AtourmealmyuncleaskedmewhatIhadseenthatdayandIreplied——
　　naughtbutfiguresandcrabbedwriting——andhandedhimtheparchmentswhichhecompareditembyitem。
　　"Iampleasedwithyou,"hesaidatlast,"forheresofarIfindbutasingleerrorandthatismyfault,notyours;alsoyouhavedonetwodays'workinone。Still,itisnotfitthatyouwhoareaccustomedtotheopenairshouldbendcontinuallyoverdeedsandinventories。
　　Therefore,to—morrowIshallhaveanothertaskforyou,forlikeyourselfyourhorseneedsexercise。"
　　Andsohehad,forwithtwostoutservantsridingwithmeandguidingme,hesentmeoutofLondontoviewafairestateofhisuponthebordersoftheThamesandtovisithistenantsthereandmakereportoftheirhusbandry,alsoofcertainwoodswhereheproposedtofelloakforshipbuilding。ThisIdid,fortheservantsmademeknowntothetenants,andgotbackatnight—fall,abletotellhimallwhichhewasgladtolearn,sinceitseemedthathehadnotseenthisestateforfivelongyears。
　　Onanotherdayhesentmetovisitshipsinwhichgoodsofhiswerebeingladenatthewharf,andonanothertookmewithhimtoasaleoffursthatcamefromthefarnorthwhereIwastoldthesnownevermeltsandthereisalwaysiceinthesea。
　　Alsohemademeknowntomerchantswithwhomhetraded,andtohisagentswhoweremany,thoughforthemostpartsecret,togetherwithothergoldsmithswhoheldmoneysofhis,andinasensewerepartners,formingakindofcompanysothattheycouldfindgreatsumsinsuddenneed。Lastly,hisclerksanddependentsweremadetounderstandthatifIgaveanorderitmustbeobeyed,thoughthisdidnothappenuntilIhadbeenwithhimforsometime。
　　ThusitcameaboutthatwithinayearIknewallthethreadsofJohnGrimmer'sgreatbusiness,andwithintwoitdriftedmoreandmoreintomyhands。Thelastpartofitwithwhichhemademeacquaintedwasthatoflendingmoneytothoseinhighplaces,andeventotheStateitself,butatlengthIwastaughtthisalsoandcametoknowsundryofthesemen,whoinprivatewerehumbleborrowers,butiftheymetusinthestreetpasseduswiththenodthatthegreatgivetotheirinferiors。Thenmyunclewouldbowlow,keepinghiseyesfixeduponthegroundandbidmedothesame。Butwhentheywereoutofhearinghewouldchuckleandsay,"Fishinmynet,goldfishinmynet！Seehowtheyshinewhopresentlymustwriggleontheshore。Vanityofvanities！Allisvanity,anddoubtlessSolomonknewsuchinhisday。"
　　HardIworked,andeverharder,toilingatthemillofalltheselargeaffairsandkeepingmyselfinhealthduringsuchtimeasIcouldsparebyshootingatthebuttswithmybigbowwhereIfoundthatnonecouldbeatme,orpractisingswordplayinaschoolofarmsthatwaskeptbyamasterofthecraftfromItaly。AlsoonholidaysandonSundaysaftermassIrodeoutofLondontovisitmyuncle'sestateswheresometimesIsleptanight,andonceortwicesailedtoHollandortoCalaiswithhiscargoes。
　　Oneday,itwaswhenIhadbeenwithhimabouteighteenmonths,hesaidtomesuddenly。
　　"Youploughthefield,Hubert,anddonottithethecrop,butliveuponthebountyofthehusbandman。Henceforwardtakeasmuchofitasyouwill。Iasknoaccount。"
