Page:The land of many names (1926).pdf/57

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Ha, ha, ha! a farm! Ploughing like an ox, when all you need do is to rake over the right spot with a mattock



Or with this knife here. Ha, ha! if only I could get hold of a rifle.



What are you laughing for, you fools? It’s you who make me laugh! You’re talking about cities, forests, people



Of course.



Then tell me whether anyone has ever seen cities and people and trees at the bottom of the water.



What of it? Supposing anyone did see them.



But this land rose up right out of the sea, you fools! Where could the cities and wild tribes and forests come from? If you say good soil, I’ll agree with you.



It is a new, unknown land, and I say that’s what it’s like there. A wild country, beasts of prey, wild nations, great dangers, but great wealth. Ha! I’m sure of it. That’s what it’s always like in such countries. And the man that goes there must have