第9章

"Yes,Kari,butwherearewe？"

"Master,IthinkinthatcountryfromwhichIcome;notinmyownlandwhichisstillfaraway,butstillinthatcountry。Youremember,"headdedwithaflashofhisdarkeyes,"IalwayssaythatyouandIgotheretogetheroneday。"

"Butwhatisthecountry,Kari？"

"Master,notknowitsname。Itbigandhavemanynames,butyoufirstwhitemanwhoevercomehere,thatwhypeoplethinkyouGod。Nowyougosleepagain;to—morrowwetalk。"

Ishutmyeyes,beingsoverytired,andasIlearnedafterwards,sleptfortwelvehoursormore,toawakeonthemorningofthefollowingday,feelingwonderfullystrongerandabletoeatwithappetite。AlsoKaribroughtmewaterandwashedme,andcleanclotheswhichhehadfoundintheshipthatIputon。

ThusitwentonforalongwhileanddaybydayIrecoveredstrengthtillatlengthIwasalmostasIhadbeenwhenImarriedBlancheAleysinthechurchofSt。MargaretatWestminster。Onlynowsorrowhadchangedmewithinandwithoutmyfacehadgrownmoreserious,whiletoithungashortyellowbeardwhich,whenIlookedatmyreflection,seemedtobecomemewellenough。Thatbeardpuzzledmemuch,sincesucharenotgrowninaday,althoughitistruethatasyetitwasnotover—long。WeeksmusthavepassedsinceitbegantosproutuponmychinandaswehadbeenbutthreedaysinthisplacewhenIwokeup,thoseweekswithoutdoubtwerespentuponthesea。

Whither,then,hadwecome？Drivingallthewhilebeforeagreatgale,thatformostofourvoyagehadblownfromtheeast,as,ifKariwereright,wehaddone,thiscountrymustbeveryfarawayfromEngland。

Thatitwasso,indeedtherecouldbenodoubt,sincehereeverythingwasdifferent。Forexample,havingbeenamarinerfrommychildhood,I

hadbeentaughtandobservedsomethingofthestars,andnotedthattheconstellationshadchangedtheirplacesintheheavens,alsothatsomewithwhichIwasfamiliarweremissing,whileothernewoneshadappeared。Further,theheatwasgreatandconstant,evenatnightbeingmorethanthatofourhottestsummerday,andtheairwasfullofstinginginsects,whichatfirsttroubledmemuch,thoughafterwardsIgrewhardenedtothem。Inshort,everythingwaschanged,andIwasindeedinanewworldthatwasnottoldofinEurope,butwhatworld？Whatworld？Atleasttheseajoinedittotheold,forbeneathmewasstillthe/Blanche/,whichtimberbytimberIhadseenbuiltupupontheshoresofThamesfromoakscutinmyownwoods。

AssoonasIwasstrongenough,Iwentovertheship,orwhatwasleftofher。Itwasamarvelthatshehadfloatedforsolong,sinceherhullwasshattered。Indeed,Idonotthinkshecouldhavedoneso,saveforthefinewoolthatwaspackedintothelowerpartofher,whichwoolseemedtohaveswollenwhenitgrewwetandtohavekeptthewaterout。Fortherestshewasbutahulk,sincebothhermastsweregone,andmuchofthedeckwiththem。Stillshehadkeptafloatanddrivingintothiscreek,hadbeachedherselfuponthemudasthoughitweretheharbourthatshesought。

Howhadwelivedthroughsuchajourney？Theanswerseemedtobe,afterweweretooweaktofindortakefood,bymeansofthedrugthatKaricherishedinhisskinbag,andwaterofwhichtherewasplentyleftathandinbarrels,sincethe/Blanche/hadbeenprovisionedforalongvoyagetoItalyandfarther。Atleastwehadlivedforweeks,andweeks,beingstillyoungandverystrong,andnothavingbeencalledupontosuffergreatcold,sinceitwouldappearthatalthoughthegalecontinuedafterthefirstfewdaysofourflightbeforeit,theweatherhadturnedwarm。

