第5章

AtourmealmyuncleaskedmewhatIhadseenthatdayandIreplied——

naughtbutfiguresandcrabbedwriting——andhandedhimtheparchmentswhichhecompareditembyitem。

"Iampleasedwithyou,"hesaidatlast,"forheresofarIfindbutasingleerrorandthatismyfault,notyours;alsoyouhavedonetwodays"workinone。Still,itisnotfitthatyouwhoareaccustomedtotheopenairshouldbendcontinuallyoverdeedsandinventories。

Therefore,to—morrowIshallhaveanothertaskforyou,forlikeyourselfyourhorseneedsexercise。"

Andsohehad,forwithtwostoutservantsridingwithmeandguidingme,hesentmeoutofLondontoviewafairestateofhisuponthebordersoftheThamesandtovisithistenantsthereandmakereportoftheirhusbandry,alsoofcertainwoodswhereheproposedtofelloakforshipbuilding。ThisIdid,fortheservantsmademeknowntothetenants,andgotbackatnight—fall,abletotellhimallwhichhewasgladtolearn,sinceitseemedthathehadnotseenthisestateforfivelongyears。

Onanotherdayhesentmetovisitshipsinwhichgoodsofhiswerebeingladenatthewharf,andonanothertookmewithhimtoasaleoffursthatcamefromthefarnorthwhereIwastoldthesnownevermeltsandthereisalwaysiceinthesea。

Alsohemademeknowntomerchantswithwhomhetraded,andtohisagentswhoweremany,thoughforthemostpartsecret,togetherwithothergoldsmithswhoheldmoneysofhis,andinasensewerepartners,formingakindofcompanysothattheycouldfindgreatsumsinsuddenneed。Lastly,hisclerksanddependentsweremadetounderstandthatifIgaveanorderitmustbeobeyed,thoughthisdidnothappenuntilIhadbeenwithhimforsometime。

ThusitcameaboutthatwithinayearIknewallthethreadsofJohnGrimmer"sgreatbusiness,andwithintwoitdriftedmoreandmoreintomyhands。Thelastpartofitwithwhichhemademeacquaintedwasthatoflendingmoneytothoseinhighplaces,andeventotheStateitself,butatlengthIwastaughtthisalsoandcametoknowsundryofthesemen,whoinprivatewerehumbleborrowers,butiftheymetusinthestreetpasseduswiththenodthatthegreatgivetotheirinferiors。Thenmyunclewouldbowlow,keepinghiseyesfixeduponthegroundandbidmedothesame。Butwhentheywereoutofhearinghewouldchuckleandsay,"Fishinmynet,goldfishinmynet！Seehowtheyshinewhopresentlymustwriggleontheshore。Vanityofvanities！Allisvanity,anddoubtlessSolomonknewsuchinhisday。"

HardIworked,andeverharder,toilingatthemillofalltheselargeaffairsandkeepingmyselfinhealthduringsuchtimeasIcouldsparebyshootingatthebuttswithmybigbowwhereIfoundthatnonecouldbeatme,orpractisingswordplayinaschoolofarmsthatwaskeptbyamasterofthecraftfromItaly。AlsoonholidaysandonSundaysaftermassIrodeoutofLondontovisitmyuncle"sestateswheresometimesIsleptanight,andonceortwicesailedtoHollandortoCalaiswithhiscargoes。

Oneday,itwaswhenIhadbeenwithhimabouteighteenmonths,hesaidtomesuddenly。

"Youploughthefield,Hubert,anddonottithethecrop,butliveuponthebountyofthehusbandman。Henceforwardtakeasmuchofitasyouwill。Iasknoaccount。"

