{"id":"01KG8AKKX2C2TSF67F02G5XC89","cid":"bafkreifi3grdhcdxfgemap4cggjytb2bw7vp55f7pi6vhefxzcqvl2zlju","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":564,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:09.927Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 2","source_file":"01KG89J1954N2G0NAERBNJXEX9","start_line":507,"text":"grantee of the empire of men’s souls and the first swayer of a crosier.\r\nThe present Pontiff’s descent was unquestionable; his dignity having\r\nbeen transmitted through none but heirs male; the whole procession of\r\nHigh Priests being the fruit of successive marriages between uterine\r\nbrother and sister. A conjunction deemed incestuous in some lands; but,\r\nhere, held the only fit channel for the pure transmission of elevated\r\nrank.\r\n\r\nAdded to the hereditary appellation, Hivohitee, which simply denoted\r\nthe sacerdotal station of the Pontiffs, and was but seldom employed in\r\ncurrent discourse, they were individualized by a distinctive name,\r\nbestowed upon them at birth. And the degree of consideration in which\r\nthey were held, may be inferred from the fact, that during the lifetime\r\nof a Pontiff, the leading sound in his name was banned to ordinary\r\nuses. Whence, at every new accession to the archiepiscopal throne, it\r\ncame to pass, that multitudes of words and phrases were either\r\nessentially modified, or wholly dropped. Wherefore, the language of\r\nMaramma was incessantly fluctuating; and had become so full of\r\njargonings, that the birds in the groves were greatly puzzled; not\r\nknowing where lay the virtue of sounds, so incoherent.\r\n\r\nAnd, in a good measure, this held true of all tongues spoken throughout\r\nthe Archipelago; the birds marveling at mankind, and mankind at the\r\nbirds; wondering how they could continually sing; when, for all man\r\nknew to the contrary, it was impossible they could be holding\r\nintelligent discourse. And thus, though for thousands of years, men and\r\nbirds had been dwelling together in Mardi, they remained wholly\r\nignorant of each other’s secrets; the Islander regarding the fowl as a\r\nsenseless songster, forever in the clouds; and the fowl him, as a\r\nscreeching crane, destitute of pinions and lofty aspirations.\r\n\r\nOver and above numerous other miraculous powers imputed to the Pontiffs\r\nas spiritual potentates, there was ascribed to them one special\r\nprivilege of a secular nature: that of healing with a touch the bites\r\nof the ravenous sharks, swarming throughout the lagoon. With these they\r\nwere supposed to be upon the most friendly terms; according to popular\r\naccounts, sociably bathing with them in the sea; permitting them to rub\r\ntheir noses against their priestly thighs; playfully mouthing their\r\nhands, with all their tiers of teeth.\r\n\r\nAt the ordination of a Pontiff, the ceremony was not deemed complete,\r\nuntil embarking in his barge, he was saluted High Priest by three\r\nsharks drawing near; with teeth turned up, swimming beside his canoe.\r\n\r\nThese monsters were deified in Maramma; had altars there; it was deemed\r\nworse than homicide to kill one. “And what if they destroy human life?”\r\nsay the Islanders, “are they not sacred?”\r\n\r\nNow many more wonderful things were related touching Hivohitee; and\r\nthough one could not but doubt the validity of many prerogatives\r\nascribed to him, it was nevertheless hard to do otherwise, than\r\nentertain for the Pontiff that sort of profound consideration, which\r\nall render to those who indisputably possess the power of quenching\r\nhuman life with a wish.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 2"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJNJQG7DNZHZCMC33X85F","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1954N2G0NAERBNJXEX9","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKKWWY6SFYTY50FMEZEEK","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:10.146Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:19.481Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}