Sohecamenearer, andcouchedintheshallowwater, , “,.“, theystrungtheirpaintedbows, , andhidthemselvesbehindthefeltcurtains.“AttwilighttheTartarsreturned, butfiveofthemweremissing, , andtrottedoffintheoppositedirection.“WhenthemoonroseIsawacamp-fireburningontheplain, , andthenegroeswhoweretheirservantswerepitchingtentsoftannedskinuponthesand, andmakingahighwallofthepricklypear.“AsIcamenearthem, thechiefofthemerchantsroseupanddrewhissword, andaskedmemybusiness.“IansweredthatIwasaPrinceinmyownland, andthatIhadescapedfromtheTartars, , andshowedmefiveheadsfixeduponlongreedsofbamboo.“ThenheaskedmewhowastheprophetofGod, andIansweredhimMohammed.“Whenheheardthenameofthefalseprophet, hebowedandtookmebythehand, ’smilkinawoodendish, andapieceoflamb’sfleshroasted.“-hairedcamelbythesideofthechief, , , andthemulesweretwicefortyinnumber.“, , , , ,.“Thekingsofeachcityleviedtollsonus, ,.“Whenthedwellersinthevillagessawuscoming, , andgrowyoungerandyoungereveryyear, anddiewhentheyarelittlechildren; andwiththeLaktroiwhosaythattheyarethesonsoftigers, andpaintthemselvesyellowandblack; andwiththeAuranteswhoburytheirdeadonthetopsoftrees, andthemselvesliveindarkcavernslesttheSun, whoistheirgod, shouldslaythem; andwiththeKrimnianswhoworshipacrocodile, andgiveitearringsofgreenglass, andfeeditwithbutterandfreshfowls; andwiththeAgazonbae, whoaredog-faced; andwiththeSibans, whohavehorses’ feet, , ,.“- timewhenwecametothegrovethatisoutsidethewalls, andtheairwassultry, , andbrakethem, , andwaitedforthedawn.“, , andtoldusthattheywouldopenthegatetousatnoon, andbadeustarrytillthen.“Whenitwasnoontheyopenedthegate, andasweenteredinthepeoplecamecrowdingoutofthehousestolookatus, -place, , themerchantssetforththeirstrangewares, thewaxedlinenfromEgyptandthepaintedlinenfromthecountryoftheEthiops, thepurplespongesfromTyreandthebluehangingsfromSidon,.“Andonthefirstdaythepriestscameandbarteredwithus, andontheseconddaycamethenobles,.“Andwetarriedforamoon, andwhenthemoonwaswaning, , , - greenporcelain, , theystruckthebellswiththeirwingsandmadethemtinkle.“, , oneofsoftserpent-skinandtheotherofbirds’ , andhisfrizzedhairwasstainedwithantimony.“Afteralittlewhilehespaketome, andaskedmemydesire.“Itoldhimthatmydesirewastoseethegod.“Thegodishunting,” saidthepriest, lookingstrangelyatmewithhissmallslantingeyes.“Tellmeinwhatforest, andIwillridewithhim,” Ianswered.“Hecombedoutthesoftfringesofhistunicwithhislongpointednails.“Thegodisasleep,” hemurmured.“Tellmeonwhatcouch, andIwillwatchbyhim,” Ianswered.“Thegodisatthefeast,” hecried.“IfthewinebesweetIwilldrinkitwithhim, andifitbebitterIwilldrinkitwithhimalso,” wasmyanswer.“Hebowedhisheadinwonder, and, takingmebythehand, heraisedmeup, andledmeintothetemple.“, , -slainkid, anditsloinsgirtwithacopperbeltthatwasstuddedwithsevenberyls.“AndIsaidtothepriest, “Isthisthegod?” Andheansweredme, “Thisisthegod.”
