As across the plain my captors hurried me, I was amazed at the strength
of the colossal walls of the mysterious city. Approaching one of the
great brazen gates, flanked on either side by gigantic, sculptured
figures of human-headed monsters, I saw that the walls were fully two
hundred feet in height, their base being constructed of huge blocks of a
polished stone full of shells, and their upper portions of sun-dried
brick, cased with great slabs of granite cemented with bitumen. They
exceeded in thickness any I had previously seen; the ramparts, used as a
promenade and drive, being fully eighty feet in breadth, and surmounted
by hundreds of high watch-towers, each bearing a huge sculpture of an
eagle-headed monster, apparently the national emblem.
Even from beneath the shadow of these enormous, unbreakable walls the
crowd standing thereon, watching our advance, looked small as a swarm of
bees, and as we neared the open gate an excited, strangely-attired mob
came forth to meet us, leaping, yelling and pressing round my captors,
as if eager to obtain sight of me. All were of pale complexion. The
men, tall and muscular, were dressed in flowing linen robes reaching to
the feet, over which were garments of wool and short white, or crimson,
cloaks with embroidered edges, while those who who were not soldiers
each wore a cylindrical seal suspended from the neck, and in their hands
bore staves, the head of each being carved with an apple, a rose, a
lily, or an eagle. The women, mostly handsome but all dark-haired, were
invariably attired in white, their bare, finely-moulded arms loaded with
ornaments, and their waists girt by broad double girdles of leather or
gold set with gems. Rich and poor alike had apparently turned out to
view me. The men, many of them gilt-helmeted warriors, drew their
swords and flourished them, yelling imprecations in their unknown
tongue, while the women, some of whom were evidently the wives and
daughters of wealthy citizens, hurled execrations upon me, and took up
stones as if to fling at me.
Mine was indeed a hostile reception. The people of this race I had so
strangely discovered seemed notable for their extraordinary tallness and
grace, their handsome, clear-cut features, and their artistic mode of
dress. The wealth of the city must, I thought, be immense, for the
women of the lowest class were plentifully adorned with gold ornaments
and jewels, and the raven locks of the men of the upper classes were
curled and perfumed, as if aping a fashionable effeminacy.
Arrived at the gate, I was struck by its stupendous proportions. The
great human-headed lions standing on either side of the entrance were
fully a hundred feet in height, while the road itself between the two
sculptured colossi consisted of a single slab of black stone, whereon
was an inscription in the cuneiform character, the signs of which had
been filled in with copper kept bright by the hurrying sandals of the
inhabitants.
As I passed through and entered the city, teeming with a civilisation
forgotten by the world outside, I was enabled to judge better the great
thickness of the impregnable fortifications which had, ages ago, been
raised by blows of the lash. Of such gigantic proportions were they
that I marvelled how they had ever been constructed. The moment we
entered the city fifty trumpets blared forth in all directions, soldiers
in helmets of gold and bronze, alarmed by the warning note, seized their
arms and dashed to their posts, while behind us the great gate quickly
closed, and guards scrambled to the walls and watch-towers in such
numbers that they appeared like swarms of ants.
Held secure by a dozen sinewy hands of armed warriors, and surrounded by
a yelling populace, I was hurried forward along great thoroughfares of
enormous houses, any of which would, in my own world, be termed a
palace. All were great, square, solid structures of stone, constructed
in three tiers, with broad terraces adorned with fine sculpture, and
mostly painted in bright blues, reds and greens. One feature, however,
struck me as curious; there were neither windows nor lattices. There
were a few apertures, these being mostly closed by silken hangings or
squares of talc. The great paved thoroughfares, through which handsome
chariots, drawn by three horses abreast, passed and re-passed, were
entirely different from any I had previously seen.
A clamour had been raised. The people understood; consternation ensued;
then an immense rage possessed them. Each residence was surrounded by a
high wall, enclosing shady gardens full of great, ancient trees and
cool, open-air baths, while from the terrace of nearly every house
women, white-robed and anxious, gazed down upon me with evident
curiosity, while their slaves beside them fanned or shielded them from
the sun.
The magnificence of the city was unequalled. There was an air of
strength in every stone, and wealth in every residence. Armed warriors
were everywhere; and as we proceeded, the crowd increased and the
excitement rose to fever heat. Patricians left their palaces, tradesmen
their shops, women abandoned their children. The report of my discovery
and capture had apparently passed rapidly from mouth to mouth, and those
responsible for the defence of the great city had alarmed the guard, and
closed its hundred gates, fearing lest spies should enter or leave.
