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The Icthyophagi then in their turn questioned the king concerning the
term of life, and diet of his people, and were told that most of them
lived to be a hundred and twenty years old, while some even went beyond
that age - they ate boiled flesh, and had for their drink nothing but
milk. When the Icthyophagi showed wonder at the number of the years,
he led them to a fountain, wherein when they had washed, they found
their flesh all glossy and sleek, as if they had bathed in oil - and a
scent came from the spring like that of violets. The water was so
weak, they said, that nothing would float in it, neither wood, nor
any lighter substance, but all went to the bottom. If the account of
this fountain be true, it would be their constant use of the water from
it which makes them so long-lived. When they quitted the fountain the
king led them to a prison, where the prisoners were all of them bound
with fetters of gold. Among these Ethiopians copper is of all metals
the most scarce and valuable. After they had seen the prison, they
were likewise shown what is called "the table of the Sun."
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