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Billali； who had been watching us in perfect silence；
rose and addressed us。 He said that it was a wonderful
thing that had happened。 No man had ever known or
heard of white strangers arriving in the country of
the People of the Rocks。 Sometimes； though rarely；
black men had come here； and from them they had heard
of the existence of men much whiter than themselves；
who sailed on the sea in ships； but for the arrival of
such there was no precedent。 We had； however； been
seen dragging the boat up the canal； and he told us
frankly that he had at once given orders for our
destruction； seeing that it was unlawful for any
stranger to enter here； when a message had come from 〃
_i_ She…who…must…be…obeyed _i_ ；〃 saying that our
lives were to be spared； and that we were to be
brought hither。
〃Pardon me； my father；〃 I interrupted at this point；
〃but if； as I understand； _i_ She…who…must…be…obeyed
_i_ lives yet farther off； how could she have known of
our approach？〃
Billali turned； and seeing that we were alonefor the
young lady； Ustane； had withdrawn when he had begun to
speaksaid； with a curious little laugh
〃Are there none in your land who can see without eyes
and hear without ears？ Ask no questions； _i_ She _i_
knew。〃
I shrugged my shoulders at this； and he proceeded to
say that no further instructions had been received on
the subject of our disposal； and this being so he was
about to start to interview 〃 _i_ She…who…must…be…
obeyed _i_ ；〃 generally spoken of； for the sake of
brevity； as 〃Hiya〃 or _i_ She _i_ simply； who he gave
us to understand was the Queen of the Amahagger； and
learn her wishes。
I asked him how long he proposed to be away； and he
said that by travelling hard he might be back on the
fifth day； but there were many miles of marsh to cross
before he came to where _i_ She _i_ was。 He then said
that every arrangement would be made for our comfort
during his absence； and that； as he personally had
taken a fancy to us； he sincerely trusted that the
answer he should bring from _i_ She _i_ would be one
favorable to the continuation of our existence； but at
the same time he did not wish to conceal from us that
he thought this doubtful； as every stranger who had
ever come into the country during his grandmother's
life； his mother's life； and his own life； had been
put to death without mercy； and in a way that he would
not harrow our feelings by describing； and this had
been done by the order of _i_ She _i_ herself； at
least he supposed it was by her order。 At any rate；
she never interfered to save them。
〃Why；〃 I said； 〃but how can that be？ You are an old
man； and the time you talk of must reach back three
men's lives。 How； therefore； could _i_ She _i_ have
ordered the death of anybody at the beginning of the
life of your grandmother； seeing that she herself
would not have been born？〃
Again he smiledthat same faint； peculiar smile； and
with a deep bow departed； without making any answer；
nor did we see him again for five days。
When he had gone we discussed the situation； which
filled me with alarm。 I did not at all like the
accounts of this mysterious queen； 〃 _i_ She…who…must…
be…obeyed _i_ ；〃 or more shortly _i_ She _i_ ； who
apparently ordered the execution of any unfortunate
stranger in a fashion so unmerciful。 Leo； too； was
depressed about it； but proceeded to console himself
by triumphantly pointing out that this _i_ She _i_ was
undoubtedly the person referred to in the writing on
the potsherd and in his father's letter； in proof of
which he advanced Billali's allusions to her age and
power。 I was by this time so overwhelmed with the
whole course of events that I had not even got the
heart left to dispute a proposition so absurd； so I
suggested that we should try and go out and get a
bath； of which we all stood sadly in need。
Accordingly； having indicated our wish to a middle…
aged individual of an unusually saturnine cast of
countenance； even among this saturnine people； who
appeared to be deputed to look after us now that the
Father of the hamlet had departed； we started in a
bodyhaving first lit our pipes。 Outside the cave we
found quite a crowd of people evidently watching for
our appearance； but when they saw us come out smoking
they vanished this way and that； calling out that we
were great magicians。 Indeed； nothing about us created
so great a sensation as our tobacco smokenot even
our firearms。 After this we succeeded in reaching a
stream that had its source in a strong ground spring；
and taking our bath in peace； though some of the
women； not excepting Ustane； showed a decided
inclination to follow us even there。
By the time that we had finished this most refreshing
bath the sun was setting； indeed； when we got back to
the big cave it had already set。 The cave itself was
full of people gathered round firesfor several more
had now been lightedand eating their evening meal by
their lurid light； and by that of various lamps which
were set about or hung upon the walls。 These lamps
were of a rude manufacture of baked earthenware； and
of all shapes； some of them graceful enough。 The
larger ones were formed of big red earthenware pots；
filled with clarified melted fat； and having a reed
wick stuck through a wooden disk which filled the top
of the pot； and this sort of lamp required the most
constant attention to prevent its going out whenever
the wick burned down； as there were no means of
turning it up。 The smaller hand…lamps； however； which
were also made of baked clay； were fitted with wicks
manufactured from the pith of a palm…tree； or
sometimes from the stem of a very handsome variety of
fern。 This kind of wick was passed through a round
hole at the end of the lamp； to which a sharp piece of
hard wood was attached wherewith to pierce and draw it
up whenever it showed signs of burning low。
For a while we sat down and watched this grim people
eating their evening meal in silence as grim as
themselves； till at length； getting tired of
contemplating them and the huge moving shadows on the
rocky walls； I suggested to our new keeper that we
should like to go to bed。
Without a word； he rose； and； taking me politely by
the hand； advanced with a lamp to one of the small
passages that I had noticed opening out of the central
cave。 This we followed for about five paces； when it
suddenly widened out into a small chamber； about eight
feet square； and hewn out of the living rock。 On one
side of this chamber was a stone slab； about three
feet from the ground； and running its entire length
like a bunk in a cabin； and on this slab he intimated
that I was to sleep。 There was no window or air…hole
to the chamber； and no furniture； and； on looking at
it more closely； I came to the disturbing conclusion
（in which； as I afterwards discovered； I was quite
right） that it had originally served for a sepulchre
for the dead rather than a sleeping…place for the
living； the slab being designed to receive the corpse
of the departed。 The thought made me shudder in spit