As we passed through one handsome street after another, the multitude
following, straining their necks to catch a glimpse of me, acted in a
manner that aroused my curiosity. The girls and women, after gazing
into my face, turned westward to where, high upon the hilltop, the huge,
handsome tower, painted in many colours, loomed against the bright sky,
and raising their right hands towards it, they placed their left upon
their heads, crying aloud some strange, cabalistic words. Their actions
puzzled me, but subsequently I ascertained that the tower towards which
they turned was the temple of Astarte, and that they invoked upon me the
curse of the goddess, to whom they were by law each compelled to make
sacrifice once in their lives. The men also lifted their hands to the
temple of Rimmon, the Air-god and Destroyer, the tower of which rose on
the opposite side of the great city, and from their thousand brazen
throats cried maledictions upon me, and called forth the most terrible
vengeance of their gods.
Many rushed towards me with uplifted staves, and even the soldiers
themselves shook their naked blades at me threateningly, but any such
hostile demonstration was promptly suppressed by my escort pressing
closely around me, guarding me from the irate mob, yet, at the same
time, looking upon me with suspicious dread.
With closed gates the city was agog, the guards watchful, the excited
populace on their housetops and terraces, wringing their hands in sheer
desperation, straining their eyes to catch sight of my ragged, unkempt
form; while the surging, turbulent crowd about me went mad with rage.
What treatment I was about to receive at the hands of my captors I
dreaded to contemplate, but remembering the ominous words engraven on
the tablet of Semiramis I felt that the penalty for being found in the
precincts of that forbidden region was death; for was I not in the Land
of the No Return? Yet, ignorant of this strange tongue, I could neither
appeal for clemency nor make explanation; therefore, forced to keep the
seal of silence upon my lips, I took in every detail of the
extraordinary scene, the magnificence and architectural wonders of the
city, and the dress and habits of this newly-discovered race.
At a distance of about half a league from the gate whereat we had
entered we passed through a second brazen portal of equal dimensions to
the first, guarded, as before, by a colossal winged monster in black
stone on either side. The single slab placed between the two figures
was, in the same manner as that at the outer gate, inscribed with many
lines of half-obliterated arrowheads, but above, suspended from a great
chain stretched between the stone monsters, was a large figure of the
human-headed lion in burnished copper. Here again the walls, fully a
hundred feet in height, were of enormous thickness, and as we entered
the great paved court the ponderous gates were closed in face of the
howling, execrating mob.
Warriors of Ea in their bright helmets and shining breastplates, bearing
glittering spears, swarmed everywhere, and as I was hurried across the
open court they pressed around, as eager to view me as if I were, of
some unknown species. A magnificent war-chariot, the sides of which
were of beaten gold, with quivers full of arrows hanging in readiness in
the front, was standing. The four splendid white horses harnessed to it
champed their bits and pawed the ground ready to start, and the driver,
with shield and spear in hand, held the reins, prepared to step in and
drive on through the opposite gate at any instant.
The man craned his neck as I passed, but my face was more eagerly
scanned by a richly-dressed woman in gold-embroidered robes who stood
beside him. The look of abject terror in her eyes caused me to give her
a second glance, and next instant I recollected her features.
It was the woman who had been placed upon the torture-wheel, and whose
bonds I had severed. Who was she? What was she? I wondered. Our eyes
met, and she started. The colour left her face when she saw I had
recognised her. Then turning from me in the direction of the temple of
Astarte, she raised her long, white arm, and with her hair falling to
her waist, gave utterance to that unknown invocation that fell from each
woman's lips.
A moment later I lost sight of her, being conducted up a gradual incline
and through many gates, strongly guarded by soldiers, whose arms flashed
and gleamed in the brilliant sunlight. The blare of brazen horns and
the clash of cymbals echoed everywhere among the great windowless
buildings ranged around the courtyard, until suddenly we came to yet
another gate, which was closed. Thrice a trumpeter blew long, deep
blasts, and when at length it opened there was revealed, standing alone,
an aged priest, whose snow-white beard swept to his waist. Attired in
white robes of gold-embroidered silk, with a strange headdress of gold,
fashioned to represent the sun, he uttered some unintelligible words in
a deep voice, slowly raising his arms as if in supplication to heaven.
As he did so a dead silence fell upon my captors, who, impressed by his
presence, halted and bent their heads, mumbling strangely. For a few
minutes the old priest remained calm and statuesque, then, with a few
final words, he walked slowly aside and was lost to view, while we
continued our way across a court where the exteriors of the buildings
were beautifully sculptured, and where there were many shady trees and
sweet-smelling flowers. These people were a nation of Infidels, who
knew nothing of Allah, or his Prophet, and who bowed before images of
wood and stone. They had faith in the sun, moon and stars, and
consulted them. When good or evil befell them, they ascribed it to
their celestial gods being favourable or unfavourable. The worship of
these gods was directed by the priests, who were guided in their turn by
soothsayers and magicians.
