ising would be given.

He was an old man, small of stature, in fact, I believe he must have been
one of the tribe of dwarf cave-dwellers. Of darker complexion than the
majority of this curious people, he was dressed in a long garment of
white, wearing on his head a conical head-dress, shaped somewhat like a
dunce's cap, and as he took up his position, squatting on a mat before
us, he made deep obeisance to the son of his ruler. While we regaled
ourselves with grapes and other luscious fruits as a satisfactory
conclusion to a bountiful feast, he told us a story which, as far as I
could translate it, was as follows:

"Ages ago," he said, "in the days of the good king Lobenba and Prince
Karmos"--here he kissed his hand as a sign of reverence, as did all his
listeners--"there was a poor man, a cowherd, who lived a very righteous
life, nor did he commit any sin. But he was terribly poor, starving
because he had not the wherewithal to supply himself with food. One night
while asleep in his lonely hut on the mountain over against the Grave of
Enemies, a vision appeared to him, and he saw standing before him the god
Zomara"--more hand-kissing--"in a flame of fire. And the King of
Crocodiles said to him: 'Gogo, I have seen thy poverty and am come to
give thee succour. I have seen how, even in the days when no food hath
passed thy lips, thou hast never committed theft, nor borrowed not to
return, and now thou shalt have great wealth. Speed early to-morrow to
thy friend Djerad and borrow his black horse. I will put it in his mind
to lend it thee; and take this horse and ride it to the Gate of Mo, and
then leap on thy horse from the precipice, and assuredly thou wilt find
great wealth.'

"Ere Gogo had time to thank the great god--whose name be exalted above
all others--he had vanished. Early he rose, donned his ragged garments,
set forth and begged the loan of the black horse of Djerad, his friend.
After a ride of many hours, he came at sundown to the Gate of Mo, and
gazed over the fearful precipice. Gathering the reins in his hand he rode
back a little distance, then gallopped full speed to the brink. But his
heart failed him, and on the edge he reined his horse for fear.

"Nine times he essayed to go, but each time his courage was insufficient.
While he was sitting on his horse, preparing for the tenth time to obey
the instructions, he heard a great noise behind him, and turning, saw the
god Zomara with fire bursting from his