AtourmealmyuncleaskedmewhatIhadseenthatdayandIreplied——
naughtbutfiguresandcrabbedwriting——andhandedhimtheparchmentswhichhecompareditembyitem。
\"Iampleasedwithyou,\"hesaidatlast,\"forheresofarIfindbutasingleerrorandthatismyfault,notyours;alsoyouhavedonetwodays\'workinone。Still,itisnotfitthatyouwhoareaccustomedtotheopenairshouldbendcontinuallyoverdeedsandinventories。
Therefore,to—morrowIshallhaveanothertaskforyou,forlikeyourselfyourhorseneedsexercise。\"
Andsohehad,forwithtwostoutservantsridingwithmeandguidingme,hesentmeoutofLondontoviewafairestateofhisuponthebordersoftheThamesandtovisithistenantsthereandmakereportoftheirhusbandry,alsoofcertainwoodswhereheproposedtofelloakforshipbuilding。ThisIdid,fortheservantsmademeknowntothetenants,andgotbackatnight—fall,abletotellhimallwhichhewasgladtolearn,sinceitseemedthathehadnotseenthisestateforfivelongyears。
Onanotherdayhesentmetovisitshipsinwhichgoodsofhiswerebeingladenatthewharf,andonanothertookmewithhimtoasaleoffursthatcamefromthefarnorthwhereIwastoldthesnownevermeltsandthereisalwaysiceinthesea。
Alsohemademeknowntomerchantswithwhomhetraded,andtohisagentswhoweremany,thoughforthemostpartsecret,togetherwithothergoldsmithswhoheldmoneysofhis,andinasensewerepartners,formingakindofcompanysothattheycouldfindgreatsumsinsuddenneed。Lastly,hisclerksanddependentsweremadetounderstandthatifIgaveanorderitmustbeobeyed,thoughthisdidnothappenuntilIhadbeenwithhimforsometime。
ThusitcameaboutthatwithinayearIknewallthethreadsofJohnGrimmer\'sgreatbusiness,andwithintwoitdriftedmoreandmoreintomyhands。Thelastpartofitwithwhichhemademeacquaintedwasthatoflendingmoneytothoseinhighplaces,andeventotheStateitself,butatlengthIwastaughtthisalsoandcametoknowsundryofthesemen,whoinprivatewerehumbleborrowers,butiftheymetusinthestreetpasseduswiththenodthatthegreatgivetotheirinferiors。Thenmyunclewouldbowlow,keepinghiseyesfixeduponthegroundandbidmedothesame。Butwhentheywereoutofhearinghewouldchuckleandsay,\"Fishinmynet,goldfishinmynet！Seehowtheyshinewhopresentlymustwriggleontheshore。Vanityofvanities！Allisvanity,anddoubtlessSolomonknewsuchinhisday。\"
HardIworked,andeverharder,toilingatthemillofalltheselargeaffairsandkeepingmyselfinhealthduringsuchtimeasIcouldsparebyshootingatthebuttswithmybigbowwhereIfoundthatnonecouldbeatme,orpractisingswordplayinaschoolofarmsthatwaskeptbyamasterofthecraftfromItaly。AlsoonholidaysandonSundaysaftermassIrodeoutofLondontovisitmyuncle\'sestateswheresometimesIsleptanight,andonceortwicesailedtoHollandortoCalaiswithhiscargoes。
Oneday,itwaswhenIhadbeenwithhimabouteighteenmonths,hesaidtomesuddenly。
\"Youploughthefield,Hubert,anddonottithethecrop,butliveuponthebountyofthehusbandman。Henceforwardtakeasmuchofitasyouwill。Iasknoaccount。\"