Duringthistimeofmyrecovery,everymorningKariwouldgoashore,whichhedidbymeansofplankssetuponthemud,sincewewerewithinafewfeetofthebankofthecreekintowhichastreamletran。Laterhewouldreturn,bringingwithhimfishandwildfowl,andcornofasortthatIdidnotknow,foritsgrainswereadozentimesthesizeofwheat,flat—sided,andifripe,ofayellowcolour,whichhesaidhehadpurchasedfromthosewhodweltupontheland。OnthisgoodfoodIfeasted,washingitdownwithaleandwinefromtheship"sstores;

indeedneverbeforedidIeatsomuch,notevenwhenIwasaboy。

Atlength,onemorningKarimademeputonmyarmour,thesamewhichI

hadtakenfromtheFrenchknight,andfledinfromLondon,thathehadburnishedtillitshonelikesilver,andseatmyselfinachairuponwhatremainedofthepoopoftheship。WhenIaskedhimwhy,heansweredinorderthathemightshowmetotheinhabitantsofthatland。Inthischairhebademesitandwait,holdingtheshielduponmyarmandthebareswordinmyrighthand。

AsIhadcometoknowthatKarineverdidanythingwithoutareasonandrememberedthatIwasinastrangecountrywhere,lackinghim,I

shouldnothavelivedorcouldcontinuetodoso,Ifellintohishumour。Moreover,IpromisedthatIwouldremainstillandneitherspeak,norsmile,norrisefrommychairunlesshebademe。SothereI

satglitteringinthehotsunshinewhichburnedmethroughthearmour。

ThenKariwentashoreandwasabsentforsometime。AtlengthamongthetreesandundergrowthIheardthesoundofpeopletalkinginastrangetongue。Presentlytheyappearedonthebankofthecreek,agreatnumberofthem,verycuriouspeople,brown—skinnedwithlong,lankblackhairandlargeeyes,butnotover—tallinstature;men,womenandchildrentogether。

AmongthemweresomewhoworewhiterobeswhomItooktobetheirgentlefolk,butthemostofthemhadonlyclothsorgirdlesabouttheirmiddles。LeadingthethrongwasKari,who,asitappearedfromthebushes,wavedhishandandpointedmeoutseatedintheshiningarmourontheship,thevisoruptoshowmyfaceandthelongswordinmyhand。Theystared,then,withalow,sighingexclamation,oneandallfellupontheirfacesandrubbedtheirbrowsupontheground。

AstheylaythereKariaddressedthem,wavinghisarmsandpointingtowardsmefromtimetotime。AfterwardsIlearnedthathewastellingthemIwasagod,forwhichliemayhissoulbeforgiven。

Theendofitwasthathebadethemriseandledcertainofthemwhoworethewhiterobesacrosstheplankstotheship。Here,whiletheyhungback,headvancedtowardsme,bowingandkissingtheairtillhedrewnear,thenhewentuponhiskneesandlaidhishandsuponmysteel—cladfeet。More,fromthebosomofhisrobehedrewoutflowerswhichheplaceduponmykneesasthoughinoffering。

"Now,Master,"hewhisperedtome,"riseandwaveyourswordandshoutaloud,toshowthatyouarealiveandnotanimage。"

SoupIsprang,circlingWave—FlameaboutmyheadandroaringlikeanybullofBashan,formyvoicewasalwaysloudandcarriedfar。Whentheysawthebrightswordwhirlingthroughtheairandheardthesebellowings,utteringcriesoffear,thosepoorfolkfled。Indeedmostofthemfellfromtheplankintothemud,whereonestuckfastandwasliketodrown,hadnotKarirescuedhim,whichhisbrethrenwereintoogreathastetodo。

AftertheyhadgoneKaricameandsaidthateverythingwentwellandthathenceforwardIwasnotamanbuttheSpiritoftheSeacometoearth,suchaspiritashadneverbeendreamedofevenbythewizards。

ThusthendidHubertofHastingsbecomeagodamongthosesimplepeople,whohadneverbeforesomuchasheardofawhiteman,orseenarmouroraswordofsteel。

