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and eat. At first, I imagine, they ate lion meat as a part of their religious

ceremony but after many generations they came to crave it so that now it is

practically the only flesh they eat. They would, of course, rather die than eat the

flesh of a bird, nor will they eat monkey's meat, while the herbivorous animals

they raise only for milk, hides, and flesh for the lions. Upon the south side of the

city are the corrals and pastures where the herbivorous animals are raised. Boar,

deer, and antelope are used principally for the lions, while goats are kept for milk

for the human inhabitants of the city."

"And you have lived here all these years," exclaimed the girl, "without ever seeing

one of your own kind?"

The old woman nodded affirmatively.

"For sixty years you have lived here," continued Bertha Kircher, "and they have

not harmed you!"

"I did not say they had not harmed me," said the old woman, "they did not kill

me, that is all."

What"--the girl hesitated--"what," she continued at last, "was your position

among them? Pardon me," she added quickly, "I think I know but I should like to

hear from your own lips, for whatever your position was, mine will doubtless be

the same."

The old woman nodded. "Yes," she said, "doubtless; if they can keep you away

from the women."

What do you mean?" asked the girl.

"For sixty years I have never been allowed near a woman. They would kill me,

even now, if they could reach me. The men are frightful, God knows they are

frightful! But heaven keep you from the women!"

"You mean," asked the girl, "that the men will not harm me?"

"Ago XXV made me his queen," said the old woman. "But he had many other

queens, nor were they all human. He was not murdered for ten years after I came

here. Then the next king took me, and so it has been always. I am the oldest

queen now. Very few of their women live to a great age. Not only are they

constantly liable to assassination but, owing to their subnormal mentalities, they

are subject to periods of depression during which they are very likely to destroy

themselves."

193

Tarzan the Untamed