domesticating the great striped
antelope, the meat of which is most delicious. I am sure that it will
not be long before they will have them broken to harness and saddle.
The horses of Pellucidar are far too diminutive for such uses, some
species of them being little larger than fox-terriers.

Dian and I live in a great palace overlooking the gulf. There is no
glass in our windows, for we have no windows, the walls rising but a
few feet above the floor-line, the rest of the space being open to the
ceilings; but we have a roof to shade us from the perpetual noon-day
sun. Perry and I decided to set a style in architecture that would not
curse future generations with the white plague, so we have plenty of
ventilation. Those of the people who prefer, still inhabit their
caves, but many are building houses similar to ours.

At Greenwich we have located a town and an observatory--though there is
nothing to observe but the stationary sun directly overhead. Upon the
edge of the Land of Awful Shadow is another observatory, from which the
time is flashed by wireless to every corner of the empire twenty-four
times a day. In addition to the wireless, we have a small telephone
system in Sari. Everything is yet in the early stages of development;
but with the science of the outer-world twentieth century to draw upon
we are making rapid progress, and with all the faults and errors of the
outer world to guide us clear of dangers, I think that it will not be
long before Pellucidar will become as nearly a Utopia as one may expect
to find this side of heaven.

Perry is away just now, laying out a railway-line from Sari to Amoz.
There are immense anthracite coal-fields at the head of the gulf not
far from Sari, and the railway will tap these. Some of his students
are working on a locomotive now. It will be a strange sight to see an
iron horse puffing through the primeval jungles of the stone age, while
cave bears, saber-toothed tigers, mastodons and the countless other
terrible creatures of the past look on from their tangled lairs in
wide-eyed astonishment.

We are very happy, Dian and I, and I would not return to the outer
world for all the riches of all its princes. I am content here. Even
without my imperial powers and honors I should be content, for have I
not that greatest of all treasures, the love of a good woman--my
wondrous empress, Dian the Beautiful?

[Transcriber's note: I have made the following change