CHAPTERII

THEROCKYISLE

ForanotherweekormoreIremaineduponthe/Blanche/waitingtillmyfullstrengthreturned,alsobecauseKarisaidImustdoso。WhenI

askedhimwhy,herepliedforthereasonthathewishednewsofmycomingtospreadfarandwidethroughoutthelandfromonetribetoanother,whichitwoulddowithgreatswiftness,flying,asheputit,likeabird。Meanwhile,everydayIsatuponthepoopinthearmourforanhourormore,andboththesepeopleandothersfromafarcametolookatme,bringingmepresentsinsuchquantitythatweknewnotwhattodowiththem。Indeed,theybuiltanaltarandsacrificedwildcreaturestome,andbirds,burningthemwithfire。BoththosethatI

hadseenandtheotherfolkfromalongwayoffmadethisoffering。

Atlastonenight,when,havingeaten,KariandIwereseatedtogetherinthemoonshinebeforeweslept,Iturnedonhimsuddenly,hopingthustosurprisethetruthoutofhissecretheart,andsaid:

"Whatisyourplan,Kari？For,know,Iwearyofthislife。"

"IwaswaitingfortheMastertoaskthatquestion,"herepliedwithhisgentlesmile。（Again,IgivenottheverywordshespokeinhisbadEnglish,butthesubstanceofthem。）"NowwilltheMasterbepleasedtolisten？AsIhavetoldtheMaster,Ibelievethatthegods,hisGodandmyGod,havebroughtmebacktothatpartoftheworldwhichisunknowntotheMaster,whereIwasborn。Ibelievedthisfromthefirsthourthatmyeyesopenedonitafterourswoon,forIknewthetreesandtheflowersandthesmelloftheearth,andsawthatthestarsintheheavensstoodwhereIusedtoseethem。WhenIwentashoreandmingledwiththenatives,Idiscoveredthatthisbeliefwasright,sinceIcouldunderstandsomethingoftheirtalkandtheycouldunderstandsomethingofmine。Moreover,amongthemwasamanwhocamefromfaraway,whosaidthathehadseenmeinpastyears,wanderinglikeonemad,onlythatthismanwhomhehadseenworetheimageofacertaingodabouthisneck,whosenamewastoohighforhimtomention。ThenIopenedmyrobeandshowedhimthatwhichIwearaboutmyneck,andhefelldownandworshippedit,cryingoutthatIwastheveryman。"

"Ifso,itismarvellous,"Isaid。"Butwhatshallwedo？"

"TheMastercandooneoftwothings。Hecanstophere,wherethesesimplepeoplewillmakehimtheirkingandgivehimwivesandallthathedesires,andsoliveouthislife,sinceofreturntothelandwhencehecamethereisnohope。"

"AndiftherewereIwouldnotgo,"Iinterrupted。

"Or,"wentonKari,"hecantrytotraveltomycountry。Butthatisveryfaraway。SomethingofthejourneywhichImadewhenIwasmadcomesbackandtellsmethatitisvery,veryfaraway。First,yondermountainsmustbecrossedtillanotherseaisreached,whichisnogreatjourney,thoughrough。Thenthecoastofthatseamustbefollowedsouthward,forIknownothowfar,but,asIthink,formonthsoryearsofjourneying,tillatlengththecountryofmypeopleisreached。Moreover,thatjourneyingishardandterrible,sincetheroadrunsthroughforestsanddesertswheredwellsavagetribesandhugesnakesandwildbeasts,likethoseplantedontheflagofyourcountry,andwherefamineandsicknessesarecommon。ThereforemycounseltotheMasteristhatheshouldleaveitunattempted。"

NowIthoughtawhile,andaskedwhathemeanttodoifItookthiscounselofhis。Towhichhereplied:

"IshallwaithereawhiletillIseetheMastermadeakingamongthesepeopleandestablishedinhisrule。ThenIshallstartonthatjourneyalone,hopingthatwhatIcoulddowhenIwasmadIshallbeabletodoagainwhenIamnotmad。"

"Ithoughtit,"Isaid。"Buttellme,Kari,ifweweretomakethisjourneyandperchancelivetoreachyourpeople,howwouldtheywelcomeus？"

"Idonotknow,Master;butIthinkthatofthemastertheywouldmakeagod,aswillalltheotherpeopleofthiscountry。Perhaps,too,theywillsacrificethisgodthathisstrengthandbeautymayenterintothem。Asforme,someofthemwilltrytokillmeandotherswillclingtome。WhowillconquerIdonotknow,andtomeitmatterslittle。Igototakemyownandtobeavenged,andifinseekingvengeanceIdie——well,Idieinhonour。"