　　SoIfoundmyselfrich,thoughintruthIspentbutlittle,bothbecausemytastesweresimpleanditwaspartofmyuncle'spolicytomakenoshowwhichhesaidwouldbringenvyonus。Fromthistimeforwardhebegantowithdrawhimselffrombusiness,thetruthbeingthatagetookholdofhimandhegrewfeeble。Thehighestoftheaffairshelefttome,onlyinquiringofthemandgivinghiscounselfromtimetotime。Still,becausehemustdosomething,hebusiedhimselfintheshopwhich,ashesaid,hekeptasatrapforthebirds,chafferinginornamentsandfursasthoughhisbreaddependeduponhisearningagoldpiece,anddirectingthemanufactureofbeautifuljewelsandcupswhichhe,whowasanartist,designedtobemadebyhisskilledandhighlypaidworkmen,someofwhomwereforeigners。
　　"Weendwherewebegan,"hewouldsay。"AsmithwasIfrommychildhoodandasmithIshalldie。WhatafateforoneofthebloodofThorgrimmer！YetIamsellingyouintothesamebondage,orsoitwouldseem。Butwhoknows？Whoknows？Wedesign,butGoddecrees。"
　　Itistobenotedthatwhenoldmenceasefromtheoccupationoftheirlives,oftenenoughwithinaverylittletimetheyalsoceasefromlifeitself。Soitwaswithmyuncle。DaybydayhefadedtillatlastatthebeginningofthethirdwinterafterIcametohimhetooktohisbedwherehelaygrowingeverweakertillatlengthhediedinthehourofthebirthofthenewyear。
　　Tothelasthismindremainedclearandstrong,andnevermoresothanonthenightofhisdeath。ThateveningafterIhadeatenIwenttohisroomasusualandfoundhimreadingabeautifulmanuscriptofthebookoftheWisdomofSolomonthatiscalledEcclesiastes,aworkwhichhepreferredtoallothers,sinceitsthoughtswerehis。"I
　　gatheredmealsosilverandgoldandthepeculiartreasuresofkings,"
　　hereadaloud,whethertohimselfortomeIknewnot,andwenton,"SoIwasgreat,andincreasedmorethanallthatwerebeforeme……ThenIlookedonalltheworksthatmyhandshadwrought,andonthelabourthatIhadlabouredtodo;andbeholdallwasvanityandvexationofspirit,andtherewasnoprofitunderthesun。"
　　Heclosedthebook,saying,"Soshallyoufind,Nephew,you,andeverymanintheevildaysofagewhenyoushallsay,'Ihavenopleasureinthem。'Hubert,Iamgoingtomylonghome,nordoIgrieve。InyouthImetwithsorrow,forthoughIhavenevertoldyou,Iwasmarriedthenandhadoneson,abrightboy,andoh！Ilovedhimandhismother。Thencametheplagueandtookthemboth。Sohavingnaughtleftandbeingbynatureoneofthosewhocouldweanhimselffromwomen,whichIfearthatyouarenot,Hubert,notingallthemiserythereisintheworldandhowthosewhoarecallednoblewhomIhate,grinddownthehumbleandthepoor,Iturnedmyselftogoodworks。HalfofallmygainsIhavegivenandstillgivetothosewhoministertopovertyandsickness;youwillfindalistofthemwhenIamgoneshouldyouwishtocontinuethebounty,astowhichIdonotdesiretobindyouinanyway。Forknow,Hubert,thatIhaveleftyouallthatismine;thegoldandtheshipswiththemovablesandchattelstobeyourown,butthelandswhicharethemainwealth,forlifeandafterwardstobeyourchildren's,orifyoushoulddiechildless,thentogotocertainhospitalswherethesickaretended。"
　　NowIwouldhavethankedhim,buthewavedmywordsasideandwenton:
　　"Youwillbeaveryrichman,Hubert,oneoftherichestinallLondon;yetsetnotyourheartonwealth,andabovealldonotapenobilityorstrivetoclimbfromthehonestclassofwhichyoucomeintotheranksofthoseidleanddissolutecut—throatsandpick—brainswhoarecalledthegreat。Lightentheirpocketsifyouwill,butdonotseektoweartheirsilken,scentedgarments。Thatismycounseltoyou。"
