the coming race-第22章

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Chapter　XXIV。


On　alighting　from　the　air…boat；　a　child　accosted　Aph…Lin　in　the　hall　with　a　request　that　he　would　be　present　at　the　funeral　obsequies　of　a　relation　who　had　recently　departed　from　that　nether　world。

Now；　I　had　never　seen　a　burial…place　or　cemetery　amongst　this　people；　and；　glad　to　seize　even　so　melancholy　an　occasion　to　defer　an　encounter　with　Zee；　I　asked　Aph…Lin　if　I　might　be　permitted　to　witness　with　him　the　interment　of　his　relation；　unless；　indeed；　it　were　regarded　as　one　of　those　sacred　ceremonies　to　which　a　stranger　to　their　race　might　not　be　admitted。

〃The　departure　of　an　An　to　a　happier　world；〃　answered　my　host；　〃when；　as　in　the　case　of　my　kinsman；　he　has　lived　so　long　in　124this　as　to　have　lost　pleasure　in　it；　is　rather　a　cheerful　though　quiet　festival　than　a　sacred　ceremony；　and　you　may　accompany　me　if　you　will。〃

Preceded　by　the　child…messenger；　we　walked　up　the　main　street　to　a　house　at　some　little　distance；　and；　entering　the　hall；　were　conducted　to　a　room　on　the　ground　floor；　where　we　found　several　persons　assembled　round　a　couch　on　which　was　laid　the　deceased。　　It　was　an　old　man；　who　had；　as　I　was　told；　lived　beyond　his　130th　year。　　To　judge　by　the　calm　smile　on　his　countenance；　he　had　passed　away　without　suffering。　　One　of　the　sons；　who　was　now　the　head　of　the　family；　and　who　seemed　in　vigorous　middle　life；　though　he　was　considerably　more　than　seventy；　stepped　forward　with　a　cheerful　face　and　told　Aph…Lin　〃that　the　day　before　he　died　his　father　had　seen　in　a　dream　his　departed　Gy；　and　was　eager　to　be　reunited　to　her；　and　restored　to　youth　beneath　the　nearer　smile　of　the　All…Good。〃

While　these　two　were　talking；　my　attention　was　drawn　to　a　dark　metallic　substance　at　the　farther　end　of　the　room。　　It　was　about　twenty　feet　in　length；　narrow　in　proportion；　and　all　closed　round；　save；　near　the　roof；　there　were　small　round　holes　through　which　might　be　seen　a　red　light。　　From　the　interior　emanated　a　rich　and　sweet　perfume；　and　while　I　was　conjecturing　what　purpose　this　machine　was　to　serve；　all　the　time…pieces　in　the　town　struck　the　hour　with　their　solemn　musical　chime；　and　as　that　sound　ceased；　music　of　a　more　joyous　character；　but　still　of　a　joy　subdued　and　tranquil；　rang　throughout　the　chamber；　and　from　the　walls　beyond；　in　a　choral　peal。　　Symphonious　with　the　melody；　those　in　the　room　lifted　their　voices　in　chant。　　The　words　of　this　hymn　were　simple。　　They　expressed　no　regret；　no　farewell；　but　rather　a　greeting　to　the　new　world　whither　the　deceased　had　preceded　the　living。　　Indeed；　in　their　language；　the　funeral　hymn　is　called　the　'Birth　Song。'　Then　the　corpse；　covered　by　a　long　cerement；　was　tenderly　lifted　up　by　six　of　the　nearest　kinfolk　and　borne　towards　the　dark　thing　I　have　described。　　I　pressed　forward　to　125see　what　happened。　　A　sliding　door　or　panel　at　one　end　was　lifted　up…　the　body　deposited　within；　on　a　shelf…　the　door　reclosed…　a　spring　a　the　side　touched…　a　sudden　'whishing；'　sighing　sound　heard　from　within；　and　lo！　at　the　other　end　of　the　machine　the　lid　fell　down；　and　a　small　handful　of　smouldering　dust　dropped　into　a　'patera'　placed　to　receive　it。　　The　son　took　up　the　'patera'　and　said　（in　what　I　understood　afterwards　was　the　usual　form　of　words）；　〃Behold　how　great　is　the　Maker！　To　this　little　dust　He　gave　form　and　life　and　soul。　　It　needs　not　this　little　dust　for　Him　to　renew　form　and　life　and　soul　to　the　beloved　one　we　shall　soon　see　again。〃

Each　present　bowed　his　head　and　pressed　his　hand　to　his　heart。　　Then　a　young　female　child　opened　a　small　door　within　the　wall；　and　I　perceived；　in　the　recess；　shelves　on　which　were　placed　many　'paterae'　like　that　which　the　son　held；　save　that　they　all　had　covers。　　With　such　a　cover　a　Gy　now　approached　the　son；　and　placed　it　over　the　cup；　on　which　it　closed　with　a　spring。　　On　the　lid　were　engraven　the　name　of　the　deceased；　and　these　words：…　〃Lent　to　us〃　（here　the　date　of　birth）。　　〃Recalled　from　us〃　（here　the　date　of　death）。

