she-第26部分
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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 changed since the
loss of the dhow。 Fortunately； as I think that I have
said； by far the greater part of our personal baggage
had been packed into the whaleboat； and was therefore
savedand brought hither by the bearersalthough all
the stores laid in by us for barter and presents to
the natives were lost。 Nearly all our clothing was
made of a well…shrunk and very strong gray flannel；
and excellent I found it for travelling in these
places； because though a Norfolk jacket； shirt； and
pair of trousers of it only weighed about four pounds；
a great consideration in a tropical country； where
every extra ounce tells on the wearer； it was warm；
and offered a good resistance to the rays of the sun；
and； best of all； to chills； which are so apt to
result from sudden changes of temperature。
Never shall I forget the comfort of the 〃wash and
brush…up；〃 and of those clean flannels。 The only thing
that was wanting to complete my joy was a cake of
soap； of which we had none。
Afterwards I discovered that the Amahagger； who do not
reckon dirt among their many disagreeable qualities；
use a kind of burned earth for washing purposes；
which； though unpleasant to the touch till one gets
accustomed to it； forms a very fair substitute for
soap。
By the time that I was dressed； and had combed and
trimmed my black beard； the previous condition of
which was certainly sufficiently unkempt to give
weight to Billali's appellation for me； the 〃Baboon；〃
I began to feel most uncommonly hungry。 Therefore I
was by no means sorry when； without the slightest
preparatory sound or warning； the curtain over the
entrance to my cave was flung aside； and another mute；
a young girl this time； announced to me by signs that
I could not misunderstandthat is； by opening her
mouth and pointing down itthat there was something
ready to eat。 Accordingly I followed her into the next
chamber； which we had not yet entered； where I found
Job； who had also； to his great embarrassment； been
conducted thither by a fair mute。 Job had never got
over the advances the former lady had made towards
him； and suspected every girl who came near to him of
similar designs。
〃These young parties have a way of looking at one；
sir；〃 he would say； apologetically； 〃which I don't
call respectable。〃
This chamber was twice the size of the sleeping…caves；
and I saw at once that it had originally served as a
refectory； and also probably as an embalming…room for
the Priests of the Dead； for I may as well say at once
that these hollowed…out caves were nothing more nor
less than vast catacombs； in which for tens of ages
the mortal remains of the great extinct race whose
monuments surrounded us had been first preserved； with
an art and a completeness that has never since been
equalled； and then hidden away for all time。 On each
side of this particular rock…chamber was a long and
solid stone table； about three feet wide by three feet
six in height； hewn out of the living rock； of which
it had