SoIfoundmyselfrich,thoughintruthIspentbutlittle,bothbecausemytastesweresimpleanditwaspartofmyuncle\'spolicytomakenoshowwhichhesaidwouldbringenvyonus。Fromthistimeforwardhebegantowithdrawhimselffrombusiness,thetruthbeingthatagetookholdofhimandhegrewfeeble。Thehighestoftheaffairshelefttome,onlyinquiringofthemandgivinghiscounselfromtimetotime。Still,becausehemustdosomething,hebusiedhimselfintheshopwhich,ashesaid,hekeptasatrapforthebirds,chafferinginornamentsandfursasthoughhisbreaddependeduponhisearningagoldpiece,anddirectingthemanufactureofbeautifuljewelsandcupswhichhe,whowasanartist,designedtobemadebyhisskilledandhighlypaidworkmen,someofwhomwereforeigners。
\"Weendwherewebegan,\"hewouldsay。\"AsmithwasIfrommychildhoodandasmithIshalldie。WhatafateforoneofthebloodofThorgrimmer！YetIamsellingyouintothesamebondage,orsoitwouldseem。Butwhoknows？Whoknows？Wedesign,butGoddecrees。\"
Itistobenotedthatwhenoldmenceasefromtheoccupationoftheirlives,oftenenoughwithinaverylittletimetheyalsoceasefromlifeitself。Soitwaswithmyuncle。DaybydayhefadedtillatlastatthebeginningofthethirdwinterafterIcametohimhetooktohisbedwherehelaygrowingeverweakertillatlengthhediedinthehourofthebirthofthenewyear。
Tothelasthismindremainedclearandstrong,andnevermoresothanonthenightofhisdeath。ThateveningafterIhadeatenIwenttohisroomasusualandfoundhimreadingabeautifulmanuscriptofthebookoftheWisdomofSolomonthatiscalledEcclesiastes,aworkwhichhepreferredtoallothers,sinceitsthoughtswerehis。\"I
gatheredmealsosilverandgoldandthepeculiartreasuresofkings,\"
hereadaloud,whethertohimselfortomeIknewnot,andwenton,\"SoIwasgreat,andincreasedmorethanallthatwerebeforeme……ThenIlookedonalltheworksthatmyhandshadwrought,andonthelabourthatIhadlabouredtodo;andbeholdallwasvanityandvexationofspirit,andtherewasnoprofitunderthesun。\"
Heclosedthebook,saying,\"Soshallyoufind,Nephew,you,andeverymanintheevildaysofagewhenyoushallsay,\'Ihavenopleasureinthem。\'Hubert,Iamgoingtomylonghome,nordoIgrieve。InyouthImetwithsorrow,forthoughIhavenevertoldyou,Iwasmarriedthenandhadoneson,abrightboy,andoh！Ilovedhimandhismother。Thencametheplagueandtookthemboth。Sohavingnaughtleftandbeingbynatureoneofthosewhocouldweanhimselffromwomen,whichIfearthatyouarenot,Hubert,notingallthemiserythereisintheworldandhowthosewhoarecallednoblewhomIhate,grinddownthehumbleandthepoor,Iturnedmyselftogoodworks。HalfofallmygainsIhavegivenandstillgivetothosewhoministertopovertyandsickness;youwillfindalistofthemwhenIamgoneshouldyouwishtocontinuethebounty,astowhichIdonotdesiretobindyouinanyway。Forknow,Hubert,thatIhaveleftyouallthatismine;thegoldandtheshipswiththemovablesandchattelstobeyourown,butthelandswhicharethemainwealth,forlifeandafterwardstobeyourchildren\'s,orifyoushoulddiechildless,thentogotocertainhospitalswherethesickaretended。\"
NowIwouldhavethankedhim,buthewavedmywordsasideandwenton:
\"Youwillbeaveryrichman,Hubert,oneoftherichestinallLondon;yetsetnotyourheartonwealth,andabovealldonotapenobilityorstrivetoclimbfromthehonestclassofwhichyoucomeintotheranksofthoseidleanddissolutecut—throatsandpick—brainswhoarecalledthegreat。Lightentheirpocketsifyouwill,butdonotseektoweartheirsilken,scentedgarments。Thatismycounseltoyou。\"
