{"id":"01KG8AKZKMBTTV7HMQMK2ZDZ27","cid":"bafkreie2kb5uqctpwqasicbqxvmdnp7uttdxlvs7ro7d52mhdxqbl2hzgy","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":10831,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:18.539Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 2","source_file":"01KG89J1HYC04JWXEK48P07WPK","start_line":10753,"text":"Understanding that the removal of the body would not take place till\r\nmidnight, we thought to behold the mode of marrying in Mondoldo.\r\n\r\nDrawing near the place, we were greeted by merry voices, and much\r\nsinging, which greatly increased when the good stranger was perceived.\r\n\r\nGayly arrayed in fine robes, with plumes on their heads, the bride and\r\ngroom stood in the middle of a joyous throng, in readiness for the\r\nnuptial bond to be tied.\r\n\r\nStanding before them, the stranger was given a cord, so bedecked with\r\nflowers, as to disguise its stout fibers; and taking: the bride’s\r\nhands, he bound them together to a ritual chant; about her neck, in\r\nfestoons, disposing the flowery ends of the cord. Then turning to the\r\ngroom, he was given another, also beflowered; but attached thereto was\r\na great stone, very much carved, and stained; indeed, so every way\r\ndisguised, that a person not knowing what it was, and lifting it, would\r\nbe greatly amazed at its weight. This cord being attached to the waist\r\nof the groom, he leaned over toward the bride, by reason of the burden\r\nof the drop.\r\n\r\nAll present now united in a chant, and danced about the happy pair, who\r\nmeanwhile looked ill at ease; the one being so bound by the hands, and\r\nthe other solely weighed down by his stone.\r\n\r\nA pause ensuing, the good stranger, turning them back to back, thus\r\nspoke:—\r\n\r\n“By thy flowery gyves, oh bride, I make thee a wife; and by thy\r\nburdensome stone, oh groom, I make thee a husband. Live and be happy,\r\nboth; for the wise and good Oro hath placed us in Mardi to be glad.\r\nDoth not all nature rejoice in her green groves and her flowers? and\r\nwoo and wed not the fowls of the air, trilling their bliss in their\r\nbowers? Live then, and be happy, oh bride and groom; for Oro is\r\noffended with the unhappy, since he meant them to be gay.”\r\n\r\nAnd the ceremony ended with a joyful feast.\r\n\r\nBut not all nuptials in Mardi were like these. Others were wedded with\r\ndifferent rites; without the stone and flowery gyves. These were they\r\nwho plighted their troth with tears not smiles, and made responses in\r\nthe heart.\r\n\r\nReturning from the house of the merry to the house of the mournful, we\r\nlingered till midnight to witness the issuing forth of the body.\r\n\r\nBy torch light, numerous canoes, with paddlers standing by, were drawn\r\nup on the beach, to accommodate those who purposed following the poor\r\ndiver to his home.\r\n\r\nThe remains embarked, some confusion ensued concerning the occupancy of\r\nthe rest of the shallops. At last the procession glided off, our party\r\nincluded. Two by two, forming a long line of torches trailing round the\r\nisle, the canoes all headed toward the opening in the reef.\r\n\r\nFor a time, a decorous silence was preserved; but presently, some\r\nwhispering was heard; perhaps melancholy discoursing touching the close\r\nof the diver’s career. But we were shocked to discover, that poor\r\nKarhownoo was not much in their thoughts; they were conversing about\r\nthe next bread-fruit harvest, and the recent arrival of King Media and\r\nparty at Mondoldo. From far in advance, however, were heard the\r\nlamentations of the true mourners, the relatives of the diver.\r\n\r\nPassing the reef, and sailing a little distance therefrom, the canoes\r\nwere disposed in a circle; the one bearing the corpse in the center.\r\nCertain ceremonies over, the body was committed to the waves; the white\r\nfoam lighting up the last, long plunge of the diver, to see sights more\r\nstrange than ever he saw in the brooding cells of the Turtle Reef.\r\n\r\nAnd now, while in the still midnight, all present were gazing down into\r\nthe ocean, watching the white wake of the corpse, ever and anon\r\nilluminated by sparkles, an unknown voice was heard, and all started\r\nand vacantly stared, as this wild song was sung:—\r\n\r\nWe drop our dead in the sea,\r\n    The bottomless, bottomless sea;\r\nEach bubble a hollow sigh,\r\n    As it sinks forever and aye.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 2"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJWVXPP13NE17MPTAAVDR","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1HYC04JWXEK48P07WPK","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKYV1MCDRKVM8W8JPVM7Z","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AKZKE6XNDPGG73XBB0TCG","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:22.132Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:33.663Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}