THE CHRONICLES OF QUACKLAND.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 229, 31 January 1885, Page 9

THE CHRONICLES OF QUACKLAND.

THE SON OF BYL

The Coming of the Nations to Rarakora—Of the High-priest Hongi — Of the Fishers of Leviathan — Of the coming of the Son of Byl — He bringeth his treasure to Rarakora — And giveth a certain elder to taste thereof. ~ow these are the Chronicles of Maguffius, the son of Scriberlorius, a scribe of the people, which are written in the ancient book of Quacks, in the land of Quackland, which is in the country of old Blindland. 1. It came to pass in the ancient days of Quackland, before Jobsonius became Consul, and the people paid tribute to Babylon, that people of divers nations came from beyond the sea to dwell in Rarakora, a land of bays and rivers, and mountains and plains, and goodly cultivations. 2. And Rarakora was inhabited by a people of fierce countenance, who worshipped strange gods, and delighted in war and the shedding of blood. 3. And the name of this people was the Roamies, which signifieth in the language of that country the roamers, by reason of their manifold wanderings to and fro in the land in search of whom they might devour. 4. And the high priest of the Roamies was named Hongi, which cometh from the Chinese word hong, a trader with foreigners and strangers, who were called in the ancient language of the Roamies "Packeyass," by reason of their bearing burdens of merchandise from beyond the seas. 5. And in all old Blindland there was none greater than Hongi, the high priest of Rarakora, and the same was a mighty man of war. 6. Now it was called Blindland because the Roamies dwelt in darkness and worshipped strange gods, and Quackland was the name given unto the novthermost part thereof in later days. 7. And lo ! there came forth out of other lands many Packeyasses who went down to the sea in ships and did business in great waters, divers captives from the islands of Spike and from Botany, and from Hobart, that were released out of bondage and bore little tablets in witness thereof, and they took unto themselves wives and concubines of the daughters of the Roamies, and gave unto them shekels of silver and talents of gold for flax and goodly timber and the baked heads that were cut from the bodies of their enemies slain in battle. 8. Behold also there came unto Rarakora many ships from beyond the seas in search of the great leviathan that dwelleth in the waters I'ouud about the coasts of Blindland, and which yieldeth abundance of oil, and of whalebone, and precious things not a few. 9. And the seekers after the leviathan brought with them the fire-waters of the Feringees, and they feasted and made merry to the sound of the harp and the viol and the dulcet pipings of the boatswains, and they took unto themselves wives of the daughters of the Roamies, albeit that they tarried not long in the land, but after a space spread their sails to the breeze and went forth to seek after the leviathan and to take to themselves also wives in other lands. 10. Now the greatest among these fishers of leviathan was the son of Byl, and the same was a crafty man and a wise, and he perceived that Rarakora was a land flowing with milk and honey, and that the daughters of the Roamies were wondrous fair to look upon. 11. And it came to pass that when he returned into his ship he spake unto the master thereof and said : " Lo, thy servant is moved to cast in his lot with these people. Therefore, I pray thee, sell unto thy servant a goodly measure of the strong waters and of the fragrant weed of Virginia that he may o-o forth among the Roamies and gather abundance of flax, and of timber, and the unclean -animal with the cloven hoof that cheweth not the cud. 12. And it was done oven according unto .his desire. 13. And the son of Byl bore away his treasure and sat down by the sea shore upon the vessel that contained the strong watev, and communed with himself for a space. -" Lo the lines have fallen unto me in pleasant places ; yea, I have a goodly heritage." 14. But it came to pass, when the men of lloami and the Packeyasses beheld this strange •sight, that they cried out with a loud voice .and ran forth to the place where the son of Byl sat by the sea shore astride of the firewater, and they inquired of him, sayino"Friend, what is that thing on which thou .sittest?" 15. -And he answered them and said, "What is that to thee ? Go thy ways, and trouble me not with thy questionings." 16. But a certain chieftain of the lioamies . a man of rank and of smell, perceiving the .subtle odour of the fire-wate*, saith unto him, " Stranger, perad venture thou hast a medicine and a restorer, and a thing of joy and of gladness. Now, therefore, I -beseech thee let me taste thereof, and I will cast my mantle over thee and be unto thee as a protector." 17. And the son of Byl gave unto him a goodly measure in a tin vessel called a pannikin, and he drained it even unto the dregs, and besought him to give him more. 18. But the son of Byl was wrath, and exclamed in a loud voice, "Is thy servant a doo-, that he should" sell merchandise according to the sound of a clock ?-" '

16. Then the chief was humbled and said, " What manner of medicine is this ?" 20. And Byl's son made answer and said, " The name thereof is called lirjAi, for as much as it cureth all manner of rumblings and grumblings, causeth rumination and rummaging and rumpling of garments, and perad venture rumpuses among the people." 21. Then they marvelled greatly at his wisdom and Avent their Avay.

(To he continued.)