PREFACE
The work which we offer to the
public must not be confused with a collection of reveries and errors
to which their authors have tried to give credence by announcing
supernatural feats; which the credulous and the ignorant siezed with
avidity. We only quote the most respectable authorities and most
dignified in faith. The principles which we present are based on the
doctrines of the ancients and modern, who full of respect for the
Divinity, were always the friends of mankind, endeavoured to recall
them to virtue, by showing them vice in all its deformity. We have
drawn from the most pure sources, having only in view the love of
truth and the desire to enlighten those who desire to discover the
secrets of Nature and the marvels which they unfold to those who
never separate the darkness which surrounds them. It is only given to
those who are favoured by The Great Being, to raise themselves above
the terrestial sphere, and to plan a bold flight in the etheric
regions; it is for these priviledged men that we write.
To us no importance is given to the
splenetic Voices which are raised against us. The silence and the
smile of disdain will be the only answer with which We shall oppose
them, and we shall follow with firm Sustained steps the route which
indicates to us the luminous stars which fill the heavens, which
cover our heads, and which light these thousands of worlds, which
bless every day with our Sovereign Master of the Universe, which He
has created, also ourselves, and whose Will maintains this admirable
order, Which commands our admiration, our respect and our love.
THE BLACK PULLET OR THE HEN WITH THE
GOLDEN EGGS
Before beginning the subject, and to
acquaint my readers of this profound Science, which until the
present day has been the object of research of the most constant
and profound meditations, I must unbosom myself how these marvelous
secrets were communicated to me, and the manner in which the Divine
Providence allowed me to escape from the greatest dangers and, so
to speak, conducted me by the Divine Hand, to prove that by Divine
Will it is sufficient to raise unto Himself the last of Beings or
to precipate to naught those who are clothed with all power on
Earth. We all therefor come from God, God is everything, and
without God nothing can exist. Who more than I may penetrate the
truth eternal and sacred.
I formed part of the expedition to Egypt, an officer in the army of
the genius. I took part in the successes and reverses of this army,
which victorious or obliged to cede to force from the eventualities
and circumstances, always covered itself with glory.
As there is no point in relating here any detail which deals with
this memorable campaign, I will but relate one single feature, with
which I was touched, and is necessary for the development which I
must give to those whom I mentioned in my preface. I had been sent
by the General, under whose orders I found myself, to draw up the
plans of the Pyramids; he had given me an escort of some mounted
light infantry horse. I arrived with them at my destination without
experiencing any accident, also without noticing anything that
could conjecture the fate that awaited us. We had dismounted near
the Pyramids, our horses had been tethered; sitting on the sands we
appeased the hunger that tormented us. French gaiety seasoned the
food which composed our frugal meal. It was on the point of ending,
and I was occupied with my work when all of a sudden a horde of
desert Arabs fell on us. We did not have the time to place
ourselves in a position of defence. The blows of swords descended
upon us, the bullets whistled, and I received several wounds. My
unhappy companions were lying on the ground dead or expiring. Our
cruel enemies after having removed our weapons and clothes,
disappeared with our horses with the speed of lightning. I remained
for some time in a state of prostration, facing the sun. At last
recovering some of my strength, I raised myself with pain. I had
two sword cuts on the head, and one on the left arm. I looked
around me. I saw nothing but corpses, a burning sky and arid sand
in an immense desert and a frightning solitude. With but the hope
of a certain and cruel death, I resigned myself to saying goodbye
to my country to my parents and to my friends. Invoking heaven, I
crawled to the Pyramid, and the blood which ran with abundance from
my wounds reddened the sand which was soon to be my tomb.
Arriving at the foot of these worldly marvels I sat down and leaned
against this enormous mass that had seen many centuries pass by and
which would see many more pass. I thought that my existence which
was soon to end had come to naught just as the day which was
nearing its end, the sun being on the point of plunging into the
ocean.
"Brilliant star, receive my goodbyes," I said with emotion. "My
eyes will never see you again, your benificent light will never
shine on me again. Goodbye." As I said this goodbye which I thought
was eternal, the sun disappeared. The night came and covered the
world with its dark curtain.
I was absorbed with the most sad reflections when a light noise
could be heard a few paces from me. A large slab of stone detached
itself from the pyramid and fell on the sand; I turned to that
side, and by the light of a small lantern that he carried in his
hand, I perceived a venerable old man who came out of the pyramid.
A white beard covered his chest, a turban covered his head, and the
rest of his costume indicated that he was a Mohammedan. He cast his
eyes around; then advancing a few steps he halted opposite the
corpse of one of my unhappy companions of misfortune.
"Oh Heavens!" he cried in Turkish. "A man is wounded, a Frenchman
is dead." He lifted his eyes to the sky saying: "Oh Allah." He then
discovered the others which he carefully examined to see if he
could not find one who still breathed, and to assure himself, I saw
him place his hand in the region of the heart. The old man
recognised that they had all ceased to live. Uttering a painful
groan, with tears furrowing down from his eyes, he retraced his
steps to re—enter the pyramid. I felt the desire to conserve my
days. I had already made the sacrifice of my life; hope entered my
heart. Summoning all my strength, I called to him; he heard me, and
turning his lantern in my direction, he saw me. Advancing he gave
me his hand, which I seized and pressed to my ups. He saw that I
was wounded and that blood was flowing from the cuts on my
head.
Placing his lantern on the ground, he removed his girdle and
covered my brow. He then helped me to get up. I had lost a lot of
blood and was suffering from extreme weakness—I hardly had the
strength to support myself. Placing his lantern in my hand, then
taking me in his arms, he carried me near the opening in the
pyramid from which he had come and placed me gently on the sand.
Giving me an affectionate grip of the hand, he indicated that he
was re-entering the pyramid and would return promptly.
I gave thanks to Heaven for the unexpected help that had been sent
me. The old man reappeared carrying a flagon. He removed the cork
and poured a few drops of the liqueur into a drinking vessel which
he gave to me to drink. A delicious perfume diffused around me.
Hardly had this Divine Liqueur penetrated my stomach than I felt
regenerated, and I had enough strength to enter the pyramid with my
benefactor and generous conductor.
We then stopped for a few moments. He replaced the stone that had
fallen, which he adjusted with an iron bar, and we descended by an
easy slope into the interior of the pyramid. After having walked
for some time on the same path, which made several sinuous turns,
we arrived at a door which he secretly opened and closed with care.
Then having crossed an immense hall, we entered another place. A
lamp hung from the ceiling; there was a table covered with books,
several oriental divans or seats, and a bed on which to rest. The
kind old man conducted me to a seat where he made me sit down.
Placing his lantern on the table he opened a kind of cupboard from
which he took several vases.
He approached me and invited me to remove my clothes with an
attention and complaisance difficult to describe. Having examined
my wounds he applied with solemn formality several balms which came
from the vases of which I have previously spoken. Hardly had they
been applied to my arms and head than the pains were soothed. He
invited me to lie on his bed, and very soon a beneficial and
soothing sleep weighed down my eyelids.
When I awoke, I looked around and saw sitting near me the good old
man who did not wish to partake of rest while I was asleep as he
feared that I might need help. I tendered him my most grateful
thanks by the most expressive signs. In the same manner he
signified to me that I must remain quiet. He gave me a new portion
of the cordial which had already proved its happy effects.
Afterwards he looked [...]