unknowncodex

[unknowncodex]

Indeed, the health of these people seems remarkable. Not once since I have arrived have I seen a harelip, a clubfoot, a missing tooth, a walleye. Some one or other I have seen with a crutch, and one man with no legs who sat in a chair: like a lord at his board with rests for his arms! This chair was wheeled like a chariot: more dignified by far than the veteran of our foreign wars one sees begging on the streetcorner and dragging himself to and fro upon hands and stumps.

A woman I saw yestereve, who was simple of mind, and spoke not: yet she had, strapped to her arm, a mystical device from which issued a voice, speaking the words her mouth could not form. Thus, in this land do the mute speak and the lame walk!

[unknowncodex]

The people of this land are very large: tall and broad; fat, sleek, and well-formed. They are truly majestic figures. What poor starveling hath not looked upon a well-fed lord and wished he were such an one? The old blessing saith, "May thy shadow never grow less," and truly, not one inhabitant of this country have I seen with the marks of a hungry winter upon him. What a blessed land this is, that its people go not hungry and that its harvests never fail!

[unknowncodex]

I shall tell you of the magical powers of these people, that you may wonder as I do.

They burn many lamps within their houses, worrying not o'er the cost of the wax or the oil. A few of these burn with ordinary yellow flame, but there are also in their houses many strange metal stands, like unto torches or candlesticks, and upon these have been placed great glowing orbs or swirls of fire. These are so bright that, like the sun, they do burn the eye that gazes directly upon them, and they make the house as radiant at nighttime as it is at midday.

Mine hosts did laugh at my astonishment when first they kindled these magical torches, for I find that every man and woman of that country have the mystical ability to light them, and to keep them burning as many hours as they wish - though I have gathered that leaving a magical torch burning for too long unnecessarily causes a needless diminishment of their powers.

[unknowncodex]

I fear greatly, for this house in which I am staying, while in this mysterious land, is haunted. The spirit of a woman goes about the house and speaketh to the inhabitants. By gods either good or evil, I know not which, she hath learned more than any mortal that e'er I heard of. The inhabitants of this large and commodious house do call upon her name, and she answereth any question which they may put to her, with no hesitation and seemingly without error.

At times, also, you may hear the ghost singing, but when you enter the room from whence cometh the song, ye will see nothing. The inhabitants of the house, accustomed to much magic, show no signs of fear, while I am driven nigh out of my mind with terror.

[unknowncodex]

I hardly dare tell you the things I have found in this magical land. The people there are wizards, one and all, every one capable of some magic. Magic is in the very air about them.