe brutes they seemed.

  Now needs it to be said, that Odo was no land of pleasure unalloyed,and plenty without a pause?--Odo, in whose lurking-places infantsturned from breasts, whence flowed no nourishment.--Odo, in whoseinmost haunts, dark groves were brooding, passing which you heardmost dismal cries, and voices cursing Media. There, men werescourged; their crime, a heresy; the heresy, that Media was nodemigod. For this they shrieked. Their fathers shrieked before; theirfathers, who, tormented, said, "Happy we to groan, that ourchildren's children may be glad." But their children's childrenhowled. Yet these, too, echoed previous generations, and loudlyswore, "The pit that's dug for us may prove another's grave."

  But let all pass. To look at, and to roam about of holidays, Odoseemed a happy land. The palm-trees waved--though here and there youmarked one sear and palsy-smitten; the flowers bloomed--though deadones moldered in decay; the waves ran up the strand in glee--though,receding, they sometimes left behind bones mixed with shells.

  But else than these, no sign of death was seen throughout the isle.Did men in Odo live for aye? Was Ponce de Leon's fountain there? Fornear and far, you saw no ranks and files of graves, no generationsharvested in winrows. In Odo, no hard-hearted nabob slept beneath agentle epitaph; no _requiescat-in-pace_ mocked a sinner damned; no_memento-mori_ admonished men to live while yet they might. HereDeath hid his skull; and hid it in the sea, the common sepulcher ofOdo. Not dust to dust, but dust to brine; not hearses but canoes. Forall who died upon that isle were carried out beyond the outer reef,and there were buried with their sires' sires. Hence came thethought, that of gusty nights, when round the isles, and hightoward heaven, flew the white reef's rack and foam, that then andthere, kept chattering watch and ward, the myriads that were ocean-tombed.

  But why these watery obsequies?

  Odo was but a little isle, and must the living make way for the dead,and Life's small colony be dislodged by Death's grim hosts; as thegaunt tribes of Tamerlane o'erspread the tented pastures of the Khan?

  And now, what follows, said these Islanders: "Why sow corruption inthe soil which yields us life? We would not pluck our grapes fromover graves. This earth's an urn for flowers, not for ashes."

  They said that Oro, the supreme, had made a cemetery of the sea.

  And what more glorious grave? Was Mausolus more sublimely urned? Ordo the minster-lamps that burn before the tomb of Charlemagne, showmore of pomp, than all the stars, that blaze above the shipwreckedmariner?

  But no more of the dead; men shrug their shoulders, and love nottheir company; though full soon we shall all have them for fellows.

  CHAPTER LXIVYillah A Phantom

  For a time we were happy in Odo: Yillah and I in our islet. Nor didthe pearl on her bosom glow more rosily than the roses in her cheeks;though at intervals they waned and departed; and deadly pale was herglance, when she murmured of the whirlpool and mosses. As pale mysoul, bethinking me of Aleema the priest.

  But day by day, did her spell weave round me its magic, and all thehidden things of her being grew more lovely and strange. Did Icommune with a spirit? Often I thought that Paradise had overtaken meon earth, and that Yillah was verily an angel, and hence themysteries that hallowed her.

  But how fleeting our joys. Storms follow bright dawnings.--Longmemories of short-lived scenes, sad thoughts of joyous hours--howcommon are ye to all mankind. When happy, do we pause and say--"Lo,thy felicity, my soul?" No: happiness seldom seems happiness, exceptwhen looked back upon from woes. A flowery landscape, you must comeout of, to behold.

  Sped the hours, the days, the one brief moment of our joys. Fairybower in the fair lagoon, scene of sylvan ease and heart's repose,--Oh, Yillah, Yillah! All the woods repeat the sound, the wild, wildwoods of my wild soul. Yillah! Yillah! cry the small strange voicesin me, and evermore, and far and deep, they echo on.

