Gentola—Am I dreaming, or have I suddenly dropped into an Earth cavern? Surely those are bears or animals very like them. Now that I look more closely the resemblance is not quite so striking. Describe them? I will try. They are larger than any bears I have seen. Their limbs are long and so are their bodies, which are not very bulky. Their heads are large in proportion to their bodies, and their necks are longer and more slender than are the necks of our polar or other bears. Their long, drooping ears and deeply set eyes give them a peculiarly sinister expression, and with their enormous, savage looking jaws and huge feet, armed with long, sharp claws, they look as though they in an instant might tear one to bits.
George—Gentola̤, come here. See these cubs, they are not at all repulsive in appearance.
Gentola—Oh, the queer looking little creatures. How soft and pretty their brown hair is. It seems a pity that they must grow to be such big, savage, shaggy haired, ugly animals as are their parents.
De L'Ester—In appearance and characteristics these animals are enough like our polar bears to claim close kinship with them. They are hibernating animals, as are some others of Ento, but their present environments are not conducive to that habit, and it is growing less and less marked. If your curiosity is satisfied we will look elsewhere. Our dear friend Ha̤-Moûfih's visit with us will be so brief that we must take advantage of its every moment.
Ha-Moufih—Friends, I regret that I can remain with you for only a limited time. I, Gentola̤, am in our Spirit World a teacher of natural history, but for a purpose have been assigned for this duty which affords me much pleasure. On my return to my pupils we will visit and investigate a planet on which De L'Ester was once re-embodied. Where is it? In the constellation known to you as the Great Dipper. The planet is in the angle between the handle and the cup. No, neither these friends nor I are sufficiently progressed to journey beyond certain limits. Yes, it is a great pleasure to visit other planets with my pupils who like myself ever are eager to observe, to compare or to demonstrate and then to return to our own place to dear friends, and to further study. Because of my limited stay with this Band you have been turned aside from observation of the Comina̤ daa̤ (class rooms), but later that will be resumed.
You have seen Bomûz himmû, one of the largest of the A-Mûistaa̤ (anthropoids). Now you will see one of the most remarkable members of the A-Mûista̤ family of this or of any planet we have visited. We desire that you shall describe it.
Gentola—Stretched along on a thick limb of a low, wide spreading tree is a creature so very human in appearance as to be unpleasant to look at, at least it is to me. It is as tall almost as am I, and that is five and a half feet. Its body, hands and feet are extremely like those of a human; were its head equally so I should feel rather abashed to be standing here staring at the sleeping creature. Its arms clasping the limb on which it lies, are quite shapely, its legs less so. Now it opens its large, expressive eyes, raises its head and evidently is observing us. Its head, in proportion to its body, is rather small, the forehead narrow, low and retreating. Falling over its forehead and eyes is a white, silky fringe, which is in strong contrast with its very dark gray covering of short, coarse hair. To me its oddest feature is its long, white beard, falling over its breast. As George approaches it it grows alarmed and now it scrambles feet foremost to the ground, and on its hands and feet rushes away in long leaps. Really, it is so like a human that it is revolting.
Ha-Moufih—Kyn-nûyna̤o (tree dweller) is what the Entoans name this species of anthropoid. Structurally this tailless animal is very like the earlier human forms of young planets. Its most marked unlikeness to them is in its head and face. There, ages ago, as is evinced in fossil remains, development came to a conclusion.
At no great distance from Indoloisa̤'s western shore its waters encompass an island of considerable area, which is clothed with gigantic trees and luxuriant vegetation. This island is inhabited by a peculiar people who for many centuries have led most peaceful, uneventful, secluded lives. For the most part their priests are their teachers, not only of religion, but of such educational branches as are not sufficiently advanced to come within courses of instruction of educational institutions. The island is very salubrious and so prolific of grains, fruits and fine woods, that air and water transportation are in constant demand for carrying to other parts these and other products. In the interior of the island the kyn-nûyna̤o find their habitations in the gigantic bûda̤s tree tops, where their young are born and reared with watchful care, their human neighbors regarding them with a sort of veneration. Never wilfully are their homes disturbed, and only by order of the supreme authorities is any one permitted to capture and remove one or more of the creatures. Then it is done under protest of the islanders, who consider them their especial possession. They do not breed in or long survive captivity, yet when placed anywhere away from the island they never attempt to escape.