ves and her
flowers? and woo and wed not the fowls of the air, trilling their
bliss in their bowers? Live then, and be happy, oh bride and groom;
for Oro is offended with the unhappy, since he meant them to be gay."

And the ceremony ended with a joyful feast.

But not all nuptials in Mardi were like these. Others were wedded
with different rites; without the stone and flowery gyves. These were
they who plighted their troth with tears not smiles, and made
responses in the heart.

Returning from the house of the merry to the house of the mournful,
we lingered till midnight to witness the issuing forth of the body.

By torch light, numerous canoes, with paddlers standing by, were
drawn up on the beach, to accommodate those who purposed following
the poor diver to his home.

The remains embarked, some confusion ensued concerning the occupancy
of the rest of the shallops. At last the procession glided off, our
party included. Two by two, forming a long line of torches trailing
round the isle, the canoes all headed toward the opening in the reef.

For a time, a decorous silence was preserved; but presently, some
whispering was heard; perhaps melancholy discoursing touching the
close of the diver's career. But we were shocked to discover, that
poor Karhownoo was not much in their thoughts; they were conversing
about the next bread-fruit harvest, and the recent arrival of King
Media and party at Mondoldo. From far in advance, however, were heard
the lamentations of the true mourners, the relatives of the diver.

Passing the reef, and sailing a little distance therefrom, the canoes
were disposed in a circle; the one bearing the corpse in the center.
Certain ceremonies over, the body was committed to the waves; the
white foam lighting up the last, long plunge of the diver, to see
sights more strange than ever he saw in the brooding cells of the
Turtle Reef.

And now, while in the still midnight, all present were gazing down
into the ocean, watching the white wake of the corpse, ever and anon
illuminated by sparkles, an unknown voice was heard, and all started
and vacantly stared, as this wild song was sung:--

We drop our dead in the sea,
The bottomless, bottomless sea;
Each bubble a hollow sigh,
As it sinks forever and aye.

We drop our dead in the sea,--
The dead reek not of aught;
We drop our dead in the sea,--
The sea ne'er gives it a thought.

Sink, sink, oh corps