Hepausedawhile,pickingatthebedclothesasthedyingdo,andcontinued,\"Youtoldmethatyourmotherthoughtyouwouldbeawanderer,anditisstrangethatnowmymindshouldbeasherswasinthismatter。ForIseemtoseeyoufarawayamidstwarandloveandsplendour,holdingWave—FlamealoftasdidthatThorgrimmerwhobegatus。Well,gowhereyouarecalledorasoccasiondrives,thoughyouhavemuchtokeepyouathome。Iwouldthatyouwerewed,sincemarriageisananchorthatfewshipscandrag。YetIamnotsure,forhowknowIwhomyoushouldwed,andoncethatanchorisdownnowindlasswillwinditupanddeathalonecancutitschain。Onewordmore。ThoughyouaresoyoungandstrongrememberthatasIam,soshallyoube。To—dayforme,to—morrowforthee,saidthewiseoldman,andthusiteverwasandis。
\"Hubert,IdonotknowwhyweareborntostruggleandtosufferandatlastbenoosedwiththeropeofDoom。YetIhopethepriestsarerightandthatweliveagain,thoughSolomonthoughtnotso;thatis,ifwelivewherethereisneithersinnorsorrownorfearofdeath。Ifso,besurethatinsomenewlandweshallmeetafresh,andthereI
shallaskaccountofyouofthewealthIentrustedtoyourkeeping。
Thinkofmekindlyattimes,forIhavelearnedtoloveyouwhoareofmyblood,andwhileweliveonintheheartsofthosewelove,wearenottrulydead。ComehitherthatImayblessyouinyourcominginandgoingoutwhileyoustilllookuponthesun。\"
Soheblessedmeinbeautifulandtenderwords,andkissedmeonthebrow,afterwhichhebademeleavehimandsendthewomantowatchhim,becausehedesiredtosleep。
Whenshelookedathimatmidnightjustasthebellsranginthenewyear,hewasdead。
AccordingtohiswishJohnGrimmer,thelastofthatname,wasburiedbythebonesofhisforgottenwifeandchild,whohadlefttheworldoverfiftyyearsbefore,inthechancelofthatchurchintheCheapwhichwaswithinastone\'sthrowofhisdwellinghouse。Byhisdesirealsothefuneralwaswithoutpomp,yetmanycametoit,someofthemofhighdistinction,althoughthedaywascoldandsnowy。Inoted,moreover,thedeferencetheyshowedtomewhobynowwasknowntobehisheir,eveniftheyhadneverspokenwithmebefore,aswasthecasewithcertainofthem,takingoccasiontodrawmeasideandsaythattheytrustedthattheirancientfriendshipwithmyhonouredunclewouldbecontinuedbymyself。
AfterwardsIlookeduptheirnamesinhisprivatebookandfoundthatoneandallofthosewhohadspokenthusowedmoneystohisestate。
WhenthewillwasswornandIfoundmyselfthemasterofmanylegions,orratherofmoremoney,land,andotherwealththanIhadeverdreamedof,atfirstIwasmindedtoberidoftradeandtotakeupmyabodeupononeorotherofmymanors,whereImightliveinplentyfortherestofmydays。Intheend,however,Ididnotdoso,partlybecauseIshrankfromnewfacesandsurroundings,andpartlybecauseI
wassurethatsuchwouldnothavebeenmyuncle\'swish。
InsteadIsetmyselftoplayandoutpasshisgame。Hehaddiedveryrich;IdeterminedthatIwoulddiefiveortentimesricher;therichestmaninEnglandifIcould,notbecauseIcaredformoney,ofwhichindeedIspentbutlittleuponmyself,butbecausethegettingofitandthepowerthatitbrought,seemedtomethehighestkindofsport。SobendingmymindtothematterIdoubledandtrebledhisenterprisesonthislineandonthat,andwonandwonagain,forevenwhereskillandforesightfailed,FortunestoodmyfriendwithasuchstrangepersistencethatatlengthIbecamesuperstitiousandgrewfrightenedofhergifts。AlsoItookpainstohidemygreatrichesfromthepubliceye,placingmuchoftheminthenamesofotherswhomIcouldtrust,andlivingmostmodestlyinthesameoldhouse,lestI
