Nōfūhl is happy. We have discovered hundreds of metal blocks, the poorest of which he asserts would be the gem of a museum. They were found by Fattan-laïz-eh in the basement of a high building, all laid carefully away upon iron shelves. The flood of light they throw upon the manners and customs of this ludicrous people renders them of priceless value to historians.

I harbor a suspicion that it causes Nōfūhl some pleasure to sit upon the cool deck of the Zlōtuhb and watch Bhoz-jā-khāz walking to and fro upon the ruins of a distant wharf.

A Street Scene in Ancient Nhu-Yok
[The costumes and manner of riding are taken from metal plates now in the museum at Teheran]

19th May he air is cooler. Grip-til-lah thinks a storm is brewing. Even Nōfūhl is puzzled over the wooden image we brought aboard yesterday. It is well preserved, with the barbaric coloring still fresh upon it. They found it standing upright in a little shop. How these idols were worshipped, and why they are found in little shops and never in the great temples is a mystery. It has a diadem of feathers on the head, and as we sat smoking upon the deck this evening I remarked to Nōfūhl that it might be the portrait of some Mehrikan noble. Whereupon he said they had no nobles. "But the Mehrikans of gentle blood," I asked, "had they no titles?" The Wooden God. "Neither titles nor gentle blood," he answered. "And as they were all of much the same origin, and came to this country simply to thrive more fatly than at home, there was nothing except difference in wealth on which to establish a superior order. Being deep respecters of money this was a satisfying distinction. It soon resulted that those families who possessed riches for a generation or two became the substitute for an aristocracy. This upper class was given to sports and pastimes, spending their wealth freely, being prodigiously fond of display. Their intellectual development was feeble, and they wielded but little influence save in social matters. They followed closely the fashions of foreign aristocracies. Great attentions were paid to wandering nobles from other lands. Even distant relatives of titled people were greeted with the warmest enthusiasm." Then I said to him, "But explain to me, O Nōfūhl, how it was possible for so shallow a nation to become so great." "They were great only in numbers and too weak to endure success. At the beginning of the twentieth century—as they counted time—huge fortunes were amassed in a day, and the Mehrikans became drunk with money." Whereupon I exclaimed, "O Land of Delight! For much money is cheering." But the old man shook his head. "Very true, O Prince; but the effect was woful. These vast fortunes soon dominated all things, even the seat of government and the courts of Justice. Tricks of finance brought fabulous gains. Young men became demoralized. For sober industry with its moderate profits was ridiculed." "Verily, that would be natural!" I said. "But in a land where all were rich who was found to cook and scrub, to fetch and carry and to till the soil? For none will shovel earth when his pockets are stuffed with gold." "All were not rich. And when the poor also became greedy they became hostile. Then began social upheavals with bloodshed and havoc."
The Wooden God.

20th May n icy wind from the northeast with a violent rain. Yesterday we gasped with the hot air. To-day we are shivering in winter clothing.

21st May he same as yesterday. Most of us are ill. My teeth chatter and my body is both hot and cold. A storm more wicked never wailed about a ship. Lev-el-Hedyd calls it the shrieking voices of the hundred millions of Mehrikans who must have perished in similar weather.


16th June

t is many days since I have touched this journal. A hateful sicknesshas been upon me, destroying all energy and courage. A sort of fever,and yet my limbs were cold. I could not describe it if I would.

Nōfūhl came into the cabin this evening with some of his metal platesand discoursed upon them. He has no respect for the intellects of theearly Mehrikans. I thought for a moment I had caught him in acontradiction, but he was right as usual. It was thus:

Nōfūhl.

They were great readers.

Khan-li.

You have told us they had no literature. Were they great readers of nothing?

Nōfūhl.

Verily, thou hast said it! Vast sheets of paper were published dailyin which all crimes were recorded in detail. The more revolting thedeed, the more minute the description. Horrors were their chiefdelight. Scandals were drunk in with thirstful eyes. These chroniclesof crime and filth were issued by hundreds of thousands. There washardly a family in the land but had one.

Khan-li.

And did this take the place of literature?

Nōfūhl.

Even so.


20th June

nce more we are on the sea; two days from Nhū-Yok. Our decision wasa sudden one. Nōfūhl, in an evil moment, found among those accursedplates a map of the country, and thereupon was seized with anunreasoning desire to visit a town called "Washington." I wavered andat last consented, foolishly I believe, for the crew are loud forPersia. And this town is inland on a river. He says it was theirfinest city, the seat of Government, the capital of the country.Grip-til-lah swears he can find it if the map is truthful.

Jā-khāz still eats by himself.


This afternoon we reclined upon the deck, the Zlōtuhb drifting gentlyin a southerly direction. Land could be seen on the starboard bow, afaint strip along the western horizon.

