Chapter 10, Part D
Chebron, upon going to the temple the day of Neco's death, found all sorts of rumors wandering about. It seemed that in the night, a group of men came and were going to steal the special instruments used in the priests' rituals when they were discovered and came over the wall by the way of the ladders.
Amuba and Chebron talked over the situation and decided to tell Ameres about it. After dinner that day, Ameres called Chebron into his study.
"Have you heard, Chebron, that some scurrilous people came into the temple and escaped over the wall last night?" Ameres asked.
"I haven't heard anything, Father," said Chebron. "But I have done things. May I tell you about it?"
Then Chebron told him the story of how he and Amuba went into the temple and then escaped.
"That was a very hard scrape, Chebron," said Ameres. "They could have slain you without mercy if you had been caught. Today, I received a letter from Ptylus that he had suddenly been called to go off and see a sick relative of his. No doubt that he was in guilt because he has gone off so quickly. No doubt that it had something with your brother's death - they probably caught a glimpse of you on the wall and saw your priestly attire and suspected that you were Neco."
Monday, April 11, 2011
George Washington's World - Leave Our Land
"Englishmen! Although you have conquered the French, you have not yet conquered us! These rivers and woods and meadows are ours and we will part with none of them!" Such were the words of an Ottawa chief at the end of the war. Pontiac, now a great strong chief of the Ottawa tribe, looked out to the forts near his home and no longer saw the white and lily flag of the friendly French, but the hated red, white and blue flag of the English. He believed the French would come and help him sometime soon and drive the English across back across the mountains.
Drive the English back across the mountains! That was what Pontiac believed the Indians should do. He went from tribe to tribe, calling on them to assist him. It went well, and soon 11 English forts fell to the Indians. Only Fort Pitt and Fort Detroit were not taken. Pontiac has planned to take Fort Detroit by surprise. He planned to go in on a 'peaceful mission' and once inside, signal for his warriors to draw their weapons and to surprise the unsuspecting English. But the commander of Fort Detroit had heard tale of this news, and once entering, Pontiac saw that something was wrong and withdrew without giving the signal. The Indians had to settle with laying siege to the fort. This was not successful.
One of the commanders of the English was very angry. He wrote to the commander of Fort Pitt to find a way to get rid of the Indians by spreading small pox among them. So the commander gave blankets infected with smallpox to the Delaware and Shawnee tribes. The disease quickly spread, killing whole villages at once.
Drive the English back across the mountains! That was what Pontiac believed the Indians should do. He went from tribe to tribe, calling on them to assist him. It went well, and soon 11 English forts fell to the Indians. Only Fort Pitt and Fort Detroit were not taken. Pontiac has planned to take Fort Detroit by surprise. He planned to go in on a 'peaceful mission' and once inside, signal for his warriors to draw their weapons and to surprise the unsuspecting English. But the commander of Fort Detroit had heard tale of this news, and once entering, Pontiac saw that something was wrong and withdrew without giving the signal. The Indians had to settle with laying siege to the fort. This was not successful.
Fort Detroit, circa 1750
One of the commanders of the English was very angry. He wrote to the commander of Fort Pitt to find a way to get rid of the Indians by spreading small pox among them. So the commander gave blankets infected with smallpox to the Delaware and Shawnee tribes. The disease quickly spread, killing whole villages at once.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Cat of Bubastes #11
Chapter 9, Part D
After the magistrates had left, Ameres ordered the corpse to be brought to his own house. A parade started out with the body. When the parade came to the house where Ameres and Amense lived, Amense and Mysa came out with their hair unbound and wailing and crying, they joined the parade. The parade went into their house. They had a party; the guests were especially perfumed and had a lot of flowers, which was unusual for parties. Then they went and carried the body to Chegeron, the embalmer.
When the 40 days of embalming was going on, the strictest mourning was in the house. No meat or wheaten bread was eaten and even the luxury of the bath was abandoned. The men shaved their eyebrows off and the women, for their part, their cries of lamentation echoed through the house. After the 40 days, the body was brought back all mummified, and in the special room that is in all large Egyptian houses, for the dead, they went in and brought the body. Special sacrifices, similar to those in the temple, were made. Mysa and Amense came into the room; when they did, their hair was unbound as before and they bathed the mummy's feet with their tears and they exclaimed with loud tears of grief and praises for the dead.
