I made inquiries about Mr Laputa, but could hear nothing.

There was no native minister of that name, said my cousin, who was a great authority on all native questions.

I described the man, but got no further light.

No one had seen or heard of such a being, 'unless,' said my cousin, 'he is one of those American Ethiopian rascals.' My second task was to see the Durban manager of the firm which I had undertaken to serve.

He was a certain Mr Colles, a big fat man, who welcomed me in his shirt-sleeves, with a cigar in his mouth.