■'i:--'^:^ 
 
 THE 
 
 Rochew-Albimon 
 
 BY 
 
 PICHEREAU 
 

THE 
 
 ROCHEW-ALBIMON 
 
 AN EPICAL DIDACTICAL POEM 
 
 GIVES AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE ANCESTRY 
 AND DESCENDANTS OF THE WHITE MAN 
 
 By 
 ASAHEL PHELPS PICHEREAU 
 
 HUMAN BETTERMENT COMPANY 
 
 LANCASTER. FENNA. 
 
 PUBLISHERS 
 
 1915 
 

 COPYRIGHT, I915, 
 
 BY ASAHKL PHEI^PS PICHERBAU. 
 
 AI,!, RIGHTS RESERVED. 
 
 MAR 29 1915 
 
 €)C!,a:j»7314 
 
 1^/ 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The Rochew-AIbimon, while giving an historical account ot 
 the ancestry and descendants of the White man, would edu- 
 cate, reform and better the Human race. It is altruistic and 
 scientific, and, while it would reform, by natural laws, and 
 have Progressors steadfastly adhere to its plan and effort for 
 the purity of the individual, the citizen and the government, 
 it would be liberal, as to fanciful notions on religion, and in- 
 chide among its working factors all pantheists, monotheists, 
 polytheists, deists, agnostics, infidels and atheists. Its philoso- 
 phy teaches that we should merit what we get, get what we 
 merit, and redeem ourselves from the consequences of our own 
 and our ancestors' transgressions; so that, when we come to 
 die, we may feel assured that, by our living, the Human race 
 has been bettered and that we truly deserve promotion. 
 
 It would not be proper to select from the six hundred re- 
 ligions, now on earth, any certain one for our faith and hope, 
 while we are asking for the sisterhood and brotherhood of 
 the world to fellowship and co-operate on Sundays and all days 
 for the scientific betterment of the Human race. We are 
 Evolutionists and believe that we not only come up from a 
 lower condition of life, but that, in some ways, we have come 
 down from a higher condition of life. 
 
 The Naturalist has expressed modern views, as to the down- 
 ward tendency of the Human race, in many ways and on vari- 
 ous occasions. It was but yesterday, here in Philadelphia, that 
 we heard Dr. G. H. Parker, of Harvard University, in his 
 lecture before the naturalists' section of the American Asso- 
 ciation for the Advancement of Science, and from his decla- 
 rations and advice we now quote : "Every year we build more 
 and more institutions for the care of feeble-minded and in- 
 sane. Yet all the while the number of defectives is growing 
 
4 PREFACE. 
 
 larger. * * * Instead of expending great sums of money to 
 build institutions for the care of defective human beings, we 
 should provide a universal system for the sterilization of these 
 unfortunates. * * * It is now common knowledge that we 
 have paid more attention to the production of high-grade 
 breeds of sheep, swine and other animals than we have to 
 human beings." 
 
 What the Doctor has thus said about the downward ten- 
 dency of our people may be emphasized, in these war times, 
 for before peace comes to the warring people in Europe, Asia, 
 Africa, America and the islands of the seas, the standard of 
 the Human race will have been lowered more than three per 
 cent. We do not consider the Doctor's Sterilization system 
 feasible, outside of a pure government, for, where there is 
 corruption, partisan officials might sterilize more opponents 
 than circumstances would justify. 
 
 From Genetic Physiology and Genetic Psychology we learn 
 that wrongs endured by a protesting, prayerful and hopeful 
 ancestry may be righted by its descendants. My mother, who 
 has departed this life, and a long line of maternal ancestors 
 have helped to inspire and lead me in my pathological investi- 
 gations. Under Scientific laws Human beings may be bom 
 right, live right and die right. I would rather be born right 
 with a financial inheritance of ten hundred cents, than bom 
 wrong with a financial inheritance of ten hundred thousand 
 dollars. 
 
 In the poem, Dun Albar proposes that we establish indi- 
 vidual and government purity by teaching the Sciences in 
 Sunday Schools four hours each Sunday. This might be well 
 accomplished by having one-half the people, over seven years 
 of age, attend a forenoon session, and the other half an after- 
 noon session; while further time should be given to an even- 
 ing session for those who hope to help the sciences along by 
 the influence and assistance of Supernatural Powers. 
 
 A. P. P. 
 
 Jan. 1st, 19 1 5. 
 
INTERPRETATIONS. 
 
 Merpeal, Sea Appealer, Yelper and Crier. 
 
 Stranpeal, Shore Appealer, Declaimer and Ques- 
 tioner. 
 
 Stranpeal-man, Shore Appealer, Declaimer and Talker. 
 
 Rochew, Flint rock. 
 
 Albimon, White man. 
 
 Rochew- Albimon, . . Flintrock-Whiteman. 
 
 Maska-piras, Fighting men. Braves, Warriors and 
 
 Fathers of the tribal increase. 
 
 Mamo-veros, Truest women, Pure Mothers and 
 
 Mothers of the tribal increase. 
 
 Kanitra, Little folks. Children. 
 
 Monsterbrute, Defil'er, Despoiler and Executioner. 
 
 Pirate brutes, Fighting men, Warriors, Defilers, De- 
 spoilers and vile Polygamists, 
 
 Atlantis or Atlata, . .The Submerged Continent, or islands of 
 the Atlantic Ocean. 
 
 Reco, The Records of the Rochew and Rochew- 
 
 Albimon tribes and their descendants. 
 
 Chafa-Chief, Woman Chief. 
 
 Baal, The Sun : Called Baal, by Sun Worship- 
 pers of the old time religions that 
 claimed him their chief god. 
 
 Ashtar, The Moon : Called Ashtar, by Moon 
 
 Worshippers of old time religions that 
 claimed her their chief goddess. Also 
 the name of an ancient tribe. 
 
The Roche w-Albimon. 
 
 PRAYER. 
 
 Come Earth! Come Heaven! Come all things of might, 
 
 And give us what we crave of Truth, and Light ! 
 
 Teach us to know the wherefore and the whence. 
 
 Whene'er we use aggression or defense. 
 
 May all our hopes for Betterment be crowned 
 
 And not a mar by detriment be found. 
 
 May Human ills, from wrongs of all the years — 
 
 With sad reflections and distressing fears — 
 
 Be henceforth an-thro-pol-o-gized away ! 
 
 And Truth, and Right, come with the fairer day. 
 
 EPOCHS. 
 
 I. 
 
 We come from where and what ; let's see, let's look. 
 
 Let us reveal the truth from Nature's Book 
 
 And take from cover its Historic page 
 
 To face some strange conclusions of this age. 
 
 A restless Atom that would do and dare. 
 
 Joining Affinities, sometime, somewhere ; 
 
 Made of us Protoplasm, and by laws 
 
 The Protozoa with its craving maws. 
 
 And then we come by Hydroidea's door. 
 
 And over Crinoidea's rad'ant floor. 
 
 And linger by Actinia's bower 
 
 Where the sun's rays showed their tints and power, 
 
 A Tunicate advanced us, in a way ; 
 
 An Amphioxus trapped and chased our prey ! 
 
 A flying sea-shark may have used our wings; 
 
 A Petrodactyle may have felt our "stings ;" 
 
 An Octopuscus may have taught us greed ; 
 
 A Diplodocus may have shown us speed ; 
 
 The Ichthyosaurus! was it our kin? 
 
 The Mosasaurus ! did it wear our skin ? 
 
 The Megalosaurus, ruling friend and foe, 
 
8 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 Might make dull wits alert by strife and woe. 
 
 A Merpeal, trying to preserve its race, 
 
 Had found in Northern seas a hiding place. 
 
 And later, a Stranpeal, our nearer kin. 
 
 Though not so large, had grit and wit to win. 
 
 A woddler, on the land, yet seemed to be 
 
 More lover of the land than of the sea. 
 
 He tried to master both the sea and land. 
 
 But finding living better by the strand, 
 
 He ceased to be a rover o'er high seas, 
 
 And spent his summers by shoals, pools and trees. 
 
 Leading his dames, his harem, he would stray 
 
 Far down the coast, and oft, by winter's day. 
 
 Seek for that zenith where a warming sun. 
 
 Resplendent, would his daily journeys run. 
 
 A wondrous wonder ! Something to revere ! 
 
 A source of heat and life, O Gracious Sphere! 
 
 They could not fail to venerate thee, then. 
 
 For Good, their God, was God, the Good of men. 
 
 Good was our blessing then. Evil our curse! 
 
 And then, as now, better might change to worse. 
 
 Religion that made better the Stranpeal, 
 
 Gave venerative thanks at every meal. 
 
 Where fruits were luscious and fowls and fishes 
 
 Came fresh and pure from natural dishes. 
 
 n. 
 
 The clouds, with many tints and many forms. 
 
 In peace reposing or in raging storms ; 
 
 The thunder's trembling roar, the lightning's flash ! 
 
 The tempest's moaning and the breaker's dash ! 
 
 The changing moon ; the heaven's changing lights ; 
 
 Both awed and mystified our days and nights. 
 
 The battles with near tribes, our kith and kin ; 
 
 The battles with strange foes that we must win ; 
 
 The sickening gases of our cave retreats ; 
 
 The poison leaves, and fruits, and "unclean" meats ; 
 
 The terra-del-fuego on the shore; 
 
 The maelstrom's trap ; the earthquake's rocking floor ; 
 
 The whirlpool and the eddy's treacherous play — 
 
 And dreadful monsters that beset our way, 
 
 All, all combine to make Fond Hopes contend 
 
EPOCH II. 
 
 That Life may be the best from this Hfe's end. 
 
 And so we, as Stranpeals, longed for a Hfe 
 
 That was more peaceful and less marred by strife. 
 
 E'en then, e'en then, we sought that star lit dome 
 
 And claimed the heavens for our final home. 
 
 A million years, and twenty million more, 
 
 Of life, of strife, that we may not deplore — 
 
 Attendant bliss and woe was every state 
 
 From life's inception to the present date. 
 
 'Tis Nature's way, by design, law and chance, 
 
 That makes the fittest by all ways advance. 
 
 For thirty thousand years Merpeals were we. 
 
 And roved the polar and the tropic sea; 
 
 And all these years, while we our young did rear. 
 
 Our summer days had been fearfully dear. 
 
 'Twas Nature and the best of Nature's kind 
 
 That prompted instinct and contrived the mind. 
 
 'Twas Mother love, the purest of love's way. 
 
 That told brooding Merpeals the time, the day, 
 
 When they should leave the polar sea and find 
 
 A land, a strand, where infants of their kind 
 
 Might feel the blood-heat of a warmer clime ; 
 
 And so survive the hard ways of the time. 
 
 'Twas life or death to dame and her increase 
 
 That made gestation take a nine months' lease. 
 
 It was most dearly found by Nature's force 
 
 That Merpeal mothers have a yearly course. 
 
 From "mer" to "stran" "peal" there were many strides, 
 
 While Progress ruled the waves and braved the tides. 
 
 III. 
 A hundred species, extinct, may have been 
 When the Stranpeal became our nearest kin. 
 A dozen species lived at that great date, 
 When this, our Stranpeal, came to Man's estate ; 
 And many species envied him some bits, 
 When his head was the great head of all wits. 
 This "Man's estate," at first, was rather crude, 
 For, in most ways, the Stranpeal was quite rude ; 
 But he had bleat and blatter, legs and arms. 
 Aggression and transgression and some charms. 
 He scaled the rocky cliffs and climbed the trees, 
 
10 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 And drifted with the tide and ocean breeze. 
 
 No modern fisherman e'er had the skill 
 
 To dive for food and so near please his will. 
 
 No modern bather at the ocean's brine 
 
 Could beat his antics or sport near so fine. 
 
 No modern warrior on the sea or land 
 
 Could, without weapon, long contrive to stand 
 
 Against teeth and jaws, and the hide's tough tan, 
 
 And claws and paws of this Primeval man ! 
 
 No modern husband for love or for hate 
 
 Would face more dangers than this faithful mate. 
 
 His arms, once very short, are growing long, 
 
 His legs, once weak, becoming long and strong. 
 
 His color, once a brown, is now rated 
 
 By habit, clime and time, or as mated. 
 
 'Tis paradoxical, by sense of word ; 
 
 Yet a real black bird is "a white black bird." 
 
 Albino bird ! Why not a white Stranpeal ! 
 
 When by Dame Nature's freak we find this weal ; 
 
 We call it "weal," for surely that stran-man, 
 
 Like we to-day, preferred the fair to tan, 
 
 And favored most the dames with colors rare. 
 
 The fair of skin, and oft the fair of hair. 
 
 His little caudal becomes lesser still. 
 
 Assisted by his habits and his will. 
 
 All transformations, thus far proved or tried. 
 
 Came mainly from our want and from our pride.. 
 
 Want and necessity, and pride and style 
 
 Reveal their evolutions all the while. 
 
 For twenty thousand years we may have been 
 
 Producing fur like on the best seal skin ; 
 
 And fifteen thousand years, as Stranpeal-man, 
 
 We may have been reversing that same plan 
 
 By which we cultivated that warm fur; 
 
 Concluding such production was an err. 
 
 For while in sunny climes we long remain, 
 
 We find by that warm fur we nothing gain. 
 
 And for our weal, by way of want or fashion, 
 
 Or by religion or some strange passion. 
 
 We by cosmetic art, tooth, hand and claw 
 
 Proceed to dress ourselves by force of law! 
 
 For when the Great Chief ordered fashions new 
 
EPICH III. II 
 
 The faithful of the tribe knew what to do, 
 And do it quickly. So with will and skill' 
 We help each other with the thrill and chill, 
 The soaking and the clearing of our tan ; 
 The making, without fur, a Stranpeal-man, 
 The years of torture we have to endure, 
 The burning lotions, used to kill and cure. 
 All, all are tending, as years come and go. 
 To do the work quite well — for belle and beau — 
 When a new ruler gives the tribe a stir 
 By laws that wont eliminate all fur. 
 "The females all," this ruler did proclaim, 
 "Shall by their markings, show they are the same. 
 And males, their uniform must ever be 
 Like to each other, and the same with me. 
 'Tis well to well protect our exposed pates, 
 And parts defended by our males and mates, 
 And while we do so, show our tribal sense 
 By growing coarse fur, mainly for defense 
 And tribal markings ; as I may command ; 
 And so be known o'er all the sea and land 
 As the Rochew, the valiant and the bold, 
 Wise in the summer for the winter cold. 
 Rochew, flint rock, destroyers when we fight. 
 For death must claim the victim whom we smite !" 
 
 IV. 
 
 Twelve thousand years may pass and scape our ken 
 
 Without full record of these tribal men. 
 
 Twelve thousand years, a broken record line, 
 
 Was very fatal for man, beast and kine 
 
 At its beginning : For 'twas then, 'twas then, 
 
 That Nature's forces were opposing men, 
 
 The earth did quake and the hot heavens glowed ; 
 
 The storm King as a raging tempest strode ; 
 
 Volcanic fumes and fires flashed their light : 
 
 For thirty days 'twas neither day nor night; 
 
 The mountains shook and swayed 'mid great sea waves 
 
 And left their wrecks within an ocean's graves. 
 
 Thus passed from view a continent away 
 
 And left no vestige till the present day. 
 
 Save Iceland isle : its northermost ice land, 
 
12 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 And Azore isles, once rock peaks near its strand. 
 Thus fair Atlantis, that land once renowned 
 With coast line compassing extensive ground, 
 Stretching to southward off from cape Blanco, 
 And east and west to where sea currents flow 
 By British isles and mist wrapped western isles; 
 In distance, broad, near twice one thousand miles, 
 Had ceased to be. And over what went out 
 Of earth, of life and strife, of hope and doubt, 
 Old Ocean spread a bleak and cheerless pall 
 With doleful dirges by its cliff and wall. 
 
 V 
 
 To know the doings of the tribe Rochew, 
 In days of old and days more nearly new 
 We consult Reco, brought here from afar, 
 Kept by that scholar, known as Dun x\lbar. 
 Said Albar, as he read from bronze and stone 
 And viewed the markings on a slab or bone : 
 "You ask to know what I know of the Races, 
 Who won, who lost and who filled the places — 
 Since and before twelve thousand years ago — 
 Whence came our progress, joy and tribal woe? 
 Our records looking back twelve thousand years, 
 Approved by patriarchs, sages and seers, 
 Have not, as "Rochews," known a clan or tribe 
 For seven thousand years by any scribe, — 
 With this explication : That a compound 
 By agnomen did thenceforth ever sound — 
 Albimon, white man, and our tribal name, 
 Rochew — Albimon, was thence known to fame. 
 Twelve thousand years ago we were Rochews, 
 The tribe of "flint rock" and the tribe to choose 
 For great deeds, in those early days of men. 
 When man's best house was like to a bear's den. 
 W^e Rochews had a quite extensive land. 
 If we could be called owners of the strand 
 That we had pillaged, in those days of old, 
 When our homes seldom were too hot or cold. 
 We had our migratory clans who sought 
 The climes of comforts, sometimes dearly bought 
 By loss of maska-piras, fighting men ; 
 
EPOCH V. 13 
 
 And dear mamo-veros, truest women, 
 And our own loved kanitra, little folks ; 
 And mad demaleized men, with slavish yokes ; 
 And those defemalized, poor prostitutes, 
 Who slaved for all, e'en for our monsterbrutes. 
 
 VI. 
 
 One dear old home, abode, of our great race, 
 
 And where the Rochew rulers held a place, 
 
 A fortress home, for tribesman, captain, chief, 
 
 Was Baal Cove, far east from here — near the reef — 
 
 Where waters meet the waters at Pek Roc, 
 
 And where the ships of sea now find a dock ; 
 
 Near where 'tis said that Hercules of old 
 
 Performed a feat, which to this day is told, 
 
 'Twas there our Rochews found a safe retreat 
 
 In rock bound caverns : There our Chief would meet, 
 
 Chiefs of our clans and Captains of our bands — 
 
 Successful pillagers o'er seas and lands. 
 
 The boats that float and ride upon the waves 
 
 Had not at that date been used by these braves. 
 
 Their oar stroke was a stroke by a strong arm. 
 
 While miles of coast they skirted to alarm 
 
 Their friends, or, to afright and fight their foes 
 
 On water or on land, as their Chief chose. 
 
 Their weapon was a rochew, stick and tie 
 
 Which made a war club dangerous when nigh 
 
 And wielded by a maska-pira hand 
 
 Whose cracked skull trophies whitened on the strand. 
 
 A sea fight then was won by teeth and jaws 
 
 And land fights, mainly won, by clubs and claws. 
 
 In those days spoils of war were quite human : — 
 
 First in value was the choicest woman ! 
 
 Then Woman ! Woman ! Woman ! down the line 
 
 Until the grade was no more superfine; 
 
 And females, not thus chosen, had to stay 
 
 With common captives ; to await the day 
 
 When they might serve their captor, as he willed. 
 
 Although that service be ; — what maimed or killed 
 
 Life then was strife as sure as strife was life! 
 
 With every captive despair was most rife. 
 
 The sick and feeble were ruthlessly slain ; 
 
14 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 The vile and vicious could no respite gain. 
 
 The lusty males were paired for finish fights, — 
 
 To please their captors with most savage sights. 
 
 The winners were to have their days extended, 
 
 And so, for life, these captive braves contended. 
 
 By demaleizing one might win his way 
 
 As well as if he should a fellow slay. 
 
 Their weapons were their teeth, hands, feet and claws, 
 
 With rules of action unrestrained by laws. 
 
 Their dress was here and there a growth of hair. 
 
 As their own tribesmen of those days did wear. 
 
 The male fights o'er, the captor's select men 
 
 See carnal wrongs within a female pen ; 
 
 A monsterbruting of an early day ; 
 
 And forcing Nature from the truest way. 
 
 The other spoils, that warriors might obtain, 
 
 Were jeweled rings of gold that marked the reign 
 
 Of some great chieftain, and, some cloth of art, 
 
 As well as fur wraps. These were set apart 
 
 With grains, or fruits, or meats, as pleased the chief, 
 
 Who used them for display, or, for relief 
 
 Where food was scarce, and where the winter's cold 
 
 Might be less frigid in a comfort's fold. 
 
 VII. 
 Some other spoils of war deserve mention ; 
 Those which at Baal Cove got much attention, 
 Were Chieftains' heads, and clippings of those parts 
 That showed the tribe, rank, sex and tribal arts. 
 Such spoils, with thongs, were made fast to the belt, 
 That useful girdle of a tan or pelt ; 
 The only cover maska-pira had ; 
 Which, when well trophied, showed him richly clad. 
 Our warring clans would plunder near and far, 
 When no obstruction could their purpose bar. 
 Far East! Far North! Far South! Far West then went, 
 To rob and pillage and to find content." 
 Dun Albar here made pause to find a stone, 
 A tablet slab, that he said was alone 
 Sole witness of the land and water space 
 When Ruler Rochew ran his earthly race. 
 "Here ! See !" said Albar, "This long endless line 
 
EPOCH VII. 15 
 
 Once marked the shore an island grand and fine: 
 This was Atlata ! And its eastern part 
 Was Rochew land : Where Rochew's rules of art — 
 Fashioned the war club, and the beards of men ; 
 And grew a fortress from a wild beast's den. 
 Northwestward of Rochew's Atlata land, 
 Marked by a coast line one-fifth of its strand. 
 Was Shanko Land: Where yellow folks did dwell, 
 But, where they now are, Reco does not tell. 
 Away to Southwest, o'er extensive space. 
 Was found Onitra Land, with a red race. 
 While South and Eastward was the Nogro Land 
 Where black folks lolled about the warm sea strand. 
 
 VIIL 
 That Rochew Land, of great Atlata isles, 
 Was distant from Baal Cove five hundred miles. 
 And far to South, warmed by a tropic sun, 
 Rochew had well improved what he had won 
 From the black Nogro, who had coved a rock 
 Of pure white marble, to withstand the shock 
 Of any fearful onset ! Any foe 
 That could a war club wield, or, a stone throw. 
 'Twas Rochew, with a maska-pira band, 
 Attacked this fortress, both by sea and land ; 
 And showered stones, without a let or stay. 
 For twice two suns, each moment, night and day, — 
 Until the pass way into that great fort, 
 Its entrance way, its gate way and its port 
 Were blocked and filled by many tons of stone 
 That had, six hundred feet, been fairly thrown. 
 The fort thus taken by Rochew's great skill 
 Was thence called Albi Roc, as he did will', 
 
 IX. 
 
 Great Rochew and his own selected braves 
 Were great on shore, or, 'mid the high sea waves. 
 Each shaggy warrior stood near eight feet high 
 And weighed four hundred pounds ; or very nigh. 
 They oft would go from Baal Cove, and mainland, 
 By groups of isles, a swimming, diving band : 
 No matter how the ocean dashed her spray ; 
 
i6 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 No matter how the billows held their sway ; 
 
 They sped their course, and reached Atlata shore 
 
 Before the time space of nine days was o'er. 
 
 The tribe, in those days, was polygamous ; — 
 
 With mastication quite omniverous! 
 
 The maska-pira fathered the increase, 
 
 And mamo-vero gave health, strength and peace, 
 
 The child who came by any other way 
 
 Could hardly breathe the breath of life a day. 
 
 X. 
 
 Great Rochew : First great ruler of the tribe, 
 
 Ruled by some laws to which we do subscribe. 
 
 He knew that Good was right and Evil wrong ! 
 
 That Beauty should be well and should be strong. 
 
 Much Poetry of Nature he could hear, 
 
 And see it, — with a thought and vision clear. 
 
 The Good and Great, he reckoned as his friends. 
 
 And sought their favors to serve his own ends. 
 
 His salutation met the morning Sun : — 
 
 He called him Gracious: When the day was done. 
 
 The Moon ! With all her motions, shapes and lights ; 
 
 The twinkling stars that radiate the nights ; 
 
 The mighty of known and unknown forces ; 
 
 That served him near, or, at distant courses, 
 
 Produced in Rochew venerative awe 
 
 That made his code of venerative law. 
 
 The Rochews told their thoughts by words and acts : 
 
 Four hundred words, with numerous extracts, 
 
 And, new words added to what had been known, 
 
 While actions old and new were odly shown. 
 
 Great Rochew, worn by age, care, fight and woe ; 
 
 Near twice six thousand and one years ago, 
 
 Left Baal Cove and his people of that land 
 
 To spend a winter by the southeast strand 
 
 On fair Atlata. With him went three score 
 
 Of maska-pira braves ; and ten times more 
 
 Of mamo-veros, kanitras and slaves. 
 
 On this long voyage o'er the salt sea waves. 
 
 Behind was left Great Rochew's son. Eklu, 
 
 Who was to govern ; where and what he knew, — 
 
 The Rochew countries then had great extents ; 
 
EPOCHS X. 17 
 
 As held by clans, and bands in forts and tents, — 
 
 In lands of plenty, want, or rain, or droth ; 
 
 For full two thousand miles, from Pek Roc, South ; 
 
 And North, to where a never melting snow 
 
 Spreads her white mantle over land and floe. 
 
 The country East, was long, three thousand miles, 
 
 And West : To half way o'er Atlata isles. 
 
 A vast domain: Well mastered by the clans: 
 
 Two hundred clans, to forward the tribe's plans 
 
 In peace or war, on land, or, on the sea 
 
 For what there was, or is, or is to be. 
 
 In every clan there were a hundred bands : 
 
 The occupier's of these isles and lands. 
 
 XI. 
 
 The winter past, and came, and past again 
 
 Before they heard from Rochew or his train . 
 
 Three maska-pira braves then sought Eklu 
 
 To tell him what they could, of what they knew. 
 
 About the sick and feeble wise old chief, 
 
 Who failed to find that hoped for boon — relief: — 
 
 At Albi Roc ; or, on that sunny shore : 
 
 Then famed for sea, earth, air, and what they bore. 
 
 As passed more months. Great Rochew weaker grew ; 
 
 And every month well posted was Eklu — 
 
 As to his father's wants, his length of stay, 
 
 And, why this feeble chief could not make way 
 
 To Baal Cove 'gainst the angry rolling wave, 
 
 And why the Albi Roc might be his grave. 
 
 XII. 
 
