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power over that mysterious fluid or agency which contains the element of destruction； with a larger portion of that sagacity which comprehends dissimulation。 Thus they cannot only defend themselves against all aggressions from the males； but could； at any moment when he least expected his danger； terminate the existence of an offending spouse。 To the credit of the Gy…ei no instance of their abuse of this awful superiority in the art of destruction is on record for several ages。 The last that occurred in the community I speak of appears （according to their chronology） to have been about two thousand years ago。 A Gy； then； in a fit of jealousy； slew her husband； and this abominable act inspired such terror among the males that they emigrated in a body and left all the Gy…ei to themselves。 The history runs that the widowed Gy…ei； thus reduced to despair； fell upon the murderess when in her sleep （and therefore unarmed）； and killed her； and then entered into a solemn obligation amongst themselves to abrogate forever the exercise of their extreme conjugal powers； and to inculcate the same obligation for ever and ever on their female children。 By this conciliatory process； a deputation despatched to the fugitive consorts succeeded in persuading many to return； but those who did return were mostly the elder ones。 The younger； either from too craven a doubt of their consorts； or too high an estimate of their own merits； rejected all overtures； and； remaining in other communities； were caught up there by other mates； with whom perhaps they were no better off。 But the loss 43of so large a portion of the male youth operated as a salutary warning on the Gy…ei； and confirmed them in the pious resolution to which they pledged themselves。 Indeed it is now popularly considered that； by long hereditary disuse； the Gy…ei have lost both the aggressive and defensive superiority over the Ana which they once possessed； just as in the inferior animals above the earth many peculiarities in their original formation； intended by nature for their protection； gradually fade or become inoperative when not needed under altered circumstances。 I should be sorry； however； for any An who induced a Gy to make the experiment whether he or she were the stronger。
》From the incident I have narrated； the Ana date certain alterations in the marriage customs； tending； perhaps； somewhat to the advantage of the male。 They now bind themselves in wedlock only for three years； at the end of each third year either male or female can divorce the other and is free to marry again。 At the end of ten years the An has the privilege
of taking a second wife； allowing the first to retire if she so please。 These regulations are for the most part a dead letter； divorces and polygamy are extremely rare； and the marriage state now seems singularly happy and serene among this astonishing people；… the Gy…ei； notwithstanding their boastful superiority in physical strength and intellectual abilities； being much curbed into gentle manners by the dread of separation or of a second wife； and the Ana being very much the creatures of custom； and not； except under great aggravation； likely to exchange for hazardous novelties faces and manners to which they are reconciled by habit。 But there is one privilege the Gy…ei carefully retain； and the desire for which perhaps forms the secret motive of most lady asserters of woman rights above ground。 They claim the privilege； here usurped by men； of proclaiming their love and urging their suit； in other words； of being the wooing party rather than the wooed。 Such a 44phenomenon as an old maid does not exist among the Gy…ei。 Indeed it is very seldom that a Gy does not secure any An upon whom she sets her heart； if his affections be not strongly engaged elsewhere。 However coy； reluctant； and prudish； the male she courts may prove at first； yet her perseverance； her ardour； her persuasive powers； her command over the mystic agencies of vril； are pretty sure to run down his neck into what we call 〃the fatal noose。〃 Their argument for the reversal of that relationship of the sexes which the blind tyranny of man has established on the surface of the earth； appears cogent； and is advanced with a frankness which might well be commended to impartial consideration。 They say； that of the two the female is by nature of a more loving disposition than the male… that love occupies a larger space in her thoughts； and is more essential to her happiness； and that therefore she ought to be the wooing party； that otherwise the male is a shy and dubitant creature… that he has often a selfish predilection for the single state… that he often pretends to misunderstand tender glances and delicate hints… that； in short； he must be resolutely pursued and captured。 They add； moreover； that unless the Gy can secure the An of her choice； and one whom she would not select out of the whole world becomes her mate； she is not only less happy than she otherwise would be； but she is not so good a being； that her qualities of heart are not sufficiently developed； whereas the An is a creature that less lastingly concentrates his affections on one object； that if he cannot get the Gy whom he prefers he easily reconciles himself to another Gy； and； finally； that at the worst； if he is loved and taken care of； it is less necessary to the welfare of his existence that he should love as well as be loved； he grows contented with his creature comforts； and the many occupations of thought which he creates for himself。
Whatever may be said as to this reasoning； the system works well for the male； for being thus sure that he is truly and ardently loved； and that the more coy and reluctant he shows 45himself； the more determination to secure him increases； he generally contrives to make his consent dependent on such conditions as he thinks the best calculated to insure； if not a blissful； at least a peaceful life。 Each individual An has his own hobbies； his own ways； his own predilections； and； whatever they may be； he demands a promise of full and unrestrained concession to them。 This； in the pursuit of her object； the Gy readily promises； and as the characteristic of this extraordinary people is an implicit veneration for truth； and her word once given is never broken even by the giddiest Gy；
the conditions stipulated for are religiously observed。 In fact； notwithstanding all their abstract rights and powers； the Gy…ei are the most amiable； conciliatory； and submissive wives I have ever seen even in the happiest households above ground。 It is an aphorism among them； that 〃where a Gy loves it is her pleasure to obey。〃 It will be observed that in the relationship of the sexes I have spoken only of marriage； for such is the moral perfection to which this community has attained； that any illicit connection is as little possible amongst them as it would be to a couple of linnets during the time they agree to live in pairs。
Chapter XI。
Nothing had more perplexed me in seeking to reconcile my sense to the existence of regions extending below the surface of the earth； and habitable by beings； if dissimilar from； still； in all material points of organism； akin to those in the upper world； than the contradiction thus presented to the doctrine in which； I believe； most geologists and philosophers concur… viz。； that though with us the sun is the great source of heat； yet the deeper we go beneath the crust of the earth； the greater is the increasing heat； being； it is said； found in the 46ratio of a degree for every foot； commencing from fifty feet below the surface。 But though the domains of the tribe I speak of were； on the higher ground； so comparatively near to the surface； that I could account for a temperature； therein； suitable to organic life； yet even the ravines and valleys of that realm were much less hot than philosophers would deem possible at such a depth… certainly not warmer than the south of France； or at least of Italy。 And according to all the accounts I received； vast tracts immeasurably deeper beneath the surface； and in which one might have thought only salamanders could exist； were inhabited by innumerable races organised like ourselves； I cannot pretend in any way to account for a fact which is so at variance with the recognised laws of science； nor could Zee much help me towards a solution of it。 She did but conjecture that sufficient allowance had not been made by our philosophers for the extreme porousness of the interior earth… the vastness of its cavities and irregularities； which served to create free currents of air and frequent winds… and for the various modes in which heat is evaporated and thrown off。 She allowed； however； that there was a depth at which the heat was deemed to be intolerable to such organised life as was known to the experience of the Vril…ya； though their philosophers believed that even in such places life of some kind； life sentient； life intellectual； would be found abundant and thriving； could the philosophers penetrate to it。 〃Wherever the All…Good builds；〃 said she； 〃there； be sure； He places inhabitants。 He loves not empty dwellings。〃 She added