"
Now Brother John asked a question.
"Did you hear anything about the land beyond the water by the cave?"
"Yes, Dogeetah. I heard then, or afterwards--for from time to time
rumours reach us concerning these Pongo--that it is an island where
grows the Holy Flower, of which you know, for when last you were here
you had one of its blooms. I heard, too, that this Holy Flower was
tended by a priestess named Mother of the Flower, and her servants,
all of whom were virgins."
"Who was the priestess?"
"I do not know, but I heave heard that she was one of those people
who, although their parents are black, are born white, and that if any
females among the Pongo are born white, or with pink eyes, or deaf and
dumb, they are set apart to be the servants of the priestess. But this
priestess must now be dead, seeing that when I was a boy she was
already old, very, very old, and the Pongo were much concerned because
there was no one of white skin who could be appointed to succeed her.
Indeed she /is/ dead, since many years ago there was a great feast in
Pongo-land and numbers of slaves were eaten, because the priests had
found a beautiful new princess who was white with yellow hair and had
finger-nails of the right shape.
Pages:
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328