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of the departed。 The thought made me shudder in spite
of myself； but； seeing that I must sleep somewhere； I
got over the feeling as best I might； and returned to
the cavern to get my blanket； which had been brought
up from the boat with the other things。 There I met
Job； who； having been inducted to a similar apartment；
had flatly declined to stop in it； saying that the
look of the place gave him the horrors； and that he
might as well be dead and buried in his grandfather's
brick grave at once； and expressed his determination
of sleeping with me if I would allow him。 This； of
course； I was only too glad to do。
The night passed very comfortably on the whole。 I say
on the whole； for personally I went through a most
horrible nightmare of being buried alive； induced； no
doubt； by the sepulchral nature of my surroundings。 At
dawn we were aroused by a loud trumpeting sound；
produced； as we afterwards discovered； by a young
Amahagger blowing； through a hole bored in its side；
into a hollowed elephant tusk； which was kept for the
purpose。
Taking the hint； we got up and went down to the stream
to wash； after which the morning meal was served。 At
breakfast one of the women； no longer quite young；
advanced； and publicly kissed Job。 I think it was in
its way the most delightful thing （putting its
impropriety aside for a moment） that I ever saw。 Never
shall I forget the respectable Job's abject terror and
disgust。 Job； like myself； is a bit of a misogynistI
fancy chiefly owing to the fact of his having been one
of a family of seventeenand the feelings expressed
upon his countenance when he realized that he was not
only being embraced publicly； and without
authorization on his own part； but also in the
presence of his masters； were too mixed and painful to
admit of accurate description。 He sprang to his feet；
and pushed the woman； a buxom person of about thirty；
from him。
〃Well； I never！〃 he gasped； whereupon； probably
thinking that he was only coy； she embraced him again。
〃Be off with you！ Get away； you minx！〃 he shouted；
waving the wooden spoon； with which he was eating his
breakfast； up and down before the lady's face。 〃Beg
your pardon； gentlemen； I am sure I。 haven't
encouraged her。 Oh； Lord！ she's coming for me again。
Hold her； Mr。 Holly！ please hold her！ I can't stand
it； I can't； indeed。 This has never happened to me
before； gentlemen； never。 There's nothing against my
character；〃 and here he broke off； and ran as hard as
he could go down the cave； and for once I saw the
Amahagger laugh。 As for the woman； however； she did
not laugh。 On the contrary； she seemed to bristle with
fury； which the mockery of the other women about only
served to intensify。 She stood there literally
snarling and shaking with indignation； and； seeing
her； I wished Job's scruples had been at Jericho；
forming a shrewd guess that his admirable behavior had
endangered our throats。 Nor； as the sequel shows； was
I wrong。
The lady having retreated； Job returned in a great
state of nervousness； and keeping his weather eye
fixed upon every woman who came near him。 I took an
opportunity to explain to our hosts that Job was a
married man； and had had very unhappy experiences in
his domestic relations； which accounted for his
presence here and his terror at the sight of women；
but my remarks were received in grim silence； it being
evident that our retainer's behavior was considered as
a slight to the 〃household〃 at large； although the
women； after the manner of some of their more
civilized sisters； made merry at the rebuff of their
companion。
After breakfast we took a walk and inspected the
Amahagger herds； and also their cultivated lands。 They
have two breeds of cattle； one large and angular； with
no horns； but yielding beautiful milk； and the other；
a red breed； very small and fat； excellent for meat；
but of no value for milking purposes。 This last breed
closely resembles the Norfolk red…pole strain； only it
has horns which generally curve forward over the head；
sometimes to such an extent that they have to be cut
to prevent them from growing into the bones of the
skull； The goats are long…haired； and are used for
eating only； at least I never saw them milked。 As for
the Amahagger cultivation； it is primitive in the
extreme； being all done by means of a spade made of
iron； for these people smelt and work iron。 This spade
is shaped more like a big spearshead than anything
else； and has no shoulder to it on which the foot can
be set。 As a consequence； the labor of digging is very
great。 It is； however； all done by the men； the women；
contrary to the habits of most savage races； being
entirely exempt from manual toil。 But then； as I think
I have said elsewhere； among the Amahagger the weaker
sex has established its rights。
At first we were much puzzled as to the origin and
constitution of this extraordinary race； points upon
which they were singularly uucommunicative。 As the
time went on for the next four days passed without any
striking eventwe learned something from Leo's lady
friend Ustane； who； by the way； stuck to that young
gentleman like his own shadow。 As to origin； they had
none； at least； so far as she was aware。 There were；
however； she informed us； mounds of masonry and many
pillars near the place where _i_ She _i_ lived； which
was called Ko^r； and which the wise said had once been
houses wherein men lived； and it was suggested that
they were descended from these men。 No one； however；
dared go near these great ruins because they were
haunted： they only looked on them from a distance。
Other similar ruins were to be seen； she had heard； in
various parts of the country； that is； wherever one of
the mountains rose above the level of the swamp。 Also
the caves in which they lived had been hollowed out of
the rocks by men； perhaps the same who built the
cities。 They themselves had no written laws； only
custom； which was； however； quite as binding as law。
If any man offended against the custom； he was put to
death by order of the Father of the 〃household。〃 I
asked how he was put to death； and she only smiled；
and said that I might see one day soon。
They had a queen； however。 _i_ She _i_ was their
queen； but she was very rarely seen； perhaps once in
two or three years； when she came forth to pass
sentence on some offenders； and when seen was muffled
up in a big cloak； so that nobody could look upon her
face。 Those who waited upon her were deaf and dumb；
and therefore could tell no tales； but it was reported
that she was lovely as no other woman was lovely； or
ever had been。 It was rumored also that she was
immortal； and had power。 over all things； but she；
Ustane； could say nothing of all that。 What she
believed was that the queen chose a husband from time
to time； and as soon as a female child was born this
husband； who was never again seen； was put to death。
Then the female child grew up and took the place of
the queen when its mother died and had been buried in
the great caves。 But of these ma