the side of the opposing hill, and dominated by a huge circular
building of dark stone, the caravan raised a great shout of joy.  It
shouted in several tongues, in the tongues of Phœnicia, of Egypt, of
the Hebrews, of Arabia, and of the coasts of Africa, for all these
peoples were represented amongst its numbers.  Well might the wanderers
cry out in their delight, seeing that at length, after eight months of
perilous travelling from the coast, they beheld the walls of their
city of rest, of the golden Ophir of the Bible.  Their company had
started from the eastern port, numbering fifteen hundred men, besides
women and children, and of those not more than half were left alive.
Once a savage tribe had ambushed them, killing many.  Once the
pestilential fever of the low lands had taken them so that they died
of it by scores.  Twice also had they suffered heavily through hunger
and thirst, to say nothing of their losses by the fangs of lions,
crocodiles, and other wild beasts which with the country swarmed.  Now
their toils were over; and for six months, or perhaps a year, they
might rest and trade in the Great City, enjoying its wealth, its
flesh-pots, and the unholy orgies which, among people of the Phœnician
race, were dignified by the name of the worship of the gods of heaven.