A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille

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were the only ones that rejoiced over this escape from death.
Joms passed. We saw other sights; we met with galleys and saw many
ships about the sea. Some were moved by sails only; these were
merchant ships, but they had only square sails, and could not sail in
any other way than before the wind. Once or twice I caught glimpses
of vast shadowy objects in the air. I was startled and terrified;
for, great as were the wonders of this strange region, I had not yet
suspected that the air itself might have denizens as tremendous as the
land or the sea. Yet so it was, and afterward during the voyage I saw
them often. One in particular was so near that I observed it with
ease. It came flying along in the same course with us, at a height of
about fifty feet from the water. It was a frightful monster, with a
long body and vast wings like those a bat. Its progress was swift, and
it soon passed out of sight. To Almah the monster created no surprise;
she was familiar with them, and told me that they were very abundant
here, but that they never were known to attack ships. She informed me
that they were capable of being tamed if caught when young, though in
her country they were never made use of. The name given by the Kosekin
to these monsters is athaleb.
At length we drew near to our destination. We reached a large harbor
at the end of a vast bay: here the mountains extended around, and
before us there arose terrace after terrace of twinkling lights
running away to immense distances. It looked like a city of a million
inhabitants, though it may have contained far less than that. By the
brilliant aurora light I could see that it was in general shape and
form precisely like the city that we had left, though far larger and
more populous. The harbor was full of ships and boats of all sorts,
some lying at the stone quays, others leaving port, others entering.
Galleys passed and repassed, and merchant ships with their clumsy
sails, and small fishing-boats. From afar arose the deep hum of a vast
multitude and the low roar that always ascends from a popular city.
The galley hauled alongside her wharf, and we found ourselves at
length in the mighty amir of the Kosekin. The Kohen alone landed;
the rest remained on board, and Almah and I with them.
Other galleys were here. On the wharf workmen were moving about. Just
beyond were caverns that looked like warehouses. Above these was a
terraced street, where a vast multitude moved to and fro--a living