"Iunderstand,"Isaid。"Andnow,Kari,letusstartassoonaspossiblebeforeIbecomeasmadfromstaringatthosetreesandflowersandthosebig—eyednatives,thatyousaywouldmakemeaking,asyoutellmeyouwerewhenyouleftyourcountry。WhetherweshalleverfindthatcountryIcannotsay。Butatleastweshallhavedoneourbestand,ifwefail,shallperishseeking,asinthiswayorinthatitisthelotofallbravementodo。"

"TheMasterhasspoken,"saidKari,evenmorequietlythanusual,thoughashespokeIsawhisdarkeyesflashandatremblingasofjoyrundownhisbody。"Knowingall,hehasmadehischoice,andwhateverhappens,beingwhatitis,hewillnotblameme。YetbecausetheMasterhasthuschosen,Isaythis——thatifwereachmycountry,andif,perchance,Ibecomeakingthere,evenmorethanbeforeIshallbetheMaster"sservant。"

"Thatiseasytopromisenow,Kari,butitwillbetimetotalkofitwhenwedoreachyourland,"Isaid,laughing,andaskedhimwhenweweretostart。

Herepliednotyetawhile,ashemustmakeplans,andthatinthemeantimeImustwalkupontheshoresothatmylegsmightgrowstrongagain。SothereeverydayIwalkedinthecoolofthemorningandintheevening,notgoingoutofsightofthewreck。Iwentarmedandcarryingmybigbow,butsawnoone,sincethenativeshadbeenwarnedthatIshouldwalkandmustnotbelookeduponwhileIdidso。

Therefore,evenwhenIpassedthroughoneoftheirvillagesofhutsbuiltofmudandthatchedwithleaves,itseemedtobedeserted。

Still,intheendthebowdidnotcomeamiss,foroneevening,hearingalittlenoiseinabigtreeunderwhichIwasabouttopassthatremindedmeofthepurringofacat,Ilookedupandsawagreatbeastofthetigersortlyingontheboughofthetreeandwatchingme。ThenIdrewthebowandsentanarrowthroughthatbeast,piercingitfromsidetoside,anddownitcameroaringandwrithing,andbitingatthearrowtillitdied。

AfterthisIreturnedtotheshipandtoldKariwhathadhappened。HesaiditwasfortunateIhadkilledthebeast,whichwasofaveryfiercekind,andifIhadnotseenit,wouldhaveleaptonmeasI

passedunderthetree。Alsohesentnativestoskinitwhowhentheysawthatitwaspiercedthroughandthroughbythearrow,wereamazedandthoughtmeanevengreatergodthanbefore,theirownbowsbeingbutfeebleandtheirarrowstippedwithbone。

Threedaysafterthekillingofthisbeastwestartedonourjourneyintoalandunknown。ForalongwhilebeforeKariandIhadbeenengagedincollectingallthekniveswecouldfindintheship,alsoarrows,nails,axes,toolsofcarpentering,clothes,andIknownotwhatelsebesides,whichgoodswetiedupinbundleswrappedinsailcloth,eachbundleweighingfromthirtytofortypounds,toserveaspresentstonativesortotradeawaywiththem。WhenIaskedwhowouldcarrythem,KariansweredthatIshouldsee。ThisIdidatdawnonthefollowingmorningwhentherearrivedupontheshoreagreatnumberofmen,quiteahundredindeed,whobroughtwiththemtwolittersmadeoflightwoodjointedlikereeds,onlyharder,inwhichKarisaidheandIweretobecarried。Amongthesemenheparcelledouttheloadswhichtheyweretobearupontheirheads,andthensaidthatitwastimeforustostartinthelitters。

Sowestarted,butfirstIwentdownintoacabinandkneelingonmyknees,thankedGodforhavingbroughtmesafesofar,andprayedHimandSt。Huberttoprotectmeonmyfurtherwanderings,andifIdied,toreceivemysoul。ThisdoneIlefttheshipandwhilethenativesbowedthemselvesaboutme,enteredmylitter,whichwascomfortableenough,havinggrassmatstolieonandothermatsforcurtains,veryfinelywoven,sothattheywouldturneventheheaviestrain。

Thenawaywewent,eightmenbearingthepoletowhicheachlitterwasslungontheirshoulders,whileotherscarriedthebundlesupontheirheads。Ourroadranthroughforestuphill,andonthecrestofthefirsthillIdescendedfromthelitterandlookedback。