  Days passed. When one morning I found the arbor vacant. Gone! Adream. I closed my eyes, and would have dreamed her back. Invain. Starting, I called upon her name; but none replied. Fleeingfrom the islet, I gained the neighboring shore, and searched amongthe woods; and my comrades meeting, besought their aid. But idle all.No glimpse of aught, save trees and flowers. Then Media was soughtout; the event made known; and quickly, bands were summoned to rangethe isle.

  Noon came; but no Yillah. When Media averred she was no longer inOdo. Whither she was gone, or how, he knew not; nor could anyimagine.

  At this juncture, there chanced to arrive certain messengers fromabroad; who, presuming that all was well with Taji, came with renewedinvitations to visit various pleasant places round about. Amongthese, came Queen Hautia's heralds, with their Iris flag, once morebringing flowers. But they came and went unheeded.

  Setting out to return, these envoys were accompanied by numerousfollowers of Media, dispatched to the neighboring islands, to seekout the missing Yillah. But three days passed; and, one by one, theyall returned; and stood before me silently.

  For a time I raved. Then, falling into outer repose, lived for aspace in moods and reveries, with eyes that knew no closing, oneglance forever fixed.

  They strove to rouse me. Girls danced and sang; and tales of fairytimes were told; of monstrous imps, and youths enchanted; of grovesand gardens in the sea. Yet still I moved not, hearing all, yetnoting naught. Media cried, "For shame, oh Taji; thou, a god?" andplaced a spear in my nerveless hand. And Jarl loud called upon me toawake. Samoa marveled.

  Still sped the days. And at length, my memory was restored. Thethoughts of things broke over me like returning billows on a beachlong bared. A rush, a foam of recollections!--Sweet Yillah gone, andI bereaved.

  Another interval, and that mood was past. Misery became amemory. The keen pang a deep vibration. The remembrance seemed thething remembered; though bowed with sadness. There are thoughts thatlie and glitter deep: tearful pearls beneath life's sea, that surgesstill, and rolls sunlit, whatever it may hide. Common woes, likefluids, mix all round. Not so with that other grief. Some mournersload the air with lamentations; but the loudest notes are struck fromhollows. Their tears flow fast: but the deep spring only wells.

  At last I turned to Media, saying I must hie from Odo, and rovethroughout all Mardi; for Yillah might yet be found.

  But hereafter, in words, little more of the maiden, till perchanceher fate be learned.

  CHAPTER LXVTaji Makes Three Acquaintances

  Down to this period, I had restrained Samoa from wandering to theneighboring islands, though he had much desired it, in compliancewith the invitations continually received. But now I informed bothhim, and his comrade, of the tour I purposed; des
iring their company.

  Upon the announcement of my intention to depart, to my no smallsurprise Media also proposed to accompany me: a proposition gladlyembraced. It seems, that for some reason, he had not as yet extendedhis travels to the more distant islands. Hence the voyage in prospectwas particularly agreeable to him. Nor did he forbear any pains toinsure its prosperity; assuring me, furthermore, that its object musteventually be crowned with success. "I myself am interested in thispursuit," said he; "and trust me, Yillah will be found."

  For the tour of the lagoon, the docile Chamois was proposed; butMedia dissented; saying, that it befitted not the lord of Odo tovoyage in the equipage of his guest. Therefore, three canoes wereselected from his own royal fleet.

  One for ourselves, and a trio of companions whom he purposedintroducing to my notice; the rest were reserved for attendants.

  Thanks to Media's taste and heedfulness, the strangers abovementioned proved truly acceptable.

  The first was Mohi, or Braid-Beard, so called from the manner inwhich he wore that appendage, exceedingly long and gray. Hewas a venerable teller of stories and legends, one of the Keepers ofthe Chronicles of the Kings of Mardi.

  The second was Babbalanja, a man of a mystical aspect, habited in avoluminous robe. He was learned in Mardian lore; much given toquotations from ancient and obsolete authorities: the Ponderings ofOld Bardianna: the Pandects of Alla-Malolla.