The　closed　door　shut　with　a　musical　sound；　and　all　was　over。


Chapter　XXV。


〃And　this；〃　said　I；　with　my　mind　full　of　what　I　had　witnessed…　〃this；　I　presume；　is　your　usual　form　of　burial？〃

〃Our　invariable　form；〃　answered　Aph…Lin。　　〃What　is　it　amongst　your　people？〃

〃We　inter　the　body　whole　within　the　earth。〃

〃What！　　To　degrade　the　form　you　have　loved　and　honoured；　the　wife　on　whose　breast　you　have　slept；　to　the　loathsomeness　of　corruption？〃　126　〃But　if　the　soul　lives　again；　can　it　matter　whether　the　body　waste　within　the　earth　or　is　reduced　by　that　awful　mechanism；　worked；　no　doubt　by　the　agency　of　vril；　into　a　pinch　of　dust？〃

〃You　answer　well；〃　said　my　host；　〃and　there　is　no　arguing　on　a　matter　of　feeling；　but　to　me　your　custom　is　horrible　and　repulsive；　and　would　serve　to　invest　death　with　gloomy　and　hideous　associations。　　It　is　something；　too；　to　my　mind；　to　be　able　to　preserve　the　token　of　what　has　been　our　kinsman　or　friend　within　the　abode　in　which　we　live。　　We　thus　feel　more　sensibly　that　he　still　lives；　though　not　visibly　so　to　us。　　But　our　sentiments　in　this；　as　in　all　things；　are　created　by　custom。　　Custom　is　not　to　be　changed　by　a　wise　An；　any　more　than　it　is　changed　by　a　wise　Community；　without　the　greatest　deliberation；　followed　by　the　most　earnest　conviction。　　It　is　only　thus　that　change　ceases　to　be　changeability；　and　once　made　is　made　for　good。

When　we　regained　the　house；　Aph…Lin　summoned　some　of　the　children　in　his　service　and　sent　them　round　to　several　of　his　friends；　requesting　their　attendance　that　day；　during　the　Easy　Hours；　to　a　festival　in　honour　of　his　kinsman's　recall　to　the　All…Good。　　This　was　the　largest　and　gayest　assembly　I　ever　witnessed　during　my　stay　among　the　Ana；　and　was　prolonged　far　into　the　Silent　Hours。

The　banquet　was　spread　in　a　vast　chamber　reserved　especially　for　grand　occasions。　　This　differed　from　our　entertainments；　and　was　not　without　a　certain　resemblance　to　those　we　read　of　in　the　luxurious　age　of　the　Roman　empire。　　There　was　not　one　great　table　set　out；　but　numerous　small　tables；　each　appropriated　to　eight　guests。　　It　is　considered　that　beyond　that　number　conversation　languishes　and　friendship　cools。　　The　Ana　never　laugh　loud；　as　I　have　before　observed；　but　the　cheerful　ring　of　their　voices　at　the　various　tables　betokened　gaiety　of　intercourse。　　As　they　have　no　stimulant　drinks；　and　are　temperate　in　food；　though　so　choice　and　dainty；　the　banquet　itself　did　not　last　long。　　The　tables　sank　through　the　floor；　127and　then　came　musical　entertainments　for　those　who　liked　them。　　Many；　however；　wandered　away：…　some　of　the　younger　ascended　in　their　wings；　for　the　hall　was　roofless；　forming　aerial　dances；　others　strolled　through　the　various　apartments；　examining　the　curiosities　with　which　they　were　stored；　or　formed　themselves　into　groups　for　various　games；　the　favourite　of　which　is　a　complicated　kind　of　chess　played　by　eight　persons。　　I　mixed　with　the　crowd；　but　was　prevented　joining　in　the　conversation　by　the　constant　companionship　of　one　or　the　other　of　my　host's　sons；　appointed　to　keep　me　from　obtrusive　questionings。　　The　guests；　however；　noticed　me　but　slightly；　they　had　grown　accustomed　to　my　appearance；　seeing　me　so　often　in　the　streets；　and　I　had　ceased　to　excite　much　curiosity。

