“And how long stay they so?” said Babbalanja.
“But look lower, old man,” cried Media, “methinks there’s a small hieroglyphic or two hidden away in yonder angle.—Interpret them, old man.”
After much screwing of his eyes, for those characters were very minute, Champollion Mohi thus spoke—” Except-the-tribe-of-Hamo.”
“That nullifies the other,” cried Media. “Ah, ye republicans!”
“It seems to have been added for a postscript,” rejoined Braid-Beard, screwing his eyes again.
“Perhaps so,” said Babbalanja, “but some wag must have done it.”
Shooting through the arch, we rapidly gained the beach.
CHAPTER LIV.
They Visit The Great Central Temple Of Vivenza
The throng that greeted us upon landing were exceedingly boisterous.
“Whence came ye?” they cried. “Whither bound? Saw ye ever such a land as this? Is it not a great and extensive republic? Pray, observe how tall we are; just feel of our thighs; Are we not a glorious people? Here, feel of our beards. Look round; look round; be not afraid; Behold those palms; swear now, that this land surpasses all others. Old Bello’s mountains are mole-hills to ours; his rivers, rills; his empires, villages; his palm-trees, shrubs.”