Half-way across this open space, however, my captors pulled up before a
wide door, guarded by two recumbent figures of winged monsters similar
to those at the outer gates, and entering a long, dark, stone corridor,
the walls of which were formed of strange bas-reliefs, they led me at
last down a flight of steps to a spacious, dimly-lit apartment with
walls, roof and floor of stone.
When they had left me, and their receding footsteps and strangely-hushed
voices had died away, I started to examine the cell. It was a large
place, air being admitted by a door of strong iron bars that led into a
kind of paved and covered patio. Towards the door I strode, and with my
face against the bars was peering out into the gloomy place beyond, when
suddenly a deep roar, that made the very walls shake, startled me,
causing me to draw back.
I did so only just in time, for at the same moment a great, shaggy body
hurled itself against the bars, bending them, causing them to rattle,
and for an instant shutting out the faint glimmer of grey light. Then,
as it fell back, gnashing its teeth, lashing its tail and roaring with
rage at having lost its prey, I saw, to my horror, that it was a great
lion, a veritable king of the forest.
With its snout against the bars it stood, rolling its eyes, lashing its
tail from side to side and glaring at me, while I shrank back trembling,
for I now knew the intention of my captors was to cast me to the lions
to be torn limb from limb.
What I had at first imagined to be a courtyard or patio was, in reality,
part of the lion-pit, above which were ranged many tiers of seats for
spectators who came on holidays to witness the helpless victims being
devoured by the beasts. The cell in which I was confined was where
captives were kept in readiness for the entertainments, for on
examination I found that the iron door could be raised from above, the
beasts being thus admitted to my cell without the gaoler running the
risk of entering to admit the animals.
Many inscriptions were rudely scratched upon the walls; but although I
endeavoured to decipher some of them, the only signs I could, in that
dim light, distinguish were, "_Li-ru-ru-su lu-bal-lu_." These
oft-repeated Assyrian words, scratched and engraven by many hands,
meant, "May the gods curse her, may they devour her!"
Slowly the hours crept on, but the fierce animal, crouching at the door
of my cell, held himself in readiness to pounce upon me if I should
emerge. He never took his fiery eyes from me. My every movement he
watched, silent and cat-like, scarcely moving for an hour together. I
knew that sooner or later I should be torn asunder by those cruel teeth
the beast displayed as he yawned widely in contemplation of appeasing
his hunger, and upon me there fell a settled despair. Alone and
helpless I paced the stones, worn smooth and bright by the nervous tramp
of thousands of previous victims, longing for the end. Death was
preferable to that terrible, breathless suspense.
Presently, when I had been there fully three hours, I heard the sounds
of reed instruments, clashing cymbals and rolling drums outside,
followed by the hum of human voices, at first low and distant, but, as
another hour wore on, increasing in volume. Shouts and light laughter
reached me, and, by the excited manner the dozen lions paced and repaced
before my cell, I felt instinctively that the great amphitheatre was now
filled with eager spectators.
Each moment seemed an hour. Awaiting my doom, I stood with my back
against the heavy-bolted door by which I had entered, with bated breath,
striving to meet my end with fortitude. Hoping against hope, my
strained eyes were watching the iron bars that separated me from the
hungry beasts, dreading each moment that they would be lifted.
Suddenly, as I stood thinking of Azala, wondering how she had fared, and
whether Tiamo had yet reached Kano with news of my death, one of the
shaggy beasts sprang past my bars, and next second a dull roar of
applause and the loud clapping of hands broke upon my ear.
A dead silence was again followed by the wild plaudits of the multitude.
Again and again this was repeated; then there seemed a long wait.
Apparently I was considered a valuable prize, and it was probable that
my turn was next.
At that moment one of the lions slunk past my cell to his lair, his tail
trailing on the ground and bearing between his teeth some object.
There crept over me a strange faintness such as I had never before
experienced. Yet I strove against it, supporting myself against the
wall, and knowing that my fate could not be much longer delayed.
Those moments were full of breathless horror. From where I stood I
could hear the animals crunching bones between their teeth. They were
preparing themselves for another victim. My blood froze in my veins.
The fatal moment at last came. A loud, grating noise sounded in the
roof of the cell, and slowly the iron bars were lifted bodily, removing
the barrier between myself and death.
