1. Mount Munch

           OntheeastedgeoftheLandofOz,intheMunchkinCountry,isabig,tallhillcalledMountMunch.Oneoneside,thebottomofthishilljusttouchestheDeadlySandyDesertthatseparatestheFairylandofOzfromalltherestoftheworld,butontheotherside,thehilltouchesthebeautiful,fertileCountryoftheMunchkins.

           TheMunchkinfolks,however,merelystandoffandlookatMountMunchandknowverylittleaboutit;for,aboutathirdofthewayup,itssidesbecometoosteeptoclimb,andifanypeopleliveuponthetopofthatgreattoweringpeakthatseemstoreachnearlytotheskies,theMunchkinsarenotawareofthefact.

           ButpeopleDOlivethere,justthesame.ThetopofMountMunchisshapedlikeasaucer,broadanddeep,andinthesaucerarefieldswheregrainsandvegetablesgrow,andflocksarefed,andbrooksflowandtreesbearallsortsofthings.Therearehousesscatteredhereandthere,eachhavingitsfamilyofHyups,asthepeoplecallthemselves.TheHyupsseldomgodownthemountain,forthesamereasonthattheMunchkinsneverclimbup:thesidesaretoosteep.

           InoneofthehouseslivedawiseoldHyupnamedBiniAru,whousedtobeacleverSorcerer.ButOzmaofOz,whoruleseveryoneintheLandofOz,hadmadeadecreethatnooneshouldpracticemagicinherdominionsexceptGlindatheGoodandtheWizardofOz,andwhenGlindasentthisroyalcommandtotheHyupsbymeansofastrong-wingedEagle,oldBiniAruatoncestoppedperformingmagicalarts.Hedestroyedmanyofhismagicpowdersandtoolsofmagic,andafterwardhonestlyobeyedthelaw.