Thereinthecreekbelowlaythewreckofthe/Blanche/,nowbutasmallblackblotshowingagainstthewater,andbeyonditthegreatseaoverwhichwehadtravelled。Yonderbrokenhulkwasthelastlinkwhichboundmetomydistanthomethousandsofmilesacrosstheocean,thathome,whichmyhearttoldmeIshouldneverseeagain,forhowcouldIwinbackfromalandthatnowhitefoothadevertrod？

OnthedeckofthisshipBlancheherselfhadstoodandsmiledandtalked,foroncewevisitedittogethershortlybeforeourmarriage,andIrememberedhowIhadkissedherinitscabin。NowBlanchewasdeadbyherownhandandI,thegreatLondonmerchant,wasanoutcastamongsavagesinacountryofwhichIdidnotevenknowthename,whereeverythingwasnewanddifferent。Andtheretheshipwithherrichcargo,afterbearingussobravelythroughweeksoftempest,mustlieuntilsherottedinthesunandrainandneveragainwouldmyeyesbeholdher。Oh！thenitwasthatasenseofallmymiseryandlonelinessgrippedmyheartasithadnotdonebeforesinceIrodeawayafterkillingDeleroywiththeswordWave—Flame,andIwonderedwhyIhadbeenborn,andalmosthopedthatsoonImightdieandgotoseekthereason。

BackintothelitterIcreptandtherehidmyfaceandweptlikeachild。TrulyI,theprosperousmerchantofLondontownwhomighthavelivedtobecomeitsmayorandmagistrateandwinnobility,wasnowanoutcastadventurerofthehumblest。Well,soGodhaddecreed,andtherewasnomoretosay。

Thatnightweencampeduponahilltoppastwhichrushedariverinthevalebelowandweretroubledwithheatandinsectsthathummedandbit,fortotheseasyetIwasnotaccustomed,andateofthefoodthatwehadbroughtwithus,driedfleshandcorn。

Nextmorningwiththelightwestartedonagain,upanddownmountainsandthroughmoreforests,followingthecourseoftheriverandtheshoresofalake。Soitwentonuntilonthethirdeveningfromhighlandwesawtheseabeneathus,adifferentseafromthatwhichwehadleft,foritseemedthatwehadbeencrossinganisthmus,notsowidebutthatifanyhadtheskill,acanalmightbecutacrossitjoiningthosetwogreatseas。

Nowitwasthatourrealtravelsbegan,forhere,afterstaringatthestarsandbroodingapartforalongwhile,Kariturnedsouthwards。

WiththisIhadnothingtodowhodidnotgreatlycarewhichwayheturned。Nordidhespeaktomeofthematter,excepttosaythathisgodandsuchmemoryasremainedtohimthroughhistimeofmadnesstoldhimthatthelandofhispeoplelaytowardsthesouth,thoughveryfaraway。

Sosouthwardswewent,followingpathsthroughtheforestswiththeoceanonourrighthand。Afteraweekofthiswearisomemarchingwecametoanothertribeofnativesofwhosetalkthosewithuscouldunderstandenoughtotellthemourstory。Indeedtherumourthatawhitegodhadappearedinthelandoutoftheseahadalreadyreachedthem,andthereforetheywerepreparedtoworshipme。Hereourpeopleleftus,sayingthattheydarednotgofurtherfromtheirowncountry。

Thesceneofthedeparturewasstrange,sinceeveryoneofthemcameandrubbedhisforeheadinthedustbeforemeandthenwentaway,walkingbackwardsandbowing。Stilltheirgoingdidnotmakeagreatdifferencetous,sincethenewtribewasmuchastheoldone,thoughifanything,ratherlessclothedandmoredirty。Alsoitacceptedmeasagodwithoutquestionandgaveusallthefoodweneeded。

Moreover,whenwelefttheirlandmenwereprovidedtocarrythelittersandtheloads。

Thus,then,passingfromtribetotribe,wetravelledonsouthward,eversouthwards,findingalwaysthattherumourofthecomingof"thegod"hadgonebeforeus。Sogentlewereallthesepeople,thatnotoncedidwemeetwithanywhotriedtoharmusortostealourgoods,orwhorefusedusthebestofwhattheyhad。Ouradventures,itistrue,weremany。Thus,twicewecametotribesthatwereatwarwithothertribes,thoughonmyappearancetheylaiddowntheirarms,atanyrate,foratime,andboreourlittersforward。

