Oneevening，atsupper-time，dullcrackedsoundswereheard，approaching，andsomethingredappearedinthedistanceamongthe，undulationsofthesoil。
Itwasalargepurplelitter，adornedwithostrichfeathersatthe，corners。Chainsofcrystalandgarlandsofpearlsbeatagainstthe，closedhangings。Itwasfollowedbycamelssoundingthegreatbells，thathungattheirbreasts，andhavingaroundthemhorsemencladfrom，shouldertoheelinarmourofgoldenscales。
Theyhaltedthreehundredpacesfromthecamptotaketheirround，bucklers，broadswords，andBoeotianhelmetsoutofthecaseswhich，theycarriedbehindtheirsaddles。Someremainedwiththecamels，whiletheothersresumedtheirmarch。Atlasttheensignsofthe，Republicappeared，thatistosay，stavesofbluewoodterminatedin，horses’headsorfircones。TheBarbariansallrosewithapplause;the，womenrushedtowardstheguardsoftheLegionandkissedtheirfeet。
ThelitteradvancedontheshouldersoftwelveNegroeswhowalkedin，stepwithshort，rapidstrides;theywentatrandomtorightorleft，beingembarrassedbythetent-ropes，theanimalsthatwerestraying，about，orthetripodswherefoodwasbeingcooked。Sometimesafat，hand，ladenwithrings，wouldpartiallyopenthelitter，andahoarse，voicewouldutterloudreproaches;thenthebearerswouldstopand，takeadifferentdirectionthroughthecamp。
Butthepurplecurtainswereraised，andahumanhead，impassibleand，bloated，wasseenrestingonalargepillow;theeyebrows，whichwere，likearchesofebony，meteachotheratthepoints;goldendust，sparkledinthefrizzledhair，andthefacewassowanthatitlooked，asifithadbeenpowderedwithmarbleraspings。Therestofthebody，wasconcealedbeneaththefleeceswhichfilledthelitter。