SoIfoundmyselfrich,thoughintruthIspentbutlittle,bothbecausemytastesweresimpleanditwaspartofmyuncle"spolicytomakenoshowwhichhesaidwouldbringenvyonus。Fromthistimeforwardhebegantowithdrawhimselffrombusiness,thetruthbeingthatagetookholdofhimandhegrewfeeble。Thehighestoftheaffairshelefttome,onlyinquiringofthemandgivinghiscounselfromtimetotime。Still,becausehemustdosomething,hebusiedhimselfintheshopwhich,ashesaid,hekeptasatrapforthebirds,chafferinginornamentsandfursasthoughhisbreaddependeduponhisearningagoldpiece,anddirectingthemanufactureofbeautifuljewelsandcupswhichhe,whowasanartist,designedtobemadebyhisskilledandhighlypaidworkmen,someofwhomwereforeigners。

"Weendwherewebegan,"hewouldsay。"AsmithwasIfrommychildhoodandasmithIshalldie。WhatafateforoneofthebloodofThorgrimmer！YetIamsellingyouintothesamebondage,orsoitwouldseem。Butwhoknows？Whoknows？Wedesign,butGoddecrees。"

Itistobenotedthatwhenoldmenceasefromtheoccupationoftheirlives,oftenenoughwithinaverylittletimetheyalsoceasefromlifeitself。Soitwaswithmyuncle。DaybydayhefadedtillatlastatthebeginningofthethirdwinterafterIcametohimhetooktohisbedwherehelaygrowingeverweakertillatlengthhediedinthehourofthebirthofthenewyear。

Tothelasthismindremainedclearandstrong,andnevermoresothanonthenightofhisdeath。ThateveningafterIhadeatenIwenttohisroomasusualandfoundhimreadingabeautifulmanuscriptofthebookoftheWisdomofSolomonthatiscalledEcclesiastes,aworkwhichhepreferredtoallothers,sinceitsthoughtswerehis。"I

gatheredmealsosilverandgoldandthepeculiartreasuresofkings,"

hereadaloud,whethertohimselfortomeIknewnot,andwenton,"SoIwasgreat,andincreasedmorethanallthatwerebeforeme……ThenIlookedonalltheworksthatmyhandshadwrought,andonthelabourthatIhadlabouredtodo;andbeholdallwasvanityandvexationofspirit,andtherewasnoprofitunderthesun。"

Heclosedthebook,saying,"Soshallyoufind,Nephew,you,andeverymanintheevildaysofagewhenyoushallsay,"Ihavenopleasureinthem。"Hubert,Iamgoingtomylonghome,nordoIgrieve。InyouthImetwithsorrow,forthoughIhavenevertoldyou,Iwasmarriedthenandhadoneson,abrightboy,andoh！Ilovedhimandhismother。Thencametheplagueandtookthemboth。Sohavingnaughtleftandbeingbynatureoneofthosewhocouldweanhimselffromwomen,whichIfearthatyouarenot,Hubert,notingallthemiserythereisintheworldandhowthosewhoarecallednoblewhomIhate,grinddownthehumbleandthepoor,Iturnedmyselftogoodworks。HalfofallmygainsIhavegivenandstillgivetothosewhoministertopovertyandsickness;youwillfindalistofthemwhenIamgoneshouldyouwishtocontinuethebounty,astowhichIdonotdesiretobindyouinanyway。Forknow,Hubert,thatIhaveleftyouallthatismine;thegoldandtheshipswiththemovablesandchattelstobeyourown,butthelandswhicharethemainwealth,forlifeandafterwardstobeyourchildren"s,orifyoushoulddiechildless,thentogotocertainhospitalswherethesickaretended。"

NowIwouldhavethankedhim,buthewavedmywordsasideandwenton:

"Youwillbeaveryrichman,Hubert,oneoftherichestinallLondon;yetsetnotyourheartonwealth,andabovealldonotapenobilityorstrivetoclimbfromthehonestclassofwhichyoucomeintotheranksofthoseidleanddissolutecut—throatsandpick—brainswhoarecalledthegreat。Lightentheirpocketsifyouwill,butdonotseektoweartheirsilken,scentedgarments。Thatismycounseltoyou。"