I stood paralysed by fear. Another moment and I should cease to live!
Yet in that brief instant a flood of memories surged though my turbulent
brain, and the thought of my terrible doom was rendered the more acute
because I had actually succeeded in gaining the Land of the No Return
when all others had failed.
But before me was only a death most terrible, and I had no means by
which to defend myself.
One of the beasts, slinking slowly across the pavement some distance
away, espied me. Turning, he sniffed quickly, crouched, and with an
exultant bound sprang towards me.
In that instant, however, by what means I know not, the iron gate fell
with a metallic clang into its place, and the animal, thus frustrated,
crashed against the bars and tumbled back with a terrible roar of rage.
It was a hairbreadth escape. For a moment I was saved.
Seconds, full of breathless suspense, passed. Horror-stricken, my eyes
were fixed upon those iron bars, fearing lest they should rise again,
but it seemed that by design, and not by accident, the gate had fallen.
Time after time the shouts of the assembled multitude rent the hot air
as the prowling beasts pounced upon the captives. Still the iron bars
of my cell rose not again, and at last, when the animals had slunk into
their lairs to sleep, and the spectators had departed, I cast myself
into a corner of my cell to rest and think.
Darkness crept on apace; the quiet was broken only by the low, uneasy
roar of the lions, and at length a single streak of bright moonlight
fell across the paved court outside. In order to occupy my thoughts, I
tried to decipher some of the engraven inscriptions by feeling them with
my finger-tips. This, however, was not successful, because the
unfortunate wretches confined there had possessed no proper tools with
which to chip the stone. At length, however, footsteps resounded
outside, the bolts of the heavy door grated in their sockets, and as I
started up, four soldiers, two of whom bore lighted flambeaux, entered,
ordering me, by signs, to accompany them.
Eager to escape from the lion-pit! Waited not for a second invitation,
but hurried with them away up the steps, along the echoing corridor and
out into the moonlit court. All four grinned sardonically at the
eagerness with which I left the dreaded cell, but directing my footsteps
across two magnificent courts, we came to a great open space, in the
centre of which rose the enormous temple-tower of Astarte, before the
entrance of which a fire-altar burned. The high tower, which I had seen
from afar, was, I found, erected in seven square stages, each smaller
than the other and coloured differently, rising to such an enormous
height that its summit seemed almost beyond human gaze. The base was of
stupendous dimensions, and as we skirted it two clean-shaven eunuchs, in
flowing robes of bright crimson, guarded its alabaster portals, while
others stood beside the fire-altar, silent and motionless. Over the
great entrance to this temple of the Seven Lights, approached by a broad
flight of marble steps, was an enormous representation of the circle, in
which was the winged figure of a man in the act of discharging an arrow,
but having the tail of a bird. This symbol, denoting time without
bounds, or eternity, the image with its wings and tail of a dove showing
the association of Astarte, was the sacred emblem of Baal, and I
therefore knew that this magnificent and wonderful temple was devoted to
the supreme deity Belus, the altar of which stood ever-ready for the
sacrifice. Women, in soft, clinging robes of white and gold, flitted in
and out like shadows, while others wandered in pairs under the great
trees, chatting, laughing and enjoying the cool, bright night.
Presently we came to yet another huge gateway, consisting of two
colossal female figures carved from the solid rock, rising to a terrific
height, and bearing upon their heads the enormous block of stone forming
the top of the imposing entrance. The stupendous proportions of the
gate amazed me, but facing us, as we passed through, was a wonderful
structure, more extensive and more imposing than I had ever seen, rising
high above us and approached by a flight of a thousand stone steps of
great width. Upon each step stood two spearmen, one on either side, so
that the approach to the magnificent entrance to the royal palace was
guarded day and night by no fewer than two thousand armed men, standing
there, veritable giants, mute, silent, and ever watchful.
The scene was weird and imposing. As we stood at the foot of the steps
we gazed up between the files of warriors armed with shining steel.
Above, on either side of the giant portal, great fires leaped from
enormous braziers, the red flames illuminating, with a lurid brilliancy,
the wonderful, massive sculptured facade, and shedding a fitful glow
upon the lines of statuesque warriors.
Having passed through the gateway, we started to ascend the steps, but
ere we set foot on the first, our passage was barred by two thousand
glittering spears meeting one another with a ringing clash, and
presenting an impassable barrier of steel. Our progress thus arrested,
we halted, and at the same time one of my conductors shouted some
strange words, producing from the leathern pouch suspended at his side a
small hollow cylinder of grey baked clay, which he held above his head.
