The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-21

I sat down on fallen tree-trunk and
waited. After about an hour the man re-
turned, accompanied by two other men,
one very old and the other a heavy, mus
cular fellow about thirty years of age.
This last one was armed with large,
wooden club. The three men were clothed
alike in a belt of some rough material
woven out of grass. On seeing me, the
two newcomers showed great signs OF
establishment, and short argument took
place between them and my discoverer
the muscular fellow apparently advocat-
ing some plan to which the other two
were averse. Presently my conductor adj
dressed me.
Say, will you come with us, or shall
we give you food and let you depart? If
you come with us there is no going
back"
This strange offer excited my curiosity,
and, depending on my ingenuity to extri-
cate me from any position L might sub
sequeatly be placed in, I replied:
Take me with you to your people 1
am content"
They then signed to me to approach,
and when l came up to them, they blind
folded me with leaves and the muscular
man took my hand and led me. We
marched for about an hour, and crossed
knees and the other up to our waists.
Our way must have been very tortuous,
for as we walked l noticed the wind at one
time full in my face, then on my right
cheek, and again on my left At length,
after making sharp and difficult ascent,
we walked for about ten minutes on level
ground, and then the bandage was taken
from my eyes. curious scene presented
itself. l stood in the midst 81 a circle Of
small houses. about twenty in number,
enclosing an open space free of all weeds
and grass, and trodden quite smooth and
hard. In the center of this space was a
large rock about ten feet high, in the form
of a rude four-sided column. This mon
olith (for such 1 may justly call it, seeing
that its bulk roughly Appropriated to
square with a side of three feet was COW
cred with curious figures and signs deep
ly cut into it's surface. OF the four sides
of this column 1 subsequently made
rough sketch, which is attached to this
manuscript.
CThere Is a note here by Professor
Krause to the effect that the sketch re-
ferred to, having been made on piece
of the inner bark of a tree, and with some
rapidly fading pigment, is spoiled, the
drawing having entirely faded out The
learned Krause laments this fact in three
closely written pages. explaining how i'm
portant such a sketch would have been
as showing whether the inscription was
in cuneiform, hieroglyph, or some IN
known form-)
was led TO a small house, and was
given TO understand that it was intended
for my own use. Later on food was
brought me-roast flesh and cassava
bread During the course Of the day
moved freely about the village, and found
that the people spoke dialect with which
I was acquainted Towards evening /
felt inclined to walk in the woods, and
taking one Of the two paths which led
through the village ] followed II for some
distance. Before 1 had gone a hundred
yards I was met by a man who pointed
70 the village and told me 10 return. On
my stin pressing forward he raised his
club. and said: It's death II you go fur
Their"
But I an no thief" I replied. that
should seek to run away. And where
should go. seeing that ! am IN q strange
place and have moreover no food7''
That I know nothing Of" Es answer
ed. Go back 10 the house
There was nothing more 10 he said. 50
l turned ard -etraced my steps. Il was
evident that I was a prisoner.