This great amphitheatre was surrounded by a high wall with gates, but in the moonlight he found it difficult to discern its exact limits.
Jeekie nudged Alan and pointed to the centre of the canal or pool.

He looked and saw floating there a huge and hideous golden head, twenty times as large as life perhaps, with great prominent eyes that glared up to the sky.

Its appearance was quite unlike anything else in the world, more loathsome, more horrible, man, fish and animal, all seemed to have their part in it, human mouth and teeth, fish-like eyes and snout, bestial expression.
"Big Bonsa," whispered Jeekie.

"Just the same as when I sweet little boy .-- He live here for thousand of years." Preceded by the Mungana and followed by Jeekie and the priests, the band bringing up the rear, Alan was marched down a lane left open for him till he came to some steps leading to the dais, upon which in addition to that occupied by the Asika, stood two empty chairs.

These steps the Mungana motioned him to mount, but when Jeekie tried to follow him he turned and struck him contemptuously in the face.