ChapterVIII。
WhenIoncemoreawokeIsawbymybed—sidethechildwhohadbroughttheropeandgrappling—hookstothehouseinwhichI
hadbeenfirstreceived，andwhich，asIafterwardslearned，wastheresidenceofthechiefmagistrateofthetribe。Thechild，whosenamewasTaee（pronouncedTar—ee），wasthemagistrate’seldestson。IfoundthatduringmylastsleeportranceIhadmadestillgreateradvanceinthelanguageofthecountry，andcouldconversewithcomparativeeaseandfluency。
Thischildwassingularlyhandsome，evenforthebeautifulracetowhichhebelonged，withacountenanceverymanlyinaspectforhisyears，andwithamorevivaciousandenergeticexpressionthanIhadhithertoseeninthesereneandpassionlessfacesofthemen。HebroughtmethetabletonwhichIhaddrawnthemodeofmydescent，andhadalsosketchedtheheadofthehorriblereptilethathadscaredmefrommyfriend’scorpse。Pointingtothatpartofthedrawing，Taeeput31tomeafewquestionsrespectingthesizeandformofthemonster，andthecaveorchasmfromwhichithademerged。Hisinterestinmyanswersseemedsograveastodiverthimforawhilefromanycuriosityastomyselformyantecedents。Buttomygreatembarrassment，seeinghowIwaspledgedtomyhost，hewasjustbeginningtoaskmewhereIcamefrom，whenZee，fortunatelyentered，and，overhearinghim，said，"Taee，givetoourguestanyinformationhemaydesire，butasknonefromhiminreturn。Toquestionhimwhoheis，whencehecomes，orwhereforeheishere，wouldbeabreachofthelawwhichmyfatherhaslaiddowninthishouse。"
"Sobeit，"saidTaee，pressinghishandtohisbreast;andfromthatmoment，tilltheoneinwhichIsawhimlast，thischild，withwhomIbecameveryintimate，neveronceputtomeanyofthequestionsthusinterdicted。
ChapterIX。
Itwasnotforsometime，anduntil，byrepeatedtrances，iftheyaretobesocalled，mymindbecamebetterpreparedtointerchangeideaswithmyentertainers，andmorefullytocomprehenddifferencesofmannersandcustoms，atfirsttoostrangetomyexperiencetobeseizedbymyreason，thatIwasenabledtogatherthefollowingdetailsrespectingtheoriginandhistoryofthesubterraneanpopulation，asportionofonegreatfamilyracecalledtheAna。
Accordingtotheearliesttraditions，theremoteprogenitorsoftheracehadoncetenantedaworldabovethesurfaceofthatinwhichtheirdescendantsdwelt。Mythsofthatworldwerestillpreservedintheirarchives，andinthosemythswerelegendsofavaulteddomeinwhichthelampswerelightedbynohumanhand。Butsuchlegendswereconsideredbymostcommentatorsasallegoricalfables。Accordingtothesetraditionstheearth32itself，atthedatetowhichthetraditionsascend，wasnotindeedinitsinfancy，butinthethroesandtravailoftransitionfromoneformofdevelopmenttoanother，andsubjecttomanyviolentrevolutionsofnature。Byoneofsuchrevolutions，thatportionoftheupperworldinhabitedbytheancestorsofthisracehadbeensubjectedtoinundations，notrapid，butgradualanduncontrollable，inwhichall，saveascantyremnant，weresubmergedandperished。WhetherthisbearecordofourhistoricalandsacredDeluge，orofsomeearlieronecontendedforbygeologists，Idonotpretendtoconjecture;though，accordingtothechronologyofthispeopleascomparedwiththatofNewton，itmusthavebeenmanythousandsofyearsbeforethetimeofNoah。Ontheotherhand，theaccountofthesewritersdoesnotharmonisewiththeopinionsmostinvogueamonggeologicalauthorities，inasmuchasitplacestheexistenceofahumanraceuponearthatdateslonganteriortothatassignedtotheterrestrialformationadaptedtotheintroductionofmammalia。Abandoftheill—fatedrace，thusinvadedbytheFlood，had，duringthemarchofthewaters，takenrefugeincavernsamidsttheloftierrocks，and，wanderingthroughthesehollows，theylostsightoftheupperworldforever。Indeed，thewholefaceoftheearthhadbeenchangedbythisgreatrevulsion;landhadbeenturnedintosea—seaintoland。Inthebowelsoftheinnerearth，evennow，Iwasinformedasapositivefact，mightbediscoveredtheremainsofhumanhabitation—habitationnotinhutsandcaverns，butinvastcitieswhoseruinsattestthecivilisationofraceswhichflourishedbeforetheageofNoah，andarenottobeclassifiedwiththosegeneratowhichphilosophyascribestheuseofflintandtheignoranceofiron。
Thefugitiveshadcarriedwiththemtheknowledgeoftheartstheyhadpractisedaboveground—artsofcultureandcivilisation。Theirearliestwantmusthavebeenthatofsupplyingbelowtheearththelighttheyhadlostaboveit;andatnotime，eveninthetraditionalperiod，dotheraces，ofwhichtheoneInowsojournedwithformedatribe，seemtohave33beenunacquaintedwiththeartofextractinglightfromgases，ormanganese，orpetroleum。Theyhadbeenaccustomedintheirformerstatetocontendwiththerudeforcesofnature;andindeedthelengthenedbattletheyhadfoughtwiththeirconquerorOcean，whichhadtakencenturiesinitsspread，hadquickenedtheirskillincurbingwatersintodikesandchannels。
Tothisskilltheyowedtheirpreservationintheirnewabode。
"Formanygenerations，"saidmyhost，withasortofcontemptandhorror，"theseprimitiveforefathersaresaidtohavedegradedtheirrankandshortenedtheirlivesbyeatingthefleshofanimals，manyvarietiesofwhichhad，likethemselves，escapedtheDeluge，andsoughtshelterinthehollowsoftheearth;otheranimals，supposedtobeunknowntotheupperworld，thosehollowsthemselvesproduced。"
