“A sapphire set in gold, worn on the first finger, brings the blessing of the sun,” said the Dorado, slipping the ring on her finger. “Beside it I place a bloodstone set in tin, to enlist Jupiter in thy welfare; the cautious guardianship of Saturn is in the turquoise and lead, with which I encircle thy middle finger; Venus, the goddess of love, governs the third finger, and for an amulet demands an amethyst set in copper; the moon inclines the heart of thy people toward thee, and will bless thee with children, if a diamond in silver setting is also placed on this finger.”
Yermah lingered a moment over his task, and looked up at Kerœcia for approval.
“This curiously wrought band contains a magnet, and is intended for the little finger, the throne of Mercury, the wise one, who stands as an outer sentinel to guard and strengthen love,” he continued.
“The seat of will-power is in the thumb. Let this serpent of iron with an emerald eye bring to thee the warrior spirit of the planet Mars, subdued and sweetened by the quality of Venus. May the All-Seeing Eye supply thy inner vision, and may every craving of thy heart be satisfied.”
“Then must thou express the gratitude oppressing me, when next thy voice is heard in the Llama city,” replied Kerœcia, as she motioned Yermah to rise.
Wreaths of bay-tree, of laurel in berry (whence the term baccalaureate comes when it is given to young physicians), olive, myrtle, and nasturtium vines were bestowed and proudly worn by men who had contested for them earlier in the day. To the less successful, were given ribbons of red, blue, and green.
The whole scene was animated and brilliant. The gayly dressed throng pushed and elbowed one another, paying little or no attention to the award of prizes, in their desire to see and to be seen.
The dances were about to begin, and there was a bevy of pretty girls ready to do their share. Up the steps of the pavilion, dancing on their way, came boys dressed as birds and butterflies, in garments of blue, green, and yellow plumes. They ascended into the artificial trees, moving from branch to branch, pretending to sip dew from the flowers. Then came the special guests, who were garbed like gods, having blow-guns in their hands, with which they feigned to shoot the birds.
Kerœcia invited the visitors into her bower, and gave them a mixture of rose-leaves and tobacco to smoke.
Immediately the familiar strains of the harvest dances were heard, and the people began to clap their hands in accompaniment. From the four cardinal points a line of dancers was forming, composed of young girls dressed as fairies. The sylphs came from the east, dressed in sheer white, made short and very full, with graduated spangles of gold coming out like a sunburst from the gold band at the waist. Orange and jasmine blossoms wreathed their heads. They danced quickly up to the pole in the center, and took the yellow streamer hanging from the immense flower parasol suspended over the top. Joining hands, they waited for their companions.