　　Hepausedawhile,pickingatthebedclothesasthedyingdo,andcontinued,"Youtoldmethatyourmotherthoughtyouwouldbeawanderer,anditisstrangethatnowmymindshouldbeasherswasinthismatter。ForIseemtoseeyoufarawayamidstwarandloveandsplendour,holdingWave—FlamealoftasdidthatThorgrimmerwhobegatus。Well,gowhereyouarecalledorasoccasiondrives,thoughyouhavemuchtokeepyouathome。Iwouldthatyouwerewed,sincemarriageisananchorthatfewshipscandrag。YetIamnotsure,forhowknowIwhomyoushouldwed,andoncethatanchorisdownnowindlasswillwinditupanddeathalonecancutitschain。Onewordmore。ThoughyouaresoyoungandstrongrememberthatasIam,soshallyoube。To—dayforme,to—morrowforthee,saidthewiseoldman,andthusiteverwasandis。
　　"Hubert,IdonotknowwhyweareborntostruggleandtosufferandatlastbenoosedwiththeropeofDoom。YetIhopethepriestsarerightandthatweliveagain,thoughSolomonthoughtnotso;thatis,ifwelivewherethereisneithersinnorsorrownorfearofdeath。Ifso,besurethatinsomenewlandweshallmeetafresh,andthereI
　　shallaskaccountofyouofthewealthIentrustedtoyourkeeping。
　　Thinkofmekindlyattimes,forIhavelearnedtoloveyouwhoareofmyblood,andwhileweliveonintheheartsofthosewelove,wearenottrulydead。ComehitherthatImayblessyouinyourcominginandgoingoutwhileyoustilllookuponthesun。"
　　Soheblessedmeinbeautifulandtenderwords,andkissedmeonthebrow,afterwhichhebademeleavehimandsendthewomantowatchhim,becausehedesiredtosleep。
　　Whenshelookedathimatmidnightjustasthebellsranginthenewyear,hewasdead。
　　AccordingtohiswishJohnGrimmer,thelastofthatname,wasburiedbythebonesofhisforgottenwifeandchild,whohadlefttheworldoverfiftyyearsbefore,inthechancelofthatchurchintheCheapwhichwaswithinastone'sthrowofhisdwellinghouse。Byhisdesirealsothefuneralwaswithoutpomp,yetmanycametoit,someofthemofhighdistinction,althoughthedaywascoldandsnowy。Inoted,moreover,thedeferencetheyshowedtomewhobynowwasknowntobehisheir,eveniftheyhadneverspokenwithmebefore,aswasthecasewithcertainofthem,takingoccasiontodrawmeasideandsaythattheytrustedthattheirancientfriendshipwithmyhonouredunclewouldbecontinuedbymyself。
　　AfterwardsIlookeduptheirnamesinhisprivatebookandfoundthatoneandallofthosewhohadspokenthusowedmoneystohisestate。
　　WhenthewillwasswornandIfoundmyselfthemasterofmanylegions,orratherofmoremoney,land,andotherwealththanIhadeverdreamedof,atfirstIwasmindedtoberidoftradeandtotakeupmyabodeupononeorotherofmymanors,whereImightliveinplentyfortherestofmydays。Intheend,however,Ididnotdoso,partlybecauseIshrankfromnewfacesandsurroundings,andpartlybecauseI
　　wassurethatsuchwouldnothavebeenmyuncle'swish。
　　InsteadIsetmyselftoplayandoutpasshisgame。Hehaddiedveryrich;IdeterminedthatIwoulddiefiveortentimesricher;therichestmaninEnglandifIcould,notbecauseIcaredformoney,ofwhichindeedIspentbutlittleuponmyself,butbecausethegettingofitandthepowerthatitbrought,seemedtomethehighestkindofsport。SobendingmymindtothematterIdoubledandtrebledhisenterprisesonthislineandonthat,andwonandwonagain,forevenwhereskillandforesightfailed,FortunestoodmyfriendwithasuchstrangepersistencethatatlengthIbecamesuperstitiousandgrewfrightenedofhergifts。AlsoItookpainstohidemygreatrichesfromthepubliceye,placingmuchoftheminthenamesofotherswhomIcouldtrust,andlivingmostmodestlyinthesameoldhouse,lestI
