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Updated: June 20, 2025
Nofuhl came into the cabin this evening with some of his metal plates and discoursed upon them. He has no respect for the intellects of the early Mehrikans. I thought for a moment I had caught him in a contradiction, but he was right as usual. It was thus: Nofuhl. They were great readers. Khan-li. You have told us they had no literature. Were they great readers of nothing? Nofuhl.
"No Egyptian ever heard of Mehrika," said Nofuhl. "This obelisk was finished twenty centuries before the first Mehrikan was weaned. In all probability it was brought here as a curiosity, just as we take to Persia the bronze head of George-wash-yn-tun." We spent much time over the monument, and I think Nofuhl was disappointed that he could not bring it away with him.
For myself I liked not his manner. He appeared little impressed by so many strangers, and bore himself as though it were of small importance whether we understood him or not. But Nofuhl since informed me that he asked a multitude of questions concerning us. What Nofuhl gathered was this: This Mehrikan with his wife and one old man were all that remained of his race.
The sunshine is of dazzling brightness, birds are singing everywhere, and the ruins are gay with gorgeous wild flowers. We soon found ourselves in what was once a public square, now for the most part a shady grove. As we sat on a fallen cornice and gazed on the lofty buildings about us I asked Nofuhl if he was still in ignorance as to where we were, and he said: "As yet I know not.
A day like this, it was, also in June, as the Europeans, coming northward along the coast to seize Nhu-Yok, met the Mehrikan Admiral Nev-r-sai-di with his eighty ships. And the struggle was short. Khan-li. Verily, I can believe it! With three ships to one I would give the Europeans about half a day a summer afternoon like this to send the greedy ones to the bottom. Nofuhl.
"Then let thy grief be of short life," responded Nofuhl, "for Mehrikan damsels were not of that description. Blush-ing was an art they practised little. The shyness thou so lovest in a Persian maiden was to them an unknown thing. Our shrinking daughters bear no resemblance to these Western products.
"Thou hast never told us, O Nofuhl! the cause of their disappearance." "There were many causes," he answered. "The Mehrikans themselves were of English origin, but people from all parts of Europe came here in vast numbers. Although the original comers were vigorous and hardy the effect of climate upon succeeding generations was fatal.
Our steps soon brought us into another street, and as we walked I expressed my surprise at the wonderful preservation of the stone work, which looked as though cut but yesterday. "In such an atmosphere decay is slow," said Nofuhl. "A thousand years at least have passed since these houses were occupied.
Even women, both of high and low degree, spent much of their time at bargains, crowding and jostling each other in vast marts of trade, for their attire was complicated, and demanded most of their time." "How degrading!" I exclaimed. "So it must have been," said Nofuhl; "but they were not without virtues. Their domestic life was happy. A man had but one wife, and treated her as his equal."
The flood of light they throw upon the manners and customs of this ludicrous people renders them of priceless value to historians. I harbor a suspicion that it causes Nofuhl some pleasure to sit upon the cool deck of the Ziotuhb and watch Bhoz-ja-khaz walking to and fro upon the ruins of a distant wharf. 19th May The air is cooler. Grip-til-lah thinks a storm is brewing.
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