 'Twas Spring-time at Baal Cove and near the date 
 When all the tribe was want to tend the fete: 
 The annual of Rochew's day of birth ! 
 The day — when he had lived upon the earth — 
 Two hundred and ten years : With great renown ; — 
 While Fortune's smile dispelled Disaster's frown. 
 Not far away was that great festive day, — 
 When scenes, transforming, came to strait and bay : 
 To Pek Roc and Baal Cove, and, out on sea ; — 
 While the shores tremble and while dwellers flee, — 
 The sea coasts rose and fell mid great sea waves 
 
I8 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 And made the graves for many Rochew braves. 
 
 To Westward : Islands came and islands went ; 
 
 The vales were flooded and the mountains rent. 
 
 Great lava streams poured from the mountain's crest! 
 
 The blood-red sun and moon sought the dark west ! 
 
 For a moon's course the western heavens glowed, 
 
 While ashes, smoke and fumes sought that abode. 
 
 The twelfth day of this dreadful confusion 
 
 Brought Eklu news of the dissolution 
 
 Of Rochew lands, in the Atlata isles ; 
 
 Of ocean waves that spread o'er sunken piles 
 
 Of earth : The habitations once of tribes 
 
 Wliose records were w-ell known to the old scribes. 
 
 That twelfth day was most sad for the Roche ws : 
 
 For, on that day was reaffirmed the news 
 
 To Eklu : — who was told the day, the night. 
 
 When Rochew and his braves fought their last fight. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Eklu became the Rochews' ruling chief. 
 
 In those hard times of Chaos, Ruin, Grief ! 
 
 And well he ruled, and, well he did contrive 
 
 To find a way, and with his tribesmen strive 
 
 To make a great state — peaceful and secure — 
 
 And escape the ruin of corruption's lure. 
 
 There followed Eklu, as the Rochew chief. 
 
 Full sixty- four, whose days were long, or, brief ; 
 
 While all these Rochew ruler's fleeting years. 
 
 Since Great Rochew had quit earth's hopes and fears, 
 
 Was twice twenty-four hundred ninety-eight — 
 
 Before that great tribe ceased to rule the state. 
 
 These ruling chiefs, of the great Rochew line. 
 
 Were rated as they were : Now coarse, now fine. 
 
 Some came to power by stealth and by strife — 
 
 \\niile others found that goal in peaceful life. 
 
 The days of Eklu and that sixty-four. 
 
 Were days of progress, or days to deplore. 
 
 Rude crafts were an invention of these days : — 
 
 In which the Rochews crossed broad water-ways. 
 
 Great stone built castles these Chiefs did design ; 
 
 A home, a fortress was in each combine. 
 
 Promethean heat that warms and gives light 
 
EPOCH XIII. 19 
 
 Was made to serve these chieftains day and night; 
 And that dull clay which was of worthless earth, 
 Was fashioned into many things of worth ; 
 While bow and arrow, and a stone and sling, 
 To slay a foe, or game, on foot or wing ; 
 Were some contrivings of these skilled Rochews 
 Who for the Right or for the Wrong did choose. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 The last great Rochew Chief was Indorod, 
 Who crudely followed where his sires trod 
 For many years, before that fatal day 
 When Albimon had won his right to stay 
 At fortress Baal Cove ; as chief of a tribe 
 That had had troubles near, and far, and wide. 
 And most dire ; for two thousand years at least ; 
 To North, to South, to West and in the East. 
 The Source and Cause of all that fearful time, 
 The revolution which found every clime 
 Was, among the clans, a demolition ; 
 A product of vice or Superstition ; — 
 Until the Rochew clans, both small and great. 
 Could only count their number eighty-eight ! 
 While thirty of these clans claimed some new way 
 Quite independent of the Great Chief's sway. 
 They oft sought favors of Chief Indorod 
 But gave more service to some new found god. 
 
 XV. 
 
 The clan that brought the wondrous change about, 
 
 And put the faithless Indorod to rout. 
 
 Was from the Northeast : Albi was the name 
 
 Of the great clan, of which Albimon came. 
 
 Its well built castle was a safe retreat, 
 
 Near where fresh waters with the salt waves meet. 
 
 Its name was Haven, and its near by isles 
 
 Were distant from Baal Cove ten hundred miles. 
 
 Of all the clans it was the nearest white; 
 
 Of all the clans its ways were nearest right ; 
 
 It had the lead in prowess, strength and health, 
 
 In sense, size, form and beauty, and in wealth. 
 
 Its Rules of Life were plain Eugenics old 
 
20 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 Much like Great Rochew taught, proclaimed and told. 
 
 The Mamo-vero sought the Albi Clan 
 
 Because she chose the Albi's living plan. 
 
 The prostitution of Life's fount and course 
 
 Was, 'mong most clans restrained by little force ; 
 
 But, with this Clan, the wench must bum and die 
 
 If she this fount in any way would try 
 
 To turn from its great purpose. And the male. 
 
 Who broke this rule of life, had soon to trail 
 
 Behind ten loyal clansmen ; bound by hand ; 
 
 A hand to foot, and so dragged by this band 
 
 To Grotto fire, where a blasting heat 
 
 Consumed this Culprit; this corrupting cheat. 
 
 The Mamo-vero of this olden time, 
 
 With few exceptions, caused by food and clime, 
 
 And an abnormal state, in no way best ; 
 
 Had but one yearly course. By parents blest ; 
 
 She blessed her increase ; and no cruel tear ; 
 
 No ruby tear that comes with dread and fear, 
 
 Came from her unpolluted fount of life ! 
 
 That annual was without shame or strife; 
 
 While child-birth time did often come with fear. 
 
 With recurrence a certain time each year, 
 
 And constant : for, by well known tradition ; 
 
 The increase day, the time for addition, 
 
 Was twenty days before the Coursing Sun 
 
 Had reached the North point of his yearly run. 
 
 Great Rochew and Albimon came near noon ; 
 
 Both on first day of that month we call June. 
 
 The time of Rochew's birth, that summer time, 
 
 By count, from A. D. eighteen — ninety-nine, 
 
 Was just twelve thousand two hundred and ten. 
 
 The year and birth day of this race of men. 
 
 When Indorod, at Baal Cove, was most tried, 
 
 Polygamy was practiced far and wide. 
 
 Far, far to East and by those great sea shores. 
 
 And far to South, beyond the river Tores, 
 
 The taking many wives, by right or wrong. 
 
 Was common practice of the weak and strong. 
 
 The clan to Eastward, at this time best known. 
 
 Was that brown people, the bold Chanlodone. 
 
 Far, far to Southward was the black Seeken 
 
EPOCH XV. 
 
 Who had a home in tree, in bush or glen. 
 Away to Northeast was the Mermon's Cove; 
 Much like the early Rochews they would rove 
 The narrow seas ! They waddled on the land, 
 Timid and fearful, by the surf-swept strand, 
 Which often was a home, a biding place. 
 For these wild tribesmen of the Rochew race. 
 Away to Eastward, by an inland sea, 
 Was found a clan that was most truly free 
 From any domination by a male. 
 Their Chafa — chief was Chieftain of the Grale! 
 A clan that polyandered and showed how 
 The Maska-pira could most humbly bow 
 To mamo-vero: For, by day and night, 
 She was an Amazon and showed her might. 
 The maska-pira Grale was hardly 'brave,' 
 When he was mamo-vero's humble slave ! 
 The story goes, that, in great Rochew's day. 
 The maska-pira strove with might to sway 
 The mamo-vero from plain virtue's course ; 
 By false divine pronouncements and by force. 
 'Gainst which, this mamo-vero used her sense 
 And became Chieftain by a brave defense. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Chief Indorod made it his pride and boast 
 
 That he was Great Chief of the Rochew host ; 
 
 And came that way by a direct descent. 
 
 And by good fortune that was his way bent. 
 
 His mother was a Chieftain's favored daughter. 
 
 Whose castle was near by a crystal water 
 
 That found its way o'er drift, and rock, and stone, 
 
 By field and shelter of the Chanlodone. 
 
 His father, as Great Chief of the Rochews. 
 
 Had, by the Custoin, many wives to choose. 
 
 And this he did, for great variety : — 
 
 Hoping his greed might find satiety. 
 
 It was this Great Chief's purpose and his plan, 
 
 To visit every loyal Chief and Clan 
 
 Once in ten years. Their homage was a pleasure. 
 
 Their gift of gold and jewels was a treasure. 
 
 It was by going, in this old time way, 
 
22 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 That he had come, upon an autumn day, 
 
 To see the Chanlodones ; and their chief greet, 
 
 In ways, to loyal subject, that seemed meet. 
 
 The Chanlodones were ruled by sly Chief Bunn, 
 
 Who, by his cunning many times had won 
 
 From other Chieftains: maidens, raiment, gold 
 
 And slaves, and mamo-veros, by deeds bold 
 
 And crafty ! He now may with Grato play ! 
 
 Play with a chief who had not seen the day 
 
 That wit or wisdom could, by any force. 
 
 Debar or turn him from his plan or course. 
 
 Nine days had Grato been clan chief Bunn's guest 
 
 When his time came to journey tord the West. 
 
 Some gifts from his host were quaint curios, 
 
 Along with toe and nose-ring mementoes. 
 
 He had his choice of maska-pira braves. 
 
 Of mamo-veroes, kanitras and slaves. 
 
 He chose braves four, and enuch slaves a score. 
 
 As guards and packers of his increased store. 
 
 Of Chief Bunn's wives he chose brown Agrata; 
 
 And, of his daughters, the sweet Avista. 
 
 The brown Agrata was Avista's mam. 
 
 And this child's worth brought sweeter, better balm 
 
 To Chief Bunn and Agrata, the factors ; 
 
 Than Gila's land e'er gave its extractors. 
 
 Chief Bunn loved nine wives, but. Agrata best. 
 
 Of daughters, he had many ; but the rest 
 
 Combined, could not from his brow drive a care 
 
 So well, as his Avista : fair and rare ! 
 
 When Bunn had learned that Grato would demand 
 
 Agrata and Avista. His command 
 
 Was that his braves by force must bar the way! 
 
 That mother and her child must with him stay : 
 
 But, by reflecting on the disasters 
 
 That had befallen other clan masters. 
 
 He thought it best to feign tranquility 
 
 By way of meekness and humility. 
 
 His fourth best wife, Juruju. ruled a maid 
 
 Who had a daughter, and, of them 'twas said : 
 
 'This maid and daughter, of the common mass. 
 
 Look like the Chief's first choice in the best class.' 
 
 Such was the wav the high and low would talk 
 
EPOCH XVI. 23 
 
 When e'er this family came out for a walk. 
 
 Chief Bunn observed this likeness and declared, 
 
 In secret plotting: that, if he were spared 
 
 To work his will : He would keep his daughter, 
 
 And Agrata would not cross sea water ! 
 
 He would so substitute and work the play, 
 
 That the Great Chief would never see the day 
 
 When he would know of the substitution, 
 
 Or how his blood contracted pollution. 
 
 Chief Bunn had planned with jealous Juruju, 
 
 For the outwitting of this great Rochew. 
 
 And Juruju had told the slave the part 
 
 That she must play with all her skill and art. 
 
 Said she : 'The prize is great and worth the chase ; 
 
 Your Child may be a chief of the this great race !' 
 
 At this Tyra, the maid, was much annoyed. 
 
 And her best sense vigorously employed. 
 
 She knew and loved Agrata : And she knew 
 
 That she should not do wrong for Juruju. 
 
 But how to serve this mistress and do right 
 
 Was her annoyance ; as the shades of night 
 
 Began to wrap within their quiet fold. 
 
 The camp and castle and the dreary wold. 
 
 While she stood thinking of her daily task. 
 
 And how she might wear this dissembling mask: — 
 
 There came, touching near, the good Agrata, 
 
 And by her soon appeared sweet Avista. 
 
 Agrata had for Tyra a kind word ; 
 
 And for Gomar, her daughter, there was heard 
 
 Such loving words as Mamo-veros gave 
 
 To one whom cruel fate had made a slave. 
 
 A call for 'Tyra !' once, twice, thrice did sound ; 
 
 And Tyra, hurried o'er the moon-lit ground 
 
 To find and please her mistress Juruju, 
 
 And could not tell Agrata what she knew. 
 
 xvn. 
 
 Some facts and factors under heaven's dome 
 Of twinkling stars, that makes one feel at home. 
 In camp or castle, or on sea or lea, 
 May now be stated: So that you may see 
 The circumstances of that day at eve, 
 
24 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 The eve just last before that Great Chief's leave. 
 
 It was the custom, where this chief was guest, 
 
 To give that worthy, everything the best. 
 
 The Castle was his, while he wished to stay ! 
 
 The Chief and all his clan would find a way 
 
 To camp, hut, shelter, field, as best they might. 
 
 And do for their Great Chieftain what was right. 
 
 The Great Chief much fatigued by the day's chase, 
 
 The Clansman's Hunt, which Chief Bunn gave a place 
 
 On the great programme ; was quite elated 
 
 At the day's doings ; by braves related. 
 
 They told how Roclund, with a sling and stone, 
 
 Had slain a roe buck, at a distance known 
 
 By them to measure thirteen hundred feet. 
 
 And other huntsmen's acts made quite complete 
 
 That great day of events, the closing time! 
 
 Of Grate's stay in Chief Bunn's sunny clime. 
 
 Then came the time at evening for Review ; 
 
 The time to count the old and count the new. 
 
 The castle fire shed reflecting light 
 
 From wall to wall, and to the turrets height. 
 
 It lightened the grim visaged giant braves, 
 
 Six hundred strong ; who manned the boats o'er waves ; 
 
 Guarded Great Grato and all Grato's train; 
 
 And, at all times good order did maintain. 
 
 Chief Lafareau, clan chief of Baal Cove clan. 
 
 And son to Grato : Proceeded, by plan, 
 
 To call the roll. Beginning with Tribe Chief ; 
 
 Then down the grade to monster-bruting-thief : 
 
 Ending with that important Store Keeper, 
 
 Who kept the stores of this Plunder Reaper. 
 
 The roll call was to get each leader's word, 
 
 And, in response, each leader's voice was heard. 
 
 By this, captain's of bands, by six they count; 
 
 And other leaders eight, with no discount. 
 
 Great Grato said : when the roll call was o'er, 
 
 'We have, by Chief Bunn's leave, put well in store, 
 
 Much of lentil and choice dried provisions ; 
 
 With these secure, and some live conditions. 
 
 That bring to us, of the Chanlodone clan. 
 
 Our choice of woman and our choice of man ! 
 
 We will, to-morrow, proceed on our way 
 
EPOCH XVII. 25 
 
 And thank Chief Bunn for this most pleasant stay. 
 
 'Tis ordered that mamo-veros' Mater, 
 
 Have at dawn by this baptismal water, 
 
 Agrata and Avista! Of us parts 
 
 To strength and sustain hands, heads and hearts.' 
 
 XVIII. 
 Dun Albar paused : He seemed to hesitate, 
 As to Recorded facts that he should state ; 
 And then ; by way of an explanation 
 Said : "The very gist of this narration 
 Is that which shows how, in the Olden Time, 
 Much that was Sin, Evil, Trespass or Crime, 
 Was then, as now, woefully conducive 
 To ills for all, or a tribe exclusive : 
 And evils, that misused the Fount of Life, 
 Have filled the world with fear, grief, woe and strife! 
 Was it for all to go their own blind way, 
 Or were it best that none should go estray? 
 We will proceed, and, with all due respect, 
 Find naught of Reco that we should reject. 
 At early morn the Mater's voice was heard 
 To mingle with the calls of flock and herd. 
 At early morn before the Great Chief rose, 
 Good Mater Thra had called from their repose 
 Agrata and Avista; and made known 
 The will of Grato; who would claim his own 
 With vows and pledges, and, by every rule 
 And final tests in the Baptismal pool. 
 Good Mater, with her charges, came along 
 Wrapped in fur of ermine, canting a song 
 Oft used on these occasions ; till they stood 
 And bowed before Great Grato, as they should. 
 Then Grato, speaking *o sad Agrata, 
 Said : 'Tell of yourself and your Avista ! 
 Of birth, life, honor, parity and health, 
 And what you think of treachery and stealth?' 
 The words of Grato caused a ruddy flush 
 To light Agrata's face ; as a rose blush 
 Might the fairer face of an Albi dame. 
 If circumstances with her were the same. 
 Agrata shook : Her frame was all a-quiver 
 
26 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 Like moon-light glimmer on a restless river. 
 
 She turned her face toward the azure sky 
 
 And with her hands uplifted thrice did cry 
 
 To 'Baalka !' to hear all her contrition 
 
 And full confession without omission ! 
 
 On 'Baalka' of the Rochews she relied ; 
 
 On 'that great God who never had denied, 
 
 To female in distress, what he could give: — 
 
 That Truth and Virtue might the better live !' 
 
 To 'Baalka,' who had brought the morning light ; 
 
 To 'Baalka,' who had driven off the night, 
 
 She did appeal, in these words, for relief : 
 
 'Great Baalka ! Greatest God of our Belief 
 
 Hear your poor child, in her distress and woe; 
 
 And, if she to the Tower fire should go! 
 
 So will it : Or, if doomed to a worse fate, 
 
 And Altar fire seems best for her state ! 
 
 So will it : Or, if ill the worst must come ; 
 
 And Grotto fire must end the total sum 
 
 Of this Existence ! so will it : But Great 
 
 Baalka ! may she now the plain truth relate ? 
 
 But hear her story told, and then, perchance, 
 
 Your will and judgment may better advance 
 
 To do full justice to her wrongs and rights! 
 
 The bad and good of all her days and nights. 
 
 I am but a semblance ; not Agrata ! 
 
 Nor is this child her own sweet Avista. 
 
 I hold no ill will to IMamo-vero. 
 
 Nor to the Rochews or Great Chief Grato ! 
 
 We are but substitutes. Sent by Chief Bunn 
 
 And Juruju, against our wish, to run 
 
 A scheme of base fraud to its conclusion. 
 
 While we keep Grato in this delusion. 
 
 She then took from the folds of her white wrap 
 
 A distended bladder ; having at tap 
 
 An ivory stopper; well known symbols then 
 
 For strength and cunning in jungle and glen. 
 
 'Bid the Great Chief drink this,' said sly Chief Bunn, 
 
 'Bid him drink this good Cheer, when Baal, the sun, 
 
 Has thrown his sheen against turret and wall 
 
 Of Chanlodone Castle : Drink much, drink all ! 
 
 In it is found the Vigor of the East ! 
 
EPOCH XVIII. 27 
 
 'Tis from our vintage made for wedding feast' 
 
 — So said Chief Bunn ! But let this humble dame ; 
 
 Though counterfeit; yet, not in her fair claim 
 
 To Right and Justice, tell Great Chief Grato, 
 
 That, in this liquid tliere is a ratio 
 
 Of poisonous extracts, from insects and herbs, 
 
 That would to your life be the bane and curbs 
 
 Of its existence. If you should but drink 
 
 One-half this gill, your thinker could not think; 
 
 Or your strikers strike ; or your talker talk ; 
 
 Of your feelers feel ; or your walkers walk ! 
 
 You would not be a semblance of a chief 
 
 And welcome Death ! would make your sad days brief. 
 
 Agrata and Avista are not here; 
 
 This is Tyra! that Gomar! do not fear, — 
 
 Great Grato may his chosen ones secure; 
 
 Heed well this counsel : Patiently endure ; 
 
 Abide your time ! Act with a sly pretense, 
 
 And never show a sign of this offense 
 
 Till you have mastered the situation! 
 
 And so make greater your reputation. 
 
 Alarm the guilty ; they may get away ; 
 
 Or harm those dear ones, while they here may stay 
 
 XIX. 
 
 My mother was a mamo-vero old. 
 
 When we were taken by the Ashtars bold 
 
 From the Gilla clan of the Rochew race. 
 
 And led o'er sandy plain and desert space 
 
 To fertile regions ; where a castle wall 
 
 Was shade to shame and honest virtue's pall. 
 
 Her age was ninety; mine just nearing ten; 
 
 And well I do remember that time when 
 
 My maska-pira father did consent 
 
 And my mamo-vero mother did relent, 
 
 At my betrothal to Nebo ! my brave ! 
 
 Whom the rude Ashtars made a drudging slave. 
 
 At that betrothal, I was strong for ten ; 
 
 Nebo was twelve : But he, by other men. 
 
 Stood full their height and performed well their part, 
 
 In maska-pira ways of war and art. 
 
 I was near grown and often did assume 
 
28 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 A matron, or, maid's task at reel and loom. 
 
 I helped at fishing and in mending nets ; 
 
 Cared for the herds and loved my lambkin pets, 
 
 The Gilla Clan ; monogamous in fact ; 
 
 Were bound by social ties and friendly pact 
 
 To the Albi clan, whose progressive strides, 
 
 In Rules of Life, were used as Cilia's guides. 
 
 The Albi clan sought for all Nature's Good ! 
 
 With rules and laws conforming, as they should. 
 
 The Ashtar tribe ; striving for like result. 
 
 Sought wonders, through their Gods, by the Occult ! 
 
 The one, by Nature, tried the great Assent, — 
 
 While Supernature was the others bent. 
 
 In Governmental rules ; of old, or late ; 
 
 The Ashtars differed from the Rochew state. 
 
 No Maska-pira did the Ashtars claim! 
 
 No Mamo-vero, — in fact or in name! 
 
 First came the tribe Chief, and then, the clan Chiefs ; 
 
 Then chieftains' families, Captains and reliefs ; 
 
 Next came the High Priest ; and priests not so high, 
 
 Who, with their families, did quite often vie 
 
 With those in rank above their fixed station, — 
 
 That Priesthood might rule that tribal Nation. 
 
 Next came, in order the tribe's pirate brutes. 
 
 And next, their consort slaves ; low prostitutes. 
 
 Then came the eunuchs, who, in war or peace 
 
 Served high and low. and secured no release 
 
 From service to chief, priest, slave, and that brute. 
 
 Who, by Priestcraft, had learned that to pollute 
 
 The high and low was not a grave offense : — 
 
 For gods would cure all ills : by recompense ! 
 
 This Priestcraft doctrine, for three thousand years 
 
 Had, in a way, assuaged their grief and fears. 
 
 Thus, long ago the Ashtars felt the force. 
 
 Of the corruption of Life's fount and course; 
 
 By dread disease and weakness, which, to stay. 
 
 Their Chiefs and Priests had, in every way. 
 
 Sought for some Supernature, magic cure. — 
 
 That the tribe might, by such means, long endure. 
 
 Near all their women, in those woeful days 
 
 Had been led far from honest Nature's ways ! 
 
 Their fount of Life had not a certain course : 
 
EPOCH XIX. 29 
 
 Pollution had so harmed its sacred source 
 That, sanguineous tears, the sign of harm, 
 Were oft, or, always present to alarm 
 And warn the victim, of this pollution, 
 That her wounds came by vile prostitution. 
 There was in the tribe then : That long ago ; 
 The Conservationists ! some thought too slow ; 
 And these the Great Chief wisely selected 
 To search the Occult, for wonders expected, 
 Through Priesthood methods which, a seer had said, 
 Would cure the living and revive the dead. 
 The Supernature of that day and clime, — 
 Much like it is at every place and time, 
 Looked to the stars above, and things of light. 
 To do the wonders that required mighty 
 
 XX. 
 
 Before the Priesthood Seers had become part 
 
 Of the Ashtar's rank ; in the occult art ; 
 
 There was selected by Gran, the tribe's Chief, 
 
 Von Thor: Who was to bring needed relief 
 
 To these most debased Ashtar polluters ; 
 
 These weak, lazy, diseased prostituters ! 
 
 But do what e'er he could by zeal and might ; 
 
 He could not guide these tribesmen in the right. 
 
 And, fearing that he could not save their Cause ! 
 
 Resigned; on tabulating these Life laws: 
 
 'You Ashtars think that by some magic art 
 
 'You can make pure the vilest head and heart ; 
 
 'And that, by some occult substitution, 
 
 'You can dispel a vile blood pollution. 
 
 'That in Eugenics, your gods have a plan 
 
 'To rear the purest from the vilest clan. 
 
 'Heredity: You question with a flout! 
 
 'Prenatalism : That theme you do scout! 
 
 'You should well know : It is the crescent ring, — 
 
 'The weighty ring, which to each nose must cling, — 
 
 'That gave the Ashtars, of the present time, 
 
 'The most prodigious nose of any clime. 
 
 'A custom that affects body or mind, 
 
 'When Strictly enforced on a humankind: — 
 
 'Must, soon or later, show what has been done; 
 
30 THE ROCHEIV-ALBIMON. 
 
 'After long years : what has been lost or won ! 
 
 'You may, with your gods, cure distressing ills 
 
 'By mental force, or, concentrated wills. 
 
 *You may, with your gods, heal the sick and lame 
 
 'By a magnetic method I might name. 
 
 'You may do much : But when you try to cure 
 
 'A growing ill that makes its hold secure, 
 
 *As of the Natural : Then you may find 
 
 'That you, — with your gods and all humankind, — 
 
 'Must bide your time: For, do as best you may! 
 
 'The only cure comes by Retracement's way. 
 
 'Let a clan Band go ten days' journey w'est 
 
 'When ten days more have past, they here may rest. 
 
 'You may go down an incline in a day 
 
 'And be full ten days on the up-hill way. 
 
 'You would pollute the innocent and fair 
 
 'And ask why health and virtue are so rare. 
 
 'You would go prostituting with your wives 
 
 'And wonder why the increase seldom thrives. 
 
 'You would abuse the Life of Gestation 
 
 'And get a knave or fool for your Ration ! 
 
 'You ! By ill using of Life's source and plan. 
 
 'Would bring destruction to your tribe and clan I 
 
 'In all your conduct ; your gods just, or wise. 
 
 'Should give you Justice, as each moment flies ! 
 
 'By Nature's Good; if it were not too late, 
 
 'You might restore or better your rude state. 
 
 'To make your Pirate brutes like Rochew braves. 
 
 'And Mamo-veros of your women slaves; 
 
 'Might mean Retracement for five hundred years 
 
 'Without reverses, doubts or gloomy fears. 
 
 * — For Betterment ! parents, with their increase. 
 
 'Should most faithfully strive, until release 
 
 'And independence of the child is gained 
 
 'And filial-parent-love is well maintained!' 
 
 XXL 
 
 After \'on Thor. for Thirty hundred years, 
 The Priestliood were the doctors and the seers! 
 This brings us down to that most awful time. 
 \Mien this child and her mother knew no crime, 
 Until Baaldare. High Priest of the Ashtars. 
 
