Копи царя Соломона
Twala the King
Afternearlyhalfanhour’stramp,pastendlesslinesofhuts,Infadooshaltedatlastbythegateofalittlegroupofhutswhichsurroundedasmallcourtyardofpowderedlimestone, andinformedusthattheseweretobeour"poor"quarters.
Weentered,andfoundthatahuthadbeenassignedtoeachofus. Thesehutsweresuperiortoanythatwehadyetseen,andineachwasamostcomfortablebedmadeoftannedskins,spreaduponmattressesofaromaticgrass. Foodtoowasreadyforus,andsosoonaswehadwashedourselveswithwater,whichstoodreadyinearthenwarejars,someyoungwomenofhandsomeappearancebroughtusroastedmeats,andmealiecobsdaintilyservedonwoodenplatters,andpresentedthemtouswithdeepobeisances.
Weateanddrank,andthen,thebedshavingbeenallmovedintoonehutbyourrequest,aprecautionatwhichtheamiableyoungladiessmiled, weflungourselvesdowntosleep,thoroughlyweariedwithourlongjourney.
Whenwewokeitwastofindthesunhighintheheavens, andthefemaleattendants,whodidnotseemtobetroubledbyanyfalseshame,alreadystandinginsidethehut,havingbeenorderedtoattendandhelpusto"makeready."
"Makeready,indeed,"growledGood;"whenonehasonlyaflannelshirtandapairofboots,thatdoesnottakelong. Iwishyouwouldaskthemformytrousers,Quatermain."
Iaskedaccordingly,butwasinformedthatthesesacredrelicshadalreadybeentakentotheking,whowouldseeusintheforenoon.