shouldbecomeamanenviedbythehungryandmarkedforplunderbythespendthriftgreat。
Itwasduringthesummerfollowingmyuncle\'sdeaththatIwenttothewharvestoseetotheunloadingofashipthatcameinfromVenice,bearingmanygoodsfromtheEastonmyaccount,suchasivory,silks,spices,glass,carpets,andIknownotwhat。Havingfinishedmybusinessandseenthesepreciousthingswarehoused,Ihandedoverthecheckingofalistofthemtoanotherandturnedtoseekmyhorse。
ThenitwasthatIsawanumberofhalf—grownladsandotheridlersmobbingamanwhostoodamongthemwrappedinarobeofwhatlookedliketatteredsheepskin,yetwasnotbecausethewoolonitwasofareddishhueandverylongandsoft,whichrobewasthrownoverhisheadhidinghisface。Atthisman——atallfigurewhostoodtherepatientlylikeamartyratthestake——theselewdfellowswerehurlingoffal,suchasfishes\'headsandrottedfruitsthatlayinplentyonthequay,togetherwithcoarsewords。\"Blackamoor\"wasoneIcaught。
Suchsightswerecommonenough,buttherewasaquietdignityofbearingaboutthisvictimwhichmovedme,sothatIwenttotherabblecommandingthemtodesist。Oneofthem,aroughbumpkin,notknowingwhoIwas,pushedmeaside,biddingmemindmyownbusiness,whereupon,beingverystrong,Idealthimsuchablowbetweentheeyesthathewentdownlikeafelledoxandlaytherehalfstunned。Hiscompanionsbeginningtothreatenme,Iblewuponmywhistle,whereontwoofmyserving—men,withoutwhomIseldomrodeinthosetroubloustimes,ranupfrombehindashed,layinghandsupontheirshortswords,onseeingwhichtheidlerstooktotheirheels。
WhentheyhadgoneIturnedtolookatthestranger,whosehoodhadfallenbackinthehustling,andsawthathewasaboutthirtyyearsofage,andofadarkandnoblecountenance,beardless,butwithstraightblackhair,blackflashingeyes,andanaquilinenose。AnotherthingI
notedabouthimwasthatthelobeofhisearwaspiercedandinastrangefashion,sincethegristlewasstretchedtosuchasizethatasmallapplecouldhavebeenplacedwithinitsring。Fortheresttheman\'slimbsweresothinasthoughfromhunger,thateverywherehisbonesshowed,whilehisskinwasscarredwithcutsandscratches,andonhisforeheadwasalargebruise。Heseemedbewilderedalsoandveryweak,yetIthinkheunderstoodthatIwasplayingafriend\'sparttohim,forhebowedtowardsmeinastately,courteouswayandkissedtheairthrice,butwhatthismeantatthetimeIdidnotknow。
IspoketohiminEnglish,butheshookhisheadgentlytoshowthathedidnotunderstand。Then,asthoughbyanafterthought,hetouchedhisbreastseveraltimes,andaftereachtouch,saidinavoiceofstrangesoftness,\"Kari,\"whichItookithemeantwashisname。Atanyrate,fromthattimeforwardIcalledhimKari。
Nowthequestionwashowtodealwithhim。LeavehimtheretobemockedortoperishIcouldnot,norwasthereanywherewhitherI
couldsendhim。Thereforeitseemedtheonlythingtodowastotakehimhomewithme。SograspinghisarmgentlyIledhimoffthequaywhereourhorseswereandmotionedtohimtomountonethathadbeenriddenbyaservantwhomIbadetowalk。Atthesightofthesehorses,however,agreatterrortookholdofhimforhetrembledallover,asweatburstingoutuponhisface,andclungtomeasthoughforprotection,makingitevidentthathehadneverseensuchananimalbefore。Indeed,nothingwouldpersuadehimtogonearthem,forheshookhisheadandpointedtohisfeet,thusshowingmethathepreferredtowalk,howeverweakhisstate。