EPOCH XXI. 31 
 
 In Castle halls ; under benighted stars ; 
 
 By cruel force and rudest of rude action, 
 
 Blasted our hopes for vile satisfaction! 
 
 Then Baaldare; with pretended contrition, — 
 
 In words that may show the true condition, — 
 
 Said : 'Back, full four thousand years ago, 
 
 The Ashtars were not then the Rochews' foe. 
 
 For then, they were part of the Rochew tribe. 
 
 And to their laws and customs did subscribe! 
 
 They were then called the Ashtar Clan : But when ; 
 
 Two hundred years later, these clannish men 
 
 Made union with nine other rebel clans, 
 
 They called this new formation, with its plans, 
 
 The Ashtar Tribe : And proposed to expand 
 
 The Ashtar, or Moon Ways, o'er sea and land. 
 
 The Rochews claimed that Baal was greatest Good: — 
 
 That Ashtar but assisted, as she should! 
 
 The Ashtars seeking for some novel way, 
 
 That might explain great Ashtar's night and day 
 
 Queer phases : Found what they had sought in Moze, 
 
 Who had become the High Priest and who rose. 
 
 As some said : from herdsman of sheep and swine ; — 
 
 While others said that Ashtar, in her line 
 
 Of monthly coursing, had but lost a son ; 
 
 And what this Goddess lost the tribe had won ! 
 
 That he had been delivered fully grown ; 
 
 Was wise and just; and it had long been known 
 
 That a god's son, was to guide the Ashtars, 
 
 In ways to avoid dire disasters. 
 
 When Moze had well learned the Great Chief's pleasure, 
 
 He then proceded ; with all due leisure, 
 
 To find a cure for the tribe's greatest ill. 
 
 And led them, as he pleased, by his own will. 
 
 For many hundred years the tribe had grown 
 
 In ways abominable I till alone. 
 
 It led all others in prostitution 
 
 And ways most vile, by wicked pollution 
 
 Of that pure sacred Fountain of Life's Source, 
 
 And, that most sacred way ; its truest course. 
 
 For years the Priesthood had by skill and art 
 
 Given favors to gods, with no small part 
 
 To daring tribesmen : Whether wrong or right : , 
 
32 THE ROCHEIV-ALBIMON. 
 
 That was the custom, in darkness or light. 
 
 The first Revelation that to Moze came 
 
 Was from the goddess Ashtar, and, by name 
 
 Was called the Regular, and intended 
 
 To cure the ills, which many contended. 
 
 The gods had sent to so spread disasters. 
 
 That they might never be the world's masters ! 
 
 This 'regular' was set forth as 'the rules' 
 
 Which were to guide the chiefs, doctors and schools. 
 
 In these 'rules,' it was clearly expressive, — 
 
 That the tribe's pirate brutes be more aggressive 
 
 In taking from near tribes their females pure! 
 
 For, in a better blood may be a cure. 
 
 That, while Great Baal is greatest god of all 
 
 And generator of the large and small ; 
 
 'Tis Ashtar, Mother god ! The great giver ! 
 
 Who mother's and makes ready to deliver, 
 
 Her increase, in days, not more than twenty-four, 
 
 And, these days she cFaims is enough and more 
 
 Than earthly mothers ought to require ; — 
 
 If they would show increase that gods admire ; — 
 
 That, the gods most rejoice during the night; 
 
 The second night of Ashtar's greatest light ! 
 
 That, by her glow and fullness she does show 
 
 That she is full and fair, as long ago; 
 
 That, in five days, the creatures of the earth. 
 
 May hear of a miraculous new birth, — 
 
 From the gods above, to mortals given ! 
 
 Thus, for the Ashtars, the gods have striven. 
 
 The night when all the gods rejoice the most, 
 
 Until next eve; all tribes of the earth's host 
 
 Shall well observe the great monthly event, 
 
 Live where they may in castle, cave or tent. 
 
 And ever after ; while she holds her course. 
 
 Each Seventh day ; all shall observe by force, 
 
 Habit, or pleasure ; the Quarter changes 
 
 That Ashtar makes in all her wide ranges ! 
 
 That females, in course, the good, the fair, or mean: 
 
 Must, every moon's course, be for three weeks clean ! 
 
 Thus ; Ashtar has proclaimed : And those who fail 
 
 To well obey this rule may weep and wail ; — 
 
 For they may fail to light the world afar 
 
EPOCH XXI. 33 
 
 And be each, in herself, a living star! 
 But be, instead, a light for pits and thunders ; 
 While Grotto fires feed such demon wonders. 
 That females all, shall cultivate and grow 
 A line of hair curved like a well drawn bow, 
 Of crescent shape, on ridge bone o'er the eye 
 And, in their efforts, they should often vie 
 With each other, to make the crescent true 
 As Ashtar shows, when old, as well as new. 
 That there shall be by tatoo or by brand, 
 As long as the forefinger of the hand, 
 An up faced crescent o'er the breast-bone curve 
 To show, by sign, how Ashtar's Daughters Serve.' 
 As to Great Baal and his transcedent laws ! 
 Baaldare said: 'There had long been a good cause 
 For saying : that some dread male diseases ; 
 Shown by ulcers, scabs, scales, coughs and wheezes ; 
 Or dreadful pains in body, limb or joint. 
 That seem do their worst at some weak point; 
 Or slow decadence of flesh, tooth or bone. 
 For which the Ashtars could not well atone: — 
 First got their holds, by virus contact base, 
 'Gainst the external genital's crude face 
 Of the Ashtar tribesmen ! And so, to cure. 
 Or have that offender better endure 
 A foul, rank and unclean situation ; 
 Moze and his priests offered great oblation. 
 And Baal, much pleased with such condescension, 
 Sent him Five laws, of which, we will mention 
 But two : The one provides that the male child 
 The rich, the poor, the strong, weak, tame or wild, 
 Shall : before his seventh year is near spent. 
 Whether contented or a Discontent, 
 Be well circumcised ! With the intention — 
 That it, 'gainst such ills, may be Prevention ! 
 And that, henceforth, this circumcision act ; 
 Besides preventing ills, from vile contact, 
 Shall be a tribal mark for high and low 
 Where Ashtar tribesmen hence may come or go. 
 That other law, which Great Baal sent to Moze, 
 And we now state ; pertains to priesthood clothes, 
 And does provide : That priests, in fact and name, 
 3 
 
34 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 Shall dress the crown part of their heads the same ; 
 
 That at this crown, the size of a hand's pahn, 
 
 Shall be a Holy Crown Place where Baal's balm 
 
 May be bestowed with his glow and Glory 
 
 Within a corona dark or hoary ; 
 
 That priests, as part of their exaltation, 
 
 Shall by wood ash, or some variation. 
 
 Make bare this Holy Crown Place on the head 
 
 So, when a priestly prayer to Baal is said, 
 
 He then may see the symbol of his power, 
 
 And bless the wearer every day and hour.' 
 
 xxn. 
 
 The first twelve years of the forty I spent 
 
 With the depraved Ashtars ; dreadfully went 
 
 As wife 'thirty-six' of High Priest Baaldare. 
 
 And the next twenty-four, with grief and care 
 
 More distressing, as a base female slave 
 
 To a pirate brute, known as Sardirave. 
 
 I had increase, by Baaldare, of sons five ; 
 
 Of daughters one ; and all did fairly thrive. 
 
 My mother, from first to last, was low caste 
 
 Among the Ashtars! And the time went fast 
 
 Until she, aged one hundred and twenty. 
 
 Had had of Slavery, a full plenty. 
 
 Her fate had for many months been flouted 
 
 By young pirate brutes ; who had oft shouted 
 
 Unclean ! Unclean ! Unclean ! as she passed by. 
 
 Unclean ! To Grotto fire ! they would cry. 
 
 The priests had tried their dried herb purgatives ; 
 
 Their bark astringents and root sedatives. 
 
 But all for naught ; as naught, for all they gave, 
 
 Could save the life of this my mother, slave ! 
 
 For her state, there was no regulation 
 
 That could make good her degeneration. 
 
 Her fate was but the common fate of all 
 
 Whom that tribe's pirate brutes could once inthrall. 
 
 My increase by Sardirave was but one, 
 
 A daughter : The father preferred a son ! 
 
 She came with conditions most distressing. 
 
 Not much wanted: and, no way a blessing! 
 
 I was once told a tale, by an old Tar, — 
 
EPOCH XXII. 35 
 
 In which degradation was called 'gomar;' — 
 
 And, from conditions of the way she came, 
 
 I thought Gomar a most befitting name. 
 
 After High Priest Baaldare had closed me out 
 
 To Sardirave, who was an Ashtar Scout, 
 
 My children, — by that Priest, — were lost to view ! 
 
 But, mother love must prove forever true. 
 
 I heard their names were changed within ten days 
 
 After Sardirave had led me in ways 
 
 So distressing, and full of grief and care, 
 
 That I, the linnen clout, was forced to wear. 
 
 Yet : I have not, at any time, forgot 
 
 My five boy youngsters ; or, that sweet girl tot 
 
 Who had the hair mole just below the ear 
 
 Where I have planted mother kisses dear. 
 
 The twenty-fourth year that was mine to stay, 
 
 As slave to Sardirave; was, in a way, 
 
 The most alarming of my days of life ; 
 
 The most distressing of my days of strife. 
 
 — Gomar had for seven years been matured, 
 
 And, for that while, a slave life had endured. 
 
 As best she could : But try with all her might 
 
 She could not well prolong the loosing fight ; 
 
 And, one sad day, we learned to our sorrow, — 
 
 That — Transmute Flames would claim us 'to-morrow.' — 
 
 That Chief Kan had vanquished an Eastern foe 
 
 And brought back grains, nuts, wine, spice and aloe, — 
 
 With gold and jewels, and cloth rich and rare, 
 
 And near ten hundred maidens, young and fair : — 
 
 So that the services of most women 
 
 Worn by age, care, or, in some way given 
 
 To an unclean condition, — must soon go 
 
 To feed the fires that remove all woe! 
 
 The best, the Altar fire would translate ; 
 
 The rest, by Grotto fire, change their state. 
 
 I begged for Sardirave's intercession — 
 
 That Chief Kan had got a wrong impression! 
 
 But, Sardirave answered, with shrug and smile: — 
 
 'You may be first of the six hundred pile 
 
 Of slaves that Grotto fire does require. 
 
 And, as for Gomar ; she should retire ! 
 
 Why should an unclean slave long wish to live 
 
36 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 When she, for what she gets, must five fold give?' 
 
 With but the faintest ray of earthly hope 
 
 I sought Baadare. praying for strength to cope 
 
 With his Highness; in ways so conclusive. 
 
 That he might hear and not be delusive ! 
 
 Baaldare was kind, and, by intercession, — 
 
 With hard conditions, — got this expression 
 
 From Chief Kan, who said : 'These lives will I spare. 
 
 While they the sign of danger plainly wear, 
 
 And weave a score of linen clouts each day : 
 
 Eight for Gomar, and, twelve must find their way 
 
 From Tyra's loom: Full size, well made and stout, — 
 
 Two spans in width and four spans long, each clout. 
 
 Should more be made, some day than is stated, 
 
 Such extras shall, as credits, be rated.' 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Four years near pass since that impending doom 
 
 When we two slaves were spared to work tlie loom. 
 
 The task was most severe : But, by and by, 
 
 This new vocation brought up very nigh, — 
 
 To thinking, — our work more endurable ; — 
 
 For circumstances proved most merciful. 
 
 We had been at our work four moon's courses 
 
 When Xebo, by chance, or, by Good forces : — 
 
 Was set about his task of hackling flax, 
 
 With old familiar sounds of strokes and whacks, — 
 
 Xot more than eight short paces from my loom, — 
 
 And, by his looks and acts, dispelled the gloom. 
 
 For near four years we had performed our parts 
 
 Most faithfully : by Ashtar ways and arts. 
 
 When, on a day, there came, as Inspector, 
 
 A man of stem mien, like a Corrector! 
 
 He wore the Ashtar crescent nose ring ; 
 
 Yet. body marks that, on Memory's wing. 
 
 Took me back to days when, with Gilla clan 
 
 I saw the Rochew marks of maid and man. 
 
 The Inspector, whom Xebo called Skibo , 
 
 Was strangely interested in Xebo, 
 
 And. at the turn of two full moon's endings, 
 
 Xebo told the cause of these attendings. 
 
 Said he : 'The scheme is good ; its purpose just ! 
 
EPOCH XXIII. 37 
 
 Skibo is Chief Kan's scout ; but says he must 
 
 Betray that Chief and make Chief Bunn master 
 
 Of this great castle by Kan's disaster ! 
 
 That Bunn's hold will be but for a short day: 
 
 When, with his pelf, he will g"o on his way. 
 
 The time for this bold raiding will be soon : — 
 
 Within fi\e days after the next full moon; — 
 
 Which is the annual of a great birth ! 
 
 The days when Moze came from the moon to earth. 
 
 Then, most chiefs, priests, slaves and bold pirate brutes 
 
 Will be away and leave no substitutes : — 
 
 And while they linger on that sacred spot ; 
 
 Where the great Moze began his mortal lot, — 
 
 This castle will not be well defended, — 
 
 And, while vigilance is thus suspended. 
 
 Chief Bunn will come and, passing Skibo's guard, 
 
 Find the way open to the castle yard. 
 
 The rest is easy ! Then we, with Gomar, 
 
 Will take a journey tord an evening star 
 
 With Chief Bunn's train, well guarded by his braves, 
 
 To a great castle near salt water waves. 
 
 You are the only female that we trust 
 
 And what Skibo says do ! we should and must ! 
 
 Try no confidings with the weak or strong — 
 
 Gomar can only be a Come-along!' 
 
 It was full forty years, near to a day. 
 
 After Baaldare had gone on that long way 
 
 Of his explanatory contrition ; 
 
 That this spy-scout had thought the condition 
 
 Fair; for a most successful deliverance 
 
 Of Chief Kan's Castle: By a connivance 
 
 With sly Chief Bunn, of the Chanlidone Clan, 
 
 Who had, by stone-craft, given him the plan, 
 
 Which Bunn declared would be most successful ! 
 
 And, with success, none would be regretful. 
 
 The plans of Chief Bunn and the scout and slave 
 
 Worked out so well that Bunn should nothing crave ; — 
 
 For, twenty days from Nebo's revealing ; — 
 
 And ten days from the castle's quick yielding; 
 
 Chief Bunn was safe within his castle walls 
 
 With what was best of Chief Kan's castle halls. 
 
 — Here I have been, and found a better home 
 
38 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 With Gomar, Nebo and the Chanlodone, — 
 
 For sixteen years last past : And, might relate 
 
 How fortune, by the change, improved our state. 
 
 Our work has been with weavers old and new, 
 
 By orders from our mistress Juruju ; 
 
 Who is said to be Chief Bunn's childless wife : — 
 
 And, who helps bear his daily strife, of life. 
 
 And now. Great Grato, you have my story 
 
 Which gives me neither name, fame nor glory : — 
 
 Before you and Great Baalka I have tried 
 
 To be a Rochew true; and will abide 
 
 Whatever is your wish or will to give ; 
 
 For, if you wish, I'd rather die than live!' 
 
 Tyra thus said and bowed before the Chief 
 
 Who gave this stem command, with manners brief : 
 
 'You Maska-pira guard ! You sturdy braves ! 
 
 Keep here with Laf areau ! And eunuch slaves ; 
 
 All I have claimed of the Chanlodone clan, 
 
 Save Nebo ; keep here ! It well serves my plan — 
 
 That Roclund, Agrata, Avista, Thra 
 
 And Nebo lead to yon hall ! Now, Away !' 
 
 Chief Grato was not long within that hall 
 
 Before there went from castle and its wall 
 
 Roclund and Nebo, with six well armed guards. 
 
 Who soon were nearing Chief Bunn's camp and yards 
 
 With an important message that would tell, — 
 
 That Grato was in no way sound or well 
 
 And wanted Bunn to come and cure the ill ; 
 
 Or, if the worst must come, help make his will. 
 
 Chief Bunn may well have had his doubts and fears, 
 
 As to conditions ; but, as it appears, 
 
 When Roclund gave the orders of his chief ; — 
 
 And asked that Chief Bunn come to his relief ; — 
 
 He seemed well pleased, and, with the eight, as guard. 
 
 Soon passed the portal of the castle yard 
 
 And came before the chieftain Lafareau — 
 
 Led on by Roclund, Nebo and Skibo. 
 
 — When well in front of Lafareau's armed force ; — 
 
 The nine made halt ! And, from his girdle's course, 
 
 Roclund drew a small bladder — flask of wine. 
 
 Plugged with ivory, and said: 'This combine 
 
 May well include 'the Vigor of the East !' 
 
EPOCH XXIII. 39 
 
 And, while Chief Grato might, at some great feast, 
 
 Claim all its virtues : In his sore distress 
 
 And weariness says : 'We must not transgress 
 
 Our Customs and Good Manners, rare and fine ;' 
 
 And bids the donor drink first of this wine !' 
 
 With Roclund's kind words went his kind action, — 
 
 And, Bunn took the flask, with — satisfaction; — 
 
 And said ; as he drank all, to the last drop. 
 
 And felt the forces of his being stop : 
 
 'In it I find — the vigor of — the stills — 
 
 And f er-men-ta-tions-that-sub-due-our-wills !' 
 
 He thus exclaimed and faltered as he spoke, 
 
 And then again the dreadful stillness broke 
 
 With, 'Agrata ! — Avista !' And, with head bowed low, 
 
 Fell forward on the arms of strong Nebo ; 
 
 Who gently let him down to mother earth, — 
 
 A chieftain dead ! with friends and tears, a dearth. 
 
 Great Grato, who beheld this brave ending, 
 
 Came nearer, with guards his way attending, 
 
 And, in his own peculiar style proclaimed : 
 
 And, for the good of clan and tribe maintained 
 
 That: 'Traitor Bunn and his wife Juruju 
 
 Shall be transmuted, and thus made anew ! 
 
 That his act, — prompted by his earnest love , 
 
 For wife and daughter, — must deserve above 
 
 The ordinary ; more mitigation ! 
 
 And so, to high gods shall be donation 
 
 Of these traitors : The living bound to dead 
 
 And together, to Tower flames be fed 
 
 This day at Zenith time; as Baal with speed 
 
 Passes the top point of his daily lead ! 
 
 Here and now do I, by my Right, proclaim 
 
 Roclund, the Chanlodone Chief ; with the aim 
 
 And intention, that he claim as his own — 
 
 All Chief Bunn had with this clan Chanlodone! 
 
 That Nebo and Tyra; both true and great. 
 
 Be hence restored to their own Birth-right state ! 
 
 He ! now, a Maska-pira true and tried ! 
 
 She ! now, a Mamo-vero and safe guide ! 
 
 The two will go with me and all my train 
 
 While Gomar, with her loom, will here remain 
 
 As head to weavers and spinners of flax — 
 
40 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 White makers of the war club and stone ax 
 
 Shall work by rules of Skibo, the old scout, 
 
 Who knows best how to make them good and stout. 
 
 Good Mamo Thra goes with us on our way 
 
 But Tyra will be Mater from this day ! 
 
 Our wedding time, blessed with a strange delay. 
 
 Will be half past the high noon of to-day. 
 
 So we may, at the sun set of this eve. 
 
 Be in our boats taking an evening leave 
 
 For far off Baal Cove, our destination : — 
 
 Stopping, as we wish, at a way station.' 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 The wedding hour had at last arrived 
 
 With Hum-drum music Lafareau contrived. 
 
 Arrayed, just South of the Baptismal fount. 
 
 Were Maska-pira braves ; that fully count 
 
 Eight hundred, or more : And North, full facing 
 
 Fount and Braves, were ten guardsmen pacing 
 
 To and fro; — near the to-be-brides they go, — 
 
 And favored Grato, Roclund and Nebo. 
 
 The first to wed was first in rank and force, — 
 
 And Grato took to wife, by Custom's course, 
 
 Agrata and Avista. Then Roclund 
 
 Wed, of Bunn's widows, Hess, Roe and Tramund. 
 
 Then Nebo and Tyra, by old contract. 
 
 And, Monogamous Custom, with great tact 
 
 Go through the ceremony, and good plan, 
 
 That weds, for life, one woman to one man. 
 
 During the wedding feast, which was not long; — 
 
 The newly wed were distinct from the throng; — 
 
 And, while congratulations were at best. 
 
 Led by Great Grato, the most honored guest ; 
 
 He said to Tyra ; near by Agrata ; 
 
 'This is your 'tot,' mother to Avista, 
 
 Your granddaughter ! you may doubt this, your 'tot.' 
 
 Until you see that well remembered spot, 
 
 And, kiss again this mole below the ear 
 
 Where you 'have planted mother kisses dear'.' 
 
 XXV. 
 
 A broken line the Record here reveals ! 
 A span of twenty years Old Time conceals 
 
EPOCH XXV. 41 
 
 From Reco: Then we find the course and drift 
 Has from the East to West made a long shift. 
 It was Springtime at Haven, when the rose 
 In rarest beauty by the wayside blows. 
 Dame Nature with her verdure clothed the lea 
 , And swelling waves sent glimmers o'er the sea ; 
 While Albimon, Chief of the Albi clan, — 
 With Sturdy braves, had well matured a plan, — 
 By Sea and land to meet young Indorod 
 And make this tribe Chief either bend or nod 
 To what is right, as well as what is might, 
 Through skill and strength, and prowess in a fight. 
 For eighty years the Albi clan had been, 
 In ways rebellious to their tribal kin 
 
 At Baal Cove ; — where the Life Rules were much mixed ; — 
 — While Albi's Rules of Life were firmly fixed. 
 The Baal Cove clan was near Polygamous ; 
 The Rochew tribe was called Polyganous ; 
 While Albi clan was pure Monogamous ; 
 As other clans, — which were contiguous, — 
 It had come that way by the progression 
 Of its faithful chiefs in their succession 
 And advocacy of wise Life Rule laws 
 That brought accessions to a Righteous cause. 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 The Great Chief Grato ; father to Great Chief 
 
 Indorod ; had made his life's struggle brief 
 
 By his last battle with the Albi clan ; 
 
 Which had denied the right of god or man 
 
 To claim its females of monogamy. 
 
 And force them into base polygamy! 
 
 It was Albimon and his stalwart braves 
 
 Who slew of chieftains, on the lands or waves, 
 
 Full thirty of the Rochew tribe : To stay 
 
 The ravage and ruin that found their way 
 
 By the lax course of Life which Rochew rules 
 
 Allowed to monsters, prostitutes and fools ! 
 
 The Albi clan would burn the monsterbrute 
 
 And to base fire feed the prostitute ! 
 
 — While sick or weakling might not long remain.— 
 
 For, a fixed standard they did well maintain. 
 
42 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 Their rigid virtue was the rule and cause 
 That made perfecton by plain honest laws. 
 They, and their convert clans, were often bane, — 
 For envy, at all times, — has much to gain. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 Chief Albimon, with twelve hundred young braves, 
 
 Faced Indorod ; who had both braves and slaves 
 
 To meet the strong force of the Albi clan. 
 
 Which fought its woman, when scarce of its man. 
 
 This Albi fighting force — not wide or long — 
 
 Were maska-pira braves eight hundred strong; 
 
 And, of female braves, but half that number ; — 
 
 With not a slave their ranks to encumber. 
 
 These hostile armies, by a great sea's strand. 
 
 Were near the place where Indorod did land : — 
 
 Full three miles from strong Haven Castle wall 
 
 And nearly four from its most central hall. 
 
 The way between these near warring tribesmen 
 
 Was thirty rods ; reckoned by the linesmen. 
 
 — Both stood for orders, — much alike in plan, — 
 
 With Slingers, Archers and a Clubber's clan ! 
 
 Albimon knowing that his defending 
 
 Might be but starting, and, no way ending 
 
 The hostile purpose of the Rochew chief, — 
 
 Who had demanded tribute : For relief ; 
 
 — Sent his brave daughter Ethane, to offer 
 
 A tribute that should fill that Chief's Coffer : — 
 
 But ; as to any maiden surrender, — 
 
 He would make the Great Chief this fair tender; — 
 
 Which ; in way of Field Day wager contest, — 
 
 By trial of skill and strength and clannish zest. 
 
 Might show the good and great of Albi Rules 
 
 Or, show the errors of the Albi Schools. 
 
 'The 'twenty maidens/ Indorod's demand ; 
 
 May meet midway, before this hostile band 
 
 Twenty maska-piras ; known to be great — 
 
 Who, by fairest skill and force — must seize mate, — 
 
 According to position in the lines, — 
 
 And take such mate to their Chieftain's Confines ! 
 
 Should Indorod agree to this, our way, 
 
 And thus avoid, at least ; one bloody day — 
 
EPOCH XXVII. 43 
 
 Then, these contestants ; twenty in a line, 
 
 Shall come to Front ; dressed in a plain combine 
 
 Of rawhide girdle and a leather clout, 
 
 And march to field, for this great wager bout. 
 
 Five paces in each line shall be the space 
 
 Between these marchers ; as they go to face 
 
 Their opponents. And, Albimon may know 
 
 That this great contest is to be a Go ! 
 
 When the Peace Yell is sounded near and far 
 
 By Indorod's great braves : Who thus would bar 
 
 The carnage that would come, in Battle's course, 
 
 Between two armies of near equal force.' 
 
 'Presto, Kutke, Situ, Toto, Baaldo !' 
 
 Was soon the yell of Albi's ready foe. 
 
 It echoed from the hillside o'er the lea. 
 
 And, sounding far beyond the surging sea 
 
 — Told how Chief Indorod would have his way ! 
 
 That, what remained was, for his braves, mere play, 
 
 Against that vaunting yell went this reply 
 
 From Albimon's braves ; who did thus defy 
 
 And cry: 'Rochew Amon, Rochew Damon, 
 
 Mamo-vero, Baaldo, Kutke, Scamon !' 
 
 A hush, a lull, and then by turn was heard 
 
 The smack-crack music which, — both armies stirred. 
 
 The Albi's war-club handles made the smacks 
 
 And Rochew's sling-stone meetings made the cracks, 
 
 — To Field went the Contestants by two lines 
 
 Approaching face-to-face in these combines : — 
 
 The Albi maids were young and ruddy- fair; 
 
 Their ages ten to fourteen ; and their hair 
 
 Extended from the scalp in bushy-waves 
 
 Full six inches : They were true female braves — 
 
 And looked it; as they strode erect and stout 
 
 In that plain dress of Art : girdle and clout ; — 
 
 With heights, — by average, — all of seven feet 
 
 And weights, three hundred pounds ; — They seemed complete, — 
 
 As Indorod's great braves went out that day 
 
 To make these twenty maidens easy prey ; 
 
 They seemed all right for the undertaking, — 
 
 There was not much lacking in their making. 
 
