\"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。