TheendofitwasthatwalkhedidandIwithhimfromThamessidetotheCheap,sinceIdarednotleavehimaloneforfearlestheshouldrunaway。Astrangesightwepresented,Ileadingthisduskywandererthroughthestreets,andgladwasIthatnightwasfallingsothatfewsawusandthosewhodidthought,Ibelieve,thatIwasbringingsomeforeignthieftojail。
AtlengthwereachedtheBoatHouseasmydwellingwascalled,fromtheimageoftheoldVikingvesselthatmyunclehadcarvedandsetabovethedoor,andIledhiminstaringabouthimwithallhiseyes,whichinhisthinfacelookedlargeasthoseofanowl,takinghimupthestairs,whichseemedtopuzzlehimmuch,forateverystepheliftedhisleghighintotheair,toanemptyguestroom。
Herebesidesthebedandotherfurniturewasasilverbasinwithitsjug,oneofthebeautifulthingsthatJohnGrimmerhadbroughtIknownotwhence。OntheseKarifixedhiseyesatonce,staringattheminthelightofthecandlesthatIhadlit,asthoughtheywerefamiliartohim。Indeed,afterglancingatmeasthoughforpermission,hewenttothejugthatwaskeptfullofwaterincaseofvisitorsofwhomI
hadmanyonbusiness,liftedit,andafterpouringafewdropsofthewaterontothefloorasthoughhemadesomeoffering,drankdeeply,thusshowingthathewasparchedwiththirst。
Thenwithoutmoreadohefilledthebasinandthrowingoffhistatteredrobebegantowashhimselftothewaist,roundwhichheworeanothergarment,ofdirtycottonIthought,whichlookedlikeawoman\'spetticoat。WatchinghimInotedtwothings,thathispoorbodywasasscratchedandscarredasthoughbyoldthornwounds,aswerehisfaceandhands,alsomarkedwithgreatbruisesasthoughfromkicksandblows,andsecondlythathungabouthisneckwasawondrousgoldenimageaboutfourinchesinlength。Itwasofrudeworkmanshipwithkneesbentupunderthechin,buttheface,inwhichlittleemeraldsweresetforeyes,wasofagreatandsolemndignity。
ThisimageKariwashedbeforehetouchedhimselfwithwater,bowingtoitthewhile,andwhenhesawmeobservinghim,lookedupwardstotheskyandsaidawordthatsoundedlike/Pachacamac/,fromwhichItookittobesomeidolthatthepoormanworshipped。Lastly,tiedabouthismiddlewasahidebagfilledwithIknewnotwhat。
NowIfoundawashballmadeofoilofolivesmixedwithbeechashandshowedhimtheuseofit。Atfirstheshrankfromthisstrangething,butcomingtounderstanditsoffice,servedhimselfofitreadily,smilingwhenhesawhowwellitcleansedhisflesh。Further,Ifetchedashirtofsilkwithapairofeasyshoesandafur—linedrobethathadbelongedtomyuncle,alsohosen,andshowedhimhowtoputthemon,whichhelearnedquicklyenough。Acombandabrushthatwereonthetableheseemedtounderstandalready,forwiththemhedressedhistangledhair。
Whenallwasfinishedinafashion,Iledhimdownthestairsagaintotheeating—roomwheresupperwaswaiting,andofferedhimfood,atthesightofwhichhiseyesglistened,forclearlyhewaswell—nighstarving。ThechairIgavehimhewouldnotsiton,whetherfromrespectformeorbecauseitwasstrangetohim,Idonotknow,butseeingalowstooloftapestrywhichmyunclehadusedtoresthisfeet,hecroucheduponthis,andthusateofwhateverIgavehim,verydelicatelythoughhewassohungry。ThenIpouredwinefromPortugalintoagobletanddranksomemyselftoshowhimthatitwasharmless,which,aftertastingit,heswallowedtothelastdrop。