Whenwhatweshouldtermthehistoricalageemergedfromthetwilightoftradition，theAnawerealreadyestablishedindifferentcommunities，andhadattainedtoadegreeofcivilisationveryanalogoustothatwhichthemoreadvancednationsabovetheearthnowenjoy。Theywerefamiliarwithmostofourmechanicalinventions，includingtheapplicationofsteamaswellasgas。Thecommunitieswereinfiercecompetitionwitheachother。Theyhadtheirrichandtheirpoor;theyhadoratorsandconquerors;theymadewareitherforadomainoranidea。Thoughthevariousstatesacknowledgedvariousformsofgovernment，freeinstitutionswerebeginningtopreponderate;popularassembliesincreasedinpower;
republicssoonbecamegeneral;thedemocracytowhichthemostenlightenedEuropeanpoliticianslookforwardastheextremegoalofpoliticaladvancement，andwhichstillprevailedamongothersubterraneanraces，whomtheydespisedasbarbarians，theloftierfamilyofAna，towhichbelongedthetribeIwasvisiting，lookedbacktoasoneofthecrudeandignorantexperimentswhichbelongtotheinfancyofpoliticalscience。
Itwastheageofenvyandhate，offiercepassions，of34constantsocialchangesmoreorlessviolent，ofstrifebetweenclasses，ofwarbetweenstateandstate。Thisphaseofsocietylasted，however，forsomeages，andwasfinallybroughttoaclose，atleastamongthenoblerandmoreintellectualpopulations，bythegradualdiscoveryofthelatentpowersstoredintheall—permeatingfluidwhichtheydenominateVril。
AccordingtotheaccountIreceivedfromZee，who，asaneruditeprofessoroftheCollegeofSages，hadstudiedsuchmattersmorediligentlythananyothermemberofmyhost’sfamily，thisfluidiscapableofbeingraisedanddisciplinedintothemightiestagencyoverallformsofmatter，animateorinanimate。Itcandestroyliketheflashoflightning;yet，differentlyapplied，itcanreplenishorinvigoratelife，heal，andpreserve，andonittheychieflyrelyforthecureofdisease，orratherforenablingthephysicalorganisationtore—establishthedueequilibriumofitsnaturalpowers，andtherebytocureitself。Bythisagencytheyrendwaythroughthemostsolidsubstances，andopenvalleysforculturethroughtherocksoftheirsubterraneanwilderness。Fromittheyextractthelightwhichsuppliestheirlamps，findingitsteadier，softer，andhealthierthantheotherinflammablematerialstheyhadformerlyused。
Buttheeffectsoftheallegeddiscoveryofthemeanstodirectthemoreterribleforceofvrilwerechieflyremarkableintheirinfluenceuponsocialpolity。Astheseeffectsbecamefamiliarlyknownandskillfullyadministered，warbetweenthevril—discoverersceased，fortheybroughttheartofdestructiontosuchperfectionastoannulallsuperiorityinnumbers，discipline，ormilitaryskill。Thefirelodgedinthehollowofaroddirectedbythehandofachildcouldshatterthestrongestfortress，orcleaveitsburningwayfromthevantotherearofanembattledhost。Ifarmymetarmy，andbothhadcommandofthisagency，itcouldbebuttotheannihilationofeach。Theageofwarwasthereforegone，butwiththe35cessationofwarothereffectsbearinguponthesocialstatesoonbecameapparent。Manwassocompletelyatthemercyofman，eachwhomheencounteredbeingable，ifsowilling，toslayhimontheinstant，thatallnotionsofgovernmentbyforcegraduallyvanishedfrompoliticalsystemsandformsoflaw。Itisonlybyforcethatvastcommunities，dispersedthroughgreatdistancesofspace，canbekepttogether;butnowtherewasnolongereitherthenecessityofself—preservationortheprideofaggrandisementtomakeonestatedesiretopreponderateinpopulationoveranother。
TheVril—discoverersthus，inthecourseofafewgenerations，peacefullysplitintocommunitiesofmoderatesize。ThetribeamongstwhichIhadfallenwaslimitedto12，000families。
Eachtribeoccupiedaterritorysufficientforallitswants，andatstatedperiodsthesurpluspopulationdepartedtoseekarealmofitsown。Thereappearednonecessityforanyarbitraryselectionoftheseemigrants;therewasalwaysasufficientnumberwhovolunteeredtodepart。
Thesesubdividedstates，pettyifweregardeitherterritoryorpopulation，—allappertainedtoonevastgeneralfamily。Theyspokethesamelanguage，thoughthedialectsmightslightlydiffer。Theyintermarried;Theymaintainedthesamegenerallawsandcustoms;andsoimportantabondbetweentheseseveralcommunitieswastheknowledgeofvrilandthepracticeofitsagencies，thatthewordA—Vrilwassynonymouswithcivilisation;andVril—ya，signifying"TheCivilisedNations，"
wasthecommonnamebywhichthecommunitiesemployingtheusesofvrildistinguishedthemselvesfromsuchoftheAnaaswereyetinastateofbarbarism。
ThegovernmentofthetribeofVril—yaIamtreatingofwasapparentlyverycomplicated，reallyverysimple。Itwasbaseduponaprinciplerecognisedintheory，thoughlittlecarriedoutinpractice，aboveground—viz。，thattheobjectofallsystemsofphilosophicalthoughttendstotheattainmentofunity，ortheascentthroughallinterveninglabyrinthstothesimplicityofasinglefirstcauseorprinciple。Thusin36politics，evenrepublicanwritershaveagreedthatabenevolentautocracywouldinsurethebestadministration，iftherewereanyguaranteesforitscontinuance，oragainstitsgradualabuseofthepowersaccordedtoit。ThissingularcommunityelectedthereforeasinglesuprememagistratestyledTur;heheldhisofficenominallyforlife，buthecouldseldombeinducedtoretainitafterthefirstapproachofoldage。
Therewasindeedinthissocietynothingtoinduceanyofitsmemberstocovetthecaresofoffice。Nohonours，noinsigniaofhigherrank，wereassignedtoit。Thesuprememagistratewasnotdistinguishedfromtherestbysuperiorhabitationorrevenue。Ontheotherhand，thedutiesawardedtohimweremarvellouslylightandeasy，requiringnopreponderantdegreeofenergyorintelligence。Therebeingnoapprehensionsofwar，therewerenoarmiestomaintain;therebeingnogovernmentofforce，therewasnopolicetoappointanddirect。
