George—Although previously I have passed this way, I have not looked through this antiquated city, so with your approval, friends, Genessano, Bernard and I will make a hurried exploration of its highways and byways.
De L'Ester—Your pleasure is ours, and you, Zenesta̤, who are so well versed in the histories of Ento's ancient and modern cities, will kindly relate whatever you may know of Roûva̤.
Zenesta Hao—With somewhat of pleasure and somewhat of sadness I shall comply with your request. It may surprise you to learn that this city was the home of my parents and also my home during a portion of my last Re-embodiment. You who understand the Law know that in referring to my parents I mean those through whom I last was reborn into mortal existence, and who were a newly wedded pair, wealthy, cultivated and possessed of virtues of an exalted nature. See you yonder stately dwelling nearby whose portals a fountain throws into the air its silvery spray? In that dwelling the Angels of the Visitation found for me suitable environments for my rebirth, and when I grew self-conscious I found myself cradled on the bosom and gazing into the eyes of the loveliest and gentlest of women. As an infant thinks, so thought I of a wonderful past existence, but I looked into my mother's lovelit eyes and I forgot, I forgot. Soon for me was naught but a blessed present, the present of my mother's caresses, the present when from her fair breasts I drew into my life a part of her life, and the days passed, and as other children unfold, so did I until three birth anniversaries had marked the passing years of my mortal existence, then an awful shadow began to creep over our threshold. My lovely, gentle mother, who, from the time of my birth, had not been strong, rapidly grew weaker, and my father, in an agony of grief and terror scarcely left her side. As memory recalls that sorrowful time, I see the look of fear and despair in my mother's eyes, and I hear her pathetic appeals to the physicians, to my father, to save her life, to hold her fast, lest death might tear her from her husband, from her child, but the shadow crept nearer, ever nearer, and child as I was, her prayers for succor, and my father's moans and sobbing cries to Andûmana̤, to Phra̤, to the Gods to save the dear life so surely ebbing away, filled me with terror indescribable.
At the last my father sought to keep me away from the closing scene of my mother's life, but with the depth and tenacity of a mother's love she held me close within one arm and with the other she drew my father's face to hers, and her breathing grew fainter, fainter, and after a little ceased and there was Silence, and the dear arms relaxed their caress, the throbbing heart-beats were stilled, and in affright I raised my head from my mother's breast to look into her pallid face on which the calm of death was resting. In terror I reached out my arms, crying, "Father! father!" No answer came to my cries, but a moment later alarmed attendants hurried into the apartment and lifted me from my dead mother's breast. As they bore me away some one raised my father's head, and on his face, too, was the calm of death, and from his lips a crimson stream fell upon my mother's white robe.
Pardon me, friends, I had not meant to sadden you, or to wet my own eyes with infrequent tears over the memories of a bygone time.
After the untimely death of my parents I was cared for by my father's brother until, as a pupil, I was placed in the Galarēsa̤ of Camarissa̤, which, I may say, thereafter was my home until I joined my dear ones in our Spirit Realms. Your sympathetic expressions assure me that I have not too greatly presumed in offering this recital of my earliest days, recalled through viewing remembered scenes of my childhood and of later years.
Now I will hasten to acquaint you with a condensed history of this really ancient city. Fourteen Ento centuries ago Roûva̤ was a rich and very populous city, situated on ground so elevated as to afford an extended view of the expanse of Hûndaffon and somewhat of the lands beyond its further shore. A reliable historian of that period says: "From some very ancient writings in my possession I have learned that in remote times the region north of Roûva̤ was broken by mountainous elevations and vales through which tumultuous streams found their way into Loisa̤ Hûndaffon, which in the spring season overflowed its banks to the great detriment of contiguous low lying lands." The historian to whom I have alluded was Lotis Oovan Issillo, whose Writings are considered standards of excellence. Of the ancient Writings of which he makes mention no trace remains, but through ancient Ento Spirits we know that their statements were correct. During the passing centuries unfavoring conditions have greatly changed Roûva̤, which retains but slight traces of its ancient greatness. Still it is an attractive and quite prosperous city.
Hûndaffon is about thirty English miles long and quite twenty miles wide. Through continuous dredging its depth of about two hundred feet is maintained, and largely it furnishes irrigation for certain low south lands, and affords carriage for various craft plying between Roûva̤ and villages along its shores. Toward the northwest we perceive a very considerable river pouring its sparkling waters into the lake, the fine bridge spanning it affording communication between the two divisions of the city. This river, which now is the only stream of importance flowing into Hûndaffon, is known as Somû-ikaton (Blessing River). It rises in the far north, and truly it is appropriately named, for its life giving water supplies ample irrigation for the lands lying along its length, from which agricultural and other communities derive sustenance. Along its shores are towns and villages in which are excellent schools, libraries, temples and other features for the advancement and enjoyment of highly cultivated communities. From Loisa̤ Hûndaffon northward the river has been deepened and widened, culminating at its head in an immense reservoir, which we have learned is to be increased to twice its present dimensions. The river, too, is to be further deepened and widened, that it may afford carriage for vessels of large tonnage. During the efficient Administration of Omanos Fûnha̤ many extensive reservoirs have been constructed and flowing streams deepened and widened, the growing needs of the people demanding the exercise of all possible means favoring their natural, therefore just, requirements. You are aware that Ento's entire Public Works are owned and maintained by the General Government, thus abuses of privileges, consequently of peoples, are avoided, and so energetically is the construction of the Waterways and Irrigating System being executed that ere long Ento will experience a degree of prosperity greater than at any time during the history of the Planet. Then, too, knowledge of the coming new religion will usher in universal happiness where now is universal sadness.
You express surprise at the stupendous excavations that have been and now are being made on Ento. Generally one ceases to wonder at an accomplished fact, so I perhaps cannot quite appreciate your state of mind, my last rebirth having occurred long after such excavations had become a common feature of Ento. Many centuries previous to the inception of the System, through the agencies of scientific appliances, excavations of Ento's light, porous soil were easily accomplished. To render them watertight was the greatest embarrassment, but through the formation of a conglomerate cement for linings of reservoirs, canals and the like science arranged that difficulty. The great Waterways also are lined with a combination of cement and stone, the exceeding porosity of the soil requiring it.
I now will conclude my reminiscences associated with Roûva̤. During my youth and later years at intervals I returned to my old home to attend to such interests as I had inherited from my parents, but at length age and infirmity disinclining me for further journeyings, in a manner agreeable to my sense of justice I disposed of my possessions and as I then thought bade a last farewell to Roûva̤. Since then it appears to have but slightly changed, yet I doubt not ere long it shall find itself within the hospitable embrace of the System, it will so rejuvenate itself as to again become one of the foremost cities of Ento.