It was about the middle of the afternoon, while passing the ruins of agigantic tower—perhaps a lighthouse—that Nōfūhl, of a sudden,clambered hastily to his feet and looked about him. Then he called toGrip-til-lah, asking how many leagues we were from the harbor ofNhū-Yok. Grip-til-lah's reply I forget, but it filled the old man witha gentle excitement. I observed an unwonted sparkle in his eyes, alsoa quivering of the fingers as he pointed to the ocean around about,and exclaimed—

"Beneath us, the bottom of the sea is covered with iron ships—thewrecks of stupendous navies—the mightiest of all human history!"

At once we all became interested.

"What navies?" I inquired. "And what compassed their destruction?Was it a battle?"

Nōfūhl.

A battle of whose magnitude no Persian has conception; a conflict inwhich the sea was tossed and the heavens rent by thunderings of ironmonsters. Any one of them would have blown to atoms a fleet ofZlōtuhbs.

Ad-el-pate.

Verily! A tale easier told than believed. But I would readilyventure my head in the Zlōtuhb against any of these nursery-talewonders.

Nōfūhl.

And with wisdom. For the loss of thy brain, Ad-el-pate, could notaffect the nature of thy speech.

Whereupon there was laughter, and Ad-el-pate held his peace.

Khan-li.

But tell us of this battle, O Nōfūhl. I remember now to have readabout it at college. These details of ancient history I am prone toforget. How came it about?

Nōfūhl.

I have spoken of the Mehrikans being a greedy race. And their greed,at last, resulted in this war. By means of one-sided laws of theirown making they secured for themselves a lion's share of all profitsfrom the world's commerce. This checked the prosperity of othernations, until at last the leading powers of Europe combined inself-defence against this all-absorbing greed. They collected anarmada the like of which was never imagined, neither before nor since.Then, across the ocean, came the iron host. And here, upon this veryspot where we are floating, they met the Mehrikan ships.

Khan-li.

How many ships in all?

Nōfūhl.

The Mehrikans had eighty heavy ships of iron, with a number of smallercraft. The allies had two hundred and forty heavy battleships, all ofiron. They also had smaller craft for divers purposes.

Khan-li.

Allah! A bad prospect for our greedy friends! And being a nation oftraders they had no liking, probably, for the perils of war.

Nōfūhl.

As to that historians differ. According to the Mehrikans themselvesthey were mighty warriors. But certain writers of that period give adifferent impression. Nōz-yt-ahl is sure they were cowards, weak inbody as in spirit, but often favored by fortune. In my opinion, thisbattle throws considerable light upon that matter.

A day like this, it was, also in June, as the Europeans, comingnorthward along the coast to seize Nhū-Yok, met the Mehrikan AdmiralNev-r-sai-di with his eighty ships. And the struggle was short.

Khan-li.

Verily, I can believe it! With three ships to one I would give theEuropeans about half a day—a summer afternoon like this—to sendthe greedy ones to the bottom.

Nōfūhl.

Thy guess is good, O Prince, as to the hours of fighting. It lastedjust one summer afternoon. But the Mehrikans it was who sent theirenemies to the bottom. And the sea beneath our feet is strewn withiron hulks.

Khan-li.

Bismillah! If that be a true tale—and I doubt it not—thesegreedy ones were not so contemptible, at least when there was profitin it.

Lev-el-Hedyd.

At what period did this occur?

Nōfūhl.

Early in the twentieth century. I cannot recall the date, but it wasnever forgotten by the Mehrikans. Surely a just pride, for on that daythey accomplished wonders. The Admiral Nev-r-sai-di on his ship theZtazenztrypes was at one time surrounded by a dozen German men-of-war. And lo! he demolished all! And of Frank and Russyan vessels heput an end to as many more; also sundry Talyans and British.

Lev-el-Hedyd.

Bismillah! But that was good! What, O Nōfūhl, is the Persian of thatname Ztazenztrypes?

Nōfūhl.

None can tell with certainty. To the Mehrikans it signified victory,or something similar.

Other miracles were achieved by the Mehrikans that day. Nōfli-zon-mee,a little craft with a pointed prow, jammed holes in nearly a score ofmonster ships, and the waters closed over them. There figured also along and narrow boat of Mehrikan devising, the Yankyd-Oodl. Thisastonishing machine sailed to and fro among the foreign shipsupsetting all traditions. Much glory befell her commander, the CaptainHoorai-boiz.

Grip-til-lah.

And how many ships did the Mehrikans lose?

Nōfūhl.

Reports are contradictory. According to one of their own writers ofthe period they suffered no loss whatever in vessels. Yet at the sametime he asserts, "We gave them Haleklumbya," which must be the name ofa ship.

Khan-li.

A gallant fight! But can you explain how such an inferior peoplecould become heroic of a sudden?

Nōfūhl.

According' to 'Ardfax, an early British historian, they were addictedto surprising feats upon the water. And this statement is borne out bya Spanish admiral, Offulbad-shoota, who maintains that the Mehrikans,being a godless people, were aided by the devil.

2nd July e are on the river that leads to "Washington." Grip-til-lah says we shall sight it to-morrow. The river is a dirty color.