 In height they measured seven to eight feet 
 
 And strode like giants to that great Field meet ; 
 
44 THE ROCHEIV-ALBIMON. 
 
 With weight proportioned to their height and size 
 
 Each brave made haste to seize and take his prize. 
 
 Their ages ranged from twelve to ninety-six ; 
 
 Their color black, brown, ruddy or a mix; 
 
 No heads, or jaws, or breasts, or backs were bare — 
 
 But covered with a bushy growth of hair 
 
 Near four inches long; while, their art dress, stout,- 
 
 Was a hide girdle and a leather clout. 
 
 The meeting and the mating came at last 
 
 And forty struggling giants were held fast. 
 
 By pairs they waver; forward, sidewise back; 
 
 Now up ; now down — using great strength and tact. 
 
 Some were contending tord the Rochew van 
 
 While others touched the front of Albi's clan. 
 
 Ethane, the leader of the Albi score, 
 
 Was pitted against a Hercules who wore 
 
 The scars and marks of many fierce affrays 
 
 And tribal brands that would outwear his days. 
 
 — He held Ethane, with his strong arms around, 
 
 And slowly labored o'er the broken ground 
 
 Toward the Rochew line: Till — he — stumbled 
 
 And, on the turf, the pair rolled and tumbled; 
 
 Striving for advantage ; which ere long came 
 
 Showing the strength and skill of brave Ethane. 
 
 Who had so clasped his wrists behind his back 
 
 That he must yield or feel his arm joints crack — 
 
 And, yield he did : — For with head bowed in shame 
 
 He entered Albi's line urged by Ethane. 
 
 — Then: 'Baalon ! Baalon!' by loud shouts was heard: 
 
 And Albimon rejoiced to hear that word — 
 
 For it had meaning simple and most plain ; 
 
 And told how Baalka did each maid sustain. 
 
 Ethane, still holding fast the giant's wrists. 
 
 Urged him still forward, by pressure and twists ; 
 
 Until before Albimon he did kneel 
 
 And to that Chieftain had made this appeal : 
 
 'Chief Albimon of all the clans most wise! 
 
 The slave's defender by a merit prize. 
 
 The mamo-vero's friend, — for the tribe's Good — 
 
 Most skilled in stone craft and in craft of wood : 
 
 Hear you this Rochew, this maska-pira, 
 
 This monogamistic spouse to Tyra, — 
 
EPOCH XXVII. 45 
 
 Mother to the ever true Agrata 
 
 And grandmother to the fair Avista, — 
 
 Who is mother of Great Chief Indorod : 
 
 To you he bows and claims your Good his God. 
 
 This brave contended, as never before. 
 
 To please his chief : And though he might deplore 
 
 The outcome of this Field meet and its strife ; 
 
 Yet, it has shown what is best Rules of Life. 
 
 — Do with me and these nineteen other braves 
 
 What e'er your Kindness or your Hatred craves ! 
 
 But, if you would improve the Rochew state 
 
 And baffled Indorod fully placate — 
 
 Consent that Indorod may wed Ethane 
 
 By monogamy's way ! On yonder plain !' 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 Albimon heard and for his reply said 
 
 To the great brave — who had so fairly led : — 
 
 *I thought you dead ! For, if my eyes are right, 
 
 You were with Grato when he fought in sight 
 
 Of the Baalerics ; where his boats went down, 
 
 And, it was well affirmed that you did drown ! 
 
 You yet do wear the Ashtar forehead brand ; 
 
 Your ears are gone ; but you still wear the band. 
 
 That circling brand, above your left knee joint 
 
 Which shows the Tuto tribe once scored a point. 
 
 You are that Nebo who was made a slave 
 
 And then, by merit, was restored — a brave ! 
 
 You would constrain me in the proper course 
 
 And make diplomacy my only force. ^ 
 
 You are a Rochew, so near right and true. 
 
 That my stern will is modified by you ! 
 
 And now, — before all braves who hear and see ; — 
 
 I, Chief of Albi, pronounce this decree: 
 
 Wadan and his band shall take to yon plain 
 
 What I have pledged of gold, cloth, fish and grain. 
 
 Ethane may go along, if 'tis her will. 
 
 And, — for our Rules of Life, — use tact and skill ; 
 
 And, so promote our customs and our Cause, 
 
 That Indorod may adopt our wise laws. 
 
 As for these humbled braves : Nebo left out, — 
 
 These heirs of vile pollution and its clout, — 
 
 Take them to Grotto ! and soon I will see 
 
46 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 What they deserve and what their lot must be ! 
 
 With Wadan and Nebo I trust Ethane. 
 
 She may go with them, and be here again ; 
 
 If Indorod fail to win her favor : 
 
 But, should she like his looks and behavior 
 
 And deem it best to wed this Rochew chief ; 
 
 Then Nebo shall, by ceremony brief ; — 
 
 For Monogamy ; while their lives are long, 
 
 Join them in wedlock by vows good and strong. 
 
 I take these anklets from my left and right ; 
 
 They are of purest gold and ever bright : 
 
 These Captain Wadan, I place in your care 
 
 And, if this wedding you think good and fair; 
 
 Then, give this left one to my chief and kin ; 
 
 This right to my kanitra, who should win 
 
 The highest honors due to the most true, 
 
 Fair and wise maiden of the tribe Rochew. 
 
 As for Nebo, this maska-pira brave. 
 
 He may return to Baal Cove o'er the wave ; 
 
 And should Ethane dwell 'neath that sky more blue 
 
 She may there know one Rochew wise and true,' 
 
 Not long was Wadan in preparation, — 
 
 Or Nebo using a signal station ; 
 
 And when the Albi band had reached the plain, — 
 
 The Rochews had moved out an escort train, — 
 
 That started for the meeting, which might be 
 
 The conclusion of Albimon's Decree. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 The Escort bands assembling on the plain 
 Gave Harmony a quiet peaceful reign. 
 The Rochews were well led by Lafareau 
 Who knew, in such adjustments, how to go. 
 They came full fronting tord the Albi band 
 Which had already been brought to a stand ; 
 And when, — at four rods distant, — called a halt ! 
 And then, that neither band should be at fault. 
 He, nearing, spoke some words for Wadan's ear 
 Which that brave comprehended well and clear. 
 And soon the order went to each command 
 Which broke the line at center of their band ; 
 And by this pass-way to these Rochews' rear 
 The Albis took their tribute with good cheer 
 
EPOCH XXIX. 47 
 
 And, when it all had gone, to the last jot ; 
 The wedding party claimed that cross-way plot 
 For full consideration first : And last ; — 
 For ceremony strong to bind them fast. 
 Then Indorod, Ethane and Lafareau, 
 With Wadan, — and special envoy Nebo, — 
 Turning to those to go and those to stay. 
 In a most clear and comprehensive way, 
 Made signals, which, to all did plainly tell 
 That : 'All is consummated ! All is well !' 
 
 XXX. 
 
 The full-moon cast a sheen upon the wave 
 
 Which drifting clouds in darkness would oft lave ; 
 
 Night-watchman Stra-han from the tower scanned 
 
 The restless sea and billow beaten strand, — 
 
 Tending the fire, which ; as beacon light, 
 
 Must cast its rays to mark the way by night 
 
 To good Port Haven, where the tempest tossed 
 
 Might find a shelter from the wintry frost. 
 
 To Eastward there were signs of morning light 
 
 Where banking clouds were streaked with colors bright; 
 
 While far to Westward, twixt the sea and sky, 
 
 The watchman saw, with his keen searching eye, 
 
 Four sails approaching, and, by better light 
 
 Discovered that their ensign meant no fight 
 
 But full surrender : And each high-point sail 
 
 That bent its mast before the morning gale ; 
 
 Bore witness that strangers, nearing Haven, 
 
 Were Baal Cove friends ; or foes, sly and craven. 
 
 Watch Stra-han from the tower sent alarms 
 
 By wig-wag torch ; and called the guards to arms 
 
 By trumpet blasts ; which, loud and clear and fine 
 
 Came from the rarest horn of Albi's kine. 
 
 Soon at the tower ten score guards appear ; 
 
 With four score archers, where the way was clear, 
 
 To draw their bows and let the arrows speed 
 
 And kill the twenty strangers in the lead : 
 
 As they were nearing by oar stroke and sail 
 
 With three well laden boats, not far in trail. 
 
 Wadan had signaled for a show of right ! 
 
 And, why Port rules were broken day or night ? 
 
48 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 The answer came, — with naught to spare of time 
 To save those archers from mistake or crime, — 
 For, while the order was to 'Draw and Aim !' 
 There rose, at the boat's prow, a stately dame 
 Who bared her breast before the arrow points, 
 Doffing a fur wrap to her shoulder joints, 
 Then, with a look and act that asked for aid ; 
 Yet, with a spirit that was not dismayed, 
 Sent her clear voice to distant vale and glen. 
 Assuring women and disarming men. 
 From Haven Castle to Watchtower Strand 
 The Albi forces bowed at this command: — 
 'Hold archers ! would you be to your chief bane 
 And harm the life of his most true Ethane? 
 From dreadful dangers by the land and wave 
 She seeks a refuge ; not a seaman's grave !' 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 The frosted Earth espied the Orb of day 
 
 As it turned in its course, its customed way. 
 
 Reflecting jewels decked twig, leaf and blade 
 
 With colors sparkling by the cliff and glade. 
 
 — Though wintry frost had brought a wintry chill, 
 
 There shone a splendor by the river's rill 
 
 As Albimon, the chief, and his choice braves 
 
 Came down that river o'er its ruffled waves. 
 
 An Escort Float, to meet the strayed or lost ; 
 
 The tempest driven, drenched, and tempest tossed 
 
 Ethane ! Daring the cold and wintry squalls 
 
 To lead the way to his warm castle halls. 
 
 The nearing was a meeting, not a greeting ; — 
 
 'Twas not the time or place for completing 
 
 Or starting with the query why? or whence? 
 
 'Ethane ! A refuge !' — that was his defense, — 
 
 A Father's love should be satisfaction, 
 
 If harm or ill should come by such action. 
 
 Albimon's boats, led by the chieftain's crew. 
 
 Past and returned and past, to nearer view, 
 
 That battered boat and worn and fading sail 
 
 And distressed crew that had faced stormi and gale. 
 
 Then drawing near at right, and left, and fore. 
 
 For Haven Castle go with stroke of oar 
 
EPOCH XXXI. 49 
 
 Like to their guests ; while Ethane at that prow 
 Stood gazing with the querys when, and how, 
 The changes that she saw had come about 
 Since fifty years before, — she went that route? 
 The castle wall appeared near, — at the right, — 
 And from this wall at base, as at its height. 
 Was seen a welcome, and, from trumpet blast 
 And shouts and yells most welcome sounds were cast. 
 — The chieftain's order then, distinct and plain, 
 Was for the boats to moore, and so remain ! 
 — That none should go the castle's walls within 
 Save those he chose and Ethane and her kin ! 
 And when Albimon, with his guards two score. 
 Had climbed within a well defended door; — 
 Ethane followed with a twenty-seven ; 
 Of males sixteen and females eleven. 
 And there, within that castle's safe retreat. 
 Where they found warmth and food, with choicest meat ; 
 She to her father, Albimon, the chief, 
 Told her plain story, with a trace of grief. 
 And Albimon who heard, from first to last, 
 How Ethane's life, for fifty years had past. 
 Would sometimes smile and sometimes frown and leer. 
 Or gnash his teeth, or, drop love's tender tear. 
 She told the story of her absent days ; 
 First of that voyage by great water-ways 
 To Baal Cove's forts and castles, old and new ; 
 And how the Chief had proved both kind and true 
 At all times ; until many years had past, — 
 Near forty-six ; or, till four years ; the last : 
 And how these four brought neglect, distress, grief 
 To a true child of Albi's wisest chief 
 Who saw the way ; the subtle infamy. 
 Of faithless Indorod's polygamy! 
 She told how Happiness had ruled the days 
 When Faith and Hope knew not of doubtful ways; 
 And showed the gifts, both curious and rare. 
 Which Indorod bestowed and bade her wear. 
 'This,' said Ethane : 'This robe of two tigers ; 
 Monogamous pair; taken by Nigers, 
 Was made from pelts ; the very largest kind 
 That any tribe could, in the jungles, find. 
 4 
 
so THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 Their mating was by love that was Hie long 
 
 And neither ruled because it was more strong; 
 
 The weakness of the one the other shared 
 
 And favors were not rigidly compared. 
 
 — This robe, in size, is more than six feet square ; — 
 
 Its stripes of black and orange, bright and rare, 
 
 With purple lining, held by thread of gold, 
 
 Made by clan Gilla, in ways quaint and old ; 
 
 Shows that the male did not equal in size 
 
 Its faithful mate, but, may have been as wise. 
 
 — This tiger robe that I have sheltered in 
 
 And, by Monogamy, might claim my kin ; — 
 
 This hood from finest fur of Arctic seas ; 
 
 These talons from the dreaded Avideze 
 
 And crest, from plumage of the Lealtad dove, 
 
 Were Indorod's fair symbols of pure love! 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 Blood, vicious blood, may soon or later tell 
 
 And gainst a better quality rebel ! 
 
 Greed, selfish greed, may by its action show 
 
 How lust and vice may breed distress and woe! 
 
 Desires most debase in Indorod, 
 
 For ways designed by a rude Ashtar god, 
 
 Moved him, as great-grandson of Priest Baaldare, 
 
 To take in gifts, — as sole surviving heir 
 
 To that High Priest ; by order of chief Kan ; 
 
 An hundred maidens, and, as much of man. 
 
 With costly jewels, and; — of ruby wine; — 
 
 The choicest product of tree, bush or vine. 
 
 And further ; Kan would have the Rochews know 
 
 That commerce should proceed, as it should go ! 
 
 And what the Ashtars get from the Rochews 
 
 Of gold and jewels, or, — what they may choose; — 
 
 Should be by exchange, as may be agreed, — 
 
 And ; for each Rochew maiden he may need, 
 
 Chief Indorod may choose, and use and claim 
 
 Four Ashtar maidens ; for his love and fame ! 
 
 That — 'many wives bring a chief many lives ; 
 
 'Tis by the law of increase that he thrives.' 
 
 The tempting bait, tendered by subtle Kan 
 
 Might change the Life rules of a firmer man, — 
 
EPOCH XXXII. 51 
 
 And so the great chief of the Rochew tribe, 
 Not fearful of dishonor or a bribe, 
 Accepted gifts and reciprocity 
 And frowned at 'woman's curiosity,' 
 When I observed and plainly told him how 
 He had undone his sacred wedding vow. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 Two years after chief Indorod's great fall', 
 
 When severed love was parted by a wall 
 
 Of unreconcilable conditions ; — 
 
 Beyond all compromise or contritions; — 
 
 Chief Kan had chosen of the Rochew clans 
 
 Two hundred maidens : Of clan Gilla tans. 
 
 One-fourth : And of brown Chanlodones, the same ; 
 
 The rest to bear and proudly wear the name ; 
 
 Baalcovin or Albin, — by equal parts ; — 
 
 Selected for color, size, form and arts 
 
 The take, of this two hundred, might have been 
 
 An easy task ; but for the Albi kin ; 
 
 Whom Indorod well knew would rather die 
 
 Than yield to Life rules neath an Ashtar sky. 
 
 So, to make good his treaty with chief Kan 
 
 His envoys yielded to that chieftain's plan 
 
 Which was: If Indorod fail to secure 
 
 The fifty Albi maidens, strong" and pure; 
 
 For such a loss Kan would select, in lieu, 
 
 Two hundred more of the Baal Cove Rochew ; 
 
 Three ruddy fair to one of ruddy tan 
 
 Must be, in lieu, from the brave Baal Cove clan. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 The Gilla clan, after protestation 
 
 And rebel threats gainst the Combination ; 
 
 Yielded their fifty : And the Chanlodones, 
 
 With protests from salt waves to pine tree cones, 
 
 Submitted to chief Kan and Indorod 
 
 And prayed for help to their 'great unknown god.' 
 
 The Baal Cove clan, though with rebellion rent, — 
 
 Obeyed : And five times fifty maidens went 
 
 By order of that chief, Kan ; — the Ashtar ; — 
 
52 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 To meet, as best they could, the disaster. 
 
 Of Indorod's near kin there went two score, 
 
 Three were our daughters ; and full eighty more 
 
 Our near friends : While four daughters ruddy-fair, 
 
 The pride of Lafareau ; went in despair 
 
 To do the will of rude Kan, the Ashtar, 
 
 The most vile and cruel tribal master. 
 
 Near a year after I lost my daughters 
 
 And my wayward sons had crossed those waters 
 
 To dwell, where Ashtar laws and Ashtar rules. 
 
 Promote the vices and call wise men fools ; 
 
 There came to Baal Cove o'er four Eastern seas 
 
 Ten Grale boats, urged by oars against the breeze 
 
 To land their loads on Baal Cove's welcome strand. 
 
 Some, seen on board, were Ashtars : Some by brand, — 
 
 With clamp on nose and braid of hair entrailer, — 
 
 Showed they were Nigers ; who to oar, or sail, 
 
 Were not much given : They had science-art 
 
 Wherein their great star-eyes took no small part; 
 
 Their hair was black ; their skin a dusky tan 
 
 Their weight proportioned to their height, — eight span. 
 
 The crews by size, clan customs and clan ways 
 
 With feathered nostrils, wherein quills were stays. 
 
 Showed they were Grales and polyander slaves 
 
 Who were submissive to their female braves. 
 
 I learned the cause of this expedition 
 
 Was to make better clan Grale's condition, — 
 
 For, somehow, since an early time and line. 
 
 This clanfolk had been on a slow decline. 
 
 Their Amazons had been reduced in height 
 
 Fully a foot : While the slave husband's might, 
 
 Determined by his action, size and weight. 
 
 Came down by ratio, as is five to eight. 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 The crews attended to oars, sails and lines 
 While chafa-chieftain called from the confines 
 The female braves, who numbered near four score ; 
 And maidens, for barter, two score or more ; — 
 Of eunuch slaves there were just twenty-six ! 
 The rest, an even sixty, was a mix 
 Of Tutos, Nigers, Ashtars and twice ten 
 
EPOCH XXXV. 53, 
 
 Very odd species : All selected men 
 
 For size, color, action, — to please the chief, 
 
 As slavish husbands, and bring the relief 
 
 The chafa-chieftain had long hoped to gain, — 
 
 By means that might their old time fame sustain. 
 
 Lafareau, to see the disembarking. 
 
 Came so near; I could hear him remarking 
 
 About the new arrivals ; 'who may land 
 
 But must stay here near by this landing strand !' 
 
 The eunuch slaves, on orders from the braves, 
 
 Landed the cargoes safe beyond the waves ; 
 
 And there began erecting pens and tents, 
 
 Or mending canvas that had wears and rents ; — 
 
 While sailor husband slaves unrigged the boats ; 
 
 Preparing soon to land those clan Grale floats 
 
 With bottoms upwards ; where the sun and air 
 
 Might act their parts, for ; each bottom would wear ; 
 
 When dry and made bare, a new coat of tar 
 
 That might prevent a leak or shield a mar. 
 — Mara, the chafa-chief, at eve that day 
 Announced that she would make a ten day stay : 
 
 The three first days she would the camp prepare ; 
 
 The fourth, Reception Day, the camp would wear 
 
 Its best attire ; while special displays 
 
 Would show their products, customs and home ways : 
 
 The Fifth and Sixth would be the days to show 
 
 How Amazons can sling, and, draw the bow. 
 
 And how eunuch and maska-pira slaves 
 
 Can work and toil for mamo-vero braves. 
 
 The Seventh day, the tribal day of rest, 
 
 The Grale cl'anfolk, with fervor and with zest, 
 
 Would extol their gods, and, at morn and eve 
 
 Bow low to Baal, his blessing to receive. 
 
 The day for tribes and clans to test their skill. 
 
 Their strength, their action and determined will 
 
 In Field day dress, hide girdle and hide clout ; — 
 
 Where contenders are urged by yell and shout ; — 
 
 Would be of days Eighth ! While days Nine and Ten 
 
 Would be trade days for wares, women and men. 
 
 The Charge, Admission for one, either day. 
 
 Would be a clan Grale ear-ring; as the pay; — 
 
 The same to be clamp-ear-ring of clan Grale 
 
54 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 Which, in gold value, was not known to fail. 
 
 To get admission change Chafa Mara 
 
 Had well thought out a clever business way, 
 
 Which was ; that for each Rochew ring for nose 
 
 The Grales would give two ear-rings with clamp bows ; 
 
 And for each Rochew anklet ring the change 
 
 Would be ten clamp-ear-rings ! It may seem strange : — 
 
 But, the exchange for Ashtar ring of nose 
 
 Was six for one ; while rings for the great toes. 
 
 Arms, neck and fingers ; as all clan Grale wares. 
 
 Had unit values in the ring that bears 
 
 And pulls and grows the ear lobe long and wide ; 
 
 A style in which the Grales took special pride. 
 
 The Fourth day was the first we were to go 
 
 To see the wonders of the Clan Grale Show. 
 
 Tyra and Vickin, my companion maids, 
 
 Were with me ; and, I had of kin, as aids, 
 
 Eight married daughters and nine married sons. 
 
 And, altogether, we weighed near six tons 
 
 And numbered forty ; — by dress plain Rochews ; — 
 
 — Going, incognito, to learn the news — 
 
 If any, per chance, might be discovered ; 
 
 Or, some little trace might be uncovered 
 
 That would, of that far away Ashtar land ! 
 
 Tell of my Racha. Vada and Armand 
 
 And of my sons Hondus and Baalshazzar 
 
 Who had, for some cause, joined Kan, the Ashtar. 
 
 Tyra led on ; and at the entrance way 
 
 Gave twenty Rochew nose rings for our stay. 
 
 The Amazonian guards, there about. 
 
 In seal-skin girdle and in woolen clout, 
 
 Were well bedecked by marks, and rings of gold. 
 
 Their war-club weapon, like the best of old, 
 
 Was well fashioned, and stones, from the rough strand, 
 
 Hung in each girdle's pouch to be at hand 
 
 If, at a distance, she might wish to throw 
 
 A stone, to strike a culprit or a foe. 
 
 The eunuch slaves were at their daily toil, — 
 
 Preparing food to cook, by roast or broil 
 
 Or, making a new pattern fishing net 
 
 Or, — seining by the strand, in cold and wet ; — 
 
 While others dressed, with greatest skill and care, 
 
EPOCH XXXV. 55 
 
 Matron and maiden's ears, nose, skin and hair ; — 
 
 Using of balm and oil, by a combine, 
 
 What left, at finish, an attractive shine. — 
 
 The maidens were, — as were the female braves, — 
 
 Rulers and drivers of the clan Grale slaves ; 
 
 And made them objects of Humility 
 
 And good examples of Docility ! 
 
 All maidens, for barter, were excluded 
 
 From public view and gaze ; for, denuded. 
 
 They were near ready for the days of trade 
 
 And sale and kept within a beech tree's shade. 
 
 The Sixty males ; procured and intended 
 
 To be Grale husbands ; were not all blended 
 
 Into the submissive kind ; and we saw 
 
 That some were quite adverse to the Grale law ; 
 
 Which came from goddess Ashtar and proclaimed 
 
 That 'all Grale husbands must, by rule, be tamed; 
 
 By sacrifice of Life blood each full moon 
 
 From out their nostrils : And, at each high noon, — 
 
 For seven days ; great goddess Ashtar wills 
 
 That these holes be distended by goose quills ; — 
 
 The feather ends to be the dripping spout 
 
 The other ends to start the red flow out : — 
 
 But, should a male have regular coursing; 
 
 Making sacrifice without quill forcing, 
 
 At each full moon : He will by gods be blest 
 
 And by the Amazons never oppressed ! 
 
 But the irregular who fails to do 
 
 The will of Ashtar, and be meek and true ; 
 
 Must feel the horrors of his coming doom 
 
 Where tortures waste or Grotto fires consume.' 
 
 Approaching nearer to the shrieks and cries 
 
 Of giant men who strove to break their ties 
 
 And avenge their wrongs on their tormenters ; — 
 
 We saw that seven of these dissenters 
 
 Had been killed ; and lay where those resisting 
 
 Alight take warning; and, — be found desisting 
 
 In opposition to the clan Grale laws ; — 
 
 And cease contending with hands, feet and jaws. 
 
 The day had passed to its last quarter's time 
 
 When we drew near the music, a rude chime. 
 
 That marked the way to where chafa Mara; 
 
56 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 Guarded by braves and slaves ; made a display 
 
 Of wit, wealth, learning, wisdom and an art 
 
 By which she could make gloom or grief depart ! 
 
 liiis art, a blessing; cost; — to make it best, — 
 
 Two Rochew nose rings and a jeweled crest: 
 
 The which I gave ; in part to still my grief 
 
 And then, in part ; to bring Tyra relief : — 
 
 Who, at first look, saw in a eunuch slave 
 
 One whom she knew, as husband, brave, and slave. 
 
 This 'blessing' was called 'Albimon's New Art' 
 
 And used to strengthen hand, and head, and heart. 
 
 And so it did ; but, when her hands were down 
 
 From gentle pressure near my head's top crown. 
 
 And, I saw Nebo from the water guide 
 
 This chafa-chief, and then stand at her side: — 
 
 I little thought of grief, or care, or woe ; 
 
 Or of a husband with a nasal flow ; 
 
 But of contriving, by some most wise plan. 
 
 To gather news from this slave, brave, or man. 
 
 Tyra was wont to speak and claim her spouse 
 
 'Till I said : 'Wait ! Our success disallows ! 
 