  Third and last, was Yoomy, or the Warbler. A youthful, long-haired,blue-eyed minstrel; all fits and starts; at times, absent of mind,and wan of cheek; but always very neat and pretty in his apparel;wearing the most becoming of turbans, a Bird of Paradise feather itsplume, and sporting the gayest of sashes. Most given was Yoomy toamorous melodies, and rondos, and roundelays, very witching to hear.But at times disdaining the oaten reed, like a clarion he burst forthwith lusty lays of arms and battle; or, in mournful strains, soundedelegies for departed bards and heroes.

  Thus much for Yoomy as a minstrel. In other respects, it would behard to depict him. He was so capricious a mortal; so swayed bycontrary moods; so lofty, so humble, so sad, so merry; so made up ofa thousand contradictions, that we must e'en let him depict himselfas our story progresses. And herein it is hoped he will succeed;since no one in Mardi comprehended him.

  Now the trio, thus destined for companions on our voyage, had forsome time been anxious to take the tour of the Archipelago. Inparticular, Babbalanja had often expressed the most ardent desire tovisit every one of the isles, in quest of some object, mysteriouslyhinted. He murmured deep concern for my loss, the sincerest sympathy;and pressing my hand more than once, said lowly, "Your pursuit ismine, noble Taji. Where'er you search, I follow."

  So, too, Yoomy addressed me; but with still more feeling. Andsomething like this, also, Braid-Beard repeated.

  But to my sorrow, I marked that both Mohi and Babbalanja, especiallythe last, seemed not so buoyant of hope, concerning lost Yillah, asthe youthful Yoomy, and his high-spirited lord, King Media.

  As our voyage would embrace no small period of time, it behoved KingMedia to appoint some trustworthy regent, to rule during his absence.This regent was found in Almanni, a stem-eyed, resolute warrior, akinsman of the king.

  All things at last in readiness, and the ensuing morning appointedfor a start, Media, on the beach, at eventide, when both light andwater waned, drew a rude map of the lagoon, to compensate for theobstructions in the way of a comprehensive glance at it from Odo.

  And thus was sketched the plan of our voyage; which islands first tovisit; and which to touch at, when we should be homeward bound.

  CHAPTER LXVIWith A Fair Wind, At Sunrise They Sail

  True each to his word, up came the sun, and round to my isle cameMedia.

  How glorious a morning! The new-born clouds all dappled with gold,and streaked with violet; the sun in high spirits; and the pleasantair cooled overnight by the blending circumambient fountains, foreverplaying all round the reef; the lagoon within, the coral-rimmedbasin, into which they poured, subsiding, hereabouts, into greentranquillity.

  But what monsters of canoes! Would they devour an innocent voyager?their great black prows curling aloft, and thrown back like trunks ofelephants; a dark, snaky length behind, like the sea-serpent's train.

  The prow of the foremost terminated in a large, open, shark's mouth,garnished with ten rows of pearly human teeth, curiously insertedinto the sculptured wood. The gunwale was ornamented with rows ofrich spotted Leopard and Tiger-shells; here and there, varied byothers, flat and round, and spirally traced; gay serpents petrifiedin coils. These were imbedded in a grooved margin, by means of aresinous compound, exhaling such spices, that the canoes wereodoriferous as the Indian chests of the Maldives.

  The likeness of the foremost canoe to an elephant, was helped by asort of canopied Howdah in its stern, of heavy, russet-dyed tappa,tasselled at the corners with long bunches of cocoanut fibres,stained red. These swayed to and fro, like the fox-tails on aTuscarora robe.

  But what is this, in the head of the canoe, just under theshark's mouth? A grinning little imp of an image; a ring in its nose;cowrie shells jingling at its ears; with an abominable leer, likethat of Silenus reeling on his ass. It was taking its ease; cosilysmoking a pipe; its bowl, a duodecimo edition of the face of thesmoker. This image looked sternward; everlastingly mocking us.