Then they went outside and they all went down together in a procession. The ranks were assembled from highest to lowest (I think - I'm not sure). There was a sledge pulled by four oxen and seven men. In the sledge was a boat and in the boat was the mummy with a coffin around it. Amense and Mysa were seated in the boat. (Poor men and oxen who had to pull all of that!) They reached the sacred lake near the temple and the boat was unloaded from the sledge. There were other boats there. Chebron, Amense and Mysa were sat in the boat with the coffin. There were more boats, so everyone sailed across the lake together.
After the magistrates had left, Ameres ordered the corpse to be brought to his own house. A parade started out with the body. When the parade came to the house where Ameres and Amense lived, Amense and Mysa came out with their hair unbound and wailing and crying, they joined the parade. The parade went into their house. They had a party; the guests were especially perfumed and had a lot of flowers, which was unusual for parties. Then they went and carried the body to Chegeron, the embalmer.
When the 40 days of embalming was going on, the strictest mourning was in the house. No meat or wheaten bread was eaten and even the luxury of the bath was abandoned. The men shaved their eyebrows off and the women, for their part, their cries of lamentation echoed through the house. After the 40 days, the body was brought back all mummified, and in the special room that is in all large Egyptian houses, for the dead, they went in and brought the body. Special sacrifices, similar to those in the temple, were made. Mysa and Amense came into the room; when they did, their hair was unbound as before and they bathed the mummy's feet with their tears and they exclaimed with loud tears of grief and praises for the dead.
Then they went outside and they all went down together in a procession. The ranks were assembled from highest to lowest (I think - I'm not sure). There was a sledge pulled by four oxen and seven men. In the sledge was a boat and in the boat was the mummy with a coffin around it. Amense and Mysa were seated in the boat. (Poor men and oxen who had to pull all of that!) They reached the sacred lake near the temple and the boat was unloaded from the sledge. There were other boats there. Chebron, Amense and Mysa were sat in the boat with the coffin. There were more boats, so everyone sailed across the lake together.
George Washington's World - The Surrender of Quebec
This really about the surrender of Quebec, but there is some other things that happened to.
England had been wanting Fort Pitt and Quebec to be in their hands. Fort Pitt was not named for William Pitt originally -it had been made by the French and so had a French name that I can't remember.
The English took over the Ohio land that they had been arguing about with the French. The English set siege to a prominent French fort; the French finally gave in, but set fire to the fort as they fled. The English rebuilt a new fort, and named in Fort Pitt after the Great Commoner, William Pitt.
The English were getting ready for the taking of Quebec. The general which Pitt had selected to lead was James Wolfe, a daring, brave young man. He waited for a night where there wasn't any moon, then silently muffling their oars, they rowed to a place where they could quietly climb up the cliffs. (Quebec was on top of some steep cliffs with the river down below.)
Those in the General's boat could hear him quoting a poem,
"The curfew tolls the knell of parting day. The lowing herd winds slowly over the lea. The poughman homewards wends his weary way and leaves the world to darkness and to me."
"Gentleman," he said simply when he was finished, "I would rather have written that poem than have taken Quebec tomorrow."
They reached the top of the cliff before dawn broke. The French, caught completely by surprise, did their best to fight, but they lost. The fighting was so fierce but so short that the plains of Abraham, where the battle was fought, were stained with blood. The two generals, Montcalm who was the general appointed for Quebec, and Wolfe both lay dying.
As Montcalm lay dying, he said, "Thank God I shall not live to see the surrender of Quebec."
That was the end of the French and Indian war and Montcalm knew it! The French had lost!
England had been wanting Fort Pitt and Quebec to be in their hands. Fort Pitt was not named for William Pitt originally -it had been made by the French and so had a French name that I can't remember.
The English took over the Ohio land that they had been arguing about with the French. The English set siege to a prominent French fort; the French finally gave in, but set fire to the fort as they fled. The English rebuilt a new fort, and named in Fort Pitt after the Great Commoner, William Pitt.