Hepausedawhile,pickingatthebedclothesasthedyingdo,andcontinued,"Youtoldmethatyourmotherthoughtyouwouldbeawanderer,anditisstrangethatnowmymindshouldbeasherswasinthismatter。ForIseemtoseeyoufarawayamidstwarandloveandsplendour,holdingWave—FlamealoftasdidthatThorgrimmerwhobegatus。Well,gowhereyouarecalledorasoccasiondrives,thoughyouhavemuchtokeepyouathome。Iwouldthatyouwerewed,sincemarriageisananchorthatfewshipscandrag。YetIamnotsure,forhowknowIwhomyoushouldwed,andoncethatanchorisdownnowindlasswillwinditupanddeathalonecancutitschain。Onewordmore。ThoughyouaresoyoungandstrongrememberthatasIam,soshallyoube。To—dayforme,to—morrowforthee,saidthewiseoldman,andthusiteverwasandis。

"Hubert,IdonotknowwhyweareborntostruggleandtosufferandatlastbenoosedwiththeropeofDoom。YetIhopethepriestsarerightandthatweliveagain,thoughSolomonthoughtnotso;thatis,ifwelivewherethereisneithersinnorsorrownorfearofdeath。Ifso,besurethatinsomenewlandweshallmeetafresh,andthereI

shallaskaccountofyouofthewealthIentrustedtoyourkeeping。

Thinkofmekindlyattimes,forIhavelearnedtoloveyouwhoareofmyblood,andwhileweliveonintheheartsofthosewelove,wearenottrulydead。ComehitherthatImayblessyouinyourcominginandgoingoutwhileyoustilllookuponthesun。"

Soheblessedmeinbeautifulandtenderwords,andkissedmeonthebrow,afterwhichhebademeleavehimandsendthewomantowatchhim,becausehedesiredtosleep。

Whenshelookedathimatmidnightjustasthebellsranginthenewyear,hewasdead。

AccordingtohiswishJohnGrimmer,thelastofthatname,wasburiedbythebonesofhisforgottenwifeandchild,whohadlefttheworldoverfiftyyearsbefore,inthechancelofthatchurchintheCheapwhichwaswithinastone"sthrowofhisdwellinghouse。Byhisdesirealsothefuneralwaswithoutpomp,yetmanycametoit,someofthemofhighdistinction,althoughthedaywascoldandsnowy。Inoted,moreover,thedeferencetheyshowedtomewhobynowwasknowntobehisheir,eveniftheyhadneverspokenwithmebefore,aswasthecasewithcertainofthem,takingoccasiontodrawmeasideandsaythattheytrustedthattheirancientfriendshipwithmyhonouredunclewouldbecontinuedbymyself。

AfterwardsIlookeduptheirnamesinhisprivatebookandfoundthatoneandallofthosewhohadspokenthusowedmoneystohisestate。

WhenthewillwasswornandIfoundmyselfthemasterofmanylegions,orratherofmoremoney,land,andotherwealththanIhadeverdreamedof,atfirstIwasmindedtoberidoftradeandtotakeupmyabodeupononeorotherofmymanors,whereImightliveinplentyfortherestofmydays。Intheend,however,Ididnotdoso,partlybecauseIshrankfromnewfacesandsurroundings,andpartlybecauseI

wassurethatsuchwouldnothavebeenmyuncle"swish。

InsteadIsetmyselftoplayandoutpasshisgame。Hehaddiedveryrich;IdeterminedthatIwoulddiefiveortentimesricher;therichestmaninEnglandifIcould,notbecauseIcaredformoney,ofwhichindeedIspentbutlittleuponmyself,butbecausethegettingofitandthepowerthatitbrought,seemedtomethehighestkindofsport。SobendingmymindtothematterIdoubledandtrebledhisenterprisesonthislineandonthat,andwonandwonagain,forevenwhereskillandforesightfailed,FortunestoodmyfriendwithasuchstrangepersistencethatatlengthIbecamesuperstitiousandgrewfrightenedofhergifts。AlsoItookpainstohidemygreatrichesfromthepubliceye,placingmuchoftheminthenamesofotherswhomIcouldtrust,andlivingmostmodestlyinthesameoldhouse,lestI