WhatwecallcrimewasutterlyunknowntotheVril—ya;andtherewerenocourtsofcriminaljustice。Therareinstancesofcivildisputeswerereferredforarbitrationtofriendschosenbyeitherparty，ordecidedbytheCouncilofSages，whichwillbedescribedlater。Therewerenoprofessionallawyers;andindeedtheirlawswerebutamicableconventions，fortherewasnopowertoenforcelawsagainstanoffenderwhocarriedinhisstaffthepowertodestroyhisjudges。Therewerecustomsandregulationstocompliancewithwhich，forseveralages，thepeoplehadtacitlyhabituatedthemselves;orifinanyinstanceanindividualfeltsuchcompliancehard，hequittedthecommunityandwentelsewhere。Therewas，infact，quietlyestablishedamidthisstate，muchthesamecompactthatisfoundinourprivatefamilies，inwhichwevirtuallysaytoanyindependentgrown—upmemberofthefamilywhomwereceivetoentertain，"Stayorgo，accordingasourhabitsandregulationssuitordispleaseyou。"Butthoughtherewerenolawssuchaswecalllaws，noraceabovegroundisso37law—observing。Obediencetotheruleadoptedbythecommunityhasbecomeasmuchaninstinctasifitwereimplantedbynature。Evenineveryhouseholdtheheadofitmakesaregulationforitsguidance，whichisneverresistednorevencavilledatbythosewhobelongtothefamily。Theyhaveaproverb，thepithinessofwhichismuchlostinthisparaphrase，"Nohappinesswithoutorder，noorderwithoutauthority，noauthoritywithoutunity。"Themildnessofallgovernmentamongthem，civilordomestic，maybesignalisedbytheiridiomaticexpressionsforsuchtermsasillegalorforbidden—viz。，"Itisrequestednottodosoandso。"PovertyamongtheAnaisasunknownascrime;notthatpropertyisheldincommon，orthatallareequalsintheextentoftheirpossessionsorthesizeandluxuryoftheirhabitations：buttherebeingnodifferenceofrankorpositionbetweenthegradesofwealthorthechoiceofoccupations，eachpursueshisowninclinationswithoutcreatingenvyorvying;somelikeamodest，someamoresplendidkindoflife;eachmakeshimselfhappyinhisownway。Owingtothisabsenceofcompetition，andthelimitplacedonthepopulation，itisdifficultforafamilytofallintodistress;therearenohazardousspeculations，noemulatorsstrivingforsuperiorwealthandrank。Nodoubt，ineachsettlementalloriginallyhadthesameproportionsoflanddealtouttothem;butsome，moreadventurousthanothers，hadextendedtheirpossessionsfartherintotheborderingwilds，orhadimprovedintoricherfertilitytheproduceoftheirfields，orenteredintocommerceortrade。
Thus，necessarily，somehadgrownricherthanothers，butnonehadbecomeabsolutelypoor，orwantinganythingwhichtheirtastesdesired。Iftheydidso，itwasalwaysintheirpowertomigrate，orattheworsttoapply，withoutshameandwithcertaintyofaid，totherich，forallthemembersofthecommunityconsideredthemselvesasbrothersofoneaffectionateandunitedfamily。Moreuponthisheadwillbetreatedofincidentallyasmynarrativeproceeds。
38
Thechiefcareofthesuprememagistratewastocommunicatewithcertainactivedepartmentschargedwiththeadministrationofspecialdetails。Themostimportantandessentialofsuchdetailswasthatconnectedwiththedueprovisionoflight。Ofthisdepartmentmyhost，Aph—Lin，wasthechief。Anotherdepartment，whichmightbecalledtheforeign，communicatedwiththeneighbouringkindredstates，principallyforthepurposeofascertainingallnewinventions;andtoathirddepartmentallsuchinventionsandimprovementsinmachinerywerecommittedfortrial。ConnectedwiththisdepartmentwastheCollegeofSages—acollegeespeciallyfavouredbysuchoftheAnaaswerewidowedandchildless，andbytheyoungunmarriedfemales，amongstwhomZeewasthemostactive，and，ifwhatwecallrenownordistinctionwasathingacknowledgedbythispeople（whichIshalllatershowitisnot），amongthemorerenownedordistinguished。ItisbythefemaleProfessorsofthisCollegethatthosestudieswhicharedeemedofleastuseinpracticallife—aspurelyspeculativephilosophy，thehistoryofremoteperiods，andsuchsciencesasentomology，conchology，&c。—arethemorediligentlycultivated。Zee，whosemind，activeasAristotle’s，equallyembracedthelargestdomainsandtheminutestdetailsofthought，hadwrittentwovolumesontheparasiteinsectthatdwellsamidthehairsofatiger’s*paw，whichworkwasconsideredthebestauthorityonthatinterestingsubject。
*Theanimalherereferredtohasmanypointsofdifferencefromthetigeroftheupperworld。Itislarger，andwithabroaderpaw，andstillmorerecedingfrontal。Ithauntsthesideoflakesandpools，andfeedsprincipallyonfishes，thoughitdoesnotobjecttoanyterrestrialanimalofinferiorstrengththatcomesinitsway。Itisbecomingveryscarceeveninthewilddistricts，whereitisdevouredbygiganticreptiles。Iapprehendedthatitclearlybelongstothetigerspecies，sincetheparasiteanimalculefoundinitspaw，likethatintheAsiatictiger，isaminiatureimageofitself。
Buttheresearchesofthesagesarenotconfinedtosuchsubtleorelegantstudies。Theycomprisevariousothersmore39important，andespeciallythepropertiesofvril，totheperceptionofwhichtheirfinernervousorganisationrendersthefemaleProfessorseminentlykeen。ItisoutofthiscollegethattheTur，orchiefmagistrate，selectsCouncillors，limitedtothree，intherareinstancesinwhichnoveltyofeventorcircumstanceperplexeshisownjudgment。
Thereareafewotherdepartmentsofminorconsequence，butallarecarriedonsonoiselessly，andquietlythattheevidenceofagovernmentseemstovanishaltogether，andsocialordertobeasregularandunobtrusiveasifitwerealawofnature。
