Now those who were making such sweet music had reached the villa, and our friends raising their eyes, looked upon a picture. Standing in the foreground, with his arm thrown over the neck of the zebra, from which he had dismounted, and holding in one hand a shepherd’s hook, was a white-robed priest. Grouped in a semicircle about him, were a number of maidens all carrying tiny torches. Back of them was a body of men, and still further in the background were the elephants and zebras which had brought the party from the city.
As they stood there, Onrai approached and spoke to the priest in the native tongue. Then, with the King leading, they went direct to the villa and entered.
“How strange,” said Enola, when Onrai with his visitors had left them alone.
“Strange indeed,” said Mr. Graham. “Can it be that they bring unexpected news from the city?”
“It is hard to tell,” said Mr. Bruce. “But I think not. It is evidently a celebration of one of their religious rites. From the solemn proceedings I should say that this was so.”
Just then Onrai was seen approaching them and when he was directly opposite, he said:
“’Tis the night of prayer, come;” and turning, he retraced his steps with our friends following.
They were led through the wide hall to a spacious apartment in the rear. This apartment was the exact counterpart of the large devotional chamber in the Temple, but somewhat smaller. Subdued lights were placed at frequent intervals about the sides of the apartment, and others hung from the lofty ceiling. In the centre was a wide, crescent-shaped platform, and standing about its base were those who had so recently come from the city.
As the King entered with our party the natives commenced playing on their native harps, and the low, sweet music penetrated to the very souls of our friends. Onrai led them to the platform on which seats had been placed; then the priest also mounted the platform, and facing the King, commenced reading in the native tongue from one of the polished tablets of wood. He then passed this to the King and he, arising, read from it the same inscription. Then the priest raised his hand, and all joined in a chant, the maidens accompanying the voices on the harps. It was solemn but grand and very impressive. The chant ended, the priest again turned toward the King and began speaking, the maidens in the meanwhile playing a sweet refrain on the harps. The priest having finished speaking, the King arose, turned his face heavenward and prayed:
“God our Father, God of the Heavens and earth, God of On, God of all, as the flowers turn their faces to the great orb of day, so we on this night of prayer, turn our faces to Thee. O God, we know that all blessings come from Thee and we thank Thee. We thank Thee for the fertile fields, the green pastures, the silvery waters, the shady forest, the life-giving sun of day, the soft-lighted moon and cool breezes of the night. We feel Thy presence O God, we know that Thou art near us. Still be with us and when our time has come take us home to Thee, our God, our Father.”