Long ago, when King Kung of Ch’u fought with Duke Li of Chin at Yen-ling, the Ch’u army was defeated and King Kung was wounded in the eye.

Commanders were distinguished by the number of horsetails carried before them. The sultan had seven, the grand vizier five, and the pashas three, two, or one.

His eyes wide with surprise and fear, he clutched tightly the bolster — sweat- absorbing bedfellow of sleepers in the East — known as a Dutch wife. … What do you mean? Who are you? Maniam's great eyes, his black skin oiled with sweat, Maniam's hands pudgily clutching his Dutch wife.

The drums changed and the Houngenikon came dancing on to the floor, holding a vessel filled with some burning liquid from which sprang blue and yellow flames.