"Not in this land, not in this land, Father of Monkeys," he replied in
his low rumbling voice, "but far, far away towards the west where the
sun sinks in the water; and not in this day, but long, long ago.
Twenty Kalubis have ruled the Pongo since that day; some have ruled
for many years and some have ruled for a few years--that depends upon
the will of my brother, the god yonder," and he chuckled horribly and
jerked his thumb backwards over his shoulder towards the forest on the
mountain. "Yes, twenty have ruled, some for thirty years and none for
less than four."
"Well, you /are/ a large old liar," I thought to myself, for, taking
the average rule of the Kalubis at ten years, this would mean that we
met him two centuries ago at least.
"You were clothed otherwise then," he went on, "and two of you wore
hats of iron on the head, but that of White Beard was shaven. I caused
a picture of you to be beaten by the master-smith upon a plate of
copper. I have it yet."
Again he blew upon his horn; again a woman darted out, to whom he
whispered; again she went to one of the chambers and returned bearing
an object which he cast to us.
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