Machineryisemployedtoaninconceivableextentinalltheoperationsoflabourwithinandwithoutdoors，anditistheunceasingobjectofthedepartmentchargedwithitsadministrationtoextenditsefficiency。Thereisnoclassoflabourersorservants，butallwhoarerequiredtoassistorcontrolthemachineryarefoundinthechildren，fromthetimetheyleavethecareoftheirmotherstothemarriageableage，whichtheyplaceatsixteenfortheGy—ei（thefemales），twentyfortheAna（themales）。Thesechildrenareformedintobandsandsectionsundertheirownchiefs，eachfollowingthepursuitsinwhichheismostpleased，orforwhichhefeelshimselfmostfitted。Sometaketohandicrafts，sometoagriculture，sometohouseholdwork，andsometotheonlyservicesofdangertowhichthepopulationisexposed;forthesoleperilsthatthreatenthistribeare，first，fromthoseoccasionalconvulsionswithintheearth，toforeseeandguardagainstwhichtaskstheirutmostingenuity—irruptionsoffireandwater，thestormsofsubterraneanwindsandescapinggases。
Atthebordersofthedomain，andatallplaceswheresuchperilmightbeapprehended，vigilantinspectorsarestationedwithtelegraphiccommunicationstothehallinwhichchosensagestakeitbyturnstoholdperpetualsittings。Theseinspectorsarealwaysselectedfromtheelderboysapproachingtheageofpuberty，andontheprinciplethatatthatageobservationismoreacuteandthephysicalforcesmorealertthanatanyother。Thesecondserviceofdanger，lessgrave，40isinthedestructionofallcreatureshostiletothelife，ortheculture，oreventhecomfort，oftheAna。Ofthesethemostformidablearethevastreptiles，ofsomeofwhichantediluvianrelicsarepreservedinourmuseums，andcertaingiganticwingedcreatures，halfbird，halfreptile。These，togetherwithlesserwildanimals，correspondingtoourtigersorvenomousserpents，itislefttotheyoungerchildrentohuntanddestroy;because，accordingtotheAna，hereruthlessnessiswanted，andtheyoungerthechildthemoreruthlesslyhewilldestroy。Thereisanotherclassofanimalsinthedestructionofwhichdiscriminationistobeused，andagainstwhichchildrenofintermediateageareappointed—
animalsthatdonotthreatenthelifeofman，butravagetheproduceofhislabour，varietiesoftheelkanddeerspecies，andasmallercreaturemuchakintoourrabbit，thoughinfinitelymoredestructivetocrops，andmuchmorecunninginitsmodeofdepredation。Itisthefirstobjectoftheseappointedinfants，totamethemoreintelligentofsuchanimalsintorespectforenclosuressignalisedbyconspicuouslandmarks，asdogsaretaughttorespectalarder，oreventoguardthemaster’sproperty。Itisonlywheresuchcreaturesarefounduntamabletothisextentthattheyaredestroyed。
Lifeisnevertakenawayforfoodorforsport，andneversparedwhereuntamablyinimicaltotheAna。Concomitantlywiththesebodilyservicesandtasks，thementaleducationofthechildrengoesontillboyhoodceases。Itisthegeneralcustom，then，topassthoughacourseofinstructionattheCollegeofSages，inwhich，besidesmoregeneralstudies，thepupilreceivesspeciallessonsinsuchvocationordirectionofintellectashehimselfselects。Some，however，prefertopassthisperiodofprobationintravel，ortoemigrate，ortosettledownatonceintoruralorcommercialpursuits。Noforceisputuponindividualinclination。
41
ChapterX。
ThewordAna（pronouncedbroadly’Arna’）correspondswithourplural’men;’An（pronounced’Arn’），thesingular，with’man。’
ThewordforwomanisGy（pronouncedhard，asinGuy）;itformsitselfintoGy—eifortheplural，buttheGbecomessoftintheplurallikeJy—ei。Theyhaveaproverbtotheeffectthatthisdifferenceinpronunciationissymbolical，forthatthefemalesexissoftintheconcrete，buthardtodealwithintheindividual。TheGy—eiareinthefullestenjoymentofalltherightsofequalitywithmales，forwhichcertainphilosophersabovegroundcontend。
Inchildhoodtheyperformtheofficesofworkandlabourimpartiallywiththeboys，and，indeed，intheearlierageappropriatedtothedestructionofanimalsirreclaimablyhostile，thegirlsarefrequentlypreferred，asbeingbyconstitutionmoreruthlessundertheinfluenceoffearorhate。
Intheintervalbetweeninfancyandthemarriageableagefamiliarintercoursebetweenthesexesissuspended。Atthemarriageableageitisrenewed，neverwithworseconsequencesthanthosewhichattenduponmarriage。Allartsandvocationsallottedtotheonesexareopentotheother，andtheGy—eiarrogatetothemselvesasuperiorityinallthoseabstruseandmysticalbranchesofreasoning，forwhichtheysaytheAnaareunfittedbyadullersobrietyofunderstanding，ortheroutineoftheirmatter—of—factoccupations，justasyoungladiesinourownworldconstitutethemselvesauthoritiesinthesubtlestpointsoftheologicaldoctrine，forwhichfewmen，activelyengagedinworldlybusinesshavesufficientlearningorrefinementofintellect。Whetherowingtoearlytrainingingymnasticexercises，ortotheirconstitutionalorganisation，theGy—eiareusuallysuperiortotheAnainphysicalstrength（animportantelementintheconsiderationandmaintenanceoffemalerights）。Theyattaintoloftierstature，andamidtheir42rounderproportionsareimbeddedsinewsandmusclesashardyasthoseoftheothersex。Indeedtheyassertthat，accordingtotheoriginallawsofnature，femaleswereintendedtobelargerthanmales，andmaintainthisdogmabyreferencetotheearliestformationsoflifeininsects，andinthemostancientfamilyofthevertebrata—viz。，fishes—inbothofwhichthefemalesaregenerallylargeenoughtomakeamealoftheirconsortsiftheysodesire。Aboveall，theGy—eihaveareadierandmoreconcentredpoweroverthatmysteriousfluidoragencywhichcontainstheelementofdestruction，withalargerportionofthatsagacitywhichcomprehendsdissimulation。