Page:Indira and Other Stories.pdf/175

 The marriage of men is of two kinds, 'regular and irregular.' Of these two kinds, the 'regular' or 'sacerdotal' form is held in the highest honour. The variety in which a priest intervenes is called a 'sacerdotal' marriage.

Mr. Odontokeros:—"May I ask the learned lecturer what a 'priest' is?"

"The dictionary definition is, 'a species of mankind that lives on rice and bananas and practises cheating.' But this description is plainly defective. For it is not true that all priests are vegetarians. Many eat flesh and drink intoxicating liquor: some are even omnivorous. Nor, on the other hand, can it be asserted that a diet of rice and bananas constitutes priesthood. In the town called Benares are many bulls who eat nothing else. But these are not priests, inasmuch as they do not cheat. I admit, however, that if cheats eat bananas and rice they are usually regarded as priests.

The essential quality of sacerdotal marriages is that a priest should sit solemnly and be the