  Of these canoes, it may be well to state, that although during ourstay in Odo, so many barges and shallops had touched there, nothingsimilar to Media's had been seen. But inquiring whence his sea-equipage came, we were thereupon taught to reverence the same asantiquities and heir-looms; claw-keeled, dragon-prowed crafts of abygone generation; at present, superseded in general use by the moreswan-like canoes, significant of the advanced stage of marinearchitecture in Mardi. No sooner was this known, than what had seemedalmost hideous in my eyes, became merely grotesque. Nor could I helpbeing greatly delighted with the good old family pride of our host.

  The upper corners of our sails displayed the family crest of Media;three upright boars' tusks, in an heraldic field argent. A fiercedevice: Whom rends he?

  All things in readiness, we glided away: the multitude waving adieu;and our flotilla disposed in the following order.

  First went the royal Elephant, carrying Media, myself, Jarl, andSamoa; Mohi the Teller of Legends, Babbalanja, and Yoomy, and sixvivacious paddlers; their broad paddle-blades carved with the royalboars' tusks, the same tattooed on their chests for a livery.

  And thus, as Media had promised, we voyaged in state. To crown all,seated sideways in the high, open shark's-mouth of our prow was alittle dwarf of a boy, one of Media's pages, a red conch-shell,bugle-wise suspended at his side. Among various other offices, it wasthe duty of little Vee-Vee to announce the advent of his master, upondrawing near to the islands in our route. Two short bars,projecting from one side of the prow, furnished him the meansof ascent to his perch.

  As we gained the open lagoon with bellied sails, and paddles playing,a sheaf of foam borne upright at our prow; Yoomy, standing where thespicy spray flew over him, stretched forth his hand and cried--"Thedawn of day is passed, and Mardi lies all before us: all her isles,and all her lakes; all her stores of good and evil. Storms may come,our barks may drown. But blow before us, all ye winds; give us alively blast, good clarion; rally round us all our wits; and be thisvoyage full gayly sailed, for Yillah will yet be found."

  CHAPTER LXVIILittle King Peepi

  Valapee, or the Isle of Yams, being within plain sight of Media'sdominions, we were not very long in drawing nigh to its shores.

  Two long parallel elevations, rising some three arrow-flights intothe air, double-ridge the island's entire length, lapping between, awidening vale, so level withal, that at either extremity, the greenof its groves blends with the green of the lagoon; and the isle seemsdivided by a strait.

  Within several paces of the beach, our canoes keeled the bottom, andcamel-like mutely hinted that we voyagers must dismount.

  Hereupon, the
assembled islanders ran into the water, and with bentshoulders obsequiously desired the honor of transporting us to land.The beach gained, all present wearing robes instantly stripped themto the waist; a naked chest being their salute to kings. Veryconvenient for the common people, this; their half-clad formspresenting a perpetual and profound salutation.

  Presently, Peepi, the ruler of Valapee drew near: a boy, hardly tenyears old, striding the neck of a burly mute, bearing a long spearerect before him, to which was attached a canopy of five broad bananaleaves, new plucked. Thus shaded, little Peepi advanced, steadyinghimself by the forelock of his bearer.

  Besides his bright red robe, the young prince wore nothing but thesymbol of Valapeean royalty; a string of small, close-fitting,concave shells, coiled and ambushed in his profuse, curlyhair; one end falling over his ear, revealing a serpent's head,curiously carved from a nutmeg.

  Quite proverbial, the unembarrassed air of young slips of royalty.But there was something so surprisingly precocious in this youngPeepi, that at first one hardly knew what to conclude.

  The first compliments over, the company were invited inland to ashady retreat.

  As we pursued the path, walking between old Mohi the keeper ofchronicles and Samoa the Upoluan, Babbalanja besought the former toenlighten a stranger concerning the history of this curious Peepi.Whereupon the chronicler gave us the following account; for all ofwhich he alone is responsible.