They brought Lucy fresh pine-apples to eat, and were dreamily interested in the cut of her clothes and the begging accomplishments of Brenda.

And from the women she learned several things about the Somnolentians.

They all wore the same shaped tunics, only the colours differed.

The women's were green, the drawers of water wore red, the attendants of the Great Sloth wore black, and the pine-apple gatherers wore yellow.
And as Lucy sat at the door of the hut and watched the people in these four colours going lazily about among the ruins she suddenly knew what they were, and she exclaimed: 'I know what you are; you're Halma men.' Instantly every man within earshot made haste to get away, and the women whispered, 'Hush! It is death to breathe that name.' 'But why ?' Lucy asked.
'Halma was the great captain of our race,' said the woman, 'and the Great Sloth fears that if we hear his name it will rouse us and we shall break from bondage and become once more a free people.' Lucy determined that they should hear that name pretty often; but before she could speak it again the woman sighed, and remarking 'The Great Sloth sleeps,' fell asleep then and there over the pine-apple she was peeling.

A vast silence settled on the city, and next moment Lucy also slept.