　　shouldbecomeamanenviedbythehungryandmarkedforplunderbythespendthriftgreat。
　　Itwasduringthesummerfollowingmyuncle'sdeaththatIwenttothewharvestoseetotheunloadingofashipthatcameinfromVenice,bearingmanygoodsfromtheEastonmyaccount,suchasivory,silks,spices,glass,carpets,andIknownotwhat。Havingfinishedmybusinessandseenthesepreciousthingswarehoused,Ihandedoverthecheckingofalistofthemtoanotherandturnedtoseekmyhorse。
　　ThenitwasthatIsawanumberofhalf—grownladsandotheridlersmobbingamanwhostoodamongthemwrappedinarobeofwhatlookedliketatteredsheepskin,yetwasnotbecausethewoolonitwasofareddishhueandverylongandsoft,whichrobewasthrownoverhisheadhidinghisface。Atthisman——atallfigurewhostoodtherepatientlylikeamartyratthestake——theselewdfellowswerehurlingoffal,suchasfishes'headsandrottedfruitsthatlayinplentyonthequay,togetherwithcoarsewords。"Blackamoor"wasoneIcaught。
　　Suchsightswerecommonenough,buttherewasaquietdignityofbearingaboutthisvictimwhichmovedme,sothatIwenttotherabblecommandingthemtodesist。Oneofthem,aroughbumpkin,notknowingwhoIwas,pushedmeaside,biddingmemindmyownbusiness,whereupon,beingverystrong,Idealthimsuchablowbetweentheeyesthathewentdownlikeafelledoxandlaytherehalfstunned。Hiscompanionsbeginningtothreatenme,Iblewuponmywhistle,whereontwoofmyserving—men,withoutwhomIseldomrodeinthosetroubloustimes,ranupfrombehindashed,layinghandsupontheirshortswords,onseeingwhichtheidlerstooktotheirheels。
　　WhentheyhadgoneIturnedtolookatthestranger,whosehoodhadfallenbackinthehustling,andsawthathewasaboutthirtyyearsofage,andofadarkandnoblecountenance,beardless,butwithstraightblackhair,blackflashingeyes,andanaquilinenose。AnotherthingI
　　notedabouthimwasthatthelobeofhisearwaspiercedandinastrangefashion,sincethegristlewasstretchedtosuchasizethatasmallapplecouldhavebeenplacedwithinitsring。Fortheresttheman'slimbsweresothinasthoughfromhunger,thateverywherehisbonesshowed,whilehisskinwasscarredwithcutsandscratches,andonhisforeheadwasalargebruise。Heseemedbewilderedalsoandveryweak,yetIthinkheunderstoodthatIwasplayingafriend'sparttohim,forhebowedtowardsmeinastately,courteouswayandkissedtheairthrice,butwhatthismeantatthetimeIdidnotknow。
　　IspoketohiminEnglish,butheshookhisheadgentlytoshowthathedidnotunderstand。Then,asthoughbyanafterthought,hetouchedhisbreastseveraltimes,andaftereachtouch,saidinavoiceofstrangesoftness,"Kari,"whichItookithemeantwashisname。Atanyrate,fromthattimeforwardIcalledhimKari。
　　Nowthequestionwashowtodealwithhim。LeavehimtheretobemockedortoperishIcouldnot,norwasthereanywherewhitherI
　　couldsendhim。Thereforeitseemedtheonlythingtodowastotakehimhomewithme。SograspinghisarmgentlyIledhimoffthequaywhereourhorseswereandmotionedtohimtomountonethathadbeenriddenbyaservantwhomIbadetowalk。Atthesightofthesehorses,however,agreatterrortookholdofhimforhetrembledallover,asweatburstingoutuponhisface,andclungtomeasthoughforprotection,makingitevidentthathehadneverseensuchananimalbefore。Indeed,nothingwouldpersuadehimtogonearthem,forheshookhisheadandpointedtohisfeet,thusshowingmethathepreferredtowalk,howeverweakhisstate。