shouldbecomeamanenviedbythehungryandmarkedforplunderbythespendthriftgreat。

Itwasduringthesummerfollowingmyuncle"sdeaththatIwenttothewharvestoseetotheunloadingofashipthatcameinfromVenice,bearingmanygoodsfromtheEastonmyaccount,suchasivory,silks,spices,glass,carpets,andIknownotwhat。Havingfinishedmybusinessandseenthesepreciousthingswarehoused,Ihandedoverthecheckingofalistofthemtoanotherandturnedtoseekmyhorse。

ThenitwasthatIsawanumberofhalf—grownladsandotheridlersmobbingamanwhostoodamongthemwrappedinarobeofwhatlookedliketatteredsheepskin,yetwasnotbecausethewoolonitwasofareddishhueandverylongandsoft,whichrobewasthrownoverhisheadhidinghisface。Atthisman——atallfigurewhostoodtherepatientlylikeamartyratthestake——theselewdfellowswerehurlingoffal,suchasfishes"headsandrottedfruitsthatlayinplentyonthequay,togetherwithcoarsewords。"Blackamoor"wasoneIcaught。

Suchsightswerecommonenough,buttherewasaquietdignityofbearingaboutthisvictimwhichmovedme,sothatIwenttotherabblecommandingthemtodesist。Oneofthem,aroughbumpkin,notknowingwhoIwas,pushedmeaside,biddingmemindmyownbusiness,whereupon,beingverystrong,Idealthimsuchablowbetweentheeyesthathewentdownlikeafelledoxandlaytherehalfstunned。Hiscompanionsbeginningtothreatenme,Iblewuponmywhistle,whereontwoofmyserving—men,withoutwhomIseldomrodeinthosetroubloustimes,ranupfrombehindashed,layinghandsupontheirshortswords,onseeingwhichtheidlerstooktotheirheels。

WhentheyhadgoneIturnedtolookatthestranger,whosehoodhadfallenbackinthehustling,andsawthathewasaboutthirtyyearsofage,andofadarkandnoblecountenance,beardless,butwithstraightblackhair,blackflashingeyes,andanaquilinenose。AnotherthingI

notedabouthimwasthatthelobeofhisearwaspiercedandinastrangefashion,sincethegristlewasstretchedtosuchasizethatasmallapplecouldhavebeenplacedwithinitsring。Fortheresttheman"slimbsweresothinasthoughfromhunger,thateverywherehisbonesshowed,whilehisskinwasscarredwithcutsandscratches,andonhisforeheadwasalargebruise。Heseemedbewilderedalsoandveryweak,yetIthinkheunderstoodthatIwasplayingafriend"sparttohim,forhebowedtowardsmeinastately,courteouswayandkissedtheairthrice,butwhatthismeantatthetimeIdidnotknow。

IspoketohiminEnglish,butheshookhisheadgentlytoshowthathedidnotunderstand。Then,asthoughbyanafterthought,hetouchedhisbreastseveraltimes,andaftereachtouch,saidinavoiceofstrangesoftness,"Kari,"whichItookithemeantwashisname。Atanyrate,fromthattimeforwardIcalledhimKari。

Nowthequestionwashowtodealwithhim。LeavehimtheretobemockedortoperishIcouldnot,norwasthereanywherewhitherI

couldsendhim。Thereforeitseemedtheonlythingtodowastotakehimhomewithme。SograspinghisarmgentlyIledhimoffthequaywhereourhorseswereandmotionedtohimtomountonethathadbeenriddenbyaservantwhomIbadetowalk。Atthesightofthesehorses,however,agreatterrortookholdofhimforhetrembledallover,asweatburstingoutuponhisface,andclungtomeasthoughforprotection,makingitevidentthathehadneverseensuchananimalbefore。Indeed,nothingwouldpersuadehimtogonearthem,forheshookhisheadandpointedtohisfeet,thusshowingmethathepreferredtowalk,howeverweakhisstate。