 The closing time is near ; we'll come again ; 
 
 And see, by cming, we come not in vain.' 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 At morn, the ninth day of the clan Grale stay. 
 There could have been seen with me, on the way, 
 Tyra and Vickin ; with all, a full score ; — 
 Each well disguised! And Vickin had in store 
 Sixty nose rings ; ready to meet and pay 
 The small or large expenses of the day. 
 We had not been in the Enclosure long 
 Before I saw a Rochew large and strong, 
 With a Grale guide, approach a barter place; — 
 A refined gold and silver exchange space ; — 
 And ask of a Grale brave, attending near. 
 The values of the wares, the cheap ; the dear ; 
 And would exchange six Rochew rings of nose 
 For a gold anklet band he tried to close ; 
 But failed : The Grale attendant tried it next ; 
 And tried again, perplexed and, somewhat, vexed ; 
 Seeing the situation I drew near, — 
 
EPOCH XXXV. 57 
 
 And, on approaching, I could plainly hear 
 
 Lafareau's bass voice and saw, with these eyes, 
 
 This anklet! Which I took, closed, and looked wise 
 
 At Lafareau, who saw through my disguise 
 
 One who loved Albi and its family ties. 
 
 A moment we conversed; and then agreed 
 
 That he should follow and that I should lead; — 
 
 That his guide take us where I wished to go 
 
 And no betrayal should our disguise show 
 
 The guide; an Amazon of stately mien, 
 
 Proceeded with intent and purpose keen 
 
 To tell by word and gesture the best way 
 
 To see the sales and every great display 
 
 That could be seen. When I, with purpose bent. 
 
 Directed that she take us to the tent 
 
 Where, in great splendor, dwelt chafa Mara: 
 
 To see if she could find for us a way 
 
 By which my guest, with Ashtar tongue and ear. 
 
 Might have explained the sights, so strange and queer. 
 
 We were near by the pass-way to the tent 
 
 When our Grale guide, with much lung power spent 
 
 On three shrill whistles; brought soon to her side 
 
 A veteran guard who only there did bide 
 
 To learn our request, and, know our offer: — 
 
 And, as I knew their weakness for the Coffer, 
 
 I posted Vickin how to ask and bid, — 
 
 And soon five nose rings, — as I expected, — did 
 
 Bring to our relief a large eunuch slave 
 
 Whose furrowed brow, gray hair and bright eyes gave 
 
 To him a bearing that a chief might claim; 
 
 — With manners indicating strength and fame. 
 
 Vickin was called to direct the Grale guide 
 
 While I went back, four steps, to Tyra's side. 
 
 With the slave guide, explaining, as I went. 
 
 The cause of our disguise, and, why we sent 
 
 For one we would call Nebo, but, as Grale, 
 
 We learn his name is known as Brahyankale. 
 
 There were cool expressions at the meeting 
 
 From those who would extend a warm greeting, — 
 
 And then ; — in language of the Rochew tribe ; — 
 
 His most strange story, eight ears did imbibe! 
 
 He told how my Vada and Baalshazzar 
 
58 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 Had gained favors from the cruel Ashtar ; — 
 
 That Vada was fifth wife to a young priest 
 
 And Baalshazzar, a priest of the far East. 
 
 That Racha and Armand : Alas ! did go 
 
 Where Grotto fires might relieve their woe; — 
 
 That Hondus, envied by Dan, Chief Kan's son; 
 
 Had been, of thirty-two, the choicest one 
 
 That went by barter to chafa Mara ; — 
 
 And, no doubt, is now ready for the day 
 
 When a Polyander Amazon brave 
 
 Will count him as a husband and a slave. 
 
 The daughter of Spazi, — Ethane's true son, — 
 
 And daughters of Laf areau ; — every one 
 
 Have been transmuted by the Grotto flames ; 
 
 Or sent to slavery, where tortue oft maims. 
 
 Chief Kan's long hatred for Monogamy, — 
 
 And love for a most vile polygamy ; — 
 
 Moved him to action, so that Lafareau, 
 
 Ethane, Spazi and I, his slave Nebo, 
 
 Might feel his vengeance, by a scheme complex; 
 
 So, where it might not kill ; twould grieve and vex. 
 
 I was on trial for, some way, transgressing 
 
 An Ashtar law ; with two braves harassing 
 
 By torture and most cruel oppression 
 
 Oif innocence ; to extort confession ; — 
 
 When, Chafa Mara ; made it Bargain day. 
 
 By contract that would take me far away ; 
 
 Giving but six Grale ear-rings, as the pay; — 
 
 Agreeing ; — I should with her always stay. 
 
 While housed in chief Kan's castle, for a night, 
 
 Hondus and I saw, by the moon's pale light. 
 
 Chief Kan; with chiefs and priests oft come and go; 
 
 And, while in darkness, hiding; — stern and low. 
 
 We heard Kan say : — 'We'll raid for our queen god ; 
 
 Assisted by our ally, Indorod! 
 
 We'll meet them on the wave by Baal Cove's strand 
 
 And, with united strength, we'll have a band; 
 
 A fighting force, stronger than e'er before 
 
 Unfurled a sail or dipped a pira's oar. 
 
 Indorod's brother Donkan will lead on 
 
 To the Surprise, by night, or early dawn ; 
 
 And with hosts pitted as six against two; — 
 
EPOCH XXXVI. 59 
 
 With keen desire for the pure and true, — 
 
 We'll storm the castle, and break bar and gate, 
 
 And see that Albimon meets his just fate. 
 
 We'll spoil and plunder all the Albi land 
 
 From mount and river to the ocean strand. 
 
 Our goddess Ashtar bids us go and take, 
 
 The best we find, in earth, air, sea or lake ! 
 
 Let others by some rule, some prudent plan, 
 
 Produce the choicest maidens, fair or tan ; 
 
 Let others till the soil and drag the net. 
 
 Spin, weave and toil, and work for what they get; 
 
 Let others save and store their honest gain : — 
 
 All this is well ; — if o'er such gain we reign. 
 
 Chief Albimon would have Eugenics pure, 
 
 And see that Monogamy is secure 
 
 And universal over this broad land ; — 
 
 Gainst this : Our priests and braves must firmly stand ! 
 
 We will have full time for preparation 
 
 And making most strong the Combination. 
 
 The time, now fixed, to meet at Baal Cove strand, — 
 
 With our great braves, and, our wild tiger band, — 
 
 Will be first full-moon after Baal has run 
 
 His next North course, and longest days are done. 
 
 We have of Pira boats full twenty score, — 
 
 These best, will move our force by sail and oar.' 
 
 — Nebo had hardly said, — when we drew near 
 
 To where the noise of traffic sounded clear 
 
 And plain ; and we saw a tall Grale maiden. 
 
 In nature's clothes, — and with jewels laden, — 
 
 Bought by a maska-pira brave; who gave 
 
 Ten Rochew anklets for this wife or slave. 
 
 And soon there was progressing an odd trade ; 
 
 An exchange ; in which Donkan had well made 
 
 An offer, — whereby he would give two score 
 
 Of captive Genos : Who all plainly wore 
 
 The tribal marking ; — for his choice of ten — 
 
 Of what remained of maidens in a pen. 
 
 And, to persuade Volga, the trader Grale, 
 
 By argument, he said : 'You must not fail 
 
 To well' value in Genos what is good 
 
 In Albis : For, 'tis known and understood, 
 
 They both, by wedlock, are monogamists : 
 
6o THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 And each, by good reasons, strongly insists 
 
 That one ! that only one husband or wife 
 
 Should be, or exist, while the two have life ! 
 
 These maidens : Though fair, and tender, and young,- 
 
 Have homely noses and faults of the tongue 
 
 Caused, as I think, by your god's cruel plan 
 
 That bleeds the nose to make a weaker man. 
 
 I like their size, their form and nature clothes 
 
 But, I don't like the nostrils of their nose ! 
 
 — Your men are dwarfish : Tell me, if you can. 
 
 How the increase is weakened by your plan ? 
 
 — Your nose is pug: Your nostrils open wide, — 
 
 Slight agitation starts a bloody tide ! 
 
 All this you must inherit from that course 
 
 Which made your sire's nose bleed by quill force. 
 
 — These forty males, for that ten pug-nosed crew, 
 
 Is all I offer: — Now ; what will you do?' 
 
 Volga had paled and flushed, as Donkan's prod 
 
 Had touched her pug-nose and her Ashtar god. 
 
 But she was ready with a repartee 
 
 And said ; with grace and all due modesty : 
 
 'Protracted customs may change human shapes 
 
 And functions ; counterparting gods or apes. 
 
 And, as to that : About a dwarfish mate. 
 
 Whether male or female; the record state. 
 
 For increase, will show an average rate ! 
 
 This is the law of Nature, Gods, or Fate. 
 
 Albimon says that to make great and strong 
 
 A tribe or clan : And such a state prolong : — 
 
 'The increase only of strong, wise and good 
 
 Male and female; is clearly understood 
 
 To be, by Nature's law, the direct way 
 
 To get the best and have it always stay !' 
 
 He demands Purity, of both the sex. 
 
 And an Equality which does not vex 
 
 By cruelty that stunts, and runts, and harms, 
 
 And, in the wee small infant, sounds alarms. 
 
 These poor creatures ; monoganists in name ; — 
 
 In points of worth, in no way are the same 
 
 As Albi folks : There no pollution mars 
 
 Health, strength or looks by cankers, pains or scars. 
 
 I take your ofTer Donkan ! knowing well 
 
EPOCH XXXVI. 6l 
 
 That in no way do these tribesmen excel. 
 
 What can we expect, when their gods decree: — 
 
 'A husband's wife his prostitute may be!' 
 
 How can she be, with wrong and care and strife, 
 
 A prostitute, pure mother and good wife? 
 
 While with the Ashtar tribe, three moons ago; — 
 
 Sightseeing, trading and giving a show, — 
 
 On orders from great chafa-chief Mara, 
 
 I bought a well bred Albian — one day. 
 
 He was a most fine product of that clan 
 
 Which claims its woman equal to its man. 
 
 Now lies he there on that discarded sail ; 
 
 With clotted hair and face, an ashy pale, 
 
 And, blood still dripping from the goose quill spout 
 
 By which our braves have forced the red drops out. 
 
 *A life near gone : Yet ! yet he may be saved !' 
 
 Exclaims Mara; who loves with a warm heart 
 
 And cannot see his life ebb or depart. 
 
 He could not stand the process of our ways 
 
 And, to prolong his life for better days, — 
 
 She orders that Kozko, this Albian, 
 
 Be sold : So the buyer, with care, soon can 
 
 Restore him to the greatness of his clan !' 
 
 Vickin, on our advice, offered to give 
 
 Two Roche w nose-rings, — so that he might live. 
 
 Then a Baalcovin said : 'I will give three ! 
 
 Though he, a good strong slave, may never be.' 
 
 Vickin, on her own motion, made it four; 
 
 Then Volga ; thinking she could get no more. 
 
 Said : 'Sold !' And the poor distressed slave was borne 
 
 Away; Leaving brave Grales their loss to mourn. 
 
 With poor Kosko, I directed to go : — 
 
 Tyra, Venola, Spazi and Luzo; 
 
 And take the sick brave to my homelike hall ; 
 
 My dwelling place, inside the castle wall. 
 
 When they had gone I learned from Lafareau, — 
 
 Who had confered with our faithful Nebo, — 
 
 That he and I and seven score or more 
 
 Illused Baalcovins, — might grieve and deplore; — 
 
 For, Indorod and his brother Donkan, 
 
 The tribal chief and chief of Baal Cove clan, 
 
 Had by conferring with their men of state — 
 
62 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 And goddess Ashtar, considered most great, — 
 
 In protecting polygamy, and, all 
 
 That Albi monogamy would forestall : 
 
 Determined, that, those proscribed be exiled ; 
 
 Robbed and enslaved, or, ruthlessly defiled. 
 
 Nebo was seized and punished, as we know. 
 
 And made slave to chief Kan, one year ago. 
 
 And I, for many moons have wrongly been ; 
 
 Relieved of chieftaincy ; — by brother, kin ; — 
 
 Made Harbor Master of this Baal Cove port 
 
 And barred from the chief's Counsel and his Court. 
 
 I cannot here tell all that you should know ; — 
 
 Suffice : The time has come for us to go ! 
 
 Ten boats, of fifty, that are soon to sail, 
 
 After a pira fleet and its course trail. 
 
 Are now ready for the expedition ; 
 
 Well provisioned and in good condition. 
 
 Our leaving will be made both safe and sure. 
 
 If Secrecy we maintain, whole and pure. 
 
 Two score of these most dear to me I'll take ; — 
 
 Allowing Ethane to secure and make 
 
 Her own selections ; numbering four score. 
 
 And, as for Nebo : — He may ply an oar 
 
 And take with him seven ; all true and tried 
 
 Seamen ; whom we may want to safely guide 
 
 Our boats along that rocky Western coast. 
 
 Where pira ways are known by pira boast. 
 
 — We'll go to-morrow, after eve, at night, 
 
 The signal for the time will be a light ; 
 
 — A steady fire gleam, near the watch-tower ; — 
 
 Will mark the meeting place and meeting hour. 
 
 We must appear as maska-pira braves ; 
 
 All well equipped to fight on land or waves. 
 
 The watch will say : 'They chase a pira foe !' 
 
 If he is asked where boats and crews did go. 
 
 Well off from shore is all the lead I ask. 
 
 Then; if they catch us, I misjudge our task.' 
 
 I thought of father, mother and the dear 
 
 And loved ones, all ! those far, those near ; 
 
 And then, by word and manner, very plain 
 
 I said : 'Great brave ; we cannot here remain ; — 
 
 My Eighty will be there ; by strand ; at hour ; 
 
EPOCH XXXVI. 63 
 
 To-morrow night ; Near fire ! Near tower !' 
 
 Nebo, rather slow in his replying, 
 
 Was not found, in any way, defying 
 
 His chaf a-chief :— He could not get away 
 
 From those watchful guards, and, had this to say : 
 
 'Discression bids me take no active part 
 
 In this afifair that stirs a Gilla heart. 
 
 Take Tyra with you! Freedom I can't gain! 
 
 Attempt at escape would be tried in vain ; 
 
 And, an alarm that would your plans disclose. 
 
 Subject us to more trouble and more woes.' 
 
 XXX VH. 
 Good fortune had been with us from the eve 
 When, by Lafareau's plans, we took due leave 
 Of Harbor Baal Cove. Our boats were sped fast; 
 — Until point Avideze they had gone past ; — 
 A distance from Baal Cove, well off from shore. 
 Of fifty and one hundred miles or more. 
 We had six boats ; and each boat had a crew 
 Of confessed Albis ; — counting twenty-two. 
 — With Lafareau, it had been first agreed, 
 That I should follow and that he should lead 
 Till we had reached port Leone, when, from there, 
 I might, to port Haven, guide with more care. 
 Our course to Avideze had been near West : 
 Thence we sailed Northward, hoping to find rest 
 By great Atlata sea shore for a day, — 
 Trading, without advantage, for our stay. 
 Lafareau had well considered this plan. 
 And, though, of Rochew race was every clan 
 Along that sea coast: — We could only view, 
 At long distance, their castles old and new. 
 Until we, nearing, entered a great port, 
 Clan Leone's largest harbor: — Like a fort, 
 Its massive wall was high and thick and strong; 
 And, like a crescent curved its length along 
 The shore before the castle, grand and old ; 
 Where climbing ivy spread its root-grip hold. 
 Before we had gone far ; with signal shown 
 Of peace and friendship; into ways unknown: — 
 Lafareau, who was captain of our floats ; 
 
64 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 The trusted pilot of our crews and boats. — 
 
 Ordered : 'Cast anchor ! save boats One and Two : 
 
 Tyra of Five, a mamo always true, 
 
 May speak with Ethane : First of number Six ; 
 
 While I proceed most cautiously, to mix 
 
 With these Leones. — Safety ! we want, and land ! 
 
 Although the land be but a barren strand.' 
 
 Then off : Away, went our boats One and Two, 
 
 Seeking the guards whom they would interview. — 
 
 While Tyra, by permit, to me, then near — 
 
 Made greetings, and, in words of hope and cheer. 
 
 Told of the health and strength of young Kozko ; 
 
 Our sickly purchase at the clan Grale show. 
 
 'Here is the brave !' Said she : 'He tends our sail 
 
 And never fears in storm, or squall, or gale. 
 
 His memory of things and days gone by 
 
 Is very bad : Though he will often try 
 
 To tell of Baal Cove, and that joyful time. 
 
 When life was young, in Baal Cove's sunny clime.' 
 
 While Tyra spoke I thought I did perceive, — 
 
 Likeness of one who made his mother grieve. 
 
 This fair Kozko; was he the truant boy 
 
 Who seemed to love most those he could annoy? 
 
 I questioned Tyra, as to marks and scars ; 
 
 And, when she would reply — that call that mars 
 
 And jars my Mother Nature till this day 
 
 Echoed afar, by exclaim, and did say: 
 
 'Draw anchors ! Ethane lead o'er Rochew bay ! 
 
 Make haste ! Make haste ! Away ! Away ! Away ! 
 
 Lafareau had spoken, and, his command 
 
 Had made me captain of that tired band. — 
 
 I ordered that — 'all boats, save Six and One, 
 
 Follow in order, as they had begun. 
 
 That all sail be set for speeding seaward 
 
 In a course directly pointing leeward.' 
 
 We had well cleared the port, by sail and oar, 
 
 And were fast moving, three miles off the shore, 
 
 Pointing Northeastward, o'er a choppy sea, — 
 
 When I discovered, what could only be — 
 
 A great flotilla, — fully three score sail, 
 
 Coming with speed toward our starboard trail. 
 
 I signaled for the sign of friend or foe ? 
 
EPOCH XXXVII. 65 
 
 And, as no answer came, that I might know ; — 
 
 I felt quite sure — it was a race for Life. 
 
 Or, sea fight that would finish life and strife, — 
 
 And ordered that : 'First mate, of each boat's crew, 
 
 Follow the ensign boat — steadfast and true — 
 
 Safely apart: And let yon pira knaves 
 
 Know : — they must catch ; — before they rnake our graves !' 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 Great Baal ; with all his warmth, and strength, and light, 
 Had gone below the deep sea for the night : 
 And a great host of lesser lights and powers 
 Followed his lead from eve till morning hours. — 
 His Vena goddess and his Hermes aid. 
 With ardent love and duty well displayed, — 
 Went with him: From that high majestic state 
 Of the third heaven ! Retinue most great ! 
 To their repose ; their quiet peaceful rest ; 
 Leaving a fading splendor in the west. 
 The first night-watch had been relieved by — next — 
 And that 'next' watch by midnight was perplexed 
 When star-light was obscured by clouds so dark 
 That not a boat could he observe or mark 
 By sight : — And so sent word, from front to rear, 
 That every watch must know and tell by ear 
 The nearness of the boat, — next rear, or, front : — 
 And while they may stay near, — not mix or bunt ! 
 When the fourth watch was on Ashtar was due ; 
 With guiding light our lost hope to renew, 
 But : Though great Ashtar, as a guide by night, 
 May have, above the clouds, shone fair and bright ; — 
 She, — and those lesser lights that we call stars. 
 Would not give to us, lost and distressed tars. 
 The faintest glimmer — from the last midnight. — 
 And when the morn had come and brought its light; 
 A faint hazy light, — showing dawning day; — 
 We soon discovered we were far away 
 From the true course, — and piras who pursued — 
 No more did follow, threaten or intrude. 
 — Getting locations better; I observed 
 We had, far to the South, been turned and swerved ; 
 And the strong breeze that moved our boats so fast, 
 5 
 
66 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 Filling their sails and straining every mast, 
 
 Was a Northwester; which meant — furl all sail 
 
 And point the boats to best withstand a gale. 
 
 The Northwest showed ; spread far to North and West, 
 
 And bending far above the billow's crest ; 
 
 That advance herald of the dreaded storm. — 
 
 And hardly had we put our boats in form 
 
 Before it came with dreadful wreck and rage; 
 
 And all our might its fury did engage ! 
 
 We used as ballast, each boat crew, save nine. 
 
 And these nines were to watch, guide and combine 
 
 With wisdom, care and great Rochew power ; 
 
 To float our boats a week, a day, an hour, — 
 
 Or ; till the tempest had well spent its blasts 
 
 And crews, afloat, could rig and trim their masts. 
 
 The storm continued for four days and nights — 
 
 Hiding the heavens from our guides and lights : — 
 
 At times the lightnning flashed ; the thunder roared ; 
 
 And howling wind and rain pounded and poured. 
 
 At times a boat, perched on a mountain wave, 
 
 Would rise ; then plunge ; as to an ocean grave. 
 
 At times the pelting sleet and chilling snow 
 
 Distressed us with a tempest's frosty blow. 
 
 After four days and nights, drifting to lee. 
 
 Things grew more peaceful ; so that we could see ; — 
 
 By Baal's most true and his most welcome light, 
 
 Which drove away sea-demons with the night, — 
 
 That Westward was to windward and that land 
 
 Was Eastward, somewhere by the great bay's strand. 
 
 I ordered 'Attention !' and 'Come About !' 
 
 — To ascertain the number in or out. — 
 
 Boats One, Two, Three, Six, — the call soon obeyed ; — 
 
 But Four and Five were hindered or delayed 
 
 From coming forward at my plain command ; 
 
 And : Though we were a wearied pilgrim band ; 
 
 We searched in circles o'er those restless waves 
 
 And ; finding not the missing or their graves : 
 
 We reckoned that our dear ones : now, the Lost ! 
 
 Had found a haven without storms or frost. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 Our course had been, by pilot, sail and oar 
 Northeasterly, for full five days, or more — 
 
EPOCH XXXIX. 67 
 
 When, on a morn, before the dawn of day, 
 We heard the surging breakers, far away ; — 
 A very welcome sound — which said that land 
 Was just ahead; beyond a rock-bound strand. 
 On near approach, I saw ; I recognized ; 
 The west coast of Kelt island, — not much prized 
 In my kanitra days : But at this time — 
 When, for five days, we knew not course or clime : 
 This setting Right, by that rough island strand, 
 Brought joy supreme to a disheartened band. 
 — When certain that the near land was Kelt isle 
 We left it on the starboard, — off a mile ; 
 And, pointing our four boats to the Northwest, — 
 Facing to windward : — Strove and did our best 
 By guides and oars, when we saw in our wake, — 
 Not two miles distant ; — ten boats plow and break 
 Through dashing waves, by oar strokes far and fast. 
 As if they might o'ertake us first, or last ! 
 We were pursued by these ten stranger boats 
 For many leagues : Until they saw our floats 
 Could not be taken ; — or, were o'ertaken 
 Themselves by foes ! For — if not mistaken — 
 We saw. in the far distance, by dim views, 
 A dreadful combat between boats and crews. 
 
 XL. 
 
 Keeping the coast line well off, to our right ; 
 
 We held our course, throughout the day and night : 
 
 And. in days three, had passed those Ashtar points, 
 
 And Germon isles, that trail like serpent joints 
 
 About that coast. And then, by sail and oar. 
 
 We made fast time ; — never far off from shore — 
 
 Going near Eastward : Till, after four days, 
 
 Pursuing the course of familiar ways. 
 
 By Gaza, Garza and Gazella isles ; 
 
 And rounding Norva points : off shore, two miles : 
 
 We thence proceeded, as Baal hid from view, 
 
 To speed before the gale; in ways not new — 
 
 Till I, your Ethane ; mamo-vero tried ; 
 
 Met you ; her father, chief, escort and guide ! 
 
 'Twas fifty years ; when last the roses bloomed ; 
 
 Since I left father, mother, and assumed, — 
 
68 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 At fourteen years of age ; to be for life 
 
 Indorod's partner and his faithful wife. 
 
 — Then I alone, of all our Albi kin, 
 
 Went to Baal Cove, — a new life to begin. 
 
 Much that I won or lost, while yet away 
 
 I have revealed; — But further, I would say: 
 
 We left Baal Cove, with twenty-two, a crew, — 
 
 And numbered all, — one hundred — thirty-two! 
 
 — This morn we rashly entered Haven's port. 
 
 With a crude Eighty to pass guards and fort. 
 
 We left Baal Cove with Fifty — my blood-kin ; 
 
 Here ! Twenty-seven — I have counted in. 
 
 The time, from port to port, measured by days, 
 
 Was twenty-nine, including stays and strays. 
 
 — Great Lafareau and family stay below. 
 
 With other great hearts, I would have you know ! 
 
 Be not distrustful of woman or man : 
 
 They are all Rochews for the Albi clan !" 
 
 XLI. 
 
 Dun Albar said ; when through this Narration, 
 
 From Ethane's Life: Found in his translation 
 
 Of what was carved on four old dark bronze plates ; 
 
 Which, from appearances, seemed to be mates: 
 
 " — I will now cull from these nine larger sheets 
 
 Recorded facts ; — Which, in a manner, meets 
 
 The purpose of your visit to this grot: — 
 
 The truths about the Rochews you have sought ! — 
 
 All minor details we will hurry by, 
 
 And, dwelling on Essentials, strive and try 
 
 To tell you further of the clans and tribes 
 
 From these old pages ; writ by Bronze Age scribes. 
 
 — When Ethane had done, — Chief Albimon said: 
 
 'The riddle of your life you have well read ! 
 
 It was your duty, my true-heart most dear, 
 
 To be a Rochew each day, month and year. — 
 
 A mamo-vero of the Albi clan : 
 
 Regarding woman equal of the man. 
 
 It was for Human rights and Righteous laws 
 
 That you opposed the Vicious and their Cause, 
 
 — Attend your mother now and bless her life 
 
 Until we need your service in the strife !' 
 
EPOCH XLI. 69 
 
 Then Albimon, with wonted discretion, 
 
 Admitted Lafareau, — on confession ; 
 
 With all who came from Baal Cove in those boats, — 
 
 The well, the sick, with wool or hairy coats. 
 
 In Fount Baptismal: Truly confessing; — 
 
 Each one receiving the Chieftain's blessing. 
 
 XLII. 
 
 The moon had gone fully four monthly rounds 
 
 Since Ethane found refuge in Haven's bounds. 
 
 — The Albi clan, its women and its men; 
 
 All sturdy braves ; welcomed the great time when 
 
 A worthy or unworthy foe would land ; — 
 
 For fights, well won, brought strength to heart and hand! 
 
 Wadan: First aid to Albimon, those days — 
 
 A diplomatist in a score of ways ; 
 
 Had meanwhile enlisted, for Albi's cause. 
 
 Ten Rochew clans to fight for Albi laws 
 
 And Freedom ! Opposing the tyrant foe 
 
 Who would take tribute by distress and woe. 
 
