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getting used to eerie sensations by this time； and by
now was pretty well prepared for anything。 So I lay
still； and listened to the tramp； tramp of the bearers
and the rushing of the water； and tried to believe
that I was enjoying myself。 Presently the men set up
the melancholy little chant that I had heard on the
first night when we were captured in the whale…boat；
and the effect produced by their voices was very
curious； and quite indescribable on paper。 After a
while the air began to get exceedingly thick and
heavy； so much so； indeed； that I felt as though I
were going to choke； till at length the litter took a
sharp turn； then another and another； and the sound of
the running water ceased。 After this the air got
fresher again； but the turns were continuous； and to
me； blindfolded as I was； most bewildering。 I tried to
keep a map of them in my mind in case it might ever be
necessary for us to try and escape by this route； but；
needless to say； failed utterly。 Another half…hour or
so passed； and then suddenly I became aware that we
were once more in the open air。 I could see the light
through my bandage and feel freshness on my face。 A
few more and the caravan halted； and I heard Billali
order Ustane to remove her bandage and undo ours。
Without waiting for her attentions I got the knot of
mine loose； and looked out。
As I anticipated； we had passed right through the
precipice； and were now on the farther side； and
immediately beneath its beetling face。 The first thing
I noticed was that the cliff was not nearly so high
here； not so high I should say by five hundred feet；
which proved that the bed of the lake； or rather of
the vast ancient crater in which we stood； was much
above the level of the surrounding plain。 For the
rest； we found ourselves in a huge rock…surrounded
cup； not unlike that of the first place where we had
sojourned； only ten times the size。 Indeed； I could
only just make out the frowning line of the opposite
cliffs。 A great portion of the plain thus enclosed by
nature was cultivated； and fenced in with walls of
stone placed there to keep the cattle and goats； of
which there were large herds about； from breaking into
the gardens。 Here and there rose great grass mounds；
and some miles away towards the centre I thought that
I could see the outline of colossal ruins。 I had no
time to observe anything more at the moment； for we
were instantly surrounded by crowds of Amahagger；
similar in every particular to those with whom we were
already familiar； who； though they spoke little；
pressed round us so closely as to obscure the view to
a person lying in a hammock。 Then all of a sudden a
number of armed men arranged in companies； and
marshalled by officers who held ivory wands in their
hands； came running swiftly towards us； having； so far
as I could make out； emerged from the face of the
precipice like ants from their burrows。 These men； as
well as their officers； were all robed in addition to
the usual leopard skin； and； as I gathered； formed the
bodyguard of _i_ She _i_ herself。
Their leader advanced to Billali； saluted him by
placing his ivory wand transversely across his
forehead； and then asked some question which I could
not catch； and Billali having answered him； the whole
regiment turned and marched along the side of the
cliff； our cavalcade of litters following in their
track。 After going thus for about half a mile we
halted once more in front of the mouth of a tremendous
cave； measuring about sixty feet in height by eighty
wide； and here Billali descended finally； and
requested Job and myself to do the same。 Leo； of
course； was far too ill to do anything of the sort。 I
did so； and we entered the great cave； into which the
light of the setting sun penetrated for some distance；
while beyond the reach of the light it was faintly
illuminated with lamps which seemed to me to stretch
away for an almost immeasurable distance； like the
gaslights of an empty London street。 The first thing
that I noticed was that the walls were covered with
sculptures in bas…relief； of a sort； pictorially
speaking； similar to those that I have described upon
the vaseslove…scenes principally； then hunting…
pictures； pictures of executions； and the torture of
criminals by the placing of a presumably red…hot pot
upon the head； showing whence our hosts had derived
this pleasant practice。 There were very few battle…
pieces； though many of duels； and men running and
wrestling； and from this fact I am led to believe that
this people was not much subject to attack by exterior
foes； either on account of the isolation of their
position or because of their great strength。 Between
the pictures were columns of stone characters of a
formation absolutely new to me： at any rate； they were
neither Greek； nor Egyptian； nor Hebrew； nor Assyrian…
…that I am sure of。 They looked more like Chinese
writings than any other that I am acquainted with。
Near to the entrance of the cave both pictures and
writings were worn away； but farther in they were in
many cases absolutely fresh and perfect as the day on
which the sculptor had ceased work upon them。
The regiment of guards did not come farther than the
entrance to the cave； where they formed up to let us
pass through。 On entering the place itself we were；
however； met by a man robed in white； who bowed
humbly； but said nothing； which； as it afterwards
appeared that he was a deaf mute； was not very
wonderful。
Running at right angles to the great cave； at a
distance of some twenty feet from the entrance； was a
smaller cave or wide gallery； that was pierced into
the rock both to the right and to the left of the main
cavern。 In front of the gallery to our left stood two
guards； from which circumstance I argued that it was
the entrance to the apartments of _i_ She _i_ herself。
The mouth of the right…hand gallery was unguarded； and
along it the mute indicated that we were to proceed。
Walking a few yards down this passage； which was
lighted with lamps； we came to the entrance to a
chamber having a curtain made of some grass material；
not unlike a Zanzibar mat in appearance； hung over the
doorway。
This the mute drew back with another profound
obeisance； and led the way into a good…sized
apartment； hewn； of course； out of the solid rock；
but； to my great delight； lighted by means of a shaft
pierced in the face of the precipice。 In this room was
a stone bedstead； pots full of water for washing； and
beautifully tanned leopard skins to serve as blankets。
Here we left Leo； who was still sleeping heavily； and
with him stopped Ustane。 I noticed that the mute gave
her a very sharp look； as much as to say； 〃Who are
you； and by whose orders do you come here？〃 Then he
conducted us to another similar room which Job took；
and then to two more that were respectively occupied
by Billali and myself。
CHAPTER XII
〃SHE〃
THE first care of Job and myself； after seeing to Leo；
was to wash ourselves and put on clean clothing； for
what we were wearing had not been