Again,sometimeswemettribeswhowerecannibalsandthenwesufferedmuchfromwantofmeat,sincewedarednottouchtheirfoodunlessitweregrain。Inthetownofthefirstofthesecannibalpeople,beingmovedwithfury,IkilledamanwhomIfoundabouttomurderachildandeather,sweepingoffhisheadwithmysword。ForthisdeedI

expectedthattheywouldmurderus,buttheydidnot。Theyonlyshruggedtheirshouldersandsayingthatagodcandoashepleases,tookawaytheslainmanandatehim。

Sometimesourroadranthroughterribleforestswherethegreattreesshutoutthelightofday,andapathmustbehackedthroughtheundergrowth。SometimesitwashauntedbytigersortreelionssuchasIhavespokenof,againstwhichwemustwatchcontinuously,especiallyatnight,keepingthebrutesoffbymeansoffires。Sometimeswewereforcedtowadegreatrivers,orworsestill,towalkoverthemonswayingbridgesmadeofcablesoftwistedreedsthatuntilIgrewaccustomedtothemcausedmyheadtoswim,thoughneverdidIpermitmyselftoshowfearbeforethenatives。Again,oncewecametoswampylandsthatwerefullofsnakeswhichterrifiedmemuch,especiallyafterIhadseensomenativeswhomtheybit,diewithinafewminutes。

Othersnakestherewerealso,asthickasaman"sbody,andfourorfivepacesinlength,whichlivedintreesandkilledtheirfoodbycoilingrounditandpressingittodeath。Thesesnakes,itwassaid,wouldtakemeninthisfashion,thoughIneversawoneofthemdoso。

Atanyrate,theywereterribletolookon,andremindedmeoftheirforefatherthroughwhosemouthSatantalkedwithMotherEveintheGardenofEden,andthusbroughtusalltowoe。

Once,too,onthebankofagreatriver,Isawsuchasnakethatatthesightofitmykneesknockedtogether。BySt。Hubert,thebeastwassixtyfeetormoreinlength;itsheadwasofthebignessofabarrel,anditsskinwasofallthecoloursoftherainbow。Moreover,itseemedtoholdmewithitseyes,fortillitslippedawayintotheriverIcouldnotmoveafoot。

Monthaftermonthwetravelledthus,coveringamatterofperhapsfivemilesaday,sincesometimesthecountrywasopenandwecrosseditwithspeed。Yetalthoughourdangersweresomany,strangelyenough,duringallthistime,eveninthatheatneitherofusfellsick,asI

thinkbecauseoftheherbwhichKaricarriedinhisbag,thatIfoundwasnamed/Coca/,whereofweobtainedmoreaswewentandatefromtimetotime。Nordidweeverreallysufferfromstarvation,sincewhenwewerehungrywetookmoreofthisherbwhichsupportedusuntilwecouldfindfood。ThesemerciesIsetdowntothegoodofficesofSt。HubertwatchingfromHeavenoverme,hispoornamesakeandgodson,thoughperhapstheskillandcourageofKariwhichprovidedagainsteverythinghadsomethingtodowiththem。

Atlength,intheninthmonthofourtravelling,asKarireckoneditbymeansofknotswhichhetiedonpiecesofnativestring,forIhadlonglostcountoftime,wecametothebordersofagreatdesertthatthenativessaidstretchedsouthwardsforahundredleaguesandmoreandwaswithoutwater。Moreover,totheeastofthisdesertroseachainofmountainsborderedbyprecipicesupwhichnomancouldclimb。

Here,therefore,itseemedasthoughourjourneymustend,sinceKarihadnoknowledgeofhowhecrossedorwentroundthisdesertinhismadnessofbygoneyears,ifindeedheevertravelledthatroadatall,amatterofwhichIwasnotcertain。

