Odyssey From Africa 11f

Chapter 11 The Island Kingdom (f, continued...) Near the north-most cape they passed, there Lay the kingdom’s foremost city By the name of Cannabarro Here was found the royal palace Of Ptolemy the Second. In our time this city has the Name of Antisiranana This great city was however Not the final destination Of our fleet of sailing vessels Which continued south along the Eastern coast until they reached the Bay of Antongil, wherein They sailed up to its northern margin To a small sea-faring town that We now call Maroantsetra (That great island’s wondrous place names Long and beautiful to utter Are a little hard to fit Into inverse iambic rhythm!) As the sun sank low before them They saw tree-clad hills and beaches Heard the screaming of the seabirds As the ships approached a harbour Sheltered by a wooded island In a tranquil shallow inlet Stood a row of waiting jetties Made of sturdy timber gangplanks Held by round-cut cores of tree trunks Planted firmly in the seabed This impressive port construction Showed great prowess of its builders Now their ship approached the quayside With the aid of poles and rudder As a sailor jumping nimbly From the ship onto the jetty Took in hand thick loops of bark-rope Fore and aft secured the vessel; So began the disembarking Both the children with their animals Were relieved that this sea crossing Though exciting, now was ended Han and Kwona and their family Soon were standing on the shoreline Then a group of men approached them With them came a strange contraption Wooden wheels rolled round an axle Underneath a mounted platform Two men towed the carriage forward From a leading T-shaped harness Now the vehicle stopped beside them They had never seen its likeness! Then the charioteers gave signal To the family with their animals That they climb the two-wheeled platform Which they nervously attempted Helped by Han and several others. Round the margin ran a wood rail Which they held to keep them steady As the vehicle now lurched forward Thus they rode by transport, laughing As they rolled along the pathway Han and several warriors walking With the carriage, moving inland On they rode upon the chariot While the evening quickly darkened Glimpsing nearby shapes of dwellings Well-constructed wooden houses Soon the travelling party halted By a large impressive mansion Several members of the household Waited at the door to meet them