The English were getting ready for the taking of Quebec. The general which Pitt had selected to lead was James Wolfe, a daring, brave young man. He waited for a night where there wasn't any moon, then silently muffling their oars, they rowed to a place where they could quietly climb up the cliffs. (Quebec was on top of some steep cliffs with the river down below.)
Those in the General's boat could hear him quoting a poem,
"The curfew tolls the knell of parting day. The lowing herd winds slowly over the lea. The poughman homewards wends his weary way and leaves the world to darkness and to me."
"Gentleman," he said simply when he was finished, "I would rather have written that poem than have taken Quebec tomorrow."
They reached the top of the cliff before dawn broke. The French, caught completely by surprise, did their best to fight, but they lost. The fighting was so fierce but so short that the plains of Abraham, where the battle was fought, were stained with blood. The two generals, Montcalm who was the general appointed for Quebec, and Wolfe both lay dying.
As Montcalm lay dying, he said, "Thank God I shall not live to see the surrender of Quebec."
That was the end of the French and Indian war and Montcalm knew it! The French had lost!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Cat of Bubastes #10
Chapter 9, Part C
Chebron and Mysa bore the news pretty easily because they had barely ever seen Neco. They were more awed and stunned by the suddenness of his death than grieved at his dying. Ameres went to Neco's house to find out some 'clews' but he found none. Apparently, someone had been waiting right outside the door for Neco. He would have been probably reporting on someone who wanted to get him back for their punishment so he was murdered. The temple said the same thing as Neco's house did, so Ameres went home.
Four magistrates came to their house and picked up all the clues. Then they questioned anyone who might have a grudge against Neco. Everyone just said that they were asleep and the four magistrates did not find out anything at all.
Chebron and Mysa bore the news pretty easily because they had barely ever seen Neco. They were more awed and stunned by the suddenness of his death than grieved at his dying. Ameres went to Neco's house to find out some 'clews' but he found none. Apparently, someone had been waiting right outside the door for Neco. He would have been probably reporting on someone who wanted to get him back for their punishment so he was murdered. The temple said the same thing as Neco's house did, so Ameres went home.
Four magistrates came to their house and picked up all the clues. Then they questioned anyone who might have a grudge against Neco. Everyone just said that they were asleep and the four magistrates did not find out anything at all.
George Washington's World - The Empire Builder
William Pitt would disagree with the king, except this time he sided with the king. He said it would be a good idea for them to go to war against the rest of England.
William Pitt was a good empire-builder. He had a vision for England that last for over a hundred years. He was pretty serious and he was great with writing and talking. Again, when he talked, everybody listened... and people rarely argued with him (except the king). He was a great member of the House of Commons.
In India, a Rajah attacked and took over a British fort, with French help. The Black Hole of Calcutta was a small room with only two small windows in it. During this attack, 64 British prisoners were shoved into this room. That night, the heat was so stifling that by morning, all but 21 of the prisoners had died. 43 had died!
Clive avenged the Black Hole of Calcutta and taking the French trading post in Bengal. That was all Clive had been ordered to do, but he thought, "Why stop there?" Now there was an opportunity to take Prince Sujari from the throne - he was the one who had ordered the Black Hole of Calcutta prison.
Clive had this expedition put not only more money in his pocket but it made him even more famous.
William Pitt was a good empire-builder. He had a vision for England that last for over a hundred years. He was pretty serious and he was great with writing and talking. Again, when he talked, everybody listened... and people rarely argued with him (except the king). He was a great member of the House of Commons.
In India, a Rajah attacked and took over a British fort, with French help. The Black Hole of Calcutta was a small room with only two small windows in it. During this attack, 64 British prisoners were shoved into this room. That night, the heat was so stifling that by morning, all but 21 of the prisoners had died. 43 had died!
Clive avenged the Black Hole of Calcutta and taking the French trading post in Bengal. That was all Clive had been ordered to do, but he thought, "Why stop there?" Now there was an opportunity to take Prince Sujari from the throne - he was the one who had ordered the Black Hole of Calcutta prison.