Thustheycannotonlydefendthemselvesagainstallaggressionsfromthemales，butcould，atanymomentwhenheleastexpectedhisdanger，terminatetheexistenceofanoffendingspouse。TothecreditoftheGy—einoinstanceoftheirabuseofthisawfulsuperiorityintheartofdestructionisonrecordforseveralages。ThelastthatoccurredinthecommunityIspeakofappears（accordingtotheirchronology）tohavebeenabouttwothousandyearsago。AGy，then，inafitofjealousy，slewherhusband;andthisabominableactinspiredsuchterroramongthemalesthattheyemigratedinabodyandleftalltheGy—eitothemselves。ThehistoryrunsthatthewidowedGy—ei，thusreducedtodespair，felluponthemurderesswheninhersleep（andthereforeunarmed），andkilledher，andthenenteredintoasolemnobligationamongstthemselvestoabrogateforevertheexerciseoftheirextremeconjugalpowers，andtoinculcatethesameobligationforeverandeverontheirfemalechildren。Bythisconciliatoryprocess，adeputationdespatchedtothefugitiveconsortssucceededinpersuadingmanytoreturn，butthosewhodidreturnweremostlytheelderones。Theyounger，eitherfromtoocravenadoubtoftheirconsorts，ortoohighanestimateoftheirownmerits，rejectedallovertures，and，remaininginothercommunities，werecaughtuptherebyothermates，withwhomperhapstheywerenobetteroff。Buttheloss43ofsolargeaportionofthemaleyouthoperatedasasalutarywarningontheGy—ei，andconfirmedtheminthepiousresolutiontowhichtheypledgedthemselves。Indeeditisnowpopularlyconsideredthat，bylonghereditarydisuse，theGy—eihavelostboththeaggressiveanddefensivesuperiorityovertheAnawhichtheyoncepossessed，justasintheinferioranimalsabovetheearthmanypeculiaritiesintheiroriginalformation，intendedbynaturefortheirprotection，graduallyfadeorbecomeinoperativewhennotneededunderalteredcircumstances。I
shouldbesorry，however，foranyAnwhoinducedaGytomaketheexperimentwhetherheorshewerethestronger。
>FromtheincidentIhavenarrated，theAnadatecertainalterationsinthemarriagecustoms，tending，perhaps，somewhattotheadvantageofthemale。Theynowbindthemselvesinwedlockonlyforthreeyears;attheendofeachthirdyeareithermaleorfemalecandivorcetheotherandisfreetomarryagain。AttheendoftenyearstheAnhastheprivilegeoftakingasecondwife，allowingthefirsttoretireifshesoplease。Theseregulationsareforthemostpartadeadletter;
divorcesandpolygamyareextremelyrare，andthemarriagestatenowseemssingularlyhappyandsereneamongthisastonishingpeople;—theGy—ei，notwithstandingtheirboastfulsuperiorityinphysicalstrengthandintellectualabilities，beingmuchcurbedintogentlemannersbythedreadofseparationorofasecondwife，andtheAnabeingverymuchthecreaturesofcustom，andnot，exceptundergreataggravation，likelytoexchangeforhazardousnoveltiesfacesandmannerstowhichtheyarereconciledbyhabit。ButthereisoneprivilegetheGy—eicarefullyretain，andthedesireforwhichperhapsformsthesecretmotiveofmostladyassertersofwomanrightsaboveground。Theyclaimtheprivilege，hereusurpedbymen，ofproclaimingtheirloveandurgingtheirsuit;inotherwords，ofbeingthewooingpartyratherthanthewooed。Sucha44phenomenonasanoldmaiddoesnotexistamongtheGy—ei。
IndeeditisveryseldomthataGydoesnotsecureanyAnuponwhomshesetsherheart，ifhisaffectionsbenotstronglyengagedelsewhere。Howevercoy，reluctant，andprudish，themaleshecourtsmayproveatfirst，yetherperseverance，herardour，herpersuasivepowers，hercommandoverthemysticagenciesofvril，areprettysuretorundownhisneckintowhatwecall"thefatalnoose。"Theirargumentforthereversalofthatrelationshipofthesexeswhichtheblindtyrannyofmanhasestablishedonthesurfaceoftheearth，appearscogent，andisadvancedwithafranknesswhichmightwellbecommendedtoimpartialconsideration。Theysay，thatofthetwothefemaleisbynatureofamorelovingdispositionthanthemale—thatloveoccupiesalargerspaceinherthoughts，andismoreessentialtoherhappiness，andthatthereforesheoughttobethewooingparty;thatotherwisethemaleisashyanddubitantcreature—thathehasoftenaselfishpredilectionforthesinglestate—thatheoftenpretendstomisunderstandtenderglancesanddelicatehints—that，inshort，hemustberesolutelypursuedandcaptured。Theyadd，moreover，thatunlesstheGycansecuretheAnofherchoice，andonewhomshewouldnotselectoutofthewholeworldbecomeshermate，sheisnotonlylesshappythansheotherwisewouldbe，butsheisnotsogoodabeing，thatherqualitiesofheartarenotsufficientlydeveloped;whereastheAnisacreaturethatlesslastinglyconcentrateshisaffectionsononeobject;thatifhecannotgettheGywhomheprefersheeasilyreconcileshimselftoanotherGy;and，finally，thatattheworst，ifheislovedandtakencareof，itislessnecessarytothewelfareofhisexistencethatheshouldloveaswellasbeloved;hegrowscontentedwithhiscreaturecomforts，andthemanyoccupationsofthoughtwhichhecreatesforhimself。
Whatevermaybesaidastothisreasoning，thesystemworkswellforthemale;forbeingthussurethatheistrulyandardentlyloved，andthatthemorecoyandreluctantheshows45himself，themoredeterminationtosecurehimincreases，hegenerallycontrivestomakehisconsentdependentonsuchconditionsashethinksthebestcalculatedtoinsure，ifnotablissful，atleastapeacefullife。EachindividualAnhashisownhobbies，hisownways，hisownpredilections，and，whatevertheymaybe，hedemandsapromiseoffullandunrestrainedconcessiontothem。This，inthepursuitofherobject，theGyreadilypromises;andasthecharacteristicofthisextraordinarypeopleisanimplicitvenerationfortruth，andherwordoncegivenisneverbrokenevenbythegiddiestGy，theconditionsstipulatedforarereligiouslyobserved。Infact，notwithstandingalltheirabstractrightsandpowers，theGy—eiarethemostamiable，conciliatory，andsubmissivewivesIhaveeverseeneveninthehappiesthouseholdsaboveground。