　　TheendofitwasthatwalkhedidandIwithhimfromThamessidetotheCheap,sinceIdarednotleavehimaloneforfearlestheshouldrunaway。Astrangesightwepresented,Ileadingthisduskywandererthroughthestreets,andgladwasIthatnightwasfallingsothatfewsawusandthosewhodidthought,Ibelieve,thatIwasbringingsomeforeignthieftojail。
　　AtlengthwereachedtheBoatHouseasmydwellingwascalled,fromtheimageoftheoldVikingvesselthatmyunclehadcarvedandsetabovethedoor,andIledhiminstaringabouthimwithallhiseyes,whichinhisthinfacelookedlargeasthoseofanowl,takinghimupthestairs,whichseemedtopuzzlehimmuch,forateverystepheliftedhisleghighintotheair,toanemptyguestroom。
　　Herebesidesthebedandotherfurniturewasasilverbasinwithitsjug,oneofthebeautifulthingsthatJohnGrimmerhadbroughtIknownotwhence。OntheseKarifixedhiseyesatonce,staringattheminthelightofthecandlesthatIhadlit,asthoughtheywerefamiliartohim。Indeed,afterglancingatmeasthoughforpermission,hewenttothejugthatwaskeptfullofwaterincaseofvisitorsofwhomI
　　hadmanyonbusiness,liftedit,andafterpouringafewdropsofthewaterontothefloorasthoughhemadesomeoffering,drankdeeply,thusshowingthathewasparchedwiththirst。
　　Thenwithoutmoreadohefilledthebasinandthrowingoffhistatteredrobebegantowashhimselftothewaist,roundwhichheworeanothergarment,ofdirtycottonIthought,whichlookedlikeawoman'spetticoat。WatchinghimInotedtwothings,thathispoorbodywasasscratchedandscarredasthoughbyoldthornwounds,aswerehisfaceandhands,alsomarkedwithgreatbruisesasthoughfromkicksandblows,andsecondlythathungabouthisneckwasawondrousgoldenimageaboutfourinchesinlength。Itwasofrudeworkmanshipwithkneesbentupunderthechin,buttheface,inwhichlittleemeraldsweresetforeyes,wasofagreatandsolemndignity。
　　ThisimageKariwashedbeforehetouchedhimselfwithwater,bowingtoitthewhile,andwhenhesawmeobservinghim,lookedupwardstotheskyandsaidawordthatsoundedlike/Pachacamac/,fromwhichItookittobesomeidolthatthepoormanworshipped。Lastly,tiedabouthismiddlewasahidebagfilledwithIknewnotwhat。
　　NowIfoundawashballmadeofoilofolivesmixedwithbeechashandshowedhimtheuseofit。Atfirstheshrankfromthisstrangething,butcomingtounderstanditsoffice,servedhimselfofitreadily,smilingwhenhesawhowwellitcleansedhisflesh。Further,Ifetchedashirtofsilkwithapairofeasyshoesandafur—linedrobethathadbelongedtomyuncle,alsohosen,andshowedhimhowtoputthemon,whichhelearnedquicklyenough。Acombandabrushthatwereonthetableheseemedtounderstandalready,forwiththemhedressedhistangledhair。
　　Whenallwasfinishedinafashion,Iledhimdownthestairsagaintotheeating—roomwheresupperwaswaiting,andofferedhimfood,atthesightofwhichhiseyesglistened,forclearlyhewaswell—nighstarving。ThechairIgavehimhewouldnotsiton,whetherfromrespectformeorbecauseitwasstrangetohim,Idonotknow,butseeingalowstooloftapestrywhichmyunclehadusedtoresthisfeet,hecroucheduponthis,andthusateofwhateverIgavehim,verydelicatelythoughhewassohungry。ThenIpouredwinefromPortugalintoagobletanddranksomemyselftoshowhimthatitwasharmless,which,aftertastingit,heswallowedtothelastdrop。
