De L'Ester—Friends, as the Transport is about to rise, we will embark. George, George, you are incorrigible. Gentola̤, if you lend yourself to participation in his mischievous pranks you will demoralize those staid Entoans. By your touches on his face and hands, you have so disconcerted that Official that he has quite forgotten the dignity of his position. It is amusing to see him turning this way and that, in a vain quest for the person who has taken such uncourteous liberties. Gentola̤, with all your gravity you, too, are inclined for a bit of fun.
Gentola—It is the old story: George did tempt me and I weakly yielded. That Official looked so serene and so very dignified that I felt a strong desire to startle him. His expression of dismay as he looked at his hands and rubbed his face and found no one near him, who could have touched him, was most laughable. He still looks disturbed and thoughtful. If he could hear me, I would ask his pardon.
George—Upon my word, I think he might hear you. I perceived that he is a very sensitive person, else I should not have asked you to touch him. Shall we test him, De L'Ester?
De L'Ester—Not now. The Transport is rising and we must not delay our journey. We will remain on the balcony, so that Gentola̤ and Bernard may view the country.
We still are passing in a direction north of east, and across the Province of Wya̤mo, which is more extensive than is Ondû. You perceive that the surface of the country grows a trifle more rugged, and now we are passing over the diamond bearing locality, spoken of by Inidora̤. Though unlearned in the sciences of civil and hydraulic engineering, one realizes the wonderful skill through which this vast area of irrigation and navigation is controlled, so that even during the season of floods, no disasters occur. The elevation we are crossing is a vestige of an ancient mountain range. Not seriously interfering with the System, it was because of its picturesqueness, left undisturbed. Its length is about one hundred miles and at intervals there are natural rifts through which this Waterway and canals have been carried. Later you will observe that Ento's Waterways are double; that is, there is the Waterway proper and its Feeder, which at times furnishes such supplies of water as may be needed to keep the main Waterway at a proper depth. Yes, the Feeder is for small vessels navigable, but as you will see a large portion of the System, you will better understand this matter. You perceive that the height is clothed with verdure and dotted with residences, istoira̤s and other structures. How prolific this region is, yet not so very long ago it was nearly a desert. Now its large population obtains from its rich lands not only ample sustenance for themselves, but great quantities of grains, vegetables and fruits are exported to other localities. All manner of tropical fruits are grown, and I can assure you that some varieties are very like some fruits grown in our own tropical countries. I know your fear of ridicule through making such statements. Do not concern yourself. Your astronomers and other scientists of less than half a century hence, will have obtained information concerning Ento that now they do not even dream of.
Our journey of to-day embraces a portion of the Irrigating and Waterways System, which is continuous toward the east. I have mentioned that the system is about 1,400 English miles wide, and that at this time it is more than 4,000 miles long. Understand that I now am speaking of the system embracing the equatorial desert lands, and other arid lands adjacent, for, as you will have occasion to observe, irrigation is general all over the arable portions of the planet, and I do not wish to have you confound the general with the special System, which is a most scientific work and quite apart from ordinary methods of irrigation. The waterway which now is beneath us, runs in a straight line to Loisa̤ Taimon, which we are nearing. On its shores are many towns, villages and a not very extensive city, named Gûlnoyas (crescent shaped). There is another city—but of that I shall not now speak. A feature of Ento is that wherever there is a body or stream of fresh water, there the people congregate. Thus, around Taimon there is a dense population, many of whom farm the rich and fertile lands beneath us. Next to death, the Entoans dread isolation and darkness. By a residence in cities, towns and villages they escape both.
Gentola—Why is it that to-day we have seen no animals?
De L'Ester—For the reason that Ento's orientals seldom, if ever, eat meat. For other purposes they do not require animals. No, there are no positive religious restrictions relating to the eating of meat, but orientals do not seem to care for it, and then nearly all Entoans shrink from taking life, even of animals.
Climatic conditions on this, as on other planets, exercise a strong influence in the selection of human foods. In the colder regions an oleaginous diet is necessary. In temperate climes this requirement is less marked, and in oriental countries generally there is a positive aversion for animal food. Aside from climatic influences there is another factor to be recognized. As humans evolve beyond the influence of the animal plane, they grow less inclined to kill that they may eat. This is a universal, though generally unrecognized law. In earlier ages, the Entoans, to a greater extent than now, were meat eaters, and at present, in colder climes, the people consume larger quantities of various fishes, which rather illogically, they scarcely regard as meat. As air transports bear to them the products of all lands, they do so from choice.
Yonder is Taimon, the beautiful, reflecting in its placid depths, fleecy clouds and sapphire sky. That it might serve as part of the System centuries ago, it, like Gandûlana̤ Loisa̤, was greatly deepened; otherwise the huge vessels traversing the waterways could not ride on their waters. On your first visit to Ento you saw in the distance something resembling railway cars. You now may have a closer view of Ento's Tuzamos, for yonder is a long train drawing into a station, nearby the Transport Station to which we are descending. Those tramway carriages traverse a large portion of the Planet, the motive power being electric. We will not await the landing of the transport, but will proceed to the Tuzamo Station, where doubtless we shall find matters of interest to you two voyagers. First, we will visit this telegraphic station where dispatches are being sent to and received from all portions of the Planet. We are not learned in this marvel of atmospheric telegraphy, which is the system generally in use on Ento. By means of this delicate mechanism, which appears so simple, but is so complex, messages instantaneously reach any designated point. The clumsier method of ground currents, still to a limited extent, connects rural Istoira̤s with Temples. Not for many centuries have wires been used. Ground currents superseded that system, which in turn has been set aside by the atmospheric system. We have informed you that the entire public service of Ento is under the supervision and control of the general government, which holds all officials and employes to a strict account of their several duties. The general government not only controls, but also owns, the Tuzamo System, the Transport System, the Irrigating and Waterways System, the Telegraphic and other Systems in which the interests of all the peoples are concerned. The lands, too, are owned by the general government, and no proprietor occupies more than a specified acreage, which in no case exceeds the needs of his or her household. On occupied lands there is a rental, or taxation, which is so slight as to be far from oppressive, and the revenues derived from this and other sources are used for the support of the general government, and for the prosecution of enterprises for the general good. Always, residences and other improvements, belong to the proprietor and may be sold or transferred.