Odyssey From Africa 14e

CHapter 14 King Ptoleny the 2nd (cont.) Thus they charted weather systems Grey depressions bringing rainclouds, Towering dark cumulonimbus, Or the violent storms and cyclones And in turn this processed data, One or two days’ weather forecast, Spirited across the island By the network of the flag-towers So the fishermen at harbour And the farmers on their holdings Could employ this precious knowledge By it gain success and safety (And this network of the watch-towers Spread much more than weather data! News and gossip from the palace Added to a growing chatter) “Come and see the weather center” Then King Ptolemy continued Leading Han toward the palace With his retinue of warriors After mounting up a staircase Out they walked into a chamber Saw at once the large map table Ringed about by several scholars Who were studying intently Fabric sheets and wood-carved objects Bearing symbols rich in meaning Spread around the large map surface “Let me introduce our scholars: This is Anwat, this is Jobas” And the wise sagacious servants Greeted Han in courtly manner “I can see you men are busy; Let’s move on to our next chamber” And the monarch led Han further To an even larger hallway Han beheld a world of wonders And was breathless with amazement! This was a museum of life forms Creatures, birds and plants and fishes. All along one side were cabinets Fronted by bright glass, displaying Well preserved, in life’s true colour Specimens of plants and animals Many thousands in their number From the smallest to the largest Tiny bugs with moths and beetles With a myriad flowers and orchids Comet moths with four false eyes and Lizards, butterflies and spiders Many of the mounted life forms Were endemic to the kingdom Bloated red tomato frogs and Brightly pigmented chameleons Stripy tailed and bright-eyed lemurs And the little spiny tenrec Labelled each with written symbols In an alphabet and grammar That the scholars had developed For the first time on our planet Han was startled by the quirky Aye-aye with its melancholic Eyes and long and slender fingers Used for prying bugs from tree-bark And the predatory fossa Catlike hunter of the kingdom But the most impressive creature Dominating the exhibit Taxidermed with loving skill, there Stood the mighty Aepyornis Glaring down upon the chamber From a height of three full meters