Clive had this expedition put not only more money in his pocket but it made him even more famous.
George Washington's World - Seven Years War Begins
Marie Therese declared war on King Frederick of Prussia, hoping against hope that she would recover her Silesia that had been stolen from her. Elizabeth, Empress of Russia, planned with her and Madame de Pompadour also plotted with them, as she did most of the thinking of the Louis XV. She herself might as well have been the ruler. Louis XV was really bored with the whole thing, but as he did not have any particular objection, he signed the contract to go to war with King Frederick.
King Frederick, scornful as ever, called it the "Petticoat Plot" because the three most powerful women - or as Frederick called them, the Petticoat Wearers, had plotted against him. All the empires of the world joined in to fight against Europe: Spain, Austria, France, Russia, Sweden... all except England.
England thought it would be a good idea if she helped King Frederick, mostly because they had a German King and he didn't want his province of Hanover to be captured by the French.
Frederick was a little in despair; he and Prussia were in danger. Luckily for England, William Pitt did agree with the king - they did need to go to war on Frederick's side.
King Frederick, scornful as ever, called it the "Petticoat Plot" because the three most powerful women - or as Frederick called them, the Petticoat Wearers, had plotted against him. All the empires of the world joined in to fight against Europe: Spain, Austria, France, Russia, Sweden... all except England.
England thought it would be a good idea if she helped King Frederick, mostly because they had a German King and he didn't want his province of Hanover to be captured by the French.
Frederick was a little in despair; he and Prussia were in danger. Luckily for England, William Pitt did agree with the king - they did need to go to war on Frederick's side.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Cat of Bubastes #9
Chapter 9, Part B
They ran for the ladders in the third courtyards. Voices were heard around them but no one discovered them. They prssed on towards the court. They finally reachced it, one or two short ladders were there, but one long one could be seen against the skyline.
"Mount, Chebron," Amuba exclaimed.
Chebron began climbing and had gotten to the top when some men came into the courtyard and Amuba had barely joined him when a man caught sight of the ladder and ran towards them shouting for his comrades.
"Pull Chebron," Amuba exclaimed.
Chebron at once assisted him and at once they pulled up the ladder well before the men had reached it.
"Where to now?" Chebron said.
"Somewhere near the gates, I think," Amuba said.
Critical as the position was, Amuba could not help marveling how the whole temple looked from there. The marble tops criss-crossed and recrossed as they ran along the tops. Finally, they put the ladder down real quick.
Amuba said, "We had better be quick for they will soon tie the short ladders together and be up and after us."
They put down the ladder and quickly went down. Amuba said, "We had better get out of sight before they find the top of the ladder for then they will have no idea in which direction we have gone and they will give up the chase."
They went home, discussing what to do and whether to tell Ameres or not. They decided it would be best to keep silent for a while.
Next morning, a priest came and demanded to see Ameres. "Your son Neco has been killed," he said.
"Nico killed?" Ameres said stunned.
"Yes," the priest replied. "It was his turn to do the sacrifices and he did not come early with the other two priests. A messenger was sent to get him and found him just a few paces outside his home with a dagger in his heart."
Ameres waved his hand to show that he wished to be alone. He sat down, stunned with grief. He and Neco had not been close. Neco had felt more anger and disrespect towards his father as he had grown older. Still, Ameres felt stunned at the suddenness until a cry of grief was heard from the mother's quarters. It showed that the priest had told the servants and the servants has carried the news to Neco's mother.
Ameres rose and tried to comfort Amense. He didn't. She had always thought he would be the successor to Ameres and had been so proud that he was rising quickly and steadily in the esteem of the other priests at the temple. She could not be consoled.
They ran for the ladders in the third courtyards. Voices were heard around them but no one discovered them. They prssed on towards the court. They finally reachced it, one or two short ladders were there, but one long one could be seen against the skyline.
"Mount, Chebron," Amuba exclaimed.
Chebron began climbing and had gotten to the top when some men came into the courtyard and Amuba had barely joined him when a man caught sight of the ladder and ran towards them shouting for his comrades.
"Pull Chebron," Amuba exclaimed.
