"About ten years ago the king of our nation caused a count to be made to see how many more women there were than men. The result showed that there were fifty females to every male in his kingdom.
"He at once issued an edict that a certain portion of the females should be placed in this valley to till the soil, so they might earn their own living and at the same time produce food for his warriors.
"Since that time a fresh supply of women and girls are brought here annually, and here they must stay till they die, simply because there is not enough men in the kingdom to wed and take care of them."
"That is truly wonderful!" exclaimed the professor, when he had finished writing down the remarkable story.
"Yes," added Van; "but you failed to tell us how you learned to speak our tongue."
"That is so," returned Kanka. "But I can tell you in a few words. About a year after I had been here in charge of the valley a man, who was one of your race, arrived here in much the same manner as you did.
"He was sick with fever and I nursed him back to health and strength, and as a reward for my services he became my husband.
"I had to hide him every year when the men brought the new recruits in and took away the produce and ivory we had accumulated for them. If I had not they would surely have killed him.
"Well, he died less than a year ago, and since then I have been very unhappy.