A plentiful supply of broth was prepared, and administered during the day. But Harry and George were simply wild to explore the buildings. The excitement had been too intense to enable them to give it much thought. But now something must be known about the buildings and the reason for their erection at that place.
John had questioned various ones about the buildings, but none seemed to know anything concerning them. Uraso and Muro were just as much surprised as the whites. Neither had known of the existence of a place with such buildings.
It appears that the Illyas never allowed captives to be confined in the village, and this was a wise thing; because the escape of anyone would be sure to inform the other tribes of the existence of the Forbidden City.
The remarkable thing about it, aside from the buildings, was the plan upon which the town had been built. It was regularly laid out. There were three main buildings; the first and largest being the one facing the west, with the Doric front. The next largest had its front facing the south, and this had Ionic columns. The third, and which was not noticeable from a position west of the village, was smaller than either, with a front of Tuscan architecture.
What did these buildings mean? By whom were they erected, and for what purpose were they intended? These were questions ever uppermost in the minds of John and the boys.