Chebron at once assisted him and at once they pulled up the ladder well before the men had reached it.
"Where to now?" Chebron said.
"Somewhere near the gates, I think," Amuba said.
Critical as the position was, Amuba could not help marveling how the whole temple looked from there. The marble tops criss-crossed and recrossed as they ran along the tops. Finally, they put the ladder down real quick.
Amuba said, "We had better be quick for they will soon tie the short ladders together and be up and after us."
They put down the ladder and quickly went down. Amuba said, "We had better get out of sight before they find the top of the ladder for then they will have no idea in which direction we have gone and they will give up the chase."
They went home, discussing what to do and whether to tell Ameres or not. They decided it would be best to keep silent for a while.
Next morning, a priest came and demanded to see Ameres. "Your son Neco has been killed," he said.
"Nico killed?" Ameres said stunned.
"Yes," the priest replied. "It was his turn to do the sacrifices and he did not come early with the other two priests. A messenger was sent to get him and found him just a few paces outside his home with a dagger in his heart."
Ameres waved his hand to show that he wished to be alone. He sat down, stunned with grief. He and Neco had not been close. Neco had felt more anger and disrespect towards his father as he had grown older. Still, Ameres felt stunned at the suddenness until a cry of grief was heard from the mother's quarters. It showed that the priest had told the servants and the servants has carried the news to Neco's mother.
Ameres rose and tried to comfort Amense. He didn't. She had always thought he would be the successor to Ameres and had been so proud that he was rising quickly and steadily in the esteem of the other priests at the temple. She could not be consoled.
George Washington's World - George Washington's Humiliation
George Washington stood in the General's office. The General was giving him directions on where and how to take a letter to the French.
"This is important, you know, Washington."
"Yes, sir," said Washington.
"I'm trusting you very much, you know."
"Yes sir," said Washington, wondering when the conversation was going to end and he was going to get on his journey.
"Now, go now," said the General.
"Alright sir,"said George Washington, thankful that the conversation was done.
He left the room and the General was left. Washington started out. It was a long hard journey but they made it. They delivered the letter and came back.
The next time they went, it was even harder than the first time, as they had come for war and a treaty. The journey there was really hard. But the journey back was even worse. When they had arrived, they had found a camp of soldiers right there. The Virginians had quietly surrounded the camp, and then Washington gave the order to "Attack!"
Twelve men, including a leader, fell dead. The other 20 men were forced to surrender to Washington.
Washington, after his success, was marching back. But he was also taken by surprise. This time, he didn't take the French by surprise; they took HIM by surprise. Washington was forced to surrender and march back home. The French made him sign a piece of paper before they would let him go; Washington's translator looked it over and said it would be fine to sign. Washington signed it, not realizing he was signing a piece of paper of his own admission that he had murdered the French men at the camp.
His spirits were not improved when he got home because he was taken ill and had to lay in bed for many, many weeks. His only hope for Sally to drop in and talk to him, but he had words for her that he was sad that she would never care to hear, for she was the wife of one of his best neighbors and friends.
At last he got better and set out again for the camp against the French. He went with an army, also with a big silly guy who was trained to fight on the battlefield, but totally inexperienced in the wildlife of the woods. His men weren't trained to fight in the woods either. And they were going through woods!
After a while, seething with impatience, George Washington told the nincompoop to go on ahead. They were easily seen marching through the woods in their redcoats, and the French and Indians attacked them there.
Washington shouted for the nincompoop, General Braddock, to bring back his ranks as Washington's second horse fell under him, dead. Braddock refused to fall back. Washington rode about on his third horse, riding here and there, doing the best he could to restore order to the ranks. The Virginians obeyed him but Braddock's troops did not know what to do. Others stood still, getting shot down like pigeons on their roost. Others rode here and there and killed each other by riding over their own soldiers.
Washington finally forced a retreat. General Braddock died of his wounds a day or two later. Washington became a little more known and became a little more popular after that battle.
"This is important, you know, Washington."
"Yes, sir," said Washington.
"I'm trusting you very much, you know."
"Yes sir," said Washington, wondering when the conversation was going to end and he was going to get on his journey.