In a moment two stalwart men, evidently officers, wearing breastplates
of beaten gold, advanced and eagerly scrutinised the cylinder. Having
carefully read some words thereon inscribed, they examined the
impression of the seal. Both men having satisfied themselves that our
credential was genuine, regarded me with mixed curiosity and awe, then
shouted an order which caused the long lines of guards to withdraw their
spears with a clash at the same moment, almost as if they were one man.
The great steps were high and steep, and the ascent long and tedious.
Once or twice we halted to regain breath, then panting on again, climbed
higher and yet higher towards the most gigantic and wonderful palace in
the world. Half-way up I turned, and saw the immense city of Ea, full
of bright lights and gaiety, lying deep below, while beyond was a
background of towering, snow-capped mountains, looking almost fairylike
under the brilliant moon.
So extraordinary was the scene, and of such colossal proportions was the
palace, that I felt inclined to doubt my own eyes; yet it was no dream.
I was actually in Ea, approaching a structure, the mere,
fantastically-sculptured facade of which was of such height and
magnitude that, even though my eyes were dazzled, I marvelled at the
many slaves who had doubtless been engaged in its construction.
At last, gaping and bewildered, I stood upon the great paved area before
the gigantic entrance, on either side of which were colossal winged
bulls sculptured from white alabaster. Ere we were allowed to proceed
we were compelled to again exhibit the strange clay cylinder, and then
were permitted to pass between the enormous bulls, finding ourselves in
a vast hall lit by flaming braziers. Upon the alabaster walls were the
sculptured records of the empire. Battles, sieges, triumphs, the
exploits of the chase, the ceremonies of religion were there portrayed,
delicately sculptured and painted in bright colours. Beneath each
picture was engraved, in characters filled up with bright copper,
inscriptions describing the scene represented. Above these sculptures
were painted other events--monarchs, attended by eunuchs and warriors,
receiving their prisoners, entering into alliances with other monarchs,
or performing some sacred duty. The emblematic tree, similar to the one
I had discovered upon the tablet of Semiramis, winged bulls and
monstrous, eagle-headed animals were conspicuous among the ornaments of
the coloured borders enclosing these strange wall-pictures. At the
upper end of the hall was a colossal statue of a queen, evidently
Semiramis herself, in adoration before the supreme deity, her robes
being adorned by lines of arrowheads, groups of figures, animals and
flowers, all painted in brilliant hues, a group of white-robed women
praying before her. Several doorways, formed by gigantic winged horses
and lions, or human-headed monsters, led into other apartments, in each
of which were more sculptures, while the alabaster slabs upon which we
trod each bore an inscription recording the titles, genealogy and
achievements of some monarch of past ages.
It was indeed an entrance of amazing magnificence, with ceiling of
massive beams of dull gold, but mere stupendous still were the many vast
apartments through which I was ushered. Elegant women of the court,
unveiled, reclining on couches, and attended by slaves who slowly fanned
them, gazed at us languidly as we passed, and from some of the great
chambers there came sounds of stringed instruments and cymbals where
women were revelling and dancing. At each door were stationed four
warriors, wearing breastplates of gold, and standing motionless, with
drawn blades, while above the entrances the brazen sign of the deity was
invariably suspended by a chain.
The palace was bewildering in magnificence, amazing in extent.
At last, turning suddenly to the right, we entered a small chamber
crowded by courtiers, soldiers and slaves, who, however, spoke only in
hushed tones. Here our appearance caused the utmost consternation, and
the men drew back, as if fearing that my touch might contaminate them.
Two courtiers, however, emerged from the crowd, and, having held a
conversation with my guides in an undertone, they produced under-robes
of linen, a rich outer garment of green silk, and sandals such as they
themselves wore. By signs they commanded me to assume them, and when I
had discarded my old, dirty and tattered gandoura, and attired myself in
their strange dress, I paused, wondering what strange adventure would
next befall me.
Great curtains of yellow silk, upon which hideous monsters had been
embroidered, hid the opposite entrance, which was guarded by a body of
twelve armed men, whom I knew to be eunuchs by their clean-shaven faces
and curious, golden head-dresses.
Suddenly four trumpeters--two stationed on either side--raised their
enormous horns of gold, and with one accord blew three ear-piercing
blasts, at sound of which all present bowed low in the direction of the
curtains, an example which my guides motioned me to follow.
As we did so the great silken hangings slowly parted, revealing a scene
so unexpected and dazzling that I stood agape in stupefaction. It was
marvellous, incredible, astounding; its brilliancy caused my bewildered
eyes to blind; its striking splendour filled me with amazement. I stood
lost in wonder; held in fascination.