{"id":"01KG8AKXG4C95CCGF9Z24S39Q4","cid":"bafkreih7qgvtpyfchz7g5csczuwhpejp4q7xwhu4mvlfsowys677reqh4m","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":8621,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:18.539Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 2","source_file":"01KG89J1HYC04JWXEK48P07WPK","start_line":8558,"text":"Nor were his brows much furrowed with wrinkles referable to domestic\r\ncares and tribulations. Although, as in due time will be seen, from\r\nthese he was not altogether exempt.\r\n\r\nNow, according to Braid-Beard, who, among other abstruse political\r\nresearches, had accurately informed himself concerning the internal\r\nadministration of Donjalolo’s harem, the following was the method\r\npursued therein.\r\n\r\nOn the Aquella, or First Night of the month, the queen of that name\r\nassumes her diadem, and reigns. So too with Azzolino the Second, and\r\nVelluvi the Third Night of the Moon; and so on, even unto the utter\r\neclipse thereof; through Calends, Nones, and Ides.\r\n\r\nFor convenience, the king is furnished with a card, whereon are copied\r\nthe various ciphers upon the arms of his queens; and parallel thereto,\r\nthe hieroglyphics significant of the corresponding Nights of the month.\r\nGlancing over this, Donjalolo predicts the true time of the rising and\r\nsetting of all his stars.\r\n\r\nThis Moon of wives was lodged in two spacious seraglios, which few\r\nmortals beheld. For, so deeply were they buried in a grove; so\r\noverpowered with verdure; so overrun with vines; and so hazy with the\r\nincense of flowers; that they were almost invisible, unless closely\r\napproached. Certain it was, that it demanded no small enterprise,\r\ndiligence, and sagacity, to explore the mysterious wood in search of\r\nthem. Though a strange, sweet, humming sound, as of the clustering and\r\nswarming of warm bees among roses, at last hinted the royal honey at\r\nhand. High in air, toward the summit of the cliff, overlooking this\r\nside of the glen, a narrow ledge of rocks might have been seen, from\r\nwhich, rumor whispered, was to be caught an angular peep at the tip of\r\nthe apex of the roof of the nearest seraglio. But this wild report had\r\nnever been established. Nor, indeed, was it susceptible of a test. For\r\nwas not that rock inaccessible as the eyrie of young eagles? But to\r\nguard against the possibility of any visual profanation, Donjalolo had\r\nauthorized an edict, forever tabooing that rock to foot of man or\r\npinion of fowl. Birds and bipeds both trembled and obeyed; taking a\r\nwide circuit to avoid the spot.\r\n\r\nAccess to the seraglios was had by corresponding arbors leading from\r\nthe palace. The seraglio to the right was denominated “Ravi” (Before),\r\nthat to the left “Zono” (After). The meaning of which was, that upon\r\nthe termination of her reign the queen wended her way to the Zono;\r\nthere tarrying with her predecessors till the Ravi was emptied; when\r\nthe entire Moon of wives, swallow-like, migrated back whence they came;\r\nand the procession was gone over again.\r\n\r\nIn due order, the queens reposed upon mats inwoven with their\r\nrespective ciphers. In the Ravi, the mat of the queen-apparent, or next\r\nin succession, was spread by the portal. In the Zono, the newly-\r\nwidowed queen reposed furthest from it.\r\n\r\nBut alas for all method where thirty wives are concerned.\r\nNotwithstanding these excellent arrangements, the mature result of ages\r\nof progressive improvement in the economy of the royal seraglios in\r\nWillamilla, it must needs be related, that at times the order of\r\nprecedence became confused, and was very hard to restore.\r\n\r\nAt intervals, some one of the wives was weeded out, to the no small\r\ndelight of the remainder; but to their equal vexation her place would\r\nsoon after be supplied by some beautiful stranger; who assuming the\r\ndenomination of the vacated Night of the Moon, thenceforth commenced\r\nher monthly revolutions in the king’s infallible calendar.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 2"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJW7YM6JJB16A28S97ZE6","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1HYC04JWXEK48P07WPK","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKXG41WP7ANSG5RZWQ805","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AKXG4V4QSARNGMM75YH1R","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:19.972Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:32.396Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}