But come, Mohi, tell us of the ways of this Maramma; something of the Morai and its idols, if you please." And straightway Braid-Beard proceeded with a narration, in substance as follows:-- It seems, there was a particular family upon the island, whose members, for many generations, had been set apart as sacrifices for the deity called Doleema.

They were marked by a sad and melancholy aspect, and a certain involuntary shrinking, when passing the Morai.
And, though, when it came to the last, some of these unfortunates went joyfully to their doom, declaring that they gloried to die in the service of holy Doleema; still, were there others, who audaciously endeavored to shun their fate; upon the approach of a festival, fleeing to the innermost wilderness of the island.

But little availed their flight.

For swift on their track sped the hereditary butler of the insulted god, one Xiki, whose duty it was to provide the sacrifices.

And when crouching in some covert, the fugitive spied Xiki's approach, so fearful did he become of the vengeance of the deity he sought to evade, that renouncing all hope of escape, he would burst from his lair, exclaiming, "Come on, and kill!" baring his breast for the javelin that slew him.
The chronicles of Maramma were full of horrors.
In the wild heart of the island, was said still to lurk the remnant of a band of warriors, who, in the days of the sire of the present pontiff, had risen in arms to dethrone him, headed by Foni, an upstart prophet, a personage distinguished for the uncommon beauty of his person.