TheendofitwasthatwalkhedidandIwithhimfromThamessidetotheCheap,sinceIdarednotleavehimaloneforfearlestheshouldrunaway。Astrangesightwepresented,Ileadingthisduskywandererthroughthestreets,andgladwasIthatnightwasfallingsothatfewsawusandthosewhodidthought,Ibelieve,thatIwasbringingsomeforeignthieftojail。

AtlengthwereachedtheBoatHouseasmydwellingwascalled,fromtheimageoftheoldVikingvesselthatmyunclehadcarvedandsetabovethedoor,andIledhiminstaringabouthimwithallhiseyes,whichinhisthinfacelookedlargeasthoseofanowl,takinghimupthestairs,whichseemedtopuzzlehimmuch,forateverystepheliftedhisleghighintotheair,toanemptyguestroom。

Herebesidesthebedandotherfurniturewasasilverbasinwithitsjug,oneofthebeautifulthingsthatJohnGrimmerhadbroughtIknownotwhence。OntheseKarifixedhiseyesatonce,staringattheminthelightofthecandlesthatIhadlit,asthoughtheywerefamiliartohim。Indeed,afterglancingatmeasthoughforpermission,hewenttothejugthatwaskeptfullofwaterincaseofvisitorsofwhomI

hadmanyonbusiness,liftedit,andafterpouringafewdropsofthewaterontothefloorasthoughhemadesomeoffering,drankdeeply,thusshowingthathewasparchedwiththirst。

Thenwithoutmoreadohefilledthebasinandthrowingoffhistatteredrobebegantowashhimselftothewaist,roundwhichheworeanothergarment,ofdirtycottonIthought,whichlookedlikeawoman"spetticoat。WatchinghimInotedtwothings,thathispoorbodywasasscratchedandscarredasthoughbyoldthornwounds,aswerehisfaceandhands,alsomarkedwithgreatbruisesasthoughfromkicksandblows,andsecondlythathungabouthisneckwasawondrousgoldenimageaboutfourinchesinlength。Itwasofrudeworkmanshipwithkneesbentupunderthechin,buttheface,inwhichlittleemeraldsweresetforeyes,wasofagreatandsolemndignity。

ThisimageKariwashedbeforehetouchedhimselfwithwater,bowingtoitthewhile,andwhenhesawmeobservinghim,lookedupwardstotheskyandsaidawordthatsoundedlike/Pachacamac/,fromwhichItookittobesomeidolthatthepoormanworshipped。Lastly,tiedabouthismiddlewasahidebagfilledwithIknewnotwhat。

NowIfoundawashballmadeofoilofolivesmixedwithbeechashandshowedhimtheuseofit。Atfirstheshrankfromthisstrangething,butcomingtounderstanditsoffice,servedhimselfofitreadily,smilingwhenhesawhowwellitcleansedhisflesh。Further,Ifetchedashirtofsilkwithapairofeasyshoesandafur—linedrobethathadbelongedtomyuncle,alsohosen,andshowedhimhowtoputthemon,whichhelearnedquicklyenough。Acombandabrushthatwereonthetableheseemedtounderstandalready,forwiththemhedressedhistangledhair。

Whenallwasfinishedinafashion,Iledhimdownthestairsagaintotheeating—roomwheresupperwaswaiting,andofferedhimfood,atthesightofwhichhiseyesglistened,forclearlyhewaswell—nighstarving。ThechairIgavehimhewouldnotsiton,whetherfromrespectformeorbecauseitwasstrangetohim,Idonotknow,butseeingalowstooloftapestrywhichmyunclehadusedtoresthisfeet,hecroucheduponthis,andthusateofwhateverIgavehim,verydelicatelythoughhewassohungry。ThenIpouredwinefromPortugalintoagobletanddranksomemyselftoshowhimthatitwasharmless,which,aftertastingit,heswallowedtothelastdrop。