ThemealbeingfinishedwhichIthoughtitwaswelltoshortenlestheshouldeattoomuchwhowassoweak,againhelifteduphiseyesasthoughingratitude,andasasignofthankfulness,orsoIsuppose,kneltbeforeme,tookmyhand,andpresseditagainsthisforehead,thereby,althoughIdidnotknowitatthetime,vowinghimselftomyservice。ThenseeinghowwearyhewasIconductedhimbacktothechamberandpointedoutthebedtohim,shuttingmyeyestoshowthatheshouldsleepthere。Butthishewouldnotdountilhehaddraggedthebeddingontothefloor,fromwhichIgatheredthathispeople,whoevertheymightbe,hadthehabitofsleepingontheground。
GreatlydidIwonderwhothismanwasandfromwhatracehesprang,sinceneverhadIseenanyhumanbeingwhoresembledhimatall。OfonethingonlywasIcertain,namely,thathisrankwashigh,sincenonobleofthecountriesthatIknewhadabearingsogentleormannerssofine。OfblackmenIhadseenseveral,whowerecallednegroes,andothersofahighersortcalledMoors;gross,vulgarfellowsforthemostpartandcut—throatsifinanill—humour,butneveraoneofthemlikethisKari。
Itwaslongbeforemycuriositywassatisfied,andeventhenIdidnotgathermuch。ByslowdegreesKarilearnedEnglish,orsomethingofit,thoughneverenoughtotalkfluentlyinthattongueintowhichhealwaysseemedtotranslateinhismindfromanotherfullofstrangefiguresofthoughtandspeech。Whenaftermanymonthshehadmasteredsufficientofourlanguage,Iaskedhimtotellmehisstorywhichhetriedtodo。AllIcouldmakeofit,however,cametothis。
Hewas,hesaid,thesonofakingwhoruledoveramightyempirefarfaraway,acrossthousandsofmilesofseatowardsthatpartoftheskywherethesunsank。Hedeclaredthathewastheeldestlawfulson,bornoftheKing\'ssister,whichseemeddreadfultomyideasthoughperhapshemeantcousinorrelative,butthattherewerescoresofotherchildrenofhisfather,which,iftrue,showedthatthiskingmustbeaveryloose—livingmanwhoresembledinhisdomesticitiesthewiseSolomonofwhommyunclewassofond。
Itappeared,further,accordingtothetale,thatthisking,hisfather,hadanothersonbornofadifferentmother,andthatofthissonhewasfonderthanofmyguest,Kari。HisnamewasUrco,andhewasjealousofandhatedKarithelawfulheir。Moreover,asiscommon,awomancameintothebusiness,sinceKarihadawife,theloveliestladyinalltheland,thoughasIunderstood,notofthesametribeorbloodashimself,andwiththiswifeofhisUrcofellinlove。Sogreatlydidhedesireher,althoughhehadplentyofwivesofhisown,thatbeingthegeneraloftheKing\'stroops,hesentKari,withtheconsentoftheirfather,tocommandanarmythatwastofightadistantsavagenation,hopingthathewouldbekilled,muchasDaviddidinthematterofUriahandBathsheba,ofwhomtheBibletellsthestory。Butasithappened,insteadofbeingkilledlikeUriah,Kariconqueredthedistantnation,andaftertwoyearsreturnedtotheKing\'scourt,wherehefoundthathisbrotherUrcohadledastrayhiswifewhomhehadtakenintohishousehold。Beingveryangry,KarirecoveredhiswifebycommandoftheKing,andputhertodeathbecauseofherfaithlessness。
