The City Without a Name (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VI. AMAM-MAYB LAND. I Was conducted to a nice, clean room, about sixteen feet square. The ceiling was about ten feet high. The walla were smoothly plastered and whitewashed. The floor was covered with mats of skins dressed with the fur. At one side a hammock of netted twine, variously colored, invited my tired bones to rest. Two or three little tables, no higher than the seat of a chair, were standing about the room. I should have mistaken them for seats had it not chanced that in passing an open door I saw some men seated on tho floor round a similar piece of furniture. The door was fitted with a strong wooden shutter hung on hinges of a dark metal that I afterward knew to be bronze. On the side opposite the door was a small, unglazed window, about six feet from the floor. It was evidently intended more for ventilation than for observation, and was provided with a curtain of woolen material. But the most interesting thing in the room was a large mirror of polished silver standing against the wall to the right. It was as high as my head, about two and a half feet wide, and framed in an elegant design in polished bronze. The officer waved his hand toward a beautiful spotted skin rug and prayed me to rest myself. Huanaro deposited my knapsack and rifle in a corner and then, after prostrating himself, went out. I reclined upon tha skin with a sigh of contentment. What luxury, after the toils of the forest. I looked at the officer critically. It was my desire to make friends whenever it was possible among this people, but I knew that it would not do to show it. Therefore I waited some time before speaking. Then I said: "This is a pleasant change, after the wilderness. Your post is clean and comfortable, and your men seem well drilled." The officer was...