 Clans, Eng, Courbek, Baalzak, Switzer, Van Rind, 
 
 Scota, Runes, Gothus, Ainus and Lind, — 
 
 Prepared to make good their undertakings 
 
 Which ; all told ; with what was in the makings, 
 
 Numbered, of sturdy braves, five hundred score; 
 
 And boats, of four tons burden, built on shore — 
 
 Staunch, new and true, would number four hundred, — 
 
 Honestly made : None plundered ! None blundered ! 
 
 These friendly clans provisioned every brave 
 
 With two moon's rations, for on land or wave. 
 
 Near half these braves were archers and the rest 
 
 Were slingers ; — As Albimon did request. 
 
 XLHI. 
 
 Affairs at Haven Port, and the Castle, 
 
 Were presagers of a coming battle. 
 
 Ethane, and her wise mother, Cristoline, 
 
 With Wadan's youngest daughter, Yictorine, 
 
 Busied themselves about a secret-code 
 
 To use at home, or, at some strange abode ! 
 
 — Wood-craft and Stone-craft, known to Rochew art ; 
 
70 THE ROCHEIV-ALBIMON. 
 
 Could not, with Rochews, play a secret part. — 
 
 Therefore : A secret-code these three must choose 
 
 Which would be strange to Indorod Rochews. 
 
 A code it was that told by sound and mark, 
 
 Or signal ; in the light or in the dark ; 
 
 What the Albimon Rochews need must know 
 
 About a helpful friend or harmful foe. 
 
 When done ; Victorine ; who, from many clans. 
 
 Had gathered items to help on their plans ; 
 
 Called the new signs for thoughts, which then were odd, 
 
 The Rochew Albi Runes Furthormaud. 
 
 — These vero women, — three, — had much to do 
 
 In executing orders old and new 
 
 From Albimon : while they, with aids twelve score, 
 
 In rude huts, by the river's western shore. 
 
 Made Albi slings, bows, arrows and quivers 
 
 Of skins ; and yew boughs from Gothus rivers ; 
 
 And flint-stone ; brought from the Albion isles, 
 
 By land and sea, more than a hundred miles. 
 
 Lafareau and Spazi, down by the strand, 
 
 With skilled boat-makers ; fourteen to the band, 
 
 Were fast at work on three hundred new boats 
 
 The first sea vessels made for fighting floats ! 
 
 — Albimon designing a bow beak ram 
 
 To make these boats sure victors in a jam. — 
 
 Invention and Progression were the leads 
 
 That made Albimon's fame grow with his deeds ! 
 
 The Chief and Wadan had, from metals ; wrought 
 
 Many designs : While yet ; with skill they sought 
 
 The cheapest and most useful ; which they found 
 
 In common ores ; hidden in rock and ground : 
 
 And, by fusing copper with Scota tin. — 
 
 Near ten to one, — they found what did most win 
 
 The approbation of the inventors ; 
 
 And axmen, pikemen and all contestors 
 
 Who were to use bronze weapons in the cause 
 
 Of Ethane, and Albimon, and wise laws. 
 
 XLIV. 
 
 Before Baal scored his equal night and day, 
 
 While Spring-time coursing in that great high-way : 
 
 The gathering of clans at Haven's port ; 
 
EPOCH XLIV. 71 
 
 At Haven's castle and at Haven's fort ; 
 
 To serve and fight at Albimon's command ; 
 
 — Well mustered in, a hundred to a band — 
 
 Transformed the scenes along Haven river 
 
 From Peace to War : With arrows in quiver 
 
 Of five ounce weight ; and boats, with ram and shield, 
 
 Of four tons burden ; and braves for the field, 
 
 As braves for the wave ; awaited orders 
 
 To go to war beyond Albi borders. 
 
 The day before these great braves were to go, 
 
 To fight and battle with a tyrant foe, 
 
 Albimon ; meeting those he would have lead, 
 
 Advised them in the ways that they should heed ! 
 
 He named Ethane, chief of the braves — by land — 
 
 Permitting her to captain every band ; — 
 
 Naming, as aids, her brothers Berg and Jean 
 
 And her brave sisters Bora and Pauline. 
 
 The great flotilla ! Lafareau should lead — 
 
 With Casteline, his wife, and his son Freid ; 
 
 And Spazi, Wadan, Victorine and Brest 
 
 Assisting in all ways most truly best 
 
 For the Albi cause! while captains of crews — 
 
 Would be by choice; as Lafareau might choose. 
 
 Then he named Ethane, Satrap of the South : 
 
 From Avideze point to the Tigra's mouth ; 
 
 And, — while protesting against vice and woe, — 
 
 He thus addressed Ethane and Laf ereau : 
 
 'You, for the Right, sought here this chieftain's aid ; 
 
 Which he has given in exchange or trade 
 
 For what, he hopes, will forward the great cause 
 
 Of Albi virtues, customs, and, wise laws. 
 
 You came to Haven, near five moons ago, 
 
 With information Albi's Chief should know, — 
 
 Since; for our weal, — to better conditions, — 
 
 We have fitted out two expeditions ! 
 
 — Both ready now : — The one to go by land ; 
 
 The other, in war boats, to leave the strand. 
 
 Although the villains against whom we strive 
 
 Outnumber us ; as twenty-five, to five ; 
 
 With our equipments, and, our Rochew might : 
 
 We must and shall, for Freedom, win the fight! 
 
 Go ! seek these tyrants, Indorod and Kan, — 
 
72 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 Would, be destroyers of the most pure clan ! 
 
 Remembering that we, their slaves must be, 
 
 If we should fail to win by land or sea ! 
 
 Take those you brought back to that Southern clime 
 
 Where black, brown, tan and white colors combine 
 
 To make complexions ! Grieved I am to know 
 
 That Ethane's children, one in three, do show 
 
 The Ashtar monthly weakness, by that flow 
 
 Which mollified pollution long ago ! 
 
 Or, Priesthood baldness ! Or that way for sin — 
 
 Which, by descent, may show a short fore-skin! 
 
 Heredity I see by ear, eye, nose. 
 
 Hair, form, mind, strength ; all which to me disclose 
 
 The mixing of that blood of tribe and clan — 
 
 A modifying of the Albi plan ! 
 
 — I would this kin showed no diminution 
 
 Or evidence of vile prostitution.' 
 
 XLV. 
 
 It was full moon ; the first after the sun 
 
 Had reached the north line of his summer run. 
 
 The sky, with floating clouds, was overcast ; 
 
 Which, from the West to East, went drifting past. 
 
 Ethane for fourteen days had been before 
 
 Baal Cove's castle walls : and, from shore to shore ; 
 
 By field and fen her great lines extended, — 
 
 And, for five days, she had well defended 
 
 Donkan's attacks against her dauntless braves 
 
 Who, for each loss, had slain a dozen knaves ; 
 
 Base slave, protectors of vile rules of life ! 
 
 — The brooders of the Rochew tribal strife. 
 
 While braves fought braves without the castle walls, - 
 
 Within was a Rebellion : and the calls : 
 
 Loud signal calls; Ethane had read aright — 
 
 Before a scout brought details of the fight. 
 
 A fight it was led by a great brave-slave 
 
 And more than Conquest did his vengeance crave ! 
 
 Torture and torch and maska-pira spoils 
 
 Were aids assisting — as weapons and foils — 
 
 In forcing Indorod to abdicate 
 
 And flee the castle by the seaward gate. 
 
 — The while : from pira lines, at left and right, 
 
EPOCH XLV. 7Z 
 
 The midnight moon showed, by its clearest Hght, 
 
 Baal Cove's flotilla; eight hundred sea boats — 
 
 Taking on crews ; brave masters of great floats : — 
 
 And, while the Souva gate let out these braves. 
 
 The Norva gate ; opened by braves and slaves ; 
 
 Let in of victors — one-third Ethane's force — 
 
 Led by two hundred scouts on horse ; by course ! 
 
 In all ; near fifty hundred braves went in ; 
 
 Great sturdy Albi braves, — and friends, and kin, — 
 
 With scouts still leading ; spreading left and right — 
 
 By the moon's varied and uncertain light — 
 
 Through the extensive castle yards and grounds ; 
 
 Driving Baalcovins by shrill war-cry sounds, — 
 
 Or by the arrow, stone, war-ax, or pike ; — 
 
 As it might swiftly speed, or cut, or strike ; — 
 
 Until through Souva gate the pursued went 
 
 Seeking for shelter — by cliff, hut or tent — 
 
 Along that desolated harbor strand — 
 
 Where Baal Cove braves last touched their native land. 
 
 The Souva gate was closed, and captain Jean — 
 
 With archers and slingers, most skilled and keen. 
 
 Numbering ten hundred ; mounted the wall — 
 
 To let the arrow speed and the stone fall 
 
 To pierce and crush the Baal Cove boats and braves, 
 
 As out to sea they went with wives and slaves : 
 
 — Leaving the distressed and the dependents ; 
 
 Who, like the dead, were no more defendants. 
 
 The leading boat of the Baalcovin fleet : — 
 
 When a full mile from shore— as if to meet 
 
 Or seek a friend — led with both sail and oar 
 
 Southeastward : Pointing tord clan Oran's shore — 
 
 Two hundred miles away : While in its wake 
 
 Followed, in well formed line — without a break — 
 
 The whole flotilla of the Baal Cove port 
 
 Burdened with trophies from the castle's court — 
 
 And tender weaklings ; born of monsterbrutes ; 
 
 Degenerated Rochew substitutes ! 
 
 While the last boats of that encumbered fleet 
 
 Trailed from the harbor: Making quite complete 
 
 A great flotilla ; fully two miles long : — 
 
 Ethane and Jean, from rampart high and strong, 
 
 Saw proudly coming ; with sails distended 
 
74 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 By a west wind ; in style, most commended ; 
 — A great flotilla : and, by nearer view, — 
 Discerned, by the bush-heads of each boat crew. 
 And by Albi's ensign, the black fox hide, 
 Which, at each mast head, might have been espied ; 
 — That Lafareau had come. And soon Ethane 
 Signaled the boat in lead — not long in vain, — 
 For, she soon saw, though distant was the view, 
 Victorine with war pike, a brave most true. 
 Replying by the cross and by the bar ; 
 And pointed crest, and delta and Kelt star — 
 To what Ethane had said with a war pike ; 
 And finished thus : 'We will for Albi strike ! 
 Chasing these Baal Coves o'er the briney wave 
 And find for them a lasting ocean grave ! 
 Be it a long, or, be it a short race — 
 With Lafareau to lead, we chase ! we chase !' 
 
 XLVI. 
 
 The scenes about the halls and inner courts 
 
 Showed carnage worse than at the outer forts. 
 
 Two hundred braves, selects of Albi clan, 
 
 Explored the castle halls by Ethane's plan 
 
 And, as Bora led, within the Chieftain's Halls, 
 
 She heard, as from the dead, most doleful calls ; 
 
 Distressing calls ; and, on approaching near, 
 
 This plaintive message she could plainly hear. 
 
 'O, chafa-chief Mara! Mara! Mara! 
 
 Take ! Take Caspana from this evil way !' 
 
 The pleader was a female of clan Grale 
 
 A giantess whose prowess did not fail 
 
 To wield the war-club 'gainst the Baal Cove braves 
 
 And fight to death the makers of vile slaves. 
 
 Her face was bruised and scarred and with a hand 
 
 She gripped a gory war-club, and, a band — 
 
 A chief's insigne ; — anklet of pure gold ; — 
 
 Her strong left ankle did closely infold. 
 
 — Bora concluding that, what met her gaze 
 
 Was most surprising, in a score of ways : 
 
 Signaled for Ethane, who, of all, knew best 
 
 How to assist the captains in their quest 
 
 Or hold an inquest o'er Chief, brave or slave : — 
 
EPOCH XLVI. 75 
 
 The dead of Baal Cove castle, hut or cave. 
 
 When Ethane had once seen that wounded Grale 
 
 She gave her that first aid which could not fail 
 
 To strengthen and revive, and, soon she saw 
 
 Her eyes discerning and her lips and jaw 
 
 Moving; as if it were a task to tell 
 
 What she longed to impart, — clearly and well, — 
 
 To a good mamo-vero; who, just then 
 
 W^as not so distant as she might have been. 
 
 Ethane had laved the Grale's hot face and brow 
 
 Who; recognizing, by twitch, nod, or bow 
 
 Her benefactress, — exclaimed : 'Good Ethane !' 
 
 Then said : 'Dear mamo-vero ; not in vain 
 
 Have we done battle gainst the tyrant chief 
 
 Led by old Turban, chieftain of Relief 
 
 Within the castle walls ; who, with his might. 
 
 Enlisted rebels for the cause of Right ! 
 
 He. a fish monger, lived by the port strand 
 
 In a rude cave ; where Eight, numbered his band 
 
 Of Gila Turban braves. Lowly and meek 
 
 He mongered here about, week after week ; — 
 
 Until the castle walls were closed about 
 
 So no Baalcovin could, by land, pass out 
 
 Beyond the line of the besieging foe. 
 
 And, when Old Turban finally did know 
 
 That the dread foeman were Monogamists ; — 
 
 Sent by Albimon, who, firmly insists — 
 
 'That Ethane rule the state where Indorod 
 
 Goes monsterbruting with a monster god :' 
 
 — Then, that fish-monger showed a chieftain's skill 
 
 And led each night to burn, plunder and kill! 
 
 I was but one of the two hundred wives 
 
 Claimed by chief Indorod : — kept in these hives ; 
 
 These harem halls ; with enslaved prostitutes, — 
 
 Consorts of those degraded monsterbrutes. 
 
 I helped Old Turban ope the Norva gate : 
 
 Who, signaled you to come ! and, as by fate, 
 
 We intercepted the chief in his hall 
 
 Before his train had left for the south wall. 
 
 Alas ! too late we found, to our dismay. 
 
 You had not followed ! You did not obey 
 
 The signal ! Retreat cut off — in this pen — 
 
76 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 Greatly outnumbered, as is one by ten, 
 
 We may have fought our finish ! O, relate 
 
 And tell who lost, who won ! What was our fate ?' 
 
 XLVII. 
 
 Great Baal had passed the zenith of the day 
 
 And was progressing in his downward way 
 
 When Ethane ordered that : 'the chiefs and braves, — 
 
 And others dead ; — including all the slaves ; — 
 
 Be Transmuted, by fires, into lights. 
 
 According to their merits, blacks as whites ! " 
 
 The grotto fire to remove dead foes ; 
 
 While tower fire, which to heaven goes. 
 
 Will bear these friends away, safely and far, — 
 
 Each to become a five point Keltish star. 
 
 Assisting, in the lighting of that dome : 
 
 Where Baal and Ashtar will provide a home.' 
 
 Near, where the Grale had lain, six score were found ; 
 
 And Ethane thus observed, as she went round 
 
 And recognized a fallen foe or friend ; 
 
 Who, for a cause, would nevermore contend : — 
 
 'This was Donkan, the chief of Baal Cove clan, — 
 
 Indorod's choice ; forwarder of his plan. 
 
 This was — my — Hondus ! Alas ! care and strife ; 
 
 He gave to Albi his last days of life ! 
 
 — And she, whose cold clasp holds to his cold hand — 
 
 Was Vickin ; — lost at sea, far from this strand. 
 
 This! This was Tyra, a Monogamist, 
 
 And this — Nebo, anti-Polygamist. 
 
 This pair of Gilla braves, husband and wife, 
 
 True to the Gilla ways and Rules of Life ; — 
 
 Stood for the Truth mid cares and grief and woe. 
 
 Alas ! that Truth should fall by Error's blow ! 
 
 He wears, tied down, the Gilla turban coil, — 
 
 Cover for head ; — a very clever foil ; — 
 
 Protecting well the ears, the brow and head 
 
 'Gainst blows that crubh and count a victim dead. 
 
 His right hand's clasp a hood shaped wig does hold ; 
 
 Like Indorod's bald head did once infold. 
 
 Farewell great chief of Justice, Truth and Right! 
 
 — This taking-off, blurs and bedews my sight.' 
 
EPOCH XLVIII. 77 
 
 XLVIIL 
 
 Nine days had past ; — When new regulations, 
 
 By wise Ethane; might show modern nations 
 
 How to bring order, and a sure rehef. 
 
 From what is chaos, in time — the most brief. 
 
 Lafareau had returned from that sea chase. 
 
 With many captured boats, which claimed much space 
 
 In Baal Cove harbor : — All laden with spoils 
 
 Taken in battle ; where Albimon's foils, 
 
 Rams, axes and pikes, as managed by braves, 
 
 Showed how to put a foe below the waves. 
 
 For, by the showing, e'er six days were spent. 
 
 Both Indorod and chief Kan's braves were sent — 
 
 With human cargoes — down into the deep, — 
 
 Where salt-sea creatures struggle hard to keep, 
 
 All good fresh meat from slow putrefaction; 
 
 And this they do with much satisfaction. 
 
 Great Rochew and Albimon's natal day 
 
 Had well been past, and Ethane planned a way 
 
 To celebrate, by a display most grand. 
 
 The recent victories by sea and land ; — 
 
 At next full moon : And, when that time arrived, 
 
 'Rochew-Albimon !' was the yell contrived 
 
 By Wadan and Spazi, who, with brave Jean, 
 
 Managed the sports and the contests most keen ; 
 
 As well as displays of the victor's spoils ; — 
 
 Made up of jewels, and. those silver coils. 
 
 Worn by rude Chief Dan ; Son to great chief Kan 
 
 And all the captains of that chieftain's clan ; 
 
 And strands of rings and bands of purest gold. 
 
 And textile fabrics, fashioned new and old ; 
 
 And spices and perfumes, extracts and balms ; 
 
 And, with provisions choice ; — dried fruit of palms ; 
 
 And war equipments, — with girdles and belts. 
 
 And bejeweled baldrics and cod-piece pelts ; 
 
 And robes of choicest fur with gold clasp-pins, — 
 
 And of Kan's 'tiger band ;' — forty fresh skins. 
 
 The music was by trumpet, pipe and horn ; 
 
 And by each music-maker there was worn. 
 
 Tied to the girdle, that prized hide and hair, — 
 
 Which the deceased, in life, guarded with care 
 
 That gala time, with its celebration 
 
78 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 Of Rochew-Albimon's combination ; 
 Marked, by succession, but a station 
 Of Rochew-Albimon's complication. 
 
 XLIX. 
 
 Rochew-Albimon ! That new tribal name, — 
 
 By proclamation from Albimon came 
 
 To be a fact ; when that great chief made known 
 
 That he, by Right and Might, had claimed his own. 
 
 It was Autumn before the clans did mix, — 
 
 Of date, Five-thousand-two-hundred-and-six, 
 
 As reckoned by Rochew-Albimon year, — 
 
 When Albi laws and customs were, with cheer. 
 
 Adopted by the chiefs of all the clans, — 
 
 As they pledged fealty to the great chief's plans. 
 
 Ethane, for sixteen years had governed well ; 
 
 But, while she valiantly fought to compel 
 
 The Geno clan to submit to the laws, 
 
 And led to battle for a Righteous cause, — 
 
 A cruel arrow pierced a vital part 
 
 And stilled the life throbs of a noble heart. 
 
 Then Ethane's brother Jean, next in command : 
 
 A most skilled captain, in battles by land, 
 
 Led on the braves against both fort and field 
 
 And forced the ill-bred foe to humbly yield. 
 
 By Albimon's selection Jean, his son, — 
 
 In peace and war: for years, near twenty-one. 
 
 Was satrap of the clans South, East and West ; — 
 
 And, at Albimon's death, at his behest. 
 
 Became Great Chief and used, as guide and rule. 
 
 These precepts of the great Albimon School : — 
 
 'Use Hope and Faith, — that stimulate the mind, — 
 
 'With Honesty ; to better all your kind. 
 
 'Take Industry, Frugality and Health. 
 
 'As your best aids, when you seek Honest wealth. 
 
 'Be Temperate ! and only want or claim 
 
 'A wholesome share of food, dress, wealth or fame. 
 
 'Be Wise! Guard well your health, your strength, your sense 
 
 'Ignorance of the law is no defense ! 
 
 'Be Righteous in all ways, and, for the Right, — 
 
 'Make the hard burdens of the weary light. 
 
 'Give to your children what you would receive ; — 
 
EPOCH XLIX. 79 
 
 'And, with your increase, no affliction leave. — 
 
 'Be Chaste ! Maintain the Albi rules of life ! 
 
 'Be Monogamists! Avoid family strife! 
 
 'Keep June the First, as the Approval Day, — 
 
 'For glorifying Good in every way. 
 
 'December First: keep as Rejection Day, — 
 
 'To condemn Evil and prevent its sway. 
 
 'The three days Ashtar is most round and fair, 
 
 'In each month's coursing ; all the tribe shall wear 
 
 'Gala attire, and, with good reports, — 
 
 'Keep first for Health, next. Learning and next. Sports. 
 
 'Give a God praise, when such God for Good stands ; 
 
 'Oppose Evil, and, by Truth, expands. 
 
 'Give Nature praise, — when you find its way Good : 
 
 ' — E'en gods oft extol Nature as they should. 
 
 'Be Loyal ! ever faithful to a friend ; 
 
 'And for Home and Tribe, attack and defend. 
 
 'Know the Divine, in person and in thing, 
 
 'And pray for such events as it might bring. 
 
 'And, as for Merit: those who most deserve — 
 
 'Should be, with rewards, those whom you best serve ; — 
 
 'Yet, in Succession, for tribe, and, for clan, 
 
 'Primogeniture may be the best plan I 
 
 ' — Keep good and safe the Reco, first and last, 
 
 'And make day Seventh ; improve on days past.' 
 
 L. 
 
 A prolonged grief came when Albimon died ; 
 
 Showing more sorrow, as felt far and wide, — 
 
 Tlian any one death in any station, — 
 
 As shows by this Reco revelation. 
 
 His age at death, the day he last did strive, 
 
 Was, in years, one hundred and sixty-five. 
 
 Great chief Jean survived the Great Albimon 
 
 For twenty years ; and when his days were done ; 
 
 Days that showed marked progression, — every one; — 
 
 There followed him Thane, his first born — a son. 
 
 And by these three : Albimon, Jean and Thane 
 
 The Rochew-Albimons made constant gain. 
 
 — By wise diplomacy and show of might — 
 
 The Tuto tribe, persuaded, stood for Right. 
 
 And of those clans which claimed independence 
 
8o THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 — And wished to show a distinct ascendence; — 
 
 There were twenty-seven to fall in line 
 
 For a Rochew-Albimon strong combine. 
 
 The Grale clan was the first to take the course ; 
 
 — Becoming subjects, by wish, not by force. — 
 
 The Avon and the Rufus clans came in — 
 
 With mines of silver, copper, lead and tin ; — 
 
 And the great Norva clan, known far and wide 
 
 As wearers of White bear and Ermine hide, 
 
 Brought to the tribe a clan, — a North-way guide, — 
 
 Whose strength and courage had, by tests, been tried. 
 
 There came a time when the tribe made no gain ; 
 
 And then a time when it was on the wane. 
 
 Do as they might, they could not change the course. 
 
 Or stay encroachments by a combined force. 
 
 From great chief Jean's death, for three hundred years. 
 
 There had been cruel wars, sorrows and fears. 
 
 The Gilla clan, and others East and South, 
 
 With fertile lands, or, sunburned lands of drouth ; 
 
 Numbering, in all, twelve or thirteen clans. 
 
 Had been subjected by the blacks and tans, — 
 
 The basely vicious of a cruel foe, 
 
 Led by the Ashtars, — to distress and woe. 
 
 The issues of the wars, in those sad times, 
 
 The Rochew-Albimons called Ashtar crimes ! 
 
 And fought Polygamy and rules of life 
 
 That would make mamo-vero a slave wife. 
 
 — But fighting a strong foe that stronger grows 
 
 Is most alarming when such a foe shows 
 
 A fighting force; — as twenty-four to two; — 
 
 Of pirate brutes who know well what to do, — 
 
 To harass and distress the mamo pure. 
 
 Where carnal wrongs incite and rich spoils lure. 
 
 LI. 
 
 Another factor, for some years well known, 
 
 Had into a great tribal issue grown : 
 
 The Chanlodones, with chafa-chief Kathlene, 
 
 Studied the Star-gods with eyes strong and keen ; 
 
 And from a convex lens, a water drop, 
 
 Made crystal lenses at their jewel shop : 
 
 Which, when adjusted in a tube of lead, 
 
EPOCH LI. 
 
 Showed spots on Baal ; and great Jove, as he sped, 
 
 Shone like the goddess Ashtar, full and fair. — 
 
 And with him went about, as if in air, 
 
 Two bright attendants — coursing in the sky — 
 
 Swifter than Star-gods were e'er known to fly. 
 
 While telescopes gave these most startling views, 
 
 The Chanlodones were spreading the great news : — 
 
 Which, when it had reached the wise Koterkibe, 
 
 Great chief of the Rochew-Albimon tribe, 
 
 He had already, by two Northern clans, — 
 
 Albi and Norva, been shown charts and plans — 
 
 To prove that great Baal had not gone from sight ; 
 
 But night and day had shone with his warm light, 
 
 In that North clime where Polar bears do go 
 
 O'er banks of snow and with the iceberg floe ; 
 
 For many days each year. By these plain facts ! 
 
 Which Rationals considered strong compacts : — 
 
 And by the convex surface of a sea 
 
 — Which shows convexity more than a lea — 
 
 As witnessed by the boats that go and come ; — 
 
 Koterkibe and his aids knew how to sum, 
 
 With facts and figures, on a Learning day, 
 
 — Which chanced to be in that month we call May — 
 
 And show plainly, by Physics good and sound 
 
 Why they concluded that the Earth is round. 
 
 And, though the knowledge might prove very dear, 
 
 That Tribal Chief proclaimed the Earth a Sphere. 
 
 LII. 
 
 For many years, from that Proclamation, 
 By Koterkibe, there was Exaltation 
 For the renowned Rochew-Albimon tribe ; 
 — As here made plain by Seine, the Reco Scribe. 
 But fame and favor, in those early times. 
 Could not last long beyond a tribe's own climes ; — 
 And, hardly had two score of years been spent, 
 Before Kathlene for tribal defense went. 
 According to Great Koterkibe's orders. 
 To stop a foe at the Eastern borders 
 Of the Rochew-Albimon most fair land. 
 Where a lone castle stood guard by the strand. 
 The foeman were the warring Shanhamites: 
 6 
 
82 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 Seeking to enforce customs, laws and rites 
 
 For their Almighty God who, until then, 
 
 Was never known to Western tribal men. 
 
