A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

A Strange Village 255
young horses which were being reared as a tribute for the
king, and last of all the headman's own daughter, a young
bride only eight days wed. Her husband had gone off to
chase hares, and so he escaped being taken with the other
villagers. The houses were underground structures with
an aperture like the mouth of a well by which to enter;
but they were broad and spacious below. The entrance
for the beasts of burden was dug out, but the human
occupants descended by a ladder. In these dwellings
were to be found goats and sheep and cattle, and cocks
and hens, with their various progeny. The flocks and herds
were all reared under cover upon green food. There were
stores within of wheat and barley and vegetables, and
wine made from barley in great bowls; the grains of barley
malt lay floating in the beverage up to the lip of the v-essel,
and reeds lay in them, some longer some shorter without
joints; when you were thirsty you had to take one of these
into your mouth and suck. The beverage without admixture
of water was very strong, and of a delicious flavor
to certain palates, but the taste must be acquired.
Xenophon made the headman of the village his guest
at supper, and bade him keep a good heart; so far from
robbing him of his children, they would fill his house full
of good things in
return for what they took before they
went away; only he must set them an example, and discover
some blessing or other for the army, until they found
themselves with another tribe. To this he readily assented,
and with the utmost cordiality showed them the
cellar where the wine was buried. For this night then,
having taken up their several quarters as described, they
slumbered in the midst of plenty, one and all, with the
headman under watch and ward, and his children with
him safe in sight.