Itisanaphorismamongthem，that"whereaGylovesitisherpleasuretoobey。"ItwillbeobservedthatintherelationshipofthesexesIhavespokenonlyofmarriage，forsuchisthemoralperfectiontowhichthiscommunityhasattained，thatanyillicitconnectionisaslittlepossibleamongstthemasitwouldbetoacoupleoflinnetsduringthetimetheyagreetoliveinpairs。
ChapterXI。
Nothinghadmoreperplexedmeinseekingtoreconcilemysensetotheexistenceofregionsextendingbelowthesurfaceoftheearth，andhabitablebybeings，ifdissimilarfrom，still，inallmaterialpointsoforganism，akintothoseintheupperworld，thanthecontradictionthuspresentedtothedoctrineinwhich，Ibelieve，mostgeologistsandphilosophersconcur—
viz。，thatthoughwithusthesunisthegreatsourceofheat，yetthedeeperwegobeneaththecrustoftheearth，thegreateristheincreasingheat，being，itissaid，foundinthe46ratioofadegreeforeveryfoot，commencingfromfiftyfeetbelowthesurface。ButthoughthedomainsofthetribeIspeakofwere，onthehigherground，socomparativelyneartothesurface，thatIcouldaccountforatemperature，therein，suitabletoorganiclife，yeteventheravinesandvalleysofthatrealmweremuchlesshotthanphilosopherswoulddeempossibleatsuchadepth—certainlynotwarmerthanthesouthofFrance，oratleastofItaly。AndaccordingtoalltheaccountsIreceived，vasttractsimmeasurablydeeperbeneaththesurface，andinwhichonemighthavethoughtonlysalamanderscouldexist，wereinhabitedbyinnumerableracesorganisedlikeourselves，Icannotpretendinanywaytoaccountforafactwhichissoatvariancewiththerecognisedlawsofscience，norcouldZeemuchhelpmetowardsasolutionofit。Shedidbutconjecturethatsufficientallowancehadnotbeenmadebyourphilosophersfortheextremeporousnessoftheinteriorearth—
thevastnessofitscavitiesandirregularities，whichservedtocreatefreecurrentsofairandfrequentwinds—andforthevariousmodesinwhichheatisevaporatedandthrownoff。Sheallowed，however，thattherewasadepthatwhichtheheatwasdeemedtobeintolerabletosuchorganisedlifeaswasknowntotheexperienceoftheVril—ya，thoughtheirphilosophersbelievedthateveninsuchplaceslifeofsomekind，lifesentient，lifeintellectual，wouldbefoundabundantandthriving，couldthephilosopherspenetratetoit。"WherevertheAll—Goodbuilds，"saidshe，"there，besure，Heplacesinhabitants。Helovesnotemptydwellings。"Sheadded，however，thatmanychangesintemperatureandclimatehadbeeneffectedbytheskilloftheVril—ya，andthattheagencyofvrilhadbeensuccessfullyemployedinsuchchanges。Shedescribedasubtleandlife—givingmediumcalledLai，whichI
suspecttobeidenticalwiththeetherealoxygenofDr。Lewins，whereinworkallthecorrelativeforcesunitedunderthenameofvril;andcontendedthatwhereverthismediumcouldbeexpanded，asitwere，sufficientlyforthevariousagenciesofvrilto47haveampleplay，atemperaturecongenialtothehighestformsoflifecouldbesecured。Shesaidalso，thatitwasthebeliefoftheirnaturaliststhatflowersandvegetationhadbeenproducedoriginally（whetherdevelopedfromseedsbornefromthesurfaceoftheearthintheearlierconvulsionsofnature，orimportedbythetribesthatfirstsoughtrefugeincavernoushollows）
throughtheoperationsofthelightconstantlybroughttobearonthem，andthegradualimprovementinculture。Shesaidalso，thatsincethevrillighthadsupersededallotherlight—givingbodies，thecoloursofflowerandfoliagehadbecomemorebrilliant，andvegetationhadacquiredlargergrowth。
Leavingthesematterstotheconsiderationofthosebettercompetenttodealwiththem，ImustnowdevoteafewpagestotheveryinterestingquestionsconnectedwiththelanguageoftheVril—ya。
ChapterXII。
ThelanguageoftheVril—yaispeculiarlyinteresting，becauseitseemstometoexhibitwithgreatclearnessthetracesofthethreemaintransitionsthroughwhichlanguagepassesinattainingtoperfectionofform。
Oneofthemostillustriousofrecentphilologists，MaxMuller，inarguingfortheanalogybetweenthestrataoflanguageandthestrataoftheearth，laysdownthisabsolutedogma："Nolanguagecan，byanypossibility，beinflectionalwithouthavingpassedthroughtheagglutinativeandisolatingstratum。
Nolanguagecanbeagglutinativewithoutclingingwithitsrootstotheunderlyingstratumofisolation。"—’OntheStratificationofLanguage，’p。20。
TakingthentheChineselanguageasthebestexistingtypeoftheoriginalisolatingstratum，"asthefaithfulphotographofmaninhisleading—stringstryingthemusclesofhismind，gropinghisway，andsodelightedwithhisfirstsuccessful48graspsthatherepeatsthemagainandagain，"（MaxMuller，p。
13）—wehave，inthelanguageoftheVril—ya，still"clingingwithitsrootstotheunderlyingstratum，"theevidencesoftheoriginalisolation。Itaboundsinmonosyllables，whicharethefoundationsofthelanguage。Thetransitionintotheagglutinativeformmarksanepochthatmusthavegraduallyextendedthroughages，thewrittenliteratureofwhichhasonlysurvivedinafewfragmentsofsymbolicalmythologyandcertainpithysentenceswhichhavepassedintopopularproverbs。WiththeextantliteratureoftheVril—yatheinflectionalstratumcommences。Nodoubtatthattimetheremusthaveoperatedconcurrentcauses，inthefusionofracesbysomedominantpeople，andtheriseofsomegreatliteraryphenomenabywhichtheformoflanguagebecamearrestedandfixed。Astheinflectionalstageprevailedovertheagglutinative，itissurprisingtoseehowmuchmoreboldlytheoriginalrootsofthelanguageprojectfromthesurfacethatconcealsthem。Intheoldfragmentsandproverbsoftheprecedingstagethemonosyllableswhichcomposethoserootsvanishamidstwordsofenormouslength，comprehendingwholesentencesfromwhichnoonepartcanbedisentangledfromtheotherandemployedseparately。