 They claimed this god-head had from Nothing came :- 
 
 Designed and made himself out of the same; 
 
 And made Plain earth and the Vaulted heaven 
 
 From what was left of Nothing ! and Leaven ! 
 
 The other gods — and angels — this god made 
 
 Of heavens lights to watch, and serve, and aid. 
 
 And all Earth life, they claim he created 
 
 From earth-clay ; — and saw each one well mated. 
 
 Then, fearing discord in their social life ; — 
 
 Made lions Judges of domestic strife: 
 
 Till, after many years, while inspecting 
 
 Their wayward conduct, and, while objecting, 
 
 In anger, to his Judiciary : 
 
 Which had been acting very contrary: 
 
 — Ordered, that three pair baboons, males and mates, 
 
 Stand forth as men and women ; with their states 
 
 Above all Earth created living things 
 
 That cling, crawl, swim, walk, jump or fly on wings. 
 
 The color of the skins of these three pair 
 
 Appeared as ordered : black, and brown, and fair. 
 
 He then showed how their forms were like his shape: 
 
 Enjoined them to be wise and never ape 
 
 Rude customs, ways or habits of the beasts 
 
 They were to govern, — or serve at their feasts ; — 
 
 But to be perfect — like their great maker! 
 
 — Never mistaken or a law breaker. 
 
 LIII. 
 
 After two thousand years they claim this god 
 
 Wrecked vale and mountain and broke cane and sod, 
 
 When he saw his Images were astray 
 
 And violating laws — they should obey. 
 
 — 'Tis claimed, their worst sin was the pollution 
 
 Of life's fount and source, by prostitution ; — 
 
 Blasting the Tree of Life and its pure fruit — 
 
 And making Gallant man a Monsterbrute. — 
 
 — While this Supremest god, in anger strode. 
 
 He cursed them for the breaking of his Code 
 
 And doomed them to be cringing abject slaves — 
 
EPOCH LIII. 81 
 
 With little hope for what restores or saves. 
 
 Then ordered that they should, on certain days, 
 
 Be suppliant and devout, and find ways 
 
 To bring their offerings of doves and birds, — 
 
 And the first choice of fruits, and grains, and herds. 
 
 To his great xA.ltars ; which he would prepare ; 
 
 And to his chosen Priests, who would there care 
 
 For his people; and help them find surcease 
 
 From woes, by prayers and gifts, for Rest and Peace. 
 
 And for woman ; who seemed more offending ; 
 
 To one who found no cause for defending 
 
 Her more woeful state and vile condition, 
 
 By fair rules of Justice and Contrition : — 
 
 This wrathful god declared her sins the worse ! 
 
 And ordered that she bear this further curse: — 
 
 'She shall bear children with excessive pain 
 
 And, for all time, my favor strive to gain 
 
 By making pure — her impure fount of life — 
 
 With sacrificial blood and pain and strife, — 
 
 The while, each month, when Ashtar glows most round, 
 
 For seven days : And she shall hence be bound 
 
 Unto a husband ; her master and lord ; 
 
 And do his bidding well without discord.' 
 
 LIV. 
 
 Kathlene had, for seven years, — with great might, — 
 
 Fought the Shanhamites to sustain the Right ; 
 
 And had near o'ercome that most crafty foe 
 
 When the rude Ashtars heard its tale of woe ; 
 
 And, though their hatred had been most intense. 
 
 They combined for aggression and defense, 
 
 — On gods of earth, air, sky, fire and sea — 
 
 For Unity : these two tribes did agree. 
 
 'And, as to that god, supreme over all, 
 
 A refuge, when all' others fail or fall ; 
 
 We shall on that Almighty god depend !' 
 
 Said the Combine, — 'Though other gods attend. — 
 
 And, as to Baal's law for circumcision 
 
 And those fixed laws for human contrition : 
 
 — Our will and action must most truly blend. 
 
 In this great conquest, to serve our best end. 
 
 And, as to that false teaching — most unsound, — 
 
84 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 Baalcovin teaching, — that the earth is round! 
 
 — They will' recant when they hear this war-cry : — 
 
 The Heretic must Recant or must Die !' 
 
 Opposed to that vaunting, with yoeman might. 
 
 Was heard this cry — 'We fight for Truth and Right !' 
 
 And also this ; where'er they fought and bled, — 
 
 'Justice will triumph when tyrants are dead!' 
 
 The Rochew-Albimons, led by Kathlene, 
 
 Won from the Combine, for years — near fourteen, — 
 
 Or, till a revelation, plan, or guide ; — 
 
 An offer of reward — had turned the tide. 
 
 This Revelation claimed to help the Brave, 
 
 Of the Combine, to pleasures he might crave; 
 
 Or what, as brave, he might wish and demand 
 
 Of heaven's palaces and heaven's band: — 
 
 Provided ; while on earth ; by strength, or skill, 
 
 Or cunning, he; a heretic did kill! 
 
 — Taken a mamo-vero for a wife ; — 
 
 And had been a Combiner in the Strife. 
 
 LV. 
 
 'Tis sad to relate all this Reco shows 
 Of dreadful disasters, trouble, and woes 
 That o'ertook the Rochew-Albimon host, — 
 While forced from the East to that Western coast, — 
 Where the tribe's defenses were the more strong 
 And where the resistance they might prolong. 
 Homes, castles, dominions — with love and tears — 
 Went, one after one, for eight hundred years. 
 And, when at Baal Cove, this yet hopeful band. 
 Had gathered to fight, tO' resist and stand 
 Against the victors ; led on by Hunkite ; — 
 — The tribal robber ; — a rude Shanhamite, — 
 They saw that to stay and fight such a foe 
 Would bring them more trouble, distress and woe ; — 
 And so ; while still showing a strong defense, 
 By bold maneuvers and clever pretense. 
 They quietly took from the castle's halls ; 
 From villa and port, from cove and from walls 
 Treasures, provisions, and children and wives 
 And hurried Northward to protect the lives 
 Of clans-folk, with what was left of that host;— 
 
EPOCH LV. 8s 
 
 Once pride and glory, as well as the boast, 
 
 Of the far famed Rochew-Albimon clans 
 
 Which had been reduced to one hundred bands; 
 
 The remnant of those who fought in retreats ; 
 
 While forced to yield lands, forts, castles and fleets. 
 
 Northward from Baal Cove, with braves front and rear 
 
 To Piernee Castle, a fortress most dear, 
 
 They hastened. It stood by a mountain trail ; — 
 
 The best route to go, when braves would not fail 
 
 To find a good lodgment and a short stay 
 
 Twixt Baal Cove and Haven, — about mid-way. 
 
 Those fleeing tribe-folk reached Piernee Castle 
 
 Without disaster from storm or battle 
 
 And while Piernee Castle and Piernee Clan 
 
 In Piernee mountains would forward the plan 
 
 Of Great Chief Sol, who was most persistent 
 
 In those defenses that were consistent, — 
 
 Before the heralds from the North and West 
 
 Had brought the sad news of awful distress 
 
 At Haven and Leone : And woeful plight 
 
 These clans-folk got into : And of their flight 
 
 To'rd Piernee Castle where they might stand 
 
 And fight that exultant vile robber band. 
 
 Which yells, when a victim it does espy, — 
 
 'The Heretic must recant or must Die !' 
 
 LVI. 
 
 Three moons from the time Baal Cove they forsook ; 
 
 There had come from the strand, highland and nook 
 
 To Piernee Castle — those who might flee — 
 
 The chieftain, the brave, and the refugee, 
 
 Until that clan's lands they did encumber ; 
 
 For, by the count, they did fully number 
 
 Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Three score : 
 
 — While each passing day brought many score more. — 
 
 The chiefs of most Rochew-Albimon clans, 
 
 With Great Chief Sol, had matured well their plans 
 
 To hold a Conference; and so confer 
 
 That they, in future actions, might not err. 
 
 After three days in counsel with his chiefs ; 
 
 The Great Chief ; — speaking, from well prepared briefs, 
 
 To his chieftains: — Ordered and commanded 
 
86 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 That all the armed forces be disbanded ! 
 
 And for good reasons and explanations, 
 
 According to his plain obligations, 
 
 Said: 'For near nine hundred years we have been 
 
 Contending against evil, wrong and sin. 
 
 That would engender discord, hate and strife 
 
 By making mamo-vero a slave wife. 
 
 Our tribal fall : Alas ! must be complete 
 
 If all such women must these foemen meet 
 
 And, by means of enforced vile pollution, 
 
 Have turned their virtue to prostitution ! 
 
 Our 'fight for Truth and Right' seems near the end ; 
 
 We cannot be aggressive or defend. 
 
 Alas ! Alas ! That a combine for wrong 
 
 Could, in such conflicts, prove to be more strong. 
 
 Alas ! That Evil may, by any plan, 
 
 Destroy the Virtues of a tribe or clan. 
 
 To make the distress and subjugation 
 
 More bearable, for this distressed Nation, 
 
 And lessen much the burdens of defeat : 
 
 This tribal chief has ordered a retreat 
 
 Northeastward ! By this means we may preserve 
 
 The Reco ; and, in many ways conserve 
 
 The precepts of the great Albimon School : 
 
 If not by Practice ; by the Written Rule. 
 
 While we have life we may contend and hope ; 
 
 — Without : We cannot with the f oeman cope ! 
 
 Recant ! We must ; when that will save our lives ; 
 
 Or, by recanting, our Cause better thrives. 
 
 Our hoarded wealth of gold and jewels, rare; 
 
 And silver ; and such wealth, as we can't wear, 
 
 Amounting to nine thousand litres — strong; — 
 
 Which we can neither use nor take along ; 
 
 Has, in a cove, been safely put to rest 
 
 On Hortensus mountain's jagged and torn crest ; 
 
 With rock five fathoms deep to hold it there 
 
 Until we may release, and claim, and share. 
 
 The Reco, now well bound in skins of sheep, 
 
 To go o'er steppe, river, or mountain steep. 
 
 Has been entrusted to the Norva clan — 
 
 Through their new chieftain, Oder Oberstran. 
 
 My blessings are bestowed on all this tribe 
 
EPOCH LVI. 87 
 
 Who, to Albimon's laws and rules subscribe: 
 
 And, by my right, — as chief of tribe and clan, — 
 
 Freedom I give to woman, child, and man ! 
 
 We will form into clans and into bands 
 
 To seek our havens by mounts, streams and strands : 
 
 And, though we dwell in a more frigid clime. 
 
 We must endure the hard ways of the time. 
 
 Let us be faithful, and with courage true, 
 
 Go o'er this sphere to will, and dare, and do.' 
 
 LVII. 
 
 From the time of that dreadful dispersement 
 
 There had been near a total immersement 
 
 Of the Rochew-Albimon rules and laws ; — 
 
 — A near extinction of their Righteous cause — 
 
 For more than two thousand eight hundred years ; 
 
 Oft marked by mamo-vero woes and fears. 
 
 Meanwhile gods did things North, South, East and West 
 
 And Nature moved, they claimed, at their behest. 
 
 'Tis said : that epoch closed with a god's act, 
 
 So great, that it was called a most strange fact. 
 
 This Reco says : 'It is claimed, that, for sin 
 
 The Ashtars had engendered and dwelt in ; — 
 
 The Almighty god, with sore displeasure : 
 
 — In doing his duty with full measure — 
 
 Caused waters, in the way Euphrates goes 
 
 Between sea strands, and beyond where she flows. 
 
 To flood the land, which rose, and sank, and swayed ; — 
 
 While Jove sent out from heaven, ready made. 
 
 Great thunder-bolts with rain, by torrent ways, 
 
 That flashed, and roared, and poured, for forty days ! 
 
 And so destroyed these degraded Ashtars 
 
 That they were nevermore the world's masters.' 
 
 Another instance when that god displayed — 
 
 As has been claimed — his dislike and his aid 
 
 Among tribe-folk was when; by robbers right; 
 
 Moses, the wandering Israelite ; 
 
 For Polygamy and usurpation 
 
 Of human rights and social relation 
 
 Called ^lonogamistic : By right of might 
 
 Destroyed the defenseless ^Midianite. 
 
88 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 LVIII. 
 
 The gods Regular, Special, and, Unknown, 
 
 And, god Almighty, seated on a throne; 
 
 Continued ruling the tribal nations, — 
 
 With their superstitious obligations, — 
 
 For more than another two thousand years ; 
 
 — While the Inquisitors, Censors and racks 
 
 Made Heretics recant by their attacks. 
 
 The Christians then, — with a most strong ally, — 
 
 The Progressors ; who for the Truth would die ; 
 
 Went forth to meet — with a religious hate — 
 
 The Mohamedans ; on that R-A. date ; — 
 
 Year, Eleven Thousand and Forty-Three, 
 
 And, with Martel leading, planned so to be 
 
 At Vienne ! in that fair land of the Franks ; 
 
 On horse and foot ; — by field or river banks ; — 
 
 In a great conflict lasting seven days, 
 
 Where battle-axes did so block the ways 
 
 Of these promoters of Polygamy, 
 
 And, what Christians called 'Moslem Infamy,' — 
 
 That Abd-er-rah-man ; who led, fought and bled 
 
 Was numbered with the forty thousand dead. 
 
 And, what was then left of the invaders ; 
 
 — Called Saracens and 'evil persuaders' — 
 
 All these who would and could Southward did flee 
 
 To, and well across, the high walled Piernee. 
 
 LIX. 
 
 Within two hundred years from that great day 
 When Martel, after battle, did survey 
 The Saracens, with their convert allies 
 Leave Vienne for the mountains' clearer skies : 
 Charlemagne, who led for a god Supreme, 
 With the sacred Labarum at each scene; 
 Finished the Christian conquest North and South 
 And East and West : From beyond Oder's mouth 
 To Rome ; and from Northwest of the Black sea 
 To Biscay bay, o'er mountain, vale and lea. 
 And, when these ten score years had fully past ; 
 — Destructive years to Pagan creeds and caste; — 
 And Christian Protective Monogamy, 
 
EPOCH LIX. 89 
 
 Continued warring gainst Polygamy ; — 
 
 Learning, Science, Art and Democracy, 
 
 Abridged by Christian Aristocracy, 
 
 Were to all yielding Pagans extended 
 
 And thus ; many Pagan lives were blended 
 
 With Christian Faith and Hope — by Persuasion; 
 
 While others, called Pagans, chose Evasion, — 
 
 Rather than give up their religious creed. 
 
 And so, to preserve their Faith and be freed 
 
 From Christian domination : Sons of Thor ! 
 
 — His bravest and most valiant men of war — ■ 
 
 When they could not withstand the prolonged fight 
 
 The Christians waged, with cruelty and might, 
 
 Retreated Northeastward. Those first to go 
 
 Were of Wotan clans from the river Po. 
 
 They vainly tried to hold the Fatherlands, 
 
 But were forced Northward to'rd the Viking strands 
 
 Of the North seas; where, kindred they did meet; 
 
 And many went for Conquest : oft by fleet, 
 
 To great Britain and Hibernian isles 
 
 Where Christian might, — by laws, customs and wiles, — 
 
 Was, to the Sons of Thor, less offensive ; 
 
 For there, they then fought on the defensive. 
 
 LX. 
 
 Great Sons of Thor : Vikings of strands and isles 
 
 In Northern seas ; would go for many miles 
 
 In search of plunder : And though of one creed ; — 
 
 According to habit, faith, hope and deed ; — 
 
 The Wotans, of that warmer, Southern clime. 
 
 Though more, by number, did not count in 'crime' 
 
 With the bold Odins : their northern ally ; 
 
 Or those daring Northmen whose best home tie 
 
 Was on Western isles, or, on their great strands 
 
 Where Woden was the god-chief of the clans. 
 
 LXI. 
 
 More than five thousand years had come and gone 
 Since the departing Rochew-Albimon 
 Had said a Farewell ! to the Piernee clan, 
 And, for their safety; woman, child and man 
 Had gone Northeastward : Seeking such retreat 
 
50 THE ROCHEW'ALBIMON. 
 
 As to their chosen chieftain seemed most meet. 
 
 Chief Oberstran, who led the largest band ; 
 
 Though a sea-rover, showed great skill on land 
 
 While moving weaker with stronger forces 
 
 O'er strange routes and circuitous courses ; 
 
 — Avoiding Ashtar clans and hostile bands 
 
 And trusting only Heretical' clans — 
 
 Till, after three years' hardships had been spent ; 
 
 In exchange for a ledge, cave, hut, or tent, 
 
 The Norva castle's grand and spacious halls 
 
 Made their great welcome safe within its walls, — 
 
 With a safe lodgment for the Reco plates 
 
 Behind great marble doors and strong bronze gates. 
 
 In that far Northland for three thousand years 
 
 The Norvas progressed : And although some fears 
 
 Of Ashtar domination, now and then, 
 
 Made keen the metal of these valiant men ; 
 
 They never yielded in a compromise, 
 
 For tribute paying or levy for tithes, 
 
 Until another thousand years had past: 
 
 When, quite discouraged and downcast 
 
 By loss in war, afield, and war, by fleet, 
 
 Where, though they fought well, they could not compete 
 
 With the Odin hosts : Whom, to pacify ; 
 
 Proposed, that, — when each winter's snow should fly, — 
 
 They would take to the Odin's nearest port, — 
 
 With a safe convoy from an outer fort ; — 
 
 Two hundred freshly procured skins of bears : 
 
 Such only, as the far North white bear wears. 
 
 This satisfied the Odins: But the zeal 
 
 Of the Christians, when their cause had its weal, 
 
 Grew with their strength. And, to obey their will ; 
 
 Yet, retain some freedom; they had to kill. 
 
 At Autumn time, — each and every year, — 
 
 Five hundred bear, and, a like number deer, 
 
 And land such kill at Bergen castle pier. 
 
 And for their Teaching ; — within Reason's range ; — 
 
 Where they claimed Maelstrom terrors are not strange ; 
 
 And further claimed, without a guilty fear. 
 
 That 'this revolving earth is a great sphere !' 
 
 They said : 'We recant !' when this cry came nigh : — 
 
 'These Norva Pagans must recant or die!' 
 
EPOCH LXII. 91 
 
 LXII. 
 
 From that memorable day and hour 
 
 When Christians were centraUzing power, 
 
 In their great conquests, for Christ and glory, 
 
 — When 'Peace on Earth' came by ways most gory ; 
 
 The Heretics and the Unbelievers 
 
 — Whether chieftains, scouts, bowmen or cleavers — 
 
 Found themselves in a most sorrowful plight 
 
 When they could not further retreat or fight. 
 
 These were the conditions at Northern strands 
 
 When that bold Viking, RoUo, took command 
 
 Of the great Pagan Northmen who were then 
 
 Regarded the most mighty of all men. 
 
 It took him twenty weeks to organize 
 
 The Odins, Wotans, Wodens and allies; — 
 
 Not leaving out clan braves from Eng and Lind, 
 
 And Norva, Scota, Gothus and Van Rind. 
 
 The plan of Rollo was to go by fleet 
 
 To a port in Northern France and, there meet 
 
 A friendly and a most courageous folk, 
 
 Who hated the Carlovigian yoke. 
 
 The galleys ; when made ready for the start ; 
 
 Pointed Southward, — two hundred feet apart, — 
 
 And numbered five more than twenty-one score; 
 
 All standing off, beyond ten rods from shore. 
 
 Orders were given by a trumpet's blasts ! 
 
 Anchors were drawn : Sails bent and swayed the masts : 
 
 And, when the oars moved with a well timed stroke 
 
 This Runic Edda Saga soon awoke 
 
 The old time spirit of the Northmen bold ; — 
 
 As they, in song, their Life and Faith thus told: 
 
 GA-HA-WA. 
 
 'With Odin we sail and with Odin we row 
 And those who oppose are stung by his bow : — 
 Ga-ha-wa ! Ga-ha-wa ! Ga-ha-wa ! 
 
 'With Odin we row and with Odin we sail ; 
 His ax and his spear stop not for tough mail : — 
 Ga-ha-wa ! Ga-ha-wa ! Ga-ha-wa ! 
 
 'His Hugin and Munin are on the look-out ; 
 He sends them from Asgard daily to scout : — 
 Ga-ha-wa ! Ga-ha-wa ! Ga-ha-wa ! 
 
92 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 'To get Odin's prizes secure at the masts 
 Thor flashes his darts and aids with his blasts : — 
 Ga-ha-wa ! Ga-ha-wa ! Ga-ha-wa ! 
 
 'With Odin we hunt, fish, trap, plunder and fight ! 
 For, now and ever, it gives us delight : — 
 Ga-ha-wa ! Ga-ha-wa ! Ga-ha-wa !' 
 
 LXIII. 
 
 While Sons of Thor, by force and persuasion, 
 — After years of resistance and evasion — 
 Were yielding to the Christian ways and rules ; 
 There were established many famous Schools. 
 The Moslems at Cordova led, at start. 
 In that great School of Learning, Science, Art 
 And Philosophy : Where Chronology 
 Contended with modern Theology ; 
 And, where Dialectics, to prove a point, 
 Might put the Declaration out of joint. 
 The Christians soon o'ertook that Moslem lead 
 With Universities of their own creed 
 And showed clearly, by logic of their might. 
 Why they should beat the Moslems in a fight : 
 And, 'why Almighty God, for His wise laws, 
 Should lead to battle for His Holy cause.' 
 At last the Christian Church and State agreed 
 That the Holy Sepulchre should be freed 
 From that Paganistic Moslem control; 
 And that Death for this ; meant Glory for soul ! 
 The Great Crusades, lasting two hundred years, 
 — Where streams of blood were shed with streams of tears- 
 Then passed in order — finishing with Eight ! 
 When, by some fault of Arms, or Church, or State, 
 The Christians failed ! Yet, in the failure gained 
 A toleration which they have maintained : 
 For, many had learned that our cults and creeds 
 Are less important than our acts and deeds. 
 And that respect, for honest opinions, 
 Is the fairer rule in all dominions. 
 
 LXIV. 
 
 When 'good' Saint Louis crying Deus Vult! 
 Neglected Kingdom for a Christian cult, 
 
EPOCH LXIV. 93 
 
 And, with the Labarum, his two edged blade 
 
 And the Knighthood, led the Seventh Crusade: 
 
 There was at Oxford, within peaceful walls, 
 
 Among the Scholars in her Science halls, 
 
 One Roger Bacon and one Bing Ludling 
 
 Who, at command of Henry III, the King, 
 
 Lectured: The first on Prisms and Rainbows: 
 
 The other on Western Strands and Ice Floes. 
 
 Bacon ! the Christian, nearing a church ban, 
 
 Who was related to the Avon clan ; 
 
 Showed how a prism and ray of sun light 
 
 Might line rainbow colors from the pure white 
 
 And how the refraction of a sun ray 
 
 Might show rainbows o'er clouds of water spray. 
 
 Ludling! a Progressionist, of those days. 
 
 Who had been Reco Scribe for the Norvas : 
 
 Told how, ten years before, that distressed clan, 
 
 Had sent to locate, on a Free State plan. 
 
 Four new staunch galleys, under the command 
 
 Of Gerard Hansen, to that western strand, 
 
 Where Viking He-ri-ulf-sen, years before, 
 
 Had discovered a most attractive shore. 
 
 He touched at Iceland to procure a chart ; 
 
 And sixty-three days, after the first start. 
 
 Found his four galleys by an iceberg floe 
 
 Where cold Atlantic fogs oft come and go, — 
 
 But, holding to the course, for six days more. 
 
 Brought him from danger and near to the shore. 
 
 By Wolf Tail points, and green islands and strand, 
 
 To a Vinland harbor ; where he did land 
 
 His armed and armored warriors: who, in sight, — 
 
 Finding naught to plunder, or chase, or fight, — 
 
 Built, of stone and wood, a fortress and camp 
 
 To safeguard from wild beasts, and cold, and damp. 
 
 And, ere another Summer had arrived, 
 
 Viking Hansen and Kris Kent had contrived ; 
 
 And buil'ded, by help of the other braves, 
 
 A stone tower, for a look-out o'er waves 
 
 And landward : which would have a beacon light, 
 
 As guide to this new haven in the night, 
 
 And serve, as pyre, for transmuting by flame ; 
 
 — A right Rochew-Albimons might well claim. — 
 
94 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 At Springtime, work on tower was delayed 
 
 By the sly Redskins, who, from ambuscade, 
 
 Would let their poisoned arrows swiftly dart 
 
 To find a workman's unprotected part. 
 
 When the Norvas had thus lost forty men 
 
 And, for redress, of Redskins got but ten : 
 
 Workmen, as well as guards, went armor clad; 
 
 And, though their losses made them very sad, 
 
 They kept their courage well till it was known 
 
 That the dreaded Redskin could hurl a stone 
 
 With directness and with force! As, one day. 
 
 While Kent led the work, the usual way : 
 
 They were fiercely assailed with cobble stones, 
 
 Which ; through strong armor nearly crushed their bones 
 
 Knocking four builders down from a high wall : 
 
 Who died of hurts from stone hits or the fall 
 
 Among that four was the builder, Kris Kent, 
 
 Who may have been on secret mission sent ; 
 
 For, when he believed that he must soon die, 
 
 He spoke to Viking Hansen, who was nigh, 
 
 And said: 'May the earth be my Transmuter! 
 
 Which, fast or slow, is a sure Computer ! 
 
 Bury me by the Christian Rule and Rite : 
 
 Clad in my armor, as befits a Knight ! 
 
 To my wife and children I leave good health 
 
 And give nine equal shares of all my wealth !' 
 
 Then Ludling told of some most woeful days 
 
 That had beset the Norvas' plans and ways : — 
 
 How Redskins had attacked fort and galleys, 
 
 And, how Norvas had opposed their sallies 
 
 Till, greatly discouraged, by loss of men 
 
 And close confinement in that Redskin pen : 
 
 — Hansen : with all men who could row or fight ; 
 
 On a most welcome dark and stormy night; 
 
 Sank his damaged galleys and pulled away, 
 
 In two sea-worthies, from harbor and bay : 
 
 And, though the wind was blowing a great gale, 
 
 He let it take them seaward with full sail : 
 
 — Keeping the tower beacon light astern 
 
 Till it went out, or, seemed no more to burn 
 
EPOCH LXV. 95 
 
 LXV. 
 
