word sire, or sir:  and nah, or gnah, knowledge, because the Scythians united the essentials of nobility and learning together:  dna signifies heaven, or belonging to the moon, from duna, who was anciently worshipped as goddess of that luminary.  And skooh-top signifies the origin or beginning of anything, from skoo, the name used in the moon for a point in geometry, and top or htop, vegetation.  These words are inscribed at this day upon a pyramid in the centre of Africa, nearly at the source of the river Niger; and if any one refuses his assent, he may go there to be convinced.

The emperor conducted me to his court amidst the admiration of his courtiers, and paid us every possible politeness that African magnificence could bestow.  He never presumed to proceed on any expedition without consulting us, and looking upon us as a species of superior beings, paid the greatest respect to our opinions.  He frequently asked me about the states of Europe, and the kingdom of Great Britain, and appeared lost in admiration at the account I gave him of our shipping, and the immensity of the ocean.  We taught him to regulate the government nearly on the same plan with the British constitution, and to institute a parliament and degrees of nobility.  His majesty was the last of his royal line, and on his decease, with the unanimous consent of the people, made me heir to the whole empire.  The nobility and chiefs of the country immediately waited upon me with petitions, entreating me to accept the government.  I consulted with my noble friends, Gog and Magog, &c., and after much consultation it was agreed that I should accept the government, not as actual and independent monarch of the place, but as viceroy to his Majesty of England.

I now thought it high time to do away the custom of eating of live flesh and drinking of kava, and for that purpose used every persuasive method to wean the majority of the people from it.  This, to my astonishment, was not taken in good part by the nation, and they looked with jealousy at those strangers who wanted to make innovations among them.

Nevertheless, I felt much concern to think that my fellow-creatures could be capable of such barbarity.  I did everything that a heart fraught with universal benevolence and good will to all mankind could be capable of desiring.  I first tried every method of persuasion and incitement.  I did not harshly reprove them, but I invited frequently whole thousands to dine, after the fashion of Europe, upon roasted meat.  Alas, ’twas all in vain! my goodness nearly excited a sedition.  They murmured among themselves, spoke of my intentions, my wild and ambitious views, as if I, O heaven! could have had any personal interested motive in making them live like men, rather than like crocodiles and tigers.  In fine, perceiving that gentleness could be of no avail, well knowing that when complaisance can effect nothing from some spirits, compulsion excites respect and veneration, I prohibited, under the pain of the severest penalties, the drinking of kava, or eating of live flesh, for the space of nine days, within the districts of Angalinar and Paphagalna.