ThemealbeingfinishedwhichIthoughtitwaswelltoshortenlestheshouldeattoomuchwhowassoweak,againhelifteduphiseyesasthoughingratitude,andasasignofthankfulness,orsoIsuppose,kneltbeforeme,tookmyhand,andpresseditagainsthisforehead,thereby,althoughIdidnotknowitatthetime,vowinghimselftomyservice。ThenseeinghowwearyhewasIconductedhimbacktothechamberandpointedoutthebedtohim,shuttingmyeyestoshowthatheshouldsleepthere。Butthishewouldnotdountilhehaddraggedthebeddingontothefloor,fromwhichIgatheredthathispeople,whoevertheymightbe,hadthehabitofsleepingontheground。

GreatlydidIwonderwhothismanwasandfromwhatracehesprang,sinceneverhadIseenanyhumanbeingwhoresembledhimatall。OfonethingonlywasIcertain,namely,thathisrankwashigh,sincenonobleofthecountriesthatIknewhadabearingsogentleormannerssofine。OfblackmenIhadseenseveral,whowerecallednegroes,andothersofahighersortcalledMoors;gross,vulgarfellowsforthemostpartandcut—throatsifinanill—humour,butneveraoneofthemlikethisKari。

Itwaslongbeforemycuriositywassatisfied,andeventhenIdidnotgathermuch。ByslowdegreesKarilearnedEnglish,orsomethingofit,thoughneverenoughtotalkfluentlyinthattongueintowhichhealwaysseemedtotranslateinhismindfromanotherfullofstrangefiguresofthoughtandspeech。Whenaftermanymonthshehadmasteredsufficientofourlanguage,Iaskedhimtotellmehisstorywhichhetriedtodo。AllIcouldmakeofit,however,cametothis。

Hewas,hesaid,thesonofakingwhoruledoveramightyempirefarfaraway,acrossthousandsofmilesofseatowardsthatpartoftheskywherethesunsank。Hedeclaredthathewastheeldestlawfulson,bornoftheKing"ssister,whichseemeddreadfultomyideasthoughperhapshemeantcousinorrelative,butthattherewerescoresofotherchildrenofhisfather,which,iftrue,showedthatthiskingmustbeaveryloose—livingmanwhoresembledinhisdomesticitiesthewiseSolomonofwhommyunclewassofond。

Itappeared,further,accordingtothetale,thatthisking,hisfather,hadanothersonbornofadifferentmother,andthatofthissonhewasfonderthanofmyguest,Kari。HisnamewasUrco,andhewasjealousofandhatedKarithelawfulheir。Moreover,asiscommon,awomancameintothebusiness,sinceKarihadawife,theloveliestladyinalltheland,thoughasIunderstood,notofthesametribeorbloodashimself,andwiththiswifeofhisUrcofellinlove。Sogreatlydidhedesireher,althoughhehadplentyofwivesofhisown,thatbeingthegeneraloftheKing"stroops,hesentKari,withtheconsentoftheirfather,tocommandanarmythatwastofightadistantsavagenation,hopingthathewouldbekilled,muchasDaviddidinthematterofUriahandBathsheba,ofwhomtheBibletellsthestory。Butasithappened,insteadofbeingkilledlikeUriah,Kariconqueredthedistantnation,andaftertwoyearsreturnedtotheKing"scourt,wherehefoundthathisbrotherUrcohadledastrayhiswifewhomhehadtakenintohishousehold。Beingveryangry,KarirecoveredhiswifebycommandoftheKing,andputhertodeathbecauseofherfaithlessness。

