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！
the country； and could converse with comparative ease and fluency。
This child was singularly handsome； even for the beautiful race to
which he belonged； with a countenance very manly in aspect for his years；
and with a more vivacious and energetic expression than I had hitherto
seen in the serene and passionless faces of the men。 He brought me the
tablet on which I had drawn the mode of my descent； and had also
sketched the head of the horrible reptile that had scared me from my
friend's corpse。 Pointing to that part of the drawing； Taee put 31to me a
few questions respecting the size and form of the monster； and the cave or
chasm from which it had emerged。 His interest in my answers seemed so
grave as to divert him for a while from any curiosity as to myself or my
antecedents。 But to my great embarrassment； seeing how I was pledged
to my host； he was just beginning to ask me where I came from； when
Zee； fortunately entered； and； overhearing him； said； 〃Taee； give to our
guest any information he may desire； but ask none from him in return。
To question him who he is； whence he comes； or wherefore he is here；
would be a breach of the law which my father has laid down in this
house。〃
〃So be it；〃 said Taee； pressing his hand to his breast； and from that
moment； till the one in which I saw him last； this child； with whom I
became very intimate； never once put to me any of the questions thus
interdicted。
27
… Page 28…
The Coming Race
CHAPTER IX。
It was not for some time； and until； by repeated trances； if they are to
be so called； my mind became better prepared to interchange ideas with
my entertainers； and more fully to comprehend differences of manners and
customs； at first too strange to my experience to be seized by my reason；
that I was enabled to gather the following details respecting the origin and
history of the subterranean population； as portion of one great family race
called the Ana。
According to the earliest traditions； the remote progenitors of the race
had once tenanted a world above the surface of that in which their
descendants dwelt。 Myths of that world were still preserved in their
archives； and in those myths were legends of a vaulted dome in which the
lamps were lighted by no human hand。 But such legends were
considered by most commentators as allegorical fables。 According to
these traditions the earth 32itself； at the date to which the traditions ascend；
was not indeed in its infancy； but in the throes and travail of transition
from one form of development to another； and subject to many violent
revolutions of nature。 By one of such revolutions； that portion of the
upper world inhabited by the ancestors of this race had been subjected to
inundations； not rapid； but gradual and uncontrollable； in which all； save a
scanty remnant； were submerged and perished。 Whether this be a record
of our historical and sacred Deluge； or of some earlier one contended for
by geologists； I do not pretend to conjecture； though； according to the
chronology of this people as compared with that of Newton； it must have
been many thousands of years before the time of Noah。 On the other
hand； the account of these writers does not harmonise with the opinions
most in vogue among geological authorities； inasmuch as it places the
existence of a human race upon earth at dates long anterior to that
assigned to the terrestrial formation adapted to the introduction of
mammalia。 A band of the ill…fated race； thus invaded by the Flood； had；
during the march of the waters； taken refuge in caverns amidst the loftier
rocks； and； wandering through these hollows； they lost sight of the upper
world forever。 Indeed； the whole face of the earth had been changed by
28
… Page 29…
The Coming Race
this great revulsion； land had been turned into sea… sea into land。 In the
bowels of the inner earth； even now； I was informed as a positive fact；
might be discovered the remains of human habitation… habitation not in
huts and caverns； but in vast cities whose ruins attest the civilisation of
races which flourished before the age of Noah； and are not to be classified
with those genera to which philosophy ascribes the use of flint and the
ignorance of iron。
The fugitives had carried with them the knowledge of the arts they had
practised above ground… arts of culture and civilisation。 Their earliest
want must have been that of supplying below the earth the light they had
lost above it； and at no time； even in the traditional period； do the races； of
which the one I now sojourned with formed a tribe； seem to have 33been
unacquainted with the art of extracting light from gases； or manganese；
or petroleum。 They had been accustomed in their former state to
contend with the rude forces of nature； and indeed the lengthened battle
they had fought with their conqueror Ocean； which had taken centuries
in its spread； had quickened their skill in curbing waters into dikes and
channels。 To this skill they owed their preservation in their new abode。
〃For many generations；〃 said my host； with a sort of contempt and
horror； 〃these primitive forefathers are said to have degraded their rank
and shortened their lives by eating the flesh of animals； many varieties
of which had； like themselves； escaped the Deluge； and sought shelter in
the hollows of the earth； other animals； supposed to be unknown to the
upper world； those hollows themselves produced。〃
When what we should term the historical age emerged from the
twilight of tradition； the Ana were already established in different
communities； and had attained to a degree of civilisation very analogous to
that which the more advanced nations above the earth now enjoy。 They
were familiar with most of our mechanical inventions； including the
application of steam as well as gas。 The communities were in fierce
competition with each other。 They had their rich and their poor； they had
orators and conquerors； they made war either for a domain or an idea。
Though the various states acknowledged various forms of government；
free institutions were beginning to preponderate； popular assemblies
29
… Page 30…
The Coming Race
increased in power； republics soon became general； the democracy to
which the most enlightened European politicians look forward as the
extreme goal of political advancement； and which still prevailed among
other subterranean races； whom they despised as barbarians； the loftier
family of Ana； to which belonged the tribe I was visiting； looked back to
as one of the crude and ignorant experiments which belong to the infancy
of political science。 It was the age of envy and hate； of fierce passions；
of 34constant social changes more or less violent； of strife between classes；
of war between state and state。 This phase of society lasted； however； for
some ages； and was finally brought to a close； at least among the nobler
and more intellectual populations； by the gradual discovery of the latent
powers stored in the all…permeating fluid which they denominate Vril。
According to the account I received from Zee； who； as an erudite
professor of the College of Sages； had studied such matters more
diligently than any other member of my host's family； this fluid is capable
of being r