"And when, at last, the 'falloa' attacks its victim, it causes neither pain nor suffering of any kind; only melancholy, and a distaste for life in general; while its approach is so gradual as often to be unnoticed.
"There is little doubt that the absence of ordinary diseases exerts a corresponding effect upon the physical development; and this alone is sufficient to account for a fact that is very noticeable here, viz., the beauty of the inhabitants. Both the women and the men are remarkable in this respect; and probably not in all the rest of the world put together could so many beautiful women and handsome men be found as one sees in this small, but strange country; and this applies to the old, in a measure, as well as to the young generally. Whether it also applies to the old amongst the priests, one cannot say, for they seem to keep entirely to themselves.
"As regards these 'priests,' there are two sects in the country, called respectively the 'Dark,' or 'Black,' and the 'White.'
"The religion of the 'White' priests, or 'Brotherhood,' resembles, in many respects, that of the Hebrews, save that for 'God' they use the term 'Great Spirit,' or 'Good,' or 'Almighty' Spirit. These have, however, now no influence in the country, and have been exiled to Myrlanda, where they confine themselves to a small 'domain,' have few followers and very little communication with the general inhabitants. The chief of these is named Sanaima.
"The chief of the 'Dark Brotherhood'--as they denominate themselves, and well they deserve their name, from all I hear--is called Coryon; and he and Sanaima are both popularly supposed to be more than two thousand years old! But, since both these millenarian gentlemen keep themselves shut up amongst their own immediate adherents, and seldom show themselves to the people, it would not be very difficult to keep up a tradition of this sort without a word of truth to back it. It may be urged in support of it, however, that we see many going about who, we are assured, are three, four, or five hundred years old; and these assert that they have not the true secret of preparing the 'karina'; this being known only to the priests.
"But whatever be the truth as to their longevity, the 'Dark Brotherhood' seem to be a set of bloodthirsty, licentious tyrants, ruling the people with a rod of iron, for the king, though nominally an autocrat, has but little real power; but his rule, so far as it extends, is mild, and his people appear loyal and well disposed towards him.