an
artist traces the picture which it is desired to retain, and fills in
the colours. The reflection thrown is indeed little more than a
pale-coloured shadow, but we make of it a reality at will.

Our knowledge of the properties of water enables us, with the aid of an
electric-attracting machine, to see the bottom of the sea. Images of the
deepest parts are thrown upon the mirror, the force of the machine being
increased according to the depth of the sea, and the distance from the
machine.

Some parts of the bottom of the sea reveal nothing but uninhabited,
uneven ground, whilst other parts present the appearance of an inhabited
world. We have seen the entrances to large caverns with what may be
called doors, and immense moving masses; flowers and parterres of most
delicate and lovely beauty; varieties of precious stones, forming
devices and figures of different kinds; and large shrubs that glistened
as diamonds in the sun, and thriving and blossoming, seemed replete with
life. In other parts of the sea lie strewn in irregular masses things of
every description in incredible quantities, heaps upon heaps, as though
these parts had at some time been dry land, where riches of every
description had been congregated. A description of the wonders seen
would fill many volumes.

XLV.

THE HIPPOPOTAMUS.

"Ye seek Elikoia's life....Ye watch to make sure of your prey, when
the boy is alone, his thoughts fixed on high....Ye shall wear
hideous forms, ye shall wander on the land, as well as on the
water, but nowhere shall ye find rest. Ye shall dread and be
dreaded by all; ye shall constantly be put to death, that your hide
and carcase at least may serve for useful purposes in the land that
ye have denied.... Ye shall be slain with no more compunction than
when a man cuts down a tree with which to make his hut." [1]....

[Footnote 1: The above belongs to the ancient mythology
of Montalluyah.]

Hippopotami are very numerous in my planet; their breed is encouraged,
for they are found to be invaluable.

They are of a cruel nature, and there is much antipathy between them and
human beings. Apart from the valuable uses to which they are made
subservient, these beasts are regarded in our planet with a feeling akin
to that with which you regard the serpent, it having been supposed in
the early ages of our world that the hippopotamus embodied a portion of
the spirit of