Butwhentheinflectionalformoflanguagebecamesofaradvancedastohaveitsscholarsandgrammarians，theyseemtohaveunitedinextirpatingallsuchpolysyntheticalorpolysyllabicmonsters，asdevouringinvadersoftheaboriginalforms。Wordsbeyondthreesyllablesbecameproscribedasbarbarousandinproportionasthelanguagegrewthussimplifieditincreasedinstrength，indignity，andinsweetness。Thoughnowverycompressedinsound，itgainsinclearnessbythatcompression。Byasingleletter，accordingtoitsposition，theycontrivetoexpressallthatwithcivilisednationsinour49upperworldittakesthewaste，sometimesofsyllables，sometimesofsentences，toexpress。Letmehereciteoneortwoinstances：An（whichIwilltranslateman），Ana（men）;theletter’s’iswiththemaletterimplyingmultitude，accordingtowhereitisplaced;Sanameansmankind;Ansa，amultitudeofmen。Theprefixofcertainlettersintheiralphabetinvariablydenotescompoundsignifications。Forinstance，Gl（whichwiththemisasingleletter，as’th’isasingleletterwiththeGreeks）atthecommencementofawordinfersanassemblageorunionofthings，sometimeskindred，sometimesdissimilar—asOon，ahouse;Gloon，atown（i。e。，anassemblageofhouses）。
Ataissorrow;Glata，apubliccalamity。Aur—anisthehealthorwellbeingofaman;Glauran，thewellbeingofthestate，thegoodofthecommunity;andawordconstantlyinthermouthsisA—glauran，whichdenotestheirpoliticalcreed—viz。，that"thefirstprincipleofacommunityisthegoodofall。"Aubisinvention;Sila，atoneinmusic。Glaubsila，asunitingtheideasofinventionandofmusicalintonation，istheclassicalwordforpoetry—abbreviated，inordinaryconversation，toGlaubs。Na，whichwiththemis，likeGl，butasingleletter，always，whenaninitial，impliessomethingantagonistictolifeorjoyorcomfort，resemblinginthistheAryanrootNak，expressiveofperishingordestruction。Naxisdarkness;Narl，death;Naria，sinorevil。Nas—anuttermostconditionofsinandevil—corruption。Inwriting，theydeemitirreverenttoexpresstheSupremeBeingbyanyspecialname。Heissymbolizedbywhatmaybetermedtheheiroglyphicofapyramid，/\。InprayertheyaddressHimbyanamewhichtheydeemtoosacredtoconfidetoastranger，andIknowitnot。Inconversationtheygenerallyuseaperiphrasticepithet，suchastheAll—Good。TheletterV，symbolicaloftheinvertedpyramid，whereitisaninitial，nearlyalwaysdenotesexcellenceofpower;asVril，ofwhichIhavesaidsomuch;Veed，animmortalspirit;Veed—ya，immortality;Koom，pronouncedliketheWelshCwm，denotes50somethingofhollowness。Koomitselfisacave;Koom—in，ahole;
Zi—koom，avalley;Koom—zi，vacancyorvoid;Bodh—koom，ignorance（literally，knowledge—void）。Koom—poshistheirnameforthegovernmentofthemany，ortheascendancyofthemostignorantorhollow。Poshisanalmostuntranslatableidiom，implying，asthereaderwillseelater，contempt。TheclosestrenderingIcangivetoitisourslangterm，"bosh;"andthisKoom—Poshmaybelooselyrendered"Hollow—Bosh。"ButwhenDemocracyorKoom—Poshdegeneratesfrompopularignoranceintothatpopularpassionorferocitywhichprecedesitsdecease，as（tociteillustrationsfromtheupperworld）duringtheFrenchReignofTerror，orforthefiftyyearsoftheRomanRepublicprecedingtheascendancyofAugustus，theirnameforthatstateofthingsisGlek—Nas。Ekisstrife—Glek，theuniversalstrife。
Nas，asIbeforesaid，iscorruptionorrot;thus，Glek—Nasmaybeconstrued，"theuniversalstrife—rot。"Theircompoundsareveryexpressive;thus，Bodhbeingknowledge，andTooaparticiplethatimpliestheactionofcautiouslyapproaching，—
Too—bodhistheirwordforPhilosophy;Pahisacontemptuousexclamationanalogoustoouridiom，"stuffandnonsense;"
Pah—bodh（literallystuffandnonsense—knowledge）istheirtermforfutileandfalsephilosophy，andappliedtoaspeciesofmetaphysicalorspeculativeratiocinationformerlyinvogue，whichconsistedinmakinginquiriesthatcouldnotbeanswered，andwerenotworthmaking;such，forinstance，as"WhydoesanAnhavefivetoestohisfeetinsteadoffourorsix？DidthefirstAn，createdbytheAll—Good，havethesamenumberoftoesashisdescendants？IntheformbywhichanAnwillberecognisedbyhisfriendsinthefuturestateofbeing，willheretainanytoesatall，and，ifso，willtheybematerialtoesorspiritualtoes？"ItaketheseillustrationsofPahbodh，notinironyorjest，butbecausetheveryinquiriesInameformedthesubjectofcontroversybythelatestcultivatorsofthat’science，’—4000yearsago。
51
InthedeclensionofnounsIwasinformedthatancientlytherewereeightcases（onemorethanintheSanskritGrammar）;buttheeffectoftimehasbeentoreducethesecases，andmultiply，insteadofthesevaryingterminations，explanatorypropositions。Atpresent，intheGrammarsubmittedtomystudy，therewerefourcasestonouns，threehavingvaryingterminations，andthefourthadifferingprefix。
SINGULAR。PLURAL。
Nom。An，Man，Nom。Ana，Men。
Dat。Ano，toMan，Dat。Anoi，toMen。
Ac。Anan，Man，Ac。Ananda，Men。
Voc。Hil—an，OMan，Voc。Hil—Ananda，OMen。
Intheelderinflectionalliteraturethedualformexisted—ithaslongbeenobsolete。
