"I am not really queen," she said. "Ackbau is king, and I must do as he
tells me. He makes me speak his words, but sometimes I would rather not
say what he bids me."
I sympathized with her, for I could readily understand why this Ackbau,
who was the chief before whom I had been taken, chose her to be his
mouthpiece. She had become a goddess to the tribe, and it was thought
she could speak nothing wrong. So that by using her as his medium
Ackbau gained his ends without accepting responsibility.
Whilst I was talking to the queen I could not help admiring the jewels
in her diadem, and seeing I was pleased with them she invited me to
accompany her to a rock cavern near to her dwelling, where I saw such
an accumulation of wealth that I began to picture myself among the
richest of men. The floor of this cave was carpeted with gold dust, and
nuggets of the same precious metal were piled high against its walls.
But what caused me to rub my eyes in wonder was a slab of opal, which
seemed ablaze with the fire it contained. Upon this priceless table
were strewn a collection of gems, which, from the knowledge I had
acquired in De Decker's office at Amsterdam, I knew to be of great
value, but which did not appear to be so regarded by the queen, for
when she had presented me with a double handful she still seemed to
consider herself in my debt for the mirror and some other trifles I had
given her.
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