ThereontheKing,hisfather,asternman,orderedhimintobanishmentbecausehehadbrokenthelawsoftheland,whichdidnotpermitofprivatevengeanceoveramatterofawomanwhowasnotevenoftheroyalblood,howeverfairshemightbe。Beforehewent,however,Urco,whowasmadatthelossofhislove,causedsomekindofpoisontobegiventoKari,whichalthoughitdoesnotkill,forhedarednotkillhimbecauseofhisstation,depriveshimwhotakesitofhisreason,sometimesforeverandsometimesforayearormore。Afterthis,saidKari,herememberedlittleornothing,savelongtravellingsinboatsandthroughforests,andthenagainuponaraftorboatonwhichhewasdrivenalone,formany,manydays,drinkingajarofwaterwhichhehadwithhim,andeatingsomedriedfleshandwithitamarvellousdrugofhispeople,someofwhichremainedtohimintheleathernbagthathaspowertokeepthelifeinamanforweeks,evenifheislabouringhard。
Atlast,hedeclared,hewaspickedupbyagreatshipsuchashehadneverseenbefore,thoughofthisshipherecalledlittle。IndeedherememberednothingmoreuntilhefoundhimselfuponthequaywhereI
discoveredhim,andofasuddenhismindseemedtoreturnbuthesaidhebelievedthathehadcomeashoreinaboatinwhichwerefishermen,havingbeenthrownintoitbythepeopleontheshipwhichwentonelsewhere,andthathehadwalkeduptheshoresofariver。Thisstorythebruisesonhisforeheadandbodyseemedtobearout,butitwasfarfromclear,andbythetimeIlearneditmonthsafterwardsofcoursenotracesofthefishermenortheirboatcouldbefound。I
askedhimthenameofthecountryfromwhichhecame。Heansweredthatitwascalled/Tavantinsuyu/。Headdedthatitwasawonderfulcountryinwhichwerecitiesandchurchesandgreatsnow—cladmountainsandfertilevalleysandhighplainsandhotforeststhroughwhichranwiderivers。
FromallthelearnedmenwhomIcouldmeet,especiallythosewhohadtravelledfar,ImadeinquiriesconcerningthiscountrycalledTavantinsuyu,butnoneofthemhadsomuchashearditsname。Indeed,theydeclaredthatmybrownmanmusthavecomefromAfrica,andthathismindbeingdisordered,hehadinventedthiswondrouslandwhichhesaidlayfarawaytothewestwherethesunsank。
SothereImustleavethismatter,thoughformypartIwassurethatKariwasnotmad,whateverhemighthavebeeninthepast。Agreatdreamerhewas,itistrue,whodeclaredthatthepoisonwhichhisbrotherhadgivenhimhad\"eatenaholeinhismind\"throughwhichhecouldseeandhearthingswhichotherscouldnot。Thushewasabletoreadthesecretmotivesofmenandwomenwithwonderfulclearness,somuchsothatsometimesIaskedhim,laughing,ifhecouldnotgivemesomeofthatpoisonthatImightseeintotheheartsofthosewithwhomIdealt。Ofanotherthing,too,hewasalwayscertain,namely,thathewouldreturntohiscountryTavantinsuyuofwhichhethoughtdayandnight,andthat/Ishouldaccompanyhim/。AtthisIlaughedagainandsaidthatifsoitwouldbeafterwewerebothdead。
BydegreeshelearnedEnglishquitewellandevenhowtoreadandwriteit,teachingmeinreturnmuchofhisownlanguagewhichhecalled/Quichua/,asoftandbeautifultongue,thoughhesaidthattherewerealsomanyothersinhiscountry,includingonethatwassecrettotheKingandhisfamily,whichhewasnotallowedtorevealalthoughheknewit。IntimeImasteredenoughofthisQuichuatobeabletotalktoKariinbriefsentencesofitwhenIdidnotwishotherstounderstandwhatIsaid。