　　ThemealbeingfinishedwhichIthoughtitwaswelltoshortenlestheshouldeattoomuchwhowassoweak,againhelifteduphiseyesasthoughingratitude,andasasignofthankfulness,orsoIsuppose,kneltbeforeme,tookmyhand,andpresseditagainsthisforehead,thereby,althoughIdidnotknowitatthetime,vowinghimselftomyservice。ThenseeinghowwearyhewasIconductedhimbacktothechamberandpointedoutthebedtohim,shuttingmyeyestoshowthatheshouldsleepthere。Butthishewouldnotdountilhehaddraggedthebeddingontothefloor,fromwhichIgatheredthathispeople,whoevertheymightbe,hadthehabitofsleepingontheground。
　　GreatlydidIwonderwhothismanwasandfromwhatracehesprang,sinceneverhadIseenanyhumanbeingwhoresembledhimatall。OfonethingonlywasIcertain,namely,thathisrankwashigh,sincenonobleofthecountriesthatIknewhadabearingsogentleormannerssofine。OfblackmenIhadseenseveral,whowerecallednegroes,andothersofahighersortcalledMoors;gross,vulgarfellowsforthemostpartandcut—throatsifinanill—humour,butneveraoneofthemlikethisKari。
　　Itwaslongbeforemycuriositywassatisfied,andeventhenIdidnotgathermuch。ByslowdegreesKarilearnedEnglish,orsomethingofit,thoughneverenoughtotalkfluentlyinthattongueintowhichhealwaysseemedtotranslateinhismindfromanotherfullofstrangefiguresofthoughtandspeech。Whenaftermanymonthshehadmasteredsufficientofourlanguage,Iaskedhimtotellmehisstorywhichhetriedtodo。AllIcouldmakeofit,however,cametothis。
　　Hewas,hesaid,thesonofakingwhoruledoveramightyempirefarfaraway,acrossthousandsofmilesofseatowardsthatpartoftheskywherethesunsank。Hedeclaredthathewastheeldestlawfulson,bornoftheKing'ssister,whichseemeddreadfultomyideasthoughperhapshemeantcousinorrelative,butthattherewerescoresofotherchildrenofhisfather,which,iftrue,showedthatthiskingmustbeaveryloose—livingmanwhoresembledinhisdomesticitiesthewiseSolomonofwhommyunclewassofond。
　　Itappeared,further,accordingtothetale,thatthisking,hisfather,hadanothersonbornofadifferentmother,andthatofthissonhewasfonderthanofmyguest,Kari。HisnamewasUrco,andhewasjealousofandhatedKarithelawfulheir。Moreover,asiscommon,awomancameintothebusiness,sinceKarihadawife,theloveliestladyinalltheland,thoughasIunderstood,notofthesametribeorbloodashimself,andwiththiswifeofhisUrcofellinlove。Sogreatlydidhedesireher,althoughhehadplentyofwivesofhisown,thatbeingthegeneraloftheKing'stroops,hesentKari,withtheconsentoftheirfather,tocommandanarmythatwastofightadistantsavagenation,hopingthathewouldbekilled,muchasDaviddidinthematterofUriahandBathsheba,ofwhomtheBibletellsthestory。Butasithappened,insteadofbeingkilledlikeUriah,Kariconqueredthedistantnation,andaftertwoyearsreturnedtotheKing'scourt,wherehefoundthathisbrotherUrcohadledastrayhiswifewhomhehadtakenintohishousehold。Beingveryangry,KarirecoveredhiswifebycommandoftheKing,andputhertodeathbecauseofherfaithlessness。
