I was now in another rotunda, in which was a magnificent table on which were many jars filled with perfume and oils. Like the previous rotunda there were several passages leading from this, one of which seemed to be in process of repair, as I at first thought. Upon mature deliberation, however, I determined it was specially prepared and that I must overcome it to reach the secret chamber. Its floor was covered several inches deep with pitch of the most tenacious kind, and I was certain did I put my boot down firmly on it, it would in all probability remain right there; for so adhesive was this pitch it could not let go when it had once taken hold.
As was my custom, I sat down and contemplated it for a few moments; then arose, went to the table, selecting therefrom a bottle of very heavy oil. With this I anointed my boots from the soles to above the ankles, knowing the pitch would not adhere to oil of such consistency.
I thereupon traversed the passage and entered another rotunda.
It occurred to me there were a great many rotundas; I afterward learned there was one at each corner of the palace; that all were alike, and that had I taken any but the one I did I should have come back into the open air very shortly.
The outgoing passage I selected from this place was paved with needles about three inches long and so sharp and thin as to quickly penetrate any substance but metal. Now, I had no metal about me, and nothing else that would endure these points.
So, down I sat again for contemplation. I examined the needles with care, and found they had heads to them like tacks, and of a good surface; that the heads rested on plates of metal, the bodies of the needles going up through holes in other pieces of metal; thus they could not tip over, and so firmly were they fixed they resisted all my efforts to remove them.
To one side of this entrance there was a niche, and in this niche there was a basket; and in this basket I found a great many needle-tacks like those in the floor, probably left there by the workman on finishing his job. There was also a chisel, an awl, and a hammer in this basket; and it proved a short piece of labor to rip up the under soles of my boots, insert a goodly number of the needle-tacks, and fasten the soles down again. Thus, by walking on my toes, I easily made my way through the passage, as the needles in my soles were of the same length as the needles in the floor, therefore those in the floor could not penetrate my feet.
Entering another rotunda, I found the floor of such delicate mosaic I immediately sat down and removed the needles from my boots lest I damage it.
All the passages from this rotunda left it on a level, save one, which went up at an angle of forty-five degrees, and was paved with such smooth tiles I could not keep my foothold, and was forced to sit down and meditate.
I hit on a plan which succeeded admirably.