"Now, go now," said the General.
"Alright sir,"said George Washington, thankful that the conversation was done.
He left the room and the General was left. Washington started out. It was a long hard journey but they made it. They delivered the letter and came back.
The next time they went, it was even harder than the first time, as they had come for war and a treaty. The journey there was really hard. But the journey back was even worse. When they had arrived, they had found a camp of soldiers right there. The Virginians had quietly surrounded the camp, and then Washington gave the order to "Attack!"
Twelve men, including a leader, fell dead. The other 20 men were forced to surrender to Washington.
Washington, after his success, was marching back. But he was also taken by surprise. This time, he didn't take the French by surprise; they took HIM by surprise. Washington was forced to surrender and march back home. The French made him sign a piece of paper before they would let him go; Washington's translator looked it over and said it would be fine to sign. Washington signed it, not realizing he was signing a piece of paper of his own admission that he had murdered the French men at the camp.
His spirits were not improved when he got home because he was taken ill and had to lay in bed for many, many weeks. His only hope for Sally to drop in and talk to him, but he had words for her that he was sad that she would never care to hear, for she was the wife of one of his best neighbors and friends.
At last he got better and set out again for the camp against the French. He went with an army, also with a big silly guy who was trained to fight on the battlefield, but totally inexperienced in the wildlife of the woods. His men weren't trained to fight in the woods either. And they were going through woods!
After a while, seething with impatience, George Washington told the nincompoop to go on ahead. They were easily seen marching through the woods in their redcoats, and the French and Indians attacked them there.
Washington shouted for the nincompoop, General Braddock, to bring back his ranks as Washington's second horse fell under him, dead. Braddock refused to fall back. Washington rode about on his third horse, riding here and there, doing the best he could to restore order to the ranks. The Virginians obeyed him but Braddock's troops did not know what to do. Others stood still, getting shot down like pigeons on their roost. Others rode here and there and killed each other by riding over their own soldiers.
Washington finally forced a retreat. General Braddock died of his wounds a day or two later. Washington became a little more known and became a little more popular after that battle.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Cat of Bubastes #8
Chapter 9, Part A:
Amuba and Chebron went for another walk in the moonlight. They were walking by the temple when Amuba said, "What does that door lead to?" because there was an open door in front of them. They looked at it.
"Shall we go?" Amuba asked. Chebron hesitated.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Chebron asked.
"We'll only be there for a little bit. Don't be so silly as to think it's dangerous," said Amuba.
"Oh, alright," said Chebron somewhat reluctantly, following Amuba into the passage.
They walked along the passage for quite a ways. The passage got slowly narrower and narrower until they reached a point where it was only 3 feet high and just wide enough for a man to pass through it. Amuba went through and looked around
"There's enough room for us to be in here," he called out. "Come on!"
There was a ledge about a foot wide and beyond that, a stone floor.
Chebron said, "I wonder what strange place this is. Look, yonder is a little hole!"
Amuba went over and stuck his hand down. He said, "It's strange. It might be something for someone to see through, but it would be hard with just this little slit at the end."
And then he said, "Chebron? This must be one of the great figures and this must be it's head that we are on. This slit must lead to the lips. Am I not right?"
Chebron nodded.
"Then listen! This might be the answer to how the gods answered the worshipers. So, I have heard that the god answers the worshipers. This is how the trick must be done - the priest speaks to them from here."
Chebron was silent, for it was painful to him that this trickery was practised and exercised.
"I can hear voices below," said Amuba. Removing his hand, he went over and looked. Then he called back and whispered, "Come here, Chebron. There is something important going on."
The two went and looked over the edge.
"I am mad!" said one of the men who seemed to be the ringleader. "For he is an insult to the gods. We should get rid of him!" A cheer went up from the men.
"This is how it will be done. First, I will make up some excuse. Second, we will call on him with this excuse and I will bring him to the temple. Next, we will bring him to one of the inner rooms where none but we and he are allowed to enter. And there, we will slaughter him."
Chebron whispered, "The people are planning a murder in the very temple."
Applying his lips to the whole, Chebron said, "Beware sacrilegious beings! Your plans will fail and ruin will fall upon you."
