was to be almost worshipped. Hence these prostrations,
these words, these cries, these looks. All these told me that the
bitterness of death had passed away. At this discovery there was, for
a moment, a feeling of aversion and horror within me at filling such a
position; that I, a weak mortal, should dare to receive adoration like
this; and I recoiled at the thought: yet this feeling soon passed; for
life was at stake--not my own merely, but that of Almah; and I was
ready now to go through anything if only I might save her: so, instead
of shrinking from this new part, I eagerly seized upon it, and at once
determined to take advantage of the popular superstition to the
utmost.

Far away over the crests of the mountains I saw the golden edge of the
sun's disc, and the light flowed therefrom in broad effulgence,
throwing out long rays of glory in a luminous flood over all the land.
I pointed to the glorious orb, and cried to the paupers, and to all
who were nearest, in a loud voice:

"I am Atam-or, the Man of Light! I come from the land of light! I am
the Father of Thunder, of Cloud and Darkness; the Judge of Death!"

At this the paupers all fell prostrate, and cried out to me to give
them the blessing of death.

I made no answer, but leading Almah to the edge of the pyramid, told
her to fire the pistol. A million eyes were fixed on us. She held up
the pistol and fired. Immediately after, I fired both barrels of the
rifle; and as the reports rang out and the smoke cleared away, I heard
a mighty murmur, and once more beheld all prostrate. Upon this I
hurriedly loaded again, and waited for further revelations. All the
time I could not help wondering at the effect produced by the rifle
now, in comparison with the indifference with which it had been
regarded at my first arrival in the country. I could not account for
it, but supposed that the excitement of a great religious festival and
the sudden death of the Chief Pauper and the Chief Hag had probably
deeply impressed them. In the midst of these thoughts the whole
multitude arose; and once more there came to my ears the universal
uproar of innumerable cries, in the midst of which I could hear the
words, "Ap Ram!" "Mosel anan wacosek!" "Sopet Mut!"

CHAPTER XXXI

CONCLUSION

In the midst of this the paupers and the hags talked earnestly
together. Some of those who had been nearest in rank to the late Chief
Pauper and Chief Hag were conspicuous in the debate. A