 The — so-called — 'Pagans,' of Middle Ages, — 
 
 According to these carved Reco pages, — 
 
 Were the main Opposers and Progressors ; 
 
 When ruthless superstitious Projectors 
 
 And unjust and ignorant Sustainers 
 
 Were, in Europe, the active Maintainers 
 
 Of cruel and oppressive acts and deeds 
 
 Under the laws of Christian States and Creeds. 
 
 According to this Reco, plainly wrote ; 
 
 Of Pagan Progressors, we may here note, 
 
 That — 'Heretics' was the derisive name 
 
 When, under Christian dominion, they came. 
 
 The most favored Christians of these ages ; 
 
 Lords^ Ladies, Knights, Esquires and Pages ; 
 
 Were Chevaliers, who had well descended, 
 
 Or, by wedlock, their blood came down blended, 
 
 From clans-folk of the great Albimon School, 
 
 Who would be chaste and pure by Nature's rule. 
 
 They cherished the story of Christ's pure birth 
 
 And would have Chastity, with all its worth ! 
 
 They prayed and looked for the Restoration 
 
 Of mamo-vero to her high station ; — 
 
 When Equality of Rights was the way 
 
 To Tribal Exaltation every day : 
 
 And, when male and female Prostitutors, 
 
 Were classified with vile Monsterbruters. 
 
 The Good, in the Christian Bible and Creeds, 
 
 — As had been shown, by many acts and deeds, — 
 
 Was, by the Chevaliers, well accepted ; 
 
 While, what seemed bad, was seldom rejected, — 
 
 For then; the Christian's arbitrary rule 
 
 Was greater than Science of State and School ; 
 
 And those who had seen, whether wrong or right, 
 
 A Heretic, in flames, finish his fight! 
 
 Would use their logic in this converse way : 
 
 'It may be right to fight, but. will it pay?' 
 
 The Chevaliers, while elevating man, 
 
 Included woman, with her clinging ban ! 
 
 And questioned often and reflected long; — 
 
 On why the weak bear burdens for the strong;-^ 
 
96 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 And knew quite well that Patriarchs and Saints 
 
 Were not all' free from some most harmful taints." 
 
 Here, Dun Albar, made pause, and reflected, 
 
 And then, these pent up thoughts were ejected: — 
 
 "The Laws of Moze, for the mde Ashtarites, 
 
 And Laws of Moses, for Israelites, — 
 
 Are, in many respects, clearly the same; 
 
 As if the later from the former came. 
 
 They both tell how on woman came the ban ; 
 
 A wasting curse! on scape-goat of the man. 
 
 A curse it was, and is : and so decreed ; 
 
 That Posterity from it is not freed : 
 
 Yet ; Nature might, ere long, throw off this ban 
 
 If one and all would help forward her plan." 
 
 LXVI. 
 
 Difn Albar, from Reco, then related 
 
 How faithful Progressors were elated 
 
 At the progress in elucidation ; 
 
 And, of sophistries elimination 
 
 From many Christian churches, states and schools, 
 
 By reason of their Dialectic rules. 
 
 "Byzantium and Rome to this objected:" 
 
 Said he: "And the Church of Rome was expected 
 
 To check 'the heresies' in such a way. 
 
 That, what the Church condemned could not long stay. 
 
 Accordingly the ax, gibbet and fire; 
 
 Cross, palling, rack ; or, — what it might require, — 
 
 Was used, on evidence of spies and scouts. 
 
 To blur, or turn the light of Knowledge out. 
 
 The Progressors protested against rules 
 
 That would bar Progress in Church, State or Schools ; 
 
 Contending, that, with Pure Life Rules for all ! 
 
 The Human race might rise, or, no more fall. 
 
 With Gunpowder, Compass and Printer's Ink, 
 
 Contending factions made all factions think : 
 
 And, while great achievements every day 
 
 Were expected, as due rewards, — or pay : — 
 
 Martin Luther ! a friar ; to be freed 
 
 From Priestcraft wiles, and wrongs, and graft, and greed ; 
 
 Consigned to flames the Pope's Condemnations 
 
 Of that friar's published protestations ; — 
 
EPOCH LXVI. 97 
 
 While Magellan, the daring Portuguese, 
 
 By sailing westward, when he got the breeze, 
 
 Circumnavigated ! and made it clear 
 
 That this great world, this Earth, is a great sphere. 
 
 LXVII. 
 
 When Luther and all others who would lead 
 Progressors to reforms, by a new creed, 
 Selected their tenets to please the few. 
 Or many, — as they found they had to do, — 
 And then Declared, as one of their prime laws. 
 The right to reason, from effect to cause! 
 It was then the Bible, the Church of Rome, 
 Might not interpret for a humble home: 
 For, reformers might read, and, though, perplexed; 
 Interpret, as they pleased, the most strange text. 
 For Freedom! they joined the Reformation; 
 But, when they differed, as to Creation? 
 The Trinity? Transubstantiation? 
 True Baptism? and Infant Damnation? 
 The Reformation leaders saw quite plain 
 That a strong Church should a strong Creed maintain. 
 And, to explain Scriptural Laws and Facts 
 And have them 'reduced to most pure extracts:' 
 'True men of God' were called to teach and preach 
 'The word of God,' to all whom they could reach. 
 Progressors, — claiming Equal Rights for All ! 
 Were not within this Reformation call : 
 While those who would have Equal Rights for Men ! 
 By sound of voice, as well as move of pen, 
 — Concluding that their caste should stand aloof — 
 Called it, while framing its great warp and woof. 
 Protestantism! And, on claim of Right, 
 Bade its opponents yield, dodge, run or fight ! 
 The Congregation of the Church of Rome : 
 The Catholics ! under roof, peak and dome 
 Of cathedral, monastery, convent: — 
 Rallied their forces and to battle went ; 
 Truly believing in their cult and creed 
 And that Almighty God would, their cause, lead. 
 The Catholic, and, the Protestant cause, 
 Had from one code framed their conflicting laws: 
 7 
 
98 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 For the One Great God they prosecuted 
 
 And, for that same god, they persecuted. 
 
 The Right ! The Wrong ; neither sect knew as fact ; 
 
 Nor could either hope to be quite exact. 
 
 Each claimed the God Almighty, for their guide, 
 
 And most rare Glories, if for him they died. 
 
 Thus Christian zealots forth to battle went : 
 
 Nor were the wars confined to field, or tent, 
 
 Or fort, or castle, or upon the waves; 
 
 For many Neutral and Partisan braves 
 
 Died under civil decrees and orders 
 
 Throughout countries within Christian borders. 
 
 — Then it was that Christian zealots, for Creed, — 
 
 And 'God's favor,' often made Justice bleed ! 
 
 No toleration was it theirs to give, — 
 
 Each claiming that its caste alone should live. 
 
 Then a creed's life depended on its might! 
 
 Nor would it change its course for Truth or Right. 
 
 LXVIII. 
 
 Meanwhile, the old Rochew-Albimon tribe 
 
 Had been reduced ; so that the Reco Scribe 
 
 Represented alone, the persistence 
 
 Of their tribal Official existence ; — 
 
 When Protestants, who won at the Boyne, 
 
 Got rich Estates and many bags of coin ! 
 
 — Helen Bellmont, who was, in those war times, 
 
 The Reco Scribe, while many plots and crimes 
 
 Had threatened destruction for every page 
 
 Of the Reco, — regardless of its age, — 
 
 Had moved it twice and then, again, once more, 
 
 As 'printers' supplies,' it reached Scotland's shore, 
 
 Where Robert Upton, who owned ships and land, 
 
 Gave it safe quarters, near to Dundee's strand, — 
 
 When these lines he had heard and came to know 
 
 The Reco keeper's pen had made them so. — 
 
 For, every line recalled a Runic song 
 
 His clans-folk sang, when creed laws were less strong. 
 
 R. S. M. 
 
 'R. stands for Religion and Rational, too ; — 
 — Have last qualify first ; if that pleases you. 
 S. stands well for Science and also for Sense: 
 
EPOCH LXVIII. 99 
 
 — Combining the two may perfect the sequence. 
 
 M. stands for the Merit of Body and Mind 
 
 Where Justice deals fairly : not cruel or kind. 
 
 This R. S. and M., when used by the State, 
 
 With the wisest of laws, makes a Nation great. 
 
 For Progress, the best, use this Progressor rule: 
 
 Truth, Virtue and Right shall hence guide State and School' 
 
 LXIX. 
 
 There had led, or followed, the Bellmont line ; 
 
 By Primogeniture ; A strong combine 
 
 Of learned Reco Scribes ; who traced their source 
 
 To the Norva clan-folk, who had in course 
 
 Of selection ; on Merit elected 
 
 Strom Lang, Reco Scribe : who, as expected. 
 
 Left by writ, and, by the laws of descent ; 
 
 And all his relatives' wish and consent, 
 
 As successor ; his first born ; his son Tine ! 
 
 While Tine left, as Scribe, his daughter Jophine. 
 
 Then followed three Bellmonts and one Albar 
 
 Before the explorer, Haddon Albar, 
 
 Became Reco Scribe. It was the ninth year 
 
 Of this Reco Scribe's Official career 
 
 That: while spring-time blossoms perfumed the leas 
 
 And war ships were hurried across the seas 
 
 To the Front, at Crimea ! where a snare 
 
 Had been set to trap the sly Russian bear : — 
 
 Near three score Progressors quietly sailed 
 
 From Dundee port : And, while fair winds prevailed, 
 
 They went South by sea, thence ; by channel, west, — 
 
 And, after short stays at Cherbourg and Brest ; 
 
 The prow was turned Westward for the great sail 
 
 Across the Atlantic ! Along the trail ; — 
 
 The safest, surest and most direct way 
 
 From Brest to the Grand Bank and New York Bay. 
 
 Neither New Foundland nor more tempting land, 
 
 On that western shore, had drawn on this band. 
 
 Their goal was far Westward ; where, they must go 
 
 To strike Polygamy a telling blow ! 
 
 And show Brigham Young that, in these Fair times, 
 
 Progressors will stop polygamous crimes. 
 
100 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 LXX. 
 
 There was naught of note, as good ship, La Poste, 
 
 Sailed by the Grand Bank, and on down the coast, 
 
 Leaving Nantucket far off, to the right ; 
 
 As, also, Hatteras, with its bright light. 
 
 'Twas after a calm, a tiresome rest. 
 
 They rounded the Reefs and sighted -Key West. 
 
 Then pointing Northwest, with wind from the South, 
 
 They sped o'er the Gulf to the Pilot's mouth 
 
 Of the great Mississippi : where, in tow, 
 
 — The way sea vessels in those days did go — 
 
 They went up that river, winding about, — 
 
 By green morass shores that bordered the route, — 
 
 Until New Orleans' quay was at their right ; 
 
 When, with a lighter. La Poste was made light. 
 
 Before disembarking and, while on deck. 
 
 Where they had been summoned, by word or beck ; 
 
 Scribe Albar, who had brought these Progressors 
 
 To this wonderful land for Investors, 
 
 Said : 'They boast of this country's Liberty ! 
 
 Yet, in rights there is not Equality ! 
 
 Nor is there Justice, by the merit rule, 
 
 Though, no monarchy sways Church, State or School ! 
 
 How can men enjoy their Independence 
 
 While their wives remain servile dependents? 
 
 If Freedom is good : It is good for all ! 
 
 And no white or black should the State inthrall. 
 
 — We will here abide, a few days, and rest 
 
 From our six weeks' voyage Westward, from Brest. 
 
 On Tuesday ; July fourth ; while great guns roar 
 
 And we have the Reco safely on shore: 
 
 We will rejoice, and be independents. 
 
 In planning wise and righteous amendments. 
 
 For State Constitutions ; wherein state laws 
 
 May not be marred by tyrannical flaws,' 
 
 LXXI. 
 
 Leaving New Orleans, the tenth of July, 
 On steam boat Kentucky ; which then did ply 
 A packet trade on navigable ways 
 Of the Mississippi ; They, in twelve days ; 
 
EPOCH LXXI. loi 
 
 — After much stopping and turning about — 
 Had come to the topmost point of the route 
 Up the Missouri : At Independence ! 
 Thence, these Progressors put their dependence, 
 For transportation, according to rules. 
 On covered wagons and oxen and mules. 
 While at Independence, three days and nights, 
 Buying and loading and learning his rights, — 
 Haddon Albar heard this song of the West; 
 Which, of those he had heard, he thought the best. 
 
 THE OREGON TRAIL. 
 
 (I) 
 'You see something doing in this town to-night 
 At mission, at tavern, game, dance, play or fight ! 
 You see many things wrong, but, right will prevail' 
 At this Eastern end of the Oregon Trail.' 
 
 Chonis Refrain — Last two lines of each verse. 
 
 (2) 
 
 'There! Redskins and Whiteskins will rob, scalp and slay; 
 There ! big game or small game is found, all the way ; 
 So have your gun ready for the cotton-tail 
 Or what you would kill on the Oregon Trail.' 
 
 (3) 
 'First soldiers and preachers, and men of that class; 
 Then trappers and ranchers went by the South Pass ; 
 Nor did Colonel Fremont or Brigham Young fail 
 To go from this town, by the Oregon Trail.' 
 
 (4) 
 'Then went Forty-niner's, with pick, pail and pan. 
 To discover gold by the James Marshall plan ; 
 But found ; for each heart-cheer, there was a heart-wail, 
 For those who had gone o'er the Oregon Trail' 
 
 (5) 
 'You may go by stage coach, afoot, or, horseback, 
 Or, by prairie schooners, with all of your pack ; 
 But, if you can ride with the U. S. A. mail, 
 You will make best time on the Oregon Trail.' 
 
THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 LXXII. 
 
 July Thirty-first : Before noon that day ; 
 
 The Progressors' train was far on its way 
 
 From Independence, and, in its combine; — 
 
 Of men, there were forty, and, women, nine ! 
 
 Of children, there were just six and a score ; 
 
 And of wagons, ten, and mules, thirty-four; 
 
 While the Reco, crated, a wagon load, 
 
 Was drawn by four mues without lash or goad. 
 
 The ford of the Kansas was at their rear 
 
 And the Platte of the Plains become more near, — 
 
 While they brought down with shot the grouse and quail 
 
 And made good time on the Oregon Trail'. 
 
 On August seventh, that Platte, on the plain. 
 
 Was reached by that loaded Westernbound train 
 
 Which continued West, by South, or. North side 
 
 Of that shallow stream, as they passed the tide ; 
 
 — That returning distressed emigrant flow, — 
 
 For, two would return to three who would go. 
 
 LXXIII. 
 
 August Twenty-fifth: — after a day's stay 
 At Fort Laramie ; — they were on their way ; 
 — With a great catch of brook-trout and black-bass — 
 By the rough mountain trail, to the South Pass ; — 
 Till, while at Rock Ford, — September the Third, — 
 These Progressors counseled ; and then, by word, 
 Agreed, that : Two wagons Northward should go. — 
 And three go South, by the Arrapahoe; — 
 While five would continue journeying West! 
 By the Sweet Water, for goals of their quest 
 Beyond the Rockies ; where Crows and Utahs 
 Complained that the whites were stealing their squaws. 
 
 LXXIV. 
 
 Haddon Albar, while a great Progressor, 
 Was, also, a successful investor; 
 And, while his protests hit hard the Squaw-man 
 And placed on the Mormon a lasting ban : 
 He was a great rancher, and had, when old, — 
 
EPOCH LXXIV. 103 
 
 As shown by his will, — three rich mines of gold. 
 
 He died the Eighty-ninth year of his age 
 
 And this is here carved on this Reco page : 
 
 'On June the fifth day ; near six years ago ; 
 
 Haddon Albar died ! By this you may know, — 
 
 He died while he thought on wrongs, not then past, — 
 
 For these were his words, his' query, his last;' 
 
 'O-when-shall-the-Church-School-State-and-Nation- 
 
 Place-Truth-and-Right-in-their-proper-station?' 
 
 — Or, to be plainer : Though not more exact, — 
 
 As to time of his death, by modern fact : — 
 
 He died the year of the flood at Johnstown 
 
 Where hundreds did burn and thousands did drown ; 
 
 That same year it was when, — 'Grandson and Heir.' — 
 
 Ben. Harrison, took the President's chair ; 
 
 And, also : first year the Samoa cause 
 
 Was nursed by modern piratical laws. 
 
 LXXV. 
 
 Our father's successor was Winifred ! 
 My sister ; — who had most faithfully led. 
 In ways of Progress, by fair science laws, — 
 Which, she claimed, were the best in any cause. 
 She, like her father, would take Nature's rules 
 In creating saints, knaves, stoics or fools. 
 And, like father, would trace cause to effect. 
 And, the retracting proof, never neglect. 
 She saw the betterment, in Dress Reform, 
 For hot or cold weather, sunshine or storm. 
 No great extravagance would she allow. 
 To rudeness or folly she would not bow. — 
 Face, neck and hands — to elbows — may be bare; 
 Attractive coiffures should be growing hair. — 
 Decency ! Comfort ! These led in her plan 
 For the improved dress of woman and man. 
 She had long insisted, and contended. 
 That charms of the sex should be amended. 
 So that real facial beauty, unadorned ; 
 May not, by artifice, be proudly scorned, 
 And honest form, voice, manner, size and grace 
 Be reckoned with real beauty of the face. 
 
104 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 She had seen grafting, for dishonest gain, 
 
 With all the crimes that follow such a train 
 
 Of subvertors ; who would wreck and destroy 
 
 Good Government ; and its people annoy, 
 
 By fraud and deceit and debasing ways 
 
 Tliat seem to foretell the doom of its days. 
 
 As to Succession: She, when twenty-one 
 
 Declared : 'The Norva Clan has fairly won 
 
 The right to all that comes to kin and clan 
 
 Since, at Piernee Castle, Sol did disban 
 
 The Rochew-Albimon tribe ! From that time 
 
 It has had no country in any clime ! 
 
 Yet, as by laws and precepts we have been 
 
 Lessening ignorance, want, crime and sin ; 
 
 Should we not name our people Progressors ; 
 
 Who, hence may be, by choice, our Successors?' 
 
 To this the Albar kin-folk all agreed 
 
 And proclaimed Betterment : our aim and creed. 
 
 She, as our father and ancestors, all ! 
 
 Knew the sad story of that moral fall : 
 
 And that it was not by filching they fell, — 
 
 As shown by stories, oft told, fairly well', — 
 
 But, by prostitution of Life's true course : 
 
 A dreadful pollution of its pure source. 
 
 Yes, they-near-all-fell, and. those who would rise 
 
 Become the pollutor's most tempting prize. 
 
 To fall', as they fell, was never so low, 
 
 But that the fallen might, yet, lower go. 
 
 This she well knew, and thought it her duty ; 
 
 For health, strength, content, size, form and beauty ;- 
 
 And, all that, for merit, this earth may give. 
 
 Or heaven bestow on those who best live ; — 
 
 To make and enforce beneficial laws 
 
 For men and women, and, for braves and squaws. 
 
 Her Life, Philosophy and Science rule 
 
 Show that she was of the Progressor's School. 
 
 As the truly g"reat should, she only would. 
 
 Make a people great, by making it good. 
 
 Her love and labor, under these clear skies. 
 
 Went out to help the wretched who should rise. 
 
 She was an Uplifter, in every sense. 
 
EPOCH LXXV. 105 
 
 With a zeal for Rig-ht that was most intense. 
 She would undertake too much for her strength, 
 And, ere she had gone life journey's full length ; — 
 Heart failure ! that came with a failing will ; 
 Bade her rest in Peace and her pulse be still. 
 She had won Contentment ; that precious prize, 
 Which only may come to the truly wise. 
 
 LXXVI. 
 
 By right of succession to Winifred : 
 
 — Whose precepts may lead, although she be dead, — 
 
 Dun Albar, your Host, but four years ago. 
 
 Became Reco Scribe, — as you, no doubt, know ; — 
 
 Taking the office, a death vacated, 
 
 — In the manner provided and stated. — 
 
 Winifred had been scribe, only six years, 
 
 When she departed, mid sorrow and tears, — 
 
 And left this most valued script Reco page, — 
 
 Carved in bronze, which, with care, may never age. 
 
 Besides the Record of our father's death : 
 
 And, what he had said with his failing breath. 
 
 She has here mentioned many a great stride 
 
 Made by Progressors, with Science their guide. — 
 
 'It was they,' she here says, 'Who first stated 
 
 How three great spheres and tides are related; 
 
 Made charts and maps for the explorator. 
 
 As guides between poles and the equator; 
 
 Explained the moon's phases and orbit trips 
 
 And named the time of the coming eclipse; 
 
 Showed how lowest life may overcome all ! 
 
 And how the highest may to lowest fall.' 
 
 As to Heaven, and Space, and the First Cause? 
 
 She would explain all by Natural laws. 
 
 And, what is called new, and what is called old, 
 
 — The great and the small, the heavens unfold — 
 
 May be this, or that, for, in heaven's space. 
 
 The comet, called new, may have run the race 
 
 Of comets ; asteroids ; planets and suns ; 
 
 And, again weigh grains where it had weighed tons ; 
 
 And travel, again, that inflating route 
 
 Which, goes by the Sun, before it comes out. 
 
io6 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 It may be again, a tangentiallite ! 
 
 Or, a tangentialliter with more might. 
 
 It is, what it is, from Natural laws 
 
 And shows effect from a Rational cause. 
 
 And, as to Sciences, that deal with life : 
 
 — Including human beings, with their strife, — 
 
 And Sciences, that deal more with matter: 
 
 — Led by these essentials of the latter ; — 
 
 Astronomy, Meteorology, 
 
 Electricity and Geology: — 
 
 They, all ! she says, by the strict rule of right, 
 
 0>we their existence to the prolonged fight 
 
 Of the Progressors ; 'who,' — she here declares, 
 
 'Shall lead with Science in human affairs!' 
 
 What Winifred has said, — and concluded, — 
 
 In no way shows that she was deluded ; 
 
 — While evoluting a sun, or, a tribe — 
 
 By that science, to which many subscribe, 
 
 And have, by dialectics, put in doubt 
 
 The old Creations, by the Fiat route. 
 
 While Progressors protest the Bigamist, — 
 
 As they have opposed the Polygamist, — 
 
 — For more than six thousand four hundred years — 
 
 They are yet in the fight, with increased fears, 
 
 And, though, now, few old style monsterbruters ; — 
 
 There are many vile modern polluters : — 
 
 Whoremongers ; enslavers ; and, their agents ; 
 
 Who would, quite surpass Gomorrah pageants. 
 
 And lead in the making of all the laws 
 
 That should, ever better, the Human cause. 
 
 With these vile destructive prostituters ; 
 
 And their patrons, — the vile monsterbruters, — 
 
 The criminal, drunkard and drunkard-maker. 
 
 Slave, idler and waster, and dice-shaker 
 
 May always be found in league and in mass ; 
 
 — And be identified with that bad class, — 
 
 Which, together, form a combination 
 
 That would subvert a State or a Nation. 
 
 Progressors would have all work on their plan 
 
 For the improvement of woman and man ! 
 
 Health, strength, content, size, form, beauty and grace. 
 
EPOCH LXXVI. 107 
 
 All these best thrive with a strictly pure race. 
 
 Whereas, with pollution, — much, or, a taint, — 
 
 The evil will show in sinner or saint. 
 
 While chaste people make their nature more pure 
 
 The vile, in villainy, may be more sure: 
 
 Yet, natural good, or, natural ill 
 
 May be changed by chance and science and skill. 
 
 It is to make bad, in Humankind, good ! 
 
 That Progressors feel — we can and we should — 
 
 Tell how we know, by Anthropology, 
 
 By Ethnology and Biology, 
 
 Physiology and Pathology, 
 
 Or by laws of some other ology ; 
 
 Or, by wise Genetics or Eugenics : 
 
 Tlie way to avoid the bad appendix. 
 
 Head-ache, back-ache, and other aches and pains, — 
 
 Bad teeth, sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste, and brains; 
 
 Bad cankers, on the surface, and, within ; 
 
 Bad nerve, nutrition, bone, muscle and skin; 
 
 Bad reproductive organs, and, bad sex ; 
 
 Bad nails, and, — want of hair, at the apex; — 
 
 Bad stomach, liver, lungs, kidneys and heart, — 
 
 And other ills that touch a vital part : — 
 
 Including that ill which touches them all : 
 
 — The blight dealt woman, by man, at the fall, — 
 
 Which is illustrated, by rude display, 
 
 In forest or jungle, — this date and day, — 
 
 Where a female yields to vileness and rape. 
 
 For her lord protector, the man-like ape, 
 
 And sanguineous tears from the wounds flow 
 
 With no relief for her distress and woe. 
 
 Yes : 'we can and we should' improve the race : 
 
 But, does the race merit a higher place ? 
 
 To be more deserving, we would have man, 
 
 And woman, and all, overcome that ban : — 
 
 That clinging, and wasting, and blighting curse ! . 
 
 Which, though afflicting the woman the worse. 
 
 Does, by Eugenics' most natural plan 
 
 Afflict the increase — both woman and man. — 
 
 That Chastity which does never defile ; 
 
 Or, by word or action, ever beguile ; 
 
 Would have prevented the present bad state : 
 
io8 THE ROCHEW-ALBIMON. 
 
 And, yet, would save from a most dreadful fate. 
 
 To avoid that curse and blight of the race ; — 
 
 Restore it to virtue and that high place 
 
 Where women are known as equals to men, 
 
 By right and by might, and, by voice and pen ; — 
 
 Churches and Schools, and such institutions, 
 
 Must, all ! with uniform resolutions, — 
 
 For four hours each Sunday, — teach from the text 
 
 Of Scientific Chastity: while next 
 
 To it, and with it, they must also teach 
 
 Pure Government: So that we may soon reach 
 
 Pure Citizenship : — by way of the rule : — 
 
 That only scholars of this Sunday School, 
 
 — Holding Diplomas, and, with Records pure ; — 
 
 Shall, by any law, or order, procure 
 
 Pay, for Public service, in any way ! 
 
 — Pursuing this course, by year, month or day — 
 
 'Till, Humanities' friends, the Progressors, 
 
 Shall have done away with the Subvertors, 
 
 And Right and Justice will be here to stay 
 
 With the Health and Strength of Albimon's day." 
 
 Dun Albar then paused, — as though he were through,- 
 
 But, directed thus : — ^before the Adieu ! — 
 
 "Go now and journey, on Life's better road, 
 
 And merit much, by the Progressor's code! 
 
 Direct, guide or guard and act well your part 
 
 In helping improve the hand, head and heart!"