Three hundred years before, a band of Egyptians had discovered it almost the same as it now was, only that it was deserted.
The race who had built it had in some way become extinct, but their handiwork still remained, and glad enough were the little band to take it as their future home.
One hundred years after the band of Egyptians—numbering less than fifty—took possession of the city within the wonderful wall, it had over five hundred inhabitants, and with the growth of its people many improvements were made.
During the last century more than one exploring party—or what was left of the original party—had reached it and found it a veritable haven of rest and contentment.
As yet, no man who had ever reached the city had made the attempt to leave it, and thus it was that its inhabitants numbered over two thousand, nearly all modern languages being spoken by them.
Such a thing as money was not used in African Utopia. All hands worked, and the results of their different labors were freely exchanged, thus making everything of value equal to money.
When a man became too lazy to work for his living, he was thrown to a hungry lion as a warning to any who might chance to follow in his footsteps.
The people governed the beautiful place by electing a set of officers every year, and everything went on like clockwork.
The finest of silks and morocco were produced here, and the architects and builders were equal to any in the world.
Of course, our friends were much astonished when they learned all this, but they were forced to believe it when they looked at their surroundings.