Foraweekormoreweremainedamongthetribethatlivedinabeautifulwateredvalleyuponthebordersofthisdesert,wonderingwhatweshoulddo。FormypartIwasbynowsotiredoftravellinguponanendlessquestthatIshouldhavebeengladtostayamongthattribe,averygentleandfriendlypeople,wholikealltherestbelievedmetobeagod,andmakemyhometheretillIdied。ButthiswasnotKari"smind,whichwassetfiercelyuponwinningbacktohisowncountrythathebelievedtolietowardsthesouth。

Daybydaywesatthereregainingourstrengthuponthegoodfoodofthatvalley,andstaringfirstatthedeserttothesouth,thenattheprecipicesonourlefthand,andlastlyattheoceanuponourright。

Nowthispeople,Ishouldsay,drewtheirwealthfromtheseaaswellasfromtheland,sincetheyweregreatfishermenandwentoutuponitinrudeboatsorraftsmadeofawoodenframetowhichwerelashedblown—upskinsandbundlesofdriedreeds。Upontheseboats,frailastheyseemed,suchasfurthersouthwerecalledbalsas,theymadeconsiderablejourneystodistantislandswheretheycaughtvastquantitiesoffish,someofwhichtheyusedtomanuretheirland。

Moreover,besidestheoars,theyriggedasquarecottonsailuponthebalsaswhichenabledthemtorunbeforethewindwithoutlabour,steeringthecraftbymeansofapaddleatthestern。

WhilewewerethereIobservedthatonthespringingupofawindfromthenorth,althoughitwasofnogreatstrength,the/balsas/allcametoshoreandweredrawnupoutofreachofthewaves。WhenIinquiredwhythroughKari,theanswergivenwasbecausethefishingseasonwasover,sincethatwindfromthenorthwouldblowforalongtimewithoutchangingandthosewhowentoutinitupontheseamightbedrivensouthwardstoreturnnomore。Theystated,indeed,thatoftenthishadhappenedtoventuresomemenwhohadvanishedawayandbeenlost。

"Ifyouwishtotravelsouth,thereisawayofdoingso,"IsaidtoKari。

Atthetimehemadenoanswer,butonthefollowingdayaskedmesuddenlyifIdaredattemptsuchajourney。

"Whynot？"Ianswered。"ItisaseasytodieinthewaterasonlandandIwearyofjourneyingthroughendlessswampsandforestsorofcrossingtorrentsandclimbingmountainridges。"

TheendofitwasthatforaknifeandafewnailsKaripurchasedthelargest/balsa/thatthesepeoplehad,provisioningitwithasmuchdriedfish,cornandwaterinearthenwarejarsasitwouldcarrytogetherwithourselves,andsuchofourremaininggoodsaswewishedtotakewithus。ThenweannouncedthatI,thegodwhohadcomeoutofthesea,desiredtoreturnintotheseawithhimself,myservant。

Soonacertainfinemorningwhenthewindwasblowingsteadilybutnottoostronglyfromthenorth,weembarkeduponthat/balsa/whilethesimplesavagesmadeobeisancewithwonderintheireyes,hoistedthesquarecanvas,andsailedawayuponwhatIsupposewasoneofthemaddestvoyagesevermadebyman。

Althoughitwassoclumsythe/balsa/movedthroughthewateratagoodrate,coveringquitetwoleaguesthehour,Ishouldsay,beforethatstrongandsteadywind。Soonthevillagethatwehadleftvanished;thenthemountainsbehinditgrewdimandintimevanishedalso,andthereremainednothingbutthegreatwildernessuponourleftandthevastseaaround。Steeringclearofthelandsoastoavoidsunkenrocks,wesailedonallthatdayandallthenightthatfollowed,andwhenthelightcameagainperceivedthatwewererunningpastacoastlinethatwasbackedbyhighmountainsonsomeofwhichlaysnow。Bythesecondeveningthesemountainshadbecometremendous,andbetweenthemIsawvalleysdownwhichranstreamsofwater。

Thuswewentonforthreedaysandnights,thewindfromthenorthblowingallthewhileandthe/balsa/takingnohurt,bytheendofwhichtimeIreckonthatwehadtravelledasfaralongthecoastaswehaddoneinsixmonthswhenwejourneyedoverland,atwhichI

rejoiced。Karirejoicedalso,becausehesaidthattheshapeandgreatnessofthemountainswewerepassingremindedhimofthoseofhisowncountry,towhichhebelievedthatweweredrawingnear。