"Come on Chebron" said Amuba, pulling on his tunic. "One of those people may know the secret of the image and come up here to see who is speaking. If so, they will slaughter us without mercy. We must leave."
The two slipped down the stairs and ran through a couple rooms. As they went, they quickly made plans.
"How will we get out? There will be guards posted at the entrance! Are there any places with ladders?" Amuba asked.
"Yes, at the third court! They were painting the figures up there yesterday. I watched them," Chebron replied.
Amuba and Chebron went for another walk in the moonlight. They were walking by the temple when Amuba said, "What does that door lead to?" because there was an open door in front of them. They looked at it.
"Shall we go?" Amuba asked. Chebron hesitated.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Chebron asked.
"We'll only be there for a little bit. Don't be so silly as to think it's dangerous," said Amuba.
"Oh, alright," said Chebron somewhat reluctantly, following Amuba into the passage.
They walked along the passage for quite a ways. The passage got slowly narrower and narrower until they reached a point where it was only 3 feet high and just wide enough for a man to pass through it. Amuba went through and looked around
"There's enough room for us to be in here," he called out. "Come on!"
There was a ledge about a foot wide and beyond that, a stone floor.
Chebron said, "I wonder what strange place this is. Look, yonder is a little hole!"
Amuba went over and stuck his hand down. He said, "It's strange. It might be something for someone to see through, but it would be hard with just this little slit at the end."
And then he said, "Chebron? This must be one of the great figures and this must be it's head that we are on. This slit must lead to the lips. Am I not right?"
Chebron nodded.
"Then listen! This might be the answer to how the gods answered the worshipers. So, I have heard that the god answers the worshipers. This is how the trick must be done - the priest speaks to them from here."
Chebron was silent, for it was painful to him that this trickery was practised and exercised.
"I can hear voices below," said Amuba. Removing his hand, he went over and looked. Then he called back and whispered, "Come here, Chebron. There is something important going on."
The two went and looked over the edge.
"I am mad!" said one of the men who seemed to be the ringleader. "For he is an insult to the gods. We should get rid of him!" A cheer went up from the men.
"This is how it will be done. First, I will make up some excuse. Second, we will call on him with this excuse and I will bring him to the temple. Next, we will bring him to one of the inner rooms where none but we and he are allowed to enter. And there, we will slaughter him."
Chebron whispered, "The people are planning a murder in the very temple."
Applying his lips to the whole, Chebron said, "Beware sacrilegious beings! Your plans will fail and ruin will fall upon you."
"Come on Chebron" said Amuba, pulling on his tunic. "One of those people may know the secret of the image and come up here to see who is speaking. If so, they will slaughter us without mercy. We must leave."
The two slipped down the stairs and ran through a couple rooms. As they went, they quickly made plans.
"How will we get out? There will be guards posted at the entrance! Are there any places with ladders?" Amuba asked.
"Yes, at the third court! They were painting the figures up there yesterday. I watched them," Chebron replied.
Friday, April 1, 2011
George Washington's World - Qianlong and the Barbarians
The Barbarians were European and English traders. The Chinese called anyone from the outside of China "barbarians" because they thought of China as "all that is under heaven." Qianlong wanted to be a very good leader and when he was crowned, he made a request that he would be allowed to reign over everybody for 60 years. And so it happened, for Qianlong was named as the last of the great emperors of China.
Qianlong made the barbarians trade only from a certain Chinese city, but they weren't even allowed inside the city. There were little buildings around the city where the barbarians could live and trade. The barbarians protested to the Chinese but Qianlong remained firm.
Qianlong made the barbarians trade only from a certain Chinese city, but they weren't even allowed inside the city. There were little buildings around the city where the barbarians could live and trade. The barbarians protested to the Chinese but Qianlong remained firm.
George Washington's World - India and the European Traders
The French had captured a city with a lot of prisoners and one of them was Clive. And when the French and English were at war over India, Clive volunteered to lead 2000 men on a very dangerous march to take over a city. He succeeded.
India was very rich in all sorts of things, so both the French and the English wanted to control it, just like they both wanted to control America.
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