Of these canoes, it may be well to state, that although during our stay in Odo, so many barges and shallops had touched there, nothing similar to Media’s had been seen.  But inquiring whence his sea-equipage came, we were thereupon taught to reverence the same as antiquities and heir-looms; claw-keeled, dragon-prowed crafts of a bygone generation; at present, superseded in general use by the more swan-like canoes, significant of the advanced stage of marine architecture in Mardi.  No sooner was this known, than what had seemed almost hideous in my eyes, became merely grotesque.  Nor could I help being greatly delighted with the good old family pride of our host.

The upper corners of our sails displayed the family crest of Media; three upright boars’ tusks, in an heraldic field argent.  A fierce device:  Whom rends he?

All things in readiness, we glided away:  the multitude waving adieu; and our flotilla disposed in the following order.

First went the royal Elephant, carrying Media, myself, Jarl, and Samoa; Mohi the Teller of Legends, Babbalanja, and Yoomy, and six vivacious paddlers; their broad paddle-blades carved with the royal boars’ tusks, the same tattooed on their chests for a livery.

And thus, as Media had promised, we voyaged in state.  To crown all, seated sideways in the high, open shark’s-mouth of our prow was a little dwarf of a boy, one of Media’s pages, a red conch-shell, bugle-wise suspended at his side.  Among various other offices, it was the duty of little Vee-Vee to announce the advent of his master, upon drawing near to the islands in our route.  Two short bars, projecting from one side of the prow, furnished him the means of ascent to his perch.

As we gained the open lagoon with bellied sails, and paddles playing, a sheaf of foam borne upright at our prow; Yoomy, standing where the spicy spray flew over him, stretched forth his hand and cried—­“The dawn of day is passed, and Mardi lies all before us:  all her isles, and all her lakes; all her stores of good and evil.  Storms may come, our barks may drown.  But blow before us, all ye winds; give us a lively blast, good clarion; rally round us all our wits; and be this voyage full gayly sailed, for Yillah will yet be found.”

CHAPTER LXVII Little King Peepi

Valapee, or the Isle of Yams, being within plain sight of Media’s dominions, we were not very long in drawing nigh to its shores.

Two long parallel elevations, rising some three arrow-flights into the air, double-ridge the island’s entire length, lapping between, a widening vale, so level withal, that at either extremity, the green of its groves blends with the green of the lagoon; and the isle seems divided by a strait.

Within several paces of the beach, our canoes keeled the bottom, and camel-like mutely hinted that we voyagers must dismount.

Hereupon, the assembled islanders ran into the water, and with bent shoulders obsequiously desired the honor of transporting us to land.  The beach gained, all present wearing robes instantly stripped them to the waist; a naked chest being their salute to kings.  Very convenient for the common people, this; their half-clad forms presenting a perpetual and profound salutation.