Mardi: and A Voyage Thither, Vol. II | Page 5

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