CHAPTER 17
The Ramadan
As Queequeg's Ramadan, or Fasting and Humiliation, was to continue
all day, I did not choose to disturb him till towards night-fall;
for I cherish the greatest respect towards everybody's religious
obligations, never mind how comical, and could not find it in my heart
to undervalue even a congregation of ants worshipping a toad-stool;
or those other creatures in certain parts of our earth, who with
a degree of footmanism quite unprecedented in other planets,
bow down before the torso of a deceased landed proprietor merely
on account of the inordinate possessions yet owned and rented
in his name.
I say, we good Presbyterian Christians should be charitable
in these things, and not fancy ourselves so vastly superior
to other mortals, pagans and what not, because of their half-crazy
conceits on these subjects. There was Queequeg, now, certainly
entertaining the most absurd notions about Yojo and his Ramadan;--
but what of that? Queequeg thought he knew what he was about,
I suppose; he seemed to be content; and there let him rest.
All our arguing with him would not avail; let him be, I say:
and Heaven have mercy on us all--Presbyterians and Pagans alike--
for we are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head,
and sadly need mending.
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