folds, like the overlapping plaits on the flank of a rhinoceros.
Their heads were completely bald, whilst their faces were
puckered into a thousand wrinkles, and they presented no vestige
of a beard. But the most remarkable peculiarity about them was
the appearance of their feet; the toes, like the radiating lines
of the mariner's compass, pointed to every quarter of the
horizon. This was doubtless attributable to the fact, that
during nearly a hundred years of existence the said toes never
had been subjected to any artificial confinement, and in their
old age, being averse to close neighbourhood, bid one another
keep open order.

These repulsive-looking creatures appeared to have lost the use
of their lower limbs altogether; sitting upon the floor
cross-legged in a state of torpor. They never heeded us in the
least, scarcely looking conscious of our presence, while Mehevi
seated us upon the mats, and Kory-Kory gave utterance to some
unintelligible gibberish.

In a few moments a boy entered with a wooden trencher of
poee-poee; and in regaling myself with its contents I was obliged
again to submit to the officious intervention of my indefatigable
servitor. Various other dishes followed, the chief manifesting
the most hospitable importunity in pressing us to partake, and to
remove all bashfulness on our part, set us no despicable example
in his own person.

The repast concluded, a pipe was lighted, which passed from mouth
to mouth, and yielding to its soporific influence, the quiet of
the place, and the deepening shadows of approaching night, my