Mardi Volume 1 Chapter 69 - The Company discourse, and Braid-Beard rehearses a Legend

Mardi Volume 2 Chapters XXVI - XXX

In which a grand reception unveils the artifice and hollow pomposity of Pimminee’s society, presenting a cast of curious personages and the sharpest of observations on their emptiness and vanities. They then embark on a moonlit voyage to a fossil-laden islet, where philosophical musings and riddling devils conjure ancient histories and mysteries deep beneath the surface, before dark tidings and spectral messages cast shadows upon their course.

Mardi Volume 2 Chapters XXI - XXV

In which a curious troupe ventures through the islands of Mardi, encountering a miserly elder and the enigmatic Tapparians whose lives are bound by whimsical laws and elaborate fashions, while the discourse among companions weaves old lore with reflections on fame and genius. The visit culminates upon the island of Pimminee, where the proud and peculiar manners of its inhabitants unfold amidst delicate courtesies and restrained laughter.

Mardi Volume 2 Chapters XVI - XX

In which the company, under the guidance of King Media, engage in a philosophic discourse tempered by the solace of smoking their elaborately crafted pipes, whilst disputing the curious origins of amber and ambergris and the enduring companionship offered by their chosen implements. They then visit the eccentric antiquary Oh-Oh on the island of Padulla, exploring his vast trove of relics and manuscripts filled with faded wisdom, before Babbalanja contemplates the profound reflections of an ancient ethical treatise, wrestling with the persistent mystery of ultimate truth among his companions.

Mardi Volume 2 Chapters XI - XV

In which a parable of nine blind men grappling with a vast banyan tree unfolds, casting light upon human perception and folly, followed by a curious pilgrimage to a strange hermit dwelling in darkness who remains an enigma to the eager visitor. Amidst sombre woodlands and visions of a great pontiff shrouded in mystery, the narrative drifts into the restless realm of dreams, where history, philosophy, and the boundless spirit of the narrator wage an inner symphony of majestic reverie and unquiet reflection.

Mardi Volume 2 Chapters VI - X

In which the Mardians reveal a vast pantheon of gods both tangible and ethereal, recounting solemn rites of sacrifice and the tragic tale of a fallen prophet amidst their idolatrous customs. The travellers explore a sacred lake adorned with innumerable statues, witness fervent yet fractious worship, and contemplate the convoluted faith surrounding the prophet Alma, before meeting a shrewd craftsman whose livelihood thrives upon the making of idols and canoes alike.