ThereontheKing,hisfather,asternman,orderedhimintobanishmentbecausehehadbrokenthelawsoftheland,whichdidnotpermitofprivatevengeanceoveramatterofawomanwhowasnotevenoftheroyalblood,howeverfairshemightbe。Beforehewent,however,Urco,whowasmadatthelossofhislove,causedsomekindofpoisontobegiventoKari,whichalthoughitdoesnotkill,forhedarednotkillhimbecauseofhisstation,depriveshimwhotakesitofhisreason,sometimesforeverandsometimesforayearormore。Afterthis,saidKari,herememberedlittleornothing,savelongtravellingsinboatsandthroughforests,andthenagainuponaraftorboatonwhichhewasdrivenalone,formany,manydays,drinkingajarofwaterwhichhehadwithhim,andeatingsomedriedfleshandwithitamarvellousdrugofhispeople,someofwhichremainedtohimintheleathernbagthathaspowertokeepthelifeinamanforweeks,evenifheislabouringhard。

Atlast,hedeclared,hewaspickedupbyagreatshipsuchashehadneverseenbefore,thoughofthisshipherecalledlittle。IndeedherememberednothingmoreuntilhefoundhimselfuponthequaywhereI

discoveredhim,andofasuddenhismindseemedtoreturnbuthesaidhebelievedthathehadcomeashoreinaboatinwhichwerefishermen,havingbeenthrownintoitbythepeopleontheshipwhichwentonelsewhere,andthathehadwalkeduptheshoresofariver。Thisstorythebruisesonhisforeheadandbodyseemedtobearout,butitwasfarfromclear,andbythetimeIlearneditmonthsafterwardsofcoursenotracesofthefishermenortheirboatcouldbefound。I

askedhimthenameofthecountryfromwhichhecame。Heansweredthatitwascalled/Tavantinsuyu/。Headdedthatitwasawonderfulcountryinwhichwerecitiesandchurchesandgreatsnow—cladmountainsandfertilevalleysandhighplainsandhotforeststhroughwhichranwiderivers。

FromallthelearnedmenwhomIcouldmeet,especiallythosewhohadtravelledfar,ImadeinquiriesconcerningthiscountrycalledTavantinsuyu,butnoneofthemhadsomuchashearditsname。Indeed,theydeclaredthatmybrownmanmusthavecomefromAfrica,andthathismindbeingdisordered,hehadinventedthiswondrouslandwhichhesaidlayfarawaytothewestwherethesunsank。

SothereImustleavethismatter,thoughformypartIwassurethatKariwasnotmad,whateverhemighthavebeeninthepast。Agreatdreamerhewas,itistrue,whodeclaredthatthepoisonwhichhisbrotherhadgivenhimhad"eatenaholeinhismind"throughwhichhecouldseeandhearthingswhichotherscouldnot。Thushewasabletoreadthesecretmotivesofmenandwomenwithwonderfulclearness,somuchsothatsometimesIaskedhim,laughing,ifhecouldnotgivemesomeofthatpoisonthatImightseeintotheheartsofthosewithwhomIdealt。Ofanotherthing,too,hewasalwayscertain,namely,thathewouldreturntohiscountryTavantinsuyuofwhichhethoughtdayandnight,andthat/Ishouldaccompanyhim/。AtthisIlaughedagainandsaidthatifsoitwouldbeafterwewerebothdead。

BydegreeshelearnedEnglishquitewellandevenhowtoreadandwriteit,teachingmeinreturnmuchofhisownlanguagewhichhecalled/Quichua/,asoftandbeautifultongue,thoughhesaidthattherewerealsomanyothersinhiscountry,includingonethatwassecrettotheKingandhisfamily,whichhewasnotallowedtorevealalthoughheknewit。IntimeImasteredenoughofthisQuichuatobeabletotalktoKariinbriefsentencesofitwhenIdidnotwishotherstounderstandwhatIsaid。