Thegenitivecasewiththemisalsoobsolete;thedativesuppliesitsplace：theysaytheHouse’to’aMan，insteadoftheHouse’of’aMan。Whenused（sometimesinpoetry），thegenitiveintheterminationisthesameasthenominative;soistheablative，theprepositionthatmarksitbeingaprefixorsuffixatoption，andgenerallydecidedbyear，accordingtothesoundofthenoun。ItwillbeobservedthattheprefixHilmarksthevocativecase。Itisalwaysretainedinaddressinganother，exceptinthemostintimatedomesticrelations;itsomissionwouldbeconsideredrude：justasinourofformsofspeechinaddressingakingitwouldhavebeendeemeddisrespectfultosay"King，"andreverentialtosay"OKing。"
Infact，astheyhavenotitlesofhonour，thevocativeadjurationsuppliestheplaceofatitle，andisgivenimpartiallytoall。TheprefixHilentersintothecompositionofwordsthatimplydistantcommunications，asHil—ya，totravel。
Intheconjugationoftheirverbs，whichismuchtoolengthyasubjecttoenteronhere，theauxiliaryverbYa，"togo，"whichplayssoconsiderablepartintheSanskrit，appearsandperformsakindredoffice，asifitwerearadicalinsomelanguagefromwhichbothhaddescended。Butanotherauxiliary52oroppositesignificationalsoaccompaniesitandsharesitslabours—viz。，Zi，tostayorrepose。ThusYaentersintothefuturetense，andZiinthepreteriteofallverbsrequiringauxiliaries。Yam，Ishallgo—Yiam，Imaygo—Yani—ya，Ishallgo（literally，Igotogo），Zam—poo—yan，Ihavegone（literally，Irestfromgone）。Ya，asatermination，impliesbyanalogy，progress，movement，efflorescence。Zi，asaterminal，denotesfixity，sometimesinagoodsense，sometimesinabad，accordingtothewordwithwhichitiscoupled。
Iva—zi，eternalgoodness;Nan—zi，eternalevil。Poo（from）
entersasaprefixtowordsthatdenoterepugnance，orthingsfromwhichweoughttobeaverse。Poo—pra，disgust;Poo—naria，falsehood，thevilestkindofevil。PooshorPoshIhavealreadyconfessedtobeuntranslatableliterally。Itisanexpressionofcontemptnotunmixedwithpity。Thisradicalseemstohaveoriginatedfrominherentsympathybetweenthelabialeffortandthesentimentthatimpelledit，Poobeinganutteranceinwhichthebreathisexplodedfromthelipswithmoreorlessvehemence。Ontheotherhand，Z，whenaninitial，iswiththemasoundinwhichthebreathissuckedinward，andthusZu，pronouncedZoo（whichintheirlanguageisoneletter），istheordinaryprefixtowordsthatsignifysomethingthatattracts，pleases，touchestheheart—asZummer，lover;
Zutze，love;Zuzulia，delight。ThisindrawnsoundofZseemsindeednaturallyappropriatetofondness。Thus，eveninourlanguage，motherssaytotheirbabies，indefianceofgrammar，"Zoodarling;"andIhaveheardalearnedprofessoratBostoncallhiswife（hehadbeenonlymarriedamonth）"Zoolittlepet。"
Icannotquitthissubject，however，withoutobservingbywhatslightchangesinthedialectsfavouredbydifferenttribesofthesamerace，theoriginalsignificationandbeautyofsoundsmaybecomeconfusedanddeformed。ZeetoldmewithmuchindignationthatZummer（lover）whichinthewaysheutteredit，seemedslowlytakendowntotheverydepthsofherheart，was，insomenotverydistantcommunitiesoftheVril—ya，53vitiatedintothehalf—hissing，half—nasal，whollydisagreeable，soundofSubber。Ithoughttomyselfitonlywantedtheintroductionof’n’before’u’torenderitintoanEnglishwordsignificantofthelastqualityanamorousGywoulddesireinherZummer。
Iwillbutmentionanotherpeculiarityinthislanguagewhichgivesequalforceandbrevitytoitsformsofexpressions。
Aiswiththem，aswithus，thefirstletterofthealphabet，andisoftenusedasaprefixwordbyitselftoconveyacomplexideaofsovereigntyorchiefdom，orpresidingprinciple。Forinstance，Ivaisgoodness;Diva，goodnessandhappinessunited;A—Divaisunerringandabsolutetruth。I
havealreadynoticedthevalueofAinA—glauran，so，invril（towhosepropertiestheytracetheirpresentstateofcivilisation），A—vril，denotes，asIhavesaid，civilisationitself。
ThephilologistwillhaveseenfromtheabovehowmuchthelanguageoftheVril—yaisakintotheAryanorIndo—Germanic;
but，likealllanguages，itcontainswordsandformsinwhichtransfersfromveryoppositesourcesofspeechhavebeentaken。
TheverytitleofTur，whichtheygivetotheirsuprememagistrate，indicatestheftfromatongueakintotheTuranian。
TheysaythemselvesthatthisisaforeignwordborrowedfromatitlewhichtheirhistoricalrecordsshowtohavebeenbornebythechiefofanationwithwhomtheancestorsoftheVril—yawere，inveryremoteperiods，onfriendlyterms，butwhichhaslongbecomeextinct，andtheysaythatwhen，afterthediscoveryofvril，theyremodelledtheirpoliticalinstitutions，theyexpresslyadoptedatitletakenfromanextinctraceandadeadlanguageforthatoftheirchiefmagistrate，inordertoavoidalltitlesforthatofficewithwhichtheyhadpreviousassociations。
Shouldlifebesparedtome，ImaycollectintosystematicformsuchknowledgeasIacquiredofthislanguageduringmysojournamongsttheVril—ya。ButwhatIhavealreadysaidwillperhapssufficetoshowtogenuinephilologicalstudentsthata54languagewhich，preservingsomanyoftherootsintheaboriginalform，andclearingfromtheimmediate，buttransitory，polysyntheticalstagesomanyrudeincumbrances，sfrompopularignoranceintothatpopularpassionorferocitywhichprecedesitsdecease，as（tociteillustrationsfromtheupperworld）duringtheFrenchReignofTerror，orforthefiftyyearsoftheRomanRepublicprecedingtheascendancyofAugustus，theirnameforthatstateofthingsisGlek—Nas。Ekisstrife—Glek，theuniversalstrife。
Nas，asIbeforesaid，iscorruptionorrot;thus，Glek—Nasmaybeconstrued，"theuniversalstrife—rot。"Theircompoundsareveryexpressive;thuatwhichtheAnahaveattainedforbidstheprogressivecultivationofliterature，especiallyinthetwomaindivisionsoffictionandhistory，—Ishallhaveoccasiontoshowlater。