To　my　great　delight　Zee　avoided　me；　and　evidently　sought　to　excite　my　jealousy　by　marked　attentions　to　a　very　handsome　young　An；　who　（though；　as　is　the　modest　custom　of　the　males　when　addressed　by　females；　he　answered　with　downcast　eyes　and　blushing　cheeks；　and　was　demure　and　shy　as　young　ladies　new　to　the　world　are　in　most　civilised　countries；　except　England　and　America）　was　evidently　much　charmed　by　the　tall　Gy；　and　ready　to　falter　a　bashful　〃Yes〃　if　she　had　actually　proposed。　　Fervently　hoping　that　she　would；　and　more　and　more　averse　to　the　idea　of　reduction　to　a　cinder　after　I　had　seen　the　rapidity　with　which　a　human　body　can　be　hurried　into　a　pinch　of　dust；　I　amused　myself　by　watching　the　manners　of　the　other　young　people。　　I　had　the　satisfaction　of　observing　that　Zee　was　no　singular　assertor　of　a　female's　most　valued　rights。　　Wherever　I　turned　my　eyes；　or　lent　my　ears；　it　seemed　to　me　that　the　Gy　was　the　wooing　party；　and　the　An　the　coy　and　reluctant　one。　　The　pretty　innocent　airs　which　an　An　gave　himself　on　being　thus　courted；　the　dexterity　with　which　he　evaded　direct　answers　to　professions　of　attachment；　or　turned　into　jest　the　flattering　compliments　addressed　to　him；　would　have　done　honour　to　the　128most　accomplished　coquette。　　Both　my　male　chaperons　were　subjected　greatly　to　these　seductive　influences；　and　both　acquitted　themselves　with　wonderful　honour　to　their　tact　and　self…control。

I　said　to　the　elder　son；　who　preferred　mechanical　employments　to　the　management　of　a　great　property；　and　who　was　of　an　eminently　philosophical　temperament；…　〃I　find　it　difficult　to　conceive　how　at　your　age；　and　with　all　the　intoxicating　effects　on　the　senses；　of　music　and　lights　and　perfumes；　you　can　be　so　cold　to　that　impassioned　young　Gy　who　has　just　left　you　with　tears　in　her　eyes　at　your　cruelty。〃

The　young　An　replied　with　a　sigh；　〃Gentle　Tish；　the　greatest　misfortune　in　life　is　to　marry　one　Gy　if　you　are　in　love　with　another。〃

〃Oh！　　You　are　in　love　with　another？〃

〃Alas！　　Yes。〃

〃And　she　does　not　return　your　love？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　Sometimes　a　look；　a　tone；　makes　me　hope　so；　but　she　has　never　plainly　told　me　that　she　loves　me。〃

〃Have　you　not　whispered　in　her　own　ear　that　you　love　her？〃

〃Fie！　What　are　you　thinking　of？　　What　world　do　you　come　from？　Could　I　so　betray　the　dignity　of　my　sex？　　Could　I　be　so　un…Anly…　so　lost　to　shame；　as　to　own　love　to　a　Gy　who　has　not　first　owned　hers　to　me？〃

〃Pardon：　I　was　not　quite　aware　that　you　pushed　the　modesty　of　your　sex　so　far。　　But　does　no　An　ever　say　to　a　Gy；　'I　love　you；'　till　she　says　it　first　to　him？〃

〃I　can't　say　that　no　An　has　ever　done　so；　but　if　he　ever　does；　he　is　disgraced　in　the　eyes　of　the　Ana；　and　secretly　despised　by　the　Gy…ei。　　No　Gy；　well　brought　up；　would　listen　to　him；　she　would　consider　that　he　audaciously　infringed　on　the　rights　of　her　sex；　while　outraging　the　modesty　which　dignifies　his　own。　　It　is　very　provoking；〃　continued　the　An；　〃for　she　whom　I　love　has　certainly　courted　no　one　else；　and　I　cannot　but　think　she　likes　me。　　Sometimes　I　suspect　that　she　does　not　court　me　because　she　fears　I　would　ask　some　unreasonable　settlement　as　129to　the　surrender　of　her　rights。　　But　if　so；　she　cannot　really　love　me；　for　where　a　Gy　really　loves　she　forgoes　all　rights。〃

〃Is　this　young　Gy　present？〃

〃Oh　yes。　　She　sits　yonder　talking　to　my　mother。〃

I　looked　in　the　direction　to　which　my　eyes　were　thus　guided；　and　saw　a　Gy　dressed　in　robes　of　bright　red；　which　among　this　people　is　a　sign　that　a　Gy　as　yet　prefers　a　single　state。　　She　wears　gray；　a　neutral　tint；　to　indicate　that　she　is　looking　about　for　a　spouse；　dark　purple　if　she　wishes　to　intimate　that　she　has　made　a　choice；　purple　and　orange　when　she　is　betrothed　or　married；　light　blue　when　she　is　divorced　or　a　widow；　and　would　marry　again。　　Light　blue　is　of　course　seldom　seen。

Among　a　people　where　all　are　of　so　high　a　type　of　beauty；　it　is　difficult　to　single　out　one　as　peculiarly　handsome。　　My　young　friend's　choice　seemed　to　me　to　possess　the　averag