　　ThereontheKing,hisfather,asternman,orderedhimintobanishmentbecausehehadbrokenthelawsoftheland,whichdidnotpermitofprivatevengeanceoveramatterofawomanwhowasnotevenoftheroyalblood,howeverfairshemightbe。Beforehewent,however,Urco,whowasmadatthelossofhislove,causedsomekindofpoisontobegiventoKari,whichalthoughitdoesnotkill,forhedarednotkillhimbecauseofhisstation,depriveshimwhotakesitofhisreason,sometimesforeverandsometimesforayearormore。Afterthis,saidKari,herememberedlittleornothing,savelongtravellingsinboatsandthroughforests,andthenagainuponaraftorboatonwhichhewasdrivenalone,formany,manydays,drinkingajarofwaterwhichhehadwithhim,andeatingsomedriedfleshandwithitamarvellousdrugofhispeople,someofwhichremainedtohimintheleathernbagthathaspowertokeepthelifeinamanforweeks,evenifheislabouringhard。
　　Atlast,hedeclared,hewaspickedupbyagreatshipsuchashehadneverseenbefore,thoughofthisshipherecalledlittle。IndeedherememberednothingmoreuntilhefoundhimselfuponthequaywhereI
　　discoveredhim,andofasuddenhismindseemedtoreturnbuthesaidhebelievedthathehadcomeashoreinaboatinwhichwerefishermen,havingbeenthrownintoitbythepeopleontheshipwhichwentonelsewhere,andthathehadwalkeduptheshoresofariver。Thisstorythebruisesonhisforeheadandbodyseemedtobearout,butitwasfarfromclear,andbythetimeIlearneditmonthsafterwardsofcoursenotracesofthefishermenortheirboatcouldbefound。I
　　askedhimthenameofthecountryfromwhichhecame。Heansweredthatitwascalled/Tavantinsuyu/。Headdedthatitwasawonderfulcountryinwhichwerecitiesandchurchesandgreatsnow—cladmountainsandfertilevalleysandhighplainsandhotforeststhroughwhichranwiderivers。
　　FromallthelearnedmenwhomIcouldmeet,especiallythosewhohadtravelledfar,ImadeinquiriesconcerningthiscountrycalledTavantinsuyu,butnoneofthemhadsomuchashearditsname。Indeed,theydeclaredthatmybrownmanmusthavecomefromAfrica,andthathismindbeingdisordered,hehadinventedthiswondrouslandwhichhesaidlayfarawaytothewestwherethesunsank。
　　SothereImustleavethismatter,thoughformypartIwassurethatKariwasnotmad,whateverhemighthavebeeninthepast。Agreatdreamerhewas,itistrue,whodeclaredthatthepoisonwhichhisbrotherhadgivenhimhad"eatenaholeinhismind"throughwhichhecouldseeandhearthingswhichotherscouldnot。Thushewasabletoreadthesecretmotivesofmenandwomenwithwonderfulclearness,somuchsothatsometimesIaskedhim,laughing,ifhecouldnotgivemesomeofthatpoisonthatImightseeintotheheartsofthosewithwhomIdealt。Ofanotherthing,too,hewasalwayscertain,namely,thathewouldreturntohiscountryTavantinsuyuofwhichhethoughtdayandnight,andthat/Ishouldaccompanyhim/。AtthisIlaughedagainandsaidthatifsoitwouldbeafterwewerebothdead。
　　BydegreeshelearnedEnglishquitewellandevenhowtoreadandwriteit,teachingmeinreturnmuchofhisownlanguagewhichhecalled/Quichua/,asoftandbeautifultongue,thoughhesaidthattherewerealsomanyothersinhiscountry,includingonethatwassecrettotheKingandhisfamily,whichhewasnotallowedtorevealalthoughheknewit。IntimeImasteredenoughofthisQuichuatobeabletotalktoKariinbriefsentencesofitwhenIdidnotwishotherstounderstandwhatIsaid。
