Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-05-27

countenance.7 Hassan took no notice,
but went on with his narrative. .--.
g Another curiosity among the gar
den fruit said my host, lis to be noticed
in these pears. The largest end grows
nearest the stalk, and the smallest end
farthest from it. l dare say you. have
never met with this before in any coun-
try you have visited
Presently we heard a great noise in
the air, and on looking up at distance.
before US, and at Il great elevation, we
saw number of parrots seated on the
branch of tree, chattering together in
a very animated manner. Indeed,
Judging from the noise they made, they
were evidently disputing on some sub
!ject which Interested their whole commu-
nifty. 2, -,s = .-r.ss.st,. 80 | ar
"sAnd now.' said my host, Il will
show you another curiosity in this coun-
try Then turning to "A boy near him,
he said, 60 in and fetch my BOOM
erang.' oe-=a,a-y- es.-r ..a sa-
..The boy obeyed. and in a few min
utes returned, carrying with him what
looked like a crooked wooden sword,
about as ungainly and useless-looking u
weapon as can well be imagined.
".You surely can never expect said,
sto kill any OF those birds at the distance
and height they are with such u clumsy
weapon rs that? --
8. Il don't mean to say l can do it, he
replied; mot, however, from any fault
of the weapon, but because am = bad
shot. At any rate. L can try. At the
same time you must not think i'll OF the
weapon itself, for L can assure you it
possesses qualification that neither the
best-made gun nor any piece artillery
in the world can boast of
/ "sAnd what may that be9' asked.
why he said, you see those birds
chatterins there on the tree. l will cast
this weapon ut them; and, if it misses,
it will return to me of its own accord,
so that can pick it up, and throw it at
them again should desire it.
s'Of course thought he was joking,
although had too much civility to say so.
l contented myself therefore with mere
ly saying how much he would oblige me
if he would make the weapon perform
the feat. Without making further re-
mark, he swung it backwards and for
wards two or three times. and then cast
ing it from him. it flew through the air
with great velocity, turning rapidly
round and round the while. l watched
it in its course, till it passed the branch
of the tree on which the parrots were
seated. My host had taken bad aim,
and had not hit the birds, but found
had done him an injustice in imagining
he had overrated the capabilities Of the
weapon. for no sooner had it failed in
its mission, than it quietly came back
| 4 onI foil of his foot I uuoc ,,of,,
rally much astonished at this feat,
which was doubtless shown by the ex-
preston on my countenance, for my
host said to me-
"sI can see you didn't believe me,
Hassan, but l told you the truth after
ALL -..
| ".And would the weapon obey me III
a similar manner?' l asked.
i "'Certainly,' he replied. 'All you
have to do is to throw it in the same way
did, and to tell it to come back to you.
and it will do so. Now, try the expert.
ment.' .s. ~. . l.- .
| II took hold of the weapon, and
throwing it into the air in the same
manner in which my host had done, il
flew off to a considerable height, and
then quietly returned to my feet. This
I did two or three times, and each ont
it was as obedient to me as the first.
Presently heard 4 slight noise neal
me on the ground, and on looking dowr
saw creature moving about us larg.
as duck. Seeing my eyes fixed on 1t
my host said to me-
"'There's another curiosity of thi
country, Hassan-a bird without wings
"'You're joking with me- 1 said.
NO, I'm not, was his reply 'Ex
anime it, and you'll find what l have
stated is the truth
did so, and found the bird had n,
wings"
ga bird without wings?" roared Ach
met, jumping up on his feet. "a birt
without wings How dare you attemp
: to impose upon us such a monstrou
: improbability and that too, in the pres
: ence of these holy men, who hardly
know the meaning of the word lie, o
, they would not sit so quietly as the
now do and listen to your statement
2 If they had rs much experience in tn
S police court rs l have had, they woul
have been Mortified at your falsehood
/, A bird without wings, indeed! Why
: what difference is there between bir
q and other animals except its wings? L
Y say that a bird has no wings is as gros
y an absurdity as to say that 4 fish ca
n fly. The one would not be more al
e surd than the other"
+ "And l not only maintain" Hasa
d replied, THAT the duck had no wings
S but that fish can fly
: THAT fish can tly'' reared Achmet.
: ''Not only can, but do fly" repeate
|, Hassan. ..I've seen them myself b
y thousands flying through the air, IN
d therefore maintain it is true"
d Hassan's statement seemed to have
It singular effect on Achmet. He fir.
d looked at the Ulemas, as if appealing I
IS them. Nothing, however, appeared ,
n move the stolid gravity of their cour
tenances. Achmet, finding he could oil
it tam no consolation from them, CAV
o three violent gasps, and again seate
himself between them. Hassan pr
d ceeded with his narrative.
81 will not detain you with the d.
t, scription of any other Of the natur
h curiosties l discovered in this strans
ID land, but 60 on to more stern adventure
e remembered what the captain of IL
I'd ship had told me respecting the go
fields, and questioned my host ON ii
,e subject. He told me it was quite tru
g and that few days journey up Il
country there were prolific gold-field
le and that | could visit them if please
l Remembering the stories which h,
id been palmed on me about the damon
or fields. l begged my host to give II
some particulars of these gold-tield
He told me that |, or any one, cou
- take :, portion of the land which pr
II duced the gold, on payment Of a certa
s. rent. by no means excessive; but til
the work was very laborious, and e
Id ceedingly uncertain i'll its results. Son
Id days man might find Il consderab
1e quantity Of gold, and then week mig
u pass, and he would find barely suilice
Of to cover the expenses Of his living.
is However, Hassan,' he continue
ly the gold fields are well worth seein
or especially to 4 man like you, travelil
IN for information. Again, it's possible
rs you see them and you should con
le across gold field in your own countr
l you would know it when you saw it,
ut "'But can there be any difficulty
d. recognizing gold field? asked.
l Every great indeed, was his repl
n why you cannot imagine that you fiji
Jumps of gold lying about rs youdo ston
l in the desert As told you before, Il
ed pieces of gold are few and far betwe,
Id But take my advice, go for Il few days.al
he judge for yourself. You could go the