Totellthetruth,whileIstudiedthusandlistenedtohismarvelloustales,agreatdesirearoseinmetoseethislandofhisandtoopenupatradewithit,sincetherehedeclaredgoldwasasplentifulaswasironwithus。Ithoughtevenofmakingavoyageofdiscoverytothewest,butwhenIspokeofittocertainsea—captains,eventhemostventuresomemockedatmeandsaidthattheywouldwaitforthatjourneytillthey"wentwest"themselves,bywhichintheirseaparlancethattheyhadlearnedintheMediterranean,theymeantuntiltheydied。[*]WhenItoldKarithishesmiledinhismysteriouswayandansweredthatallthesame,Iandheshouldmakethatjourneytogetherandthisbeforewedied,athingthatcameabout,indeed,though,notbymyownwillorhis。

[*]Oflatetherehasbeenmuchdisputeastotheoriginofthephrase"togowest,"orinotherwords,todie。SurelyitarisesfromthecustomoftheAncientEgyptianswho,afterdeath,wereferriedacrosstheNileandentombeduponthewesternshore。——Ed。

FortherestwhenKarisawmyworkmenfashioninggoldandsettingjewelsinitforsaletothenoblesandladiesoftheCourt,hewasmuchinterestedandaskedifhemightbeallowedtofollowthiscraft,ofwhichhesaidheunderstoodsomething,andthusearnthebreadheate。Ianswered,yes,forIknewthatitirkedhisproudnaturetobedependentonme,andgavehimgoldandsilverwithalittleroomhavingafurnaceinitwherehecouldlabour。Thefirstthinghemadewasanobjectabouttwoinchesacross,roundandwithagrooveatthebackofit,onthefrontofwhichhefashionedanimageofthesunhavingahumanfaceandraysoflightprojectingallabout。Iaskedhimwhatwasitspurpose,whereonhetookthepieceandthrustitintothelobeofhisearwherethegristlehadbeenstretchedinthefashionthatIhavedescribed,whichitfittedexactly。Thenhetoldmethatinhiscountryallthenoblesworesuchornamentsandthatthosewhodidsowerecalled"ear—men"todistinguishthemfromthecommonpeople。Alsohetoldmemanyotherthingstoolongtosetout,whichmademedesiremorethanevertoseethisempirewithmyeyes,foranempireandnolesshedeclaredittobe。

AfterwardsKarimademanysuchornamentswhichIsoldforbroocheswithapinsetatthebackofthem。Alsoheshapedotherthings,forhisskillasagoldsmithwaswonderful,suchascupsandplattersofstrangedesignandrichornamentationwhichcommandedagreatprice。

Butoneveryoneofthem,inthecentreorsomeotherpartoftheembossment,appearedthisimageofthesun。Iaskedhimwhy。HeansweredbecausethesunwashisgodandhispeoplewereSun—

worshippers。IremindedhimthathehadsaidthatacertainPachacamacwhoseimageheworeabouthisneckwashisgod。Tothishereplied:

"Yes,Pachacamacisthegodabovegods,theCreator,theSpiritoftheWorld,buttheSunishisvisiblehouseandraimentthatallmayseeandworship,"asayingthatIthoughthadtruthinit,seeingthatallNatureistheraimentofGod。

Itriedtoinstructhiminourfaith,butalthoughhelistenedpatientlyandIthinkunderstood,hewouldnotbecomeaChristian,makingitveryplaintomethathethoughtthatamanshouldliveanddieinthereligioninwhichhewasbornandthatfromwhathesawinLondonhedidnotholdthatChristianswereanybetterthanthosewhoworshippedthesunandthegreatspirit,Pachacamac。SoIabandonedthisattempt,althoughtherewasdangertohimwhileheremainedaheathen。Indeedtwiceorthricethepriestsmadeinquiryconcerninghisfaith,beingcuriousastoallthathadtodowithhim。However,I

silencedthembypretendingthatIwasinstructinghimaswellasI

wasableandthatasyethedidnotknowenoughEnglishtohearkentotheirholyexpositions。AlsowhentheybecamepersistentImadegiftstothemonasteriestowhichtheybelonged,oriftheywereparishpriests,thentotheircur閟orchurches。