'We saw the abdication ceremony,' said Poyning, 'but after that Kalliboas disappeared and we were little better than prisoners for about eight days. When he came back he told us it was your wish that we should see the city. We have already seen much. We have had the mystery of the great birds cleared up for us, and we have been taught something of the art of flight, and we know what it says on the obelisk of Alexander.' 'That was good,' said Philipson with quiet enthusiasm. 'There you went to the very heart of our existence. So now you have seen the devils of ghostly face and the great birds. What else does the legend speak about? The white gems--have you seen them?' Philipson saw by our faces we had not. 'Then it is obvious you have not yet visited any of our private dwellings,' he said. 'How does that follow?' 'If you had, you would have seen the children playing with the white gems very much as your English children play with marbles. They come from the river which flows into the lake from the north-east. Sbrang Chikya was quite right about it. Diamonds as big as walnuts roll down its course by the hundred; the bed of the lake must be thick with them. You must ask Kalliboas to take you there, but I would suggest you do not betray any great excitement about the stones. Although my people do not hold such things precious they know that in the outer world the greed of men for diamonds passes all understanding; and they regard that lust with the utmost horror and contempt.' 'That matter is still a great riddle to us,' I said. 'We've had plenty of hints that your people are not unaware of what is going on outside the valley. How is that knowledge obtained?' His voice became suddenly graver. 'If I tell you here,' he said, 'you will not be able to believe. Kalliboas will show you for yourselves, and much more to astonish.' We left Philipson shortly after this. His forecast was abundantly fulfilled. We did see much to astonish us, and much that I but vaguely understand to this day. I saw with these eyes the method by which this strange people informed themselves of the events of the rest of the earth--a sight which leaves me still amazed and bewildered, even sceptic; and yet on the other hand there remains the undoubted fact that they _were_ aware of what was transpiring beyond their mountain barriers. Of that, at least, I am certain. The day after our audience with Philipson, Kalliboas came to our quarters and bade us get ready to accompany him. It seemed clear enough now that Philipson's influence was making itself felt: more and more candidly did the old man answer our hosts of questions, and he even volunteered information on many strange matters the mere existence of which we hadn't suspected.