Totellthetruth,whileIstudiedthusandlistenedtohismarvelloustales,agreatdesirearoseinmetoseethislandofhisandtoopenupatradewithit,sincetherehedeclaredgoldwasasplentifulaswasironwithus。Ithoughtevenofmakingavoyageofdiscoverytothewest,butwhenIspokeofittocertainsea—captains,eventhemostventuresomemockedatmeandsaidthattheywouldwaitforthatjourneytillthey\"wentwest\"themselves,bywhichintheirseaparlancethattheyhadlearnedintheMediterranean,theymeantuntiltheydied。[*]WhenItoldKarithishesmiledinhismysteriouswayandansweredthatallthesame,Iandheshouldmakethatjourneytogetherandthisbeforewedied,athingthatcameabout,indeed,though,notbymyownwillorhis。
[*]Oflatetherehasbeenmuchdisputeastotheoriginofthephrase\"togowest,\"orinotherwords,todie。SurelyitarisesfromthecustomoftheAncientEgyptianswho,afterdeath,wereferriedacrosstheNileandentombeduponthewesternshore。——Ed。
FortherestwhenKarisawmyworkmenfashioninggoldandsettingjewelsinitforsaletothenoblesandladiesoftheCourt,hewasmuchinterestedandaskedifhemightbeallowedtofollowthiscraft,ofwhichhesaidheunderstoodsomething,andthusearnthebreadheate。Ianswered,yes,forIknewthatitirkedhisproudnaturetobedependentonme,andgavehimgoldandsilverwithalittleroomhavingafurnaceinitwherehecouldlabour。Thefirstthinghemadewasanobjectabouttwoinchesacross,roundandwithagrooveatthebackofit,onthefrontofwhichhefashionedanimageofthesunhavingahumanfaceandraysoflightprojectingallabout。Iaskedhimwhatwasitspurpose,whereonhetookthepieceandthrustitintothelobeofhisearwherethegristlehadbeenstretchedinthefashionthatIhavedescribed,whichitfittedexactly。Thenhetoldmethatinhiscountryallthenoblesworesuchornamentsandthatthosewhodidsowerecalled\"ear—men\"todistinguishthemfromthecommonpeople。Alsohetoldmemanyotherthingstoolongtosetout,whichmademedesiremorethanevertoseethisempirewithmyeyes,foranempireandnolesshedeclaredittobe。
AfterwardsKarimademanysuchornamentswhichIsoldforbroocheswithapinsetatthebackofthem。Alsoheshapedotherthings,forhisskillasagoldsmithwaswonderful,suchascupsandplattersofstrangedesignandrichornamentationwhichcommandedagreatprice。
Butoneveryoneofthem,inthecentreorsomeotherpartoftheembossment,appearedthisimageofthesun。Iaskedhimwhy。HeansweredbecausethesunwashisgodandhispeoplewereSun—
worshippers。IremindedhimthathehadsaidthatacertainPachacamacwhoseimageheworeabouthisneckwashisgod。Tothishereplied:
\"Yes,Pachacamacisthegodabovegods,theCreator,theSpiritoftheWorld,buttheSunishisvisiblehouseandraimentthatallmayseeandworship,\"asayingthatIthoughthadtruthinit,seeingthatallNatureistheraimentofGod。
Itriedtoinstructhiminourfaith,butalthoughhelistenedpatientlyandIthinkunderstood,hewouldnotbecomeaChristian,makingitveryplaintomethathethoughtthatamanshouldliveanddieinthereligioninwhichhewasbornandthatfromwhathesawinLondonhedidnotholdthatChristianswereanybetterthanthosewhoworshippedthesunandthegreatspirit,Pachacamac。SoIabandonedthisattempt,althoughtherewasdangertohimwhileheremainedaheathen。Indeedtwiceorthricethepriestsmadeinquiryconcerninghisfaith,beingcuriousastoallthathadtodowithhim。However,I
silencedthembypretendingthatIwasinstructinghimaswellasI
wasableandthatasyethedidnotknowenoughEnglishtohearkentotheirholyexpositions。AlsowhentheybecamepersistentImadegiftstothemonasteriestowhichtheybelonged,oriftheywereparishpriests,thentotheircur閟orchurches。