按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
small limited expanses answering to our conservatories； filled with tiers of
flowers。 Along the sides of the room were flower…beds； interspersed with
cushions for repose。 In the centre of the floor was a cistern and a
fountain of that liquid light which I have presumed to be naphtha。 It was
luminous and of a roseate hue； it sufficed without lamps to light up the
room with a subdued radiance。 All around the fountain was carpeted
with a soft deep lichen； not green （I have never seen that colour in the
vegetation of 116this country）； but a quiet brown； on which the eye
reposes with the same sense of relief as that with which in the upper world
it reposes on green。 In the outlets upon flowers （which I have compared
to our conservatories） there were singing birds innumerable； which； while
we remained in the room； sang in those harmonies of tune to which they
107
… Page 108…
The Coming Race
are； in these parts； so wonderfully trained。 The roof was open。 The
whole scene had charms for every sense… music form the birds； fragrance
from the flowers； and varied beauty to the eye at every aspect。 About all
was a voluptuous repose。 What a place； methought； for a honeymoon； if
a Gy bride were a little less formidably armed not only with the rights of
woman； but with the powers of man！ But when one thinks of a Gy； so
learned； so tall； so stately； so much above the standard of the creature we
call woman as was Zee； no！ even if I had felt no fear of being reduced to a
cinder； it is not of her I should have dreamed in that bower so constructed
for dreams of poetic love。
The automata reappeared； serving one of those delicious liquids which
form the innocent wines of the Vril…ya。
〃Truly；〃 said I； 〃this is a charming residence； and I can scarcely
conceive why you do not settle yourself here instead of amid the gloomier
abodes of the city。〃
〃As responsible to the community for the administration of light； I am
compelled to reside chiefly in the city； and can only come hither for short
intervals。〃
〃But since I understand from you that no honours are attached to your
office； and it involves some trouble； why do you accept it？〃
〃Each of us obeys without question the command of the Tur。 He said；
'Be it requested that Aph…Lin shall be the Commissioner of Light；' so I had
no choice； but having held the office now for a long time； the cares； which
were at first unwelcome； have become； if not pleasing； at least endurable。
We are all formed by custom… even the difference of our race from the
savage is but the transmitted continuance of custom； which becomes；
117through hereditary descent； part and parcel of our nature。 You see
there are Ana who even reconcile themselves to the responsibilities of
chief magistrate； but no one would do so if his duties had not been
rendered so light； or if there were any questions as to compliance with his
requests。〃
〃Not even if you thought the requests unwise or unjust？〃
〃We do not allow ourselves to think so； and； indeed； everything goes
on as if each and all governed themselves according to immemorial
108
… Page 109…
The Coming Race
custom。〃
〃When the chief magistrate dies or retires； how do you provide for his
successor？〃
〃The An who has discharged the duties of chief magistrate for many
years is the best person to choose one by whom those duties may be
understood； and he generally names his successor。〃
〃His son； perhaps？〃
〃Seldom that； for it is not an office any one desires or seeks； and a
father naturally hesitates to constrain his son。 But if the Tur himself
decline to make a choice； for fear it might be supposed that he owed some
grudge to the person on whom his choice would settle； then there are three
of the College of Sages who draw lots among themselves which shall have
the power to elect the chief。 We consider that the judgment of one An of
ordinary capacity is better than the judgment of three or more； however
wise they may be； for among three there would probably be disputes； and
where there are disputes； passion clouds judgment。 The worst choice
made by one who has no motive in choosing wrong； is better than the best
choice made by many who have many motives for not choosing right。〃
〃You reverse in your policy the maxims adopted in my country。〃
〃Are you all； in your country； satisfied with your governors？〃
〃All！ Certainly not； the governors that most please some are sure to
be those most displeasing to others。〃
〃Then our system is better than yours。〃 118 〃For you it may be； but
according to our system a Tish could not be reduced to a cinder if a female
compelled him to marry her； and as a Tish I sigh to return to my native
world。〃
〃Take courage； my dear little guest； Zee can't compel you to marry her。
She can only entice you to do so。 Don't be enticed。 Come and look
round my domain。〃
We went forth into a close； bordered with sheds； for though the Ana
keep no stock for food； there are some animals which they rear for milking
and others for shearing。 The former have no resemblance to our cows；
nor the latter to our sheep； nor do I believe such species exist amongst
them。 They use the milk of three varieties of animal： one resembles the
109
… Page 110…
The Coming Race
antelope； but is much larger； being as tall as a camel； the other two are
smaller； and； though differing somewhat from each other； resemble no
creature I ever saw on earth。 They are very sleek and of rounded
proportions； their colour that of the dappled deer； with very mild
countenances and beautiful dark eyes。 The milk of these three creatures
differs in richness and taste。 It is usually diluted with water； and
flavoured with the juice of a peculiar and perfumed fruit； and in itself is
very nutritious and palatable。 The animal whose fleece serves them for
clothing and many other purposes； is more like the Italian she…goat than
any other creature； but is considerably larger； has no horns； and is free
from the displeasing odour of our goats。 Its fleece is not thick； but very
long and fine； it varies in colour； but is never white； more generally of a
slate…like or lavender hue。 For clothing it is usually worn dyed to suit the
taste of the wearer。 These animals were exceedingly tame； and were
treated with extraordinary care and affection by the children （chiefly
female） who tended them。
We then went through vast storehouses filled with grains and fruits。 I
may here observe that the main staple of food among these people
consists… firstly； of a kind of corn much larger 119in ear than our wheat；
and which by culture is perpetually being brought into new varieties of
flavour； and； secondly； of a fruit of about the size of a small orange； which；
when gathered； is hard and bitter。 It is stowed away for many months in
their warehouses； and then becomes succulent and tender。 Its juice；
which is of dark…red colour； enters into most of their sauces。 They have
many kinds of fruit of the nature of the olive； from which delicious oils are
extracted。 They have a plant somewhat resembling the sugar…cane； but
its juices are less sweet and of a delicate perfume。 They have no bees nor
honey…making insects； but they make much use of a sweet gum that oozes
from a coniferous plant； not unlike the araucaria。 Their soil teems also
with esculent roots and vegetables； which it is the aim of their culture to
improve and vary to the utmost。 And I never remember any meal among
this people； however it might be confined to the famil