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clumsy iron tubes charged with saltpetre； have more than once threatened
with destruction a tribe of the 90Vril…ya； which dwells nearest to them；
because they say they have thirty millions of population… and that tribe
may have fifty thousand… if the latter do not accept their notions of Soc…
Sec （money getting） on some trading principles which they have the
impudence to call 'a law of civilisation'？〃
〃But thirty millions of population are formidable odds against fifty
thousand！〃
My host stared at me astonished。 〃Stranger；〃 said he； 〃you could not
have heard me say that this threatened tribe belongs to the Vril…ya； and it
only waits for these savages to declare war； in order to commission some
half…a…dozen small children to sweep away their whole population。〃
At these words I felt a thrill of horror； recognising much more affinity
with 〃the savages〃 than I did with the Vril…ya； and remembering all I had
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said in praise of the glorious American institutions； which Aph…Lin
stigmatised as Koom…Posh。 Recovering my self…possession； I asked if
there were modes of transit by which I could safely visit this temerarious
and remote people。
〃You can travel with safety； by vril agency； either along the ground or
amid the air； throughout all the range of the communities with which we
are allied and akin； but I cannot vouch for your safety in barbarous nations
governed by different laws from ours； nations； indeed； so benighted； that
there are among them large numbers who actually live by stealing from
each other； and one could not with safety in the Silent Hours even leave
the doors of one's own house open。〃
Here our conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Taee； who
came to inform us that he； having been deputed to discover and destroy the
enormous reptile which I had seen on my first arrival； had been on the
watch for it ever since his visit to me； and had began to suspect that my
eyes had deceived me； or that the creature had made its way through the
cavities within 91the rocks to the wild regions in which dwelt its kindred
race；… when it gave evidences of its whereabouts by a great devastation of
the herbage bordering one of the lakes。 〃And；〃 said Taee； 〃I feel sure that
within that lake it is now hiding。 So；〃 （turning to me） 〃I thought it might
amuse you to accompany me to see the way we destroy such unpleasant
visitors。〃 As I looked at the face of the young child； and called to mind the
enormous size of the creature he proposed to exterminate； I felt myself
shudder with fear for him； and perhaps fear for myself； if I accompanied
him in such a chase。 But my curiosity to witness the destructive effects
of the boasted vril； and my unwillingness to lower myself in the eyes of an
infant by betraying apprehensions of personal safety； prevailed over my
first impulse。 Accordingly； I thanked Taee for his courteous
consideration for my amusement； and professed my willingness to set out
with him on so diverting an enterprise。
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CHAPTER XVIII。
As Taee and myself； on quitting the town； and leaving to the left the
main road which led to it； struck into the fields； the strange and solemn
beauty of the landscape； lighted up； by numberless lamps； to the verge of
the horizon； fascinated my eyes； and rendered me for some time an
inattentive listener to the talk of my companion。
Along our way various operations of agriculture were being carried on
by machinery； the forms of which were new to me； and for the most part
very graceful； for among these people art being so cultivated for the sake
of mere utility； exhibits itself in adorning or refining the shapes of useful
objects。 Precious metals and gems are so profuse among them； that they
are lavished on things devoted to purposes the most 92commonplace； and
their love of utility leads them to beautify its tools； and quickens their
imagination in a way unknown to themselves。
In all service； whether in or out of doors； they make great use of
automaton figures； which are so ingenious； and so pliant to the operations
of vril； that they actually seem gifted with reason。 It was scarcely
possible to distinguish the figures I beheld； apparently guiding or
superintending the rapid movements of vast engines； from human forms
endowed with thought。
By degrees； as we continued to walk on； my attention became roused
by the lively and acute remarks of my companion。 The intelligence of
the children among this race is marvellously precocious； perhaps from the
habit of having intrusted to them； at so early an age； the toils and
responsibilities of middle age。 Indeed； in conversing with Taee； I felt as
if talking with some superior and observant man of my own years。 I
asked him if he could form any estimate of the number of communities
into which the race of the Vril…ya is subdivided。
〃Not exactly；〃 he said； 〃because they multiply； of course； every year as
the surplus of each community is drafted off。 But I heard my father say
that； according to the last report；there were a million and a half of
communities speaking our language； and adopting our institutions and
forms of life and government； but； I believe； with some differences； about
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which you had better ask Zee。 She knows more than most of the Ana do。
An An cares less for things that do not concern him than a Gy does； the
Gy…ei are inquisitive creatures。〃
〃Does each community restrict itself to the same number of families or
amount of population that you do？〃
〃No； some have much smaller populations； some have larger… varying
according to the extent of the country they appropriate； or to the degree of
excellence to which they have brought their machinery。 Each community
sets its own limit according to circumstances； taking care always that there
shall 93never arise any class of poor by the pressure of population upon
the productive powers of the domain； and that no state shall be too large
for a government resembling that of a single well…ordered family。 I
imagine that no vril community exceeds thirty…thousand households。 But；
as a general rule； the smaller the community； provided there be hands
enough to do justice to the capacities of the territory it occupies； the richer
each individual is； and the larger the sum contributed to the general
treasury；… above all； the happier and the more tranquil is the whole
political body； and the more perfect the products of its industry。 The state
which all tribes of the Vril…ya acknowledge to be the highest in civilisation；
and which has brought the vril force to its fullest development； is perhaps
the smallest。 It limits itself to four thousand families； but every inch of
its territory is cultivated to the utmost perfection of garden ground； its
machinery excels that of every other tribe； and there is no product of its
industry in any department which is not sought for； at extraordinary prices；
by each community of our race。 All our tribes make this state their
model； considering that we should reach the highest state of civilisation
allowed to mortals if we could unite the greatest degree of happiness with
the highest degree of intellectual achievement； and it is clear that the
smaller the society the less difficult that will be。 Ours is too large for it。〃
This reply set me thinking。 I reminded myself of that little state of
Athens； with only twenty thousand free citizens； and which to this day our
mightiest nations regard as the supreme guide and model in all
departments of intellect。 But then Athen