When I think of Bamtz, the first thing I see is that long black beard and a lot of propitiatory wrinkles at the corners of two little eyes.

There was no such beard from here to Polynesia, where a beard is a valuable property in itself.

Bamtz's beard was valuable to him in another way.

You know how impressed Orientals are by a fine beard.

Years and years ago, I remember, the grave Abdullah, the great trader of Sambir, unable to repress signs of astonishment and admiration at the first sight of that imposing beard.