　　Totellthetruth,whileIstudiedthusandlistenedtohismarvelloustales,agreatdesirearoseinmetoseethislandofhisandtoopenupatradewithit,sincetherehedeclaredgoldwasasplentifulaswasironwithus。Ithoughtevenofmakingavoyageofdiscoverytothewest,butwhenIspokeofittocertainsea—captains,eventhemostventuresomemockedatmeandsaidthattheywouldwaitforthatjourneytillthey"wentwest"themselves,bywhichintheirseaparlancethattheyhadlearnedintheMediterranean,theymeantuntiltheydied。[*]WhenItoldKarithishesmiledinhismysteriouswayandansweredthatallthesame,Iandheshouldmakethatjourneytogetherandthisbeforewedied,athingthatcameabout,indeed,though,notbymyownwillorhis。
　　[*]Oflatetherehasbeenmuchdisputeastotheoriginofthephrase"togowest,"orinotherwords,todie。SurelyitarisesfromthecustomoftheAncientEgyptianswho,afterdeath,wereferriedacrosstheNileandentombeduponthewesternshore。——Ed。
　　FortherestwhenKarisawmyworkmenfashioninggoldandsettingjewelsinitforsaletothenoblesandladiesoftheCourt,hewasmuchinterestedandaskedifhemightbeallowedtofollowthiscraft,ofwhichhesaidheunderstoodsomething,andthusearnthebreadheate。Ianswered,yes,forIknewthatitirkedhisproudnaturetobedependentonme,andgavehimgoldandsilverwithalittleroomhavingafurnaceinitwherehecouldlabour。Thefirstthinghemadewasanobjectabouttwoinchesacross,roundandwithagrooveatthebackofit,onthefrontofwhichhefashionedanimageofthesunhavingahumanfaceandraysoflightprojectingallabout。Iaskedhimwhatwasitspurpose,whereonhetookthepieceandthrustitintothelobeofhisearwherethegristlehadbeenstretchedinthefashionthatIhavedescribed,whichitfittedexactly。Thenhetoldmethatinhiscountryallthenoblesworesuchornamentsandthatthosewhodidsowerecalled"ear—men"todistinguishthemfromthecommonpeople。Alsohetoldmemanyotherthingstoolongtosetout,whichmademedesiremorethanevertoseethisempirewithmyeyes,foranempireandnolesshedeclaredittobe。
　　AfterwardsKarimademanysuchornamentswhichIsoldforbroocheswithapinsetatthebackofthem。Alsoheshapedotherthings,forhisskillasagoldsmithwaswonderful,suchascupsandplattersofstrangedesignandrichornamentationwhichcommandedagreatprice。
　　Butoneveryoneofthem,inthecentreorsomeotherpartoftheembossment,appearedthisimageofthesun。Iaskedhimwhy。HeansweredbecausethesunwashisgodandhispeoplewereSun—
　　worshippers。IremindedhimthathehadsaidthatacertainPachacamacwhoseimageheworeabouthisneckwashisgod。Tothishereplied:
　　"Yes,Pachacamacisthegodabovegods,theCreator,theSpiritoftheWorld,buttheSunishisvisiblehouseandraimentthatallmayseeandworship,"asayingthatIthoughthadtruthinit,seeingthatallNatureistheraimentofGod。
　　Itriedtoinstructhiminourfaith,butalthoughhelistenedpatientlyandIthinkunderstood,hewouldnotbecomeaChristian,makingitveryplaintomethathethoughtthatamanshouldliveanddieinthereligioninwhichhewasbornandthatfromwhathesawinLondonhedidnotholdthatChristianswereanybetterthanthosewhoworshippedthesunandthegreatspirit,Pachacamac。SoIabandonedthisattempt,althoughtherewasdangertohimwhileheremainedaheathen。Indeedtwiceorthricethepriestsmadeinquiryconcerninghisfaith,beingcuriousastoallthathadtodowithhim。However,I
　　silencedthembypretendingthatIwasinstructinghimaswellasI
　　wasableandthatasyethedidnotknowenoughEnglishtohearkentotheirholyexpositions。AlsowhentheybecamepersistentImadegiftstothemonasteriestowhichtheybelonged,oriftheywereparishpriests,thentotheircur閟orchurches。