We Visit The Canals And Discover Their Secret-martian Views Of Life And Death

: To Mars Via The Moon

On Merna's suggestion we walked through the town with the object of

inspecting the canals on the outskirts; and we needed no pressing, as we

were all eager to see what the canals were like.



We again noted how every house, and almost every building, was isolated

from its neighbours. Many of them were very large and exceedingly

handsome specimens of architecture, and the streets were wide, straight,

nd remarkably clean and well kept. The official and administrative

buildings were near the centre of the town; their general arrangement

and design appearing most excellently adapted to the special

requirements of their respective purposes.



Most of them were built of white stone, resembling our marble, which was

very hard, and appeared clean and unaffected by weather, although some

of the buildings were of considerable age. Others were built of stones

of various colours, which added a pleasing variety to the general

effect; whilst many were adorned with noble and beautiful domes, towers,

and airy-looking minarets.



As we did not propose to inspect these in detail now, we passed on to

the outskirts of the town, soon reaching the air-ship station, where we

found a vessel in readiness for our trip. We all entered; the ship was

at once started, and we proceeded swiftly on our journey.



Merna then told us that all public means of transit, over the whole area

of the planet, were provided and maintained by the State, for the free

use of all who needed to travel. The passengers neither paid fares nor

received tickets; they simply stepped into the proper conveyance and

went wherever they desired to go. A record was kept of the number of

passengers carried; for, as each passenger entered, a number was

automatically registered by a small machine under the footboard, the

exit being by another door.



Small air-ships, motors, and boats could be engaged by single persons or

small parties who did not wish to travel in the larger public

conveyances; and any person was at liberty to provide a private

conveyance for his own use, but the public ones were so numerous and

convenient that very few people kept their own.



"Hey, mon!" said M'Allister, "the Martians can teach us something. I

would like to see such a system at work in our own country!"



"I am afraid you are not likely to see that," said John, "while we have

to spend so much upon warlike preparations. If war could be abolished,

all the millions of money thus expended could be made available for

purposes which would be of real and permanent benefit to the people."



We travelled a distance of some miles, and then the vessel was brought

to a standstill.



What a splendid view we then had over the country all around us! the air

being so thin and clear that there was very little dimming of the

objects in the far distance. Across the country, in line after line,

were the canals which we had been so anxious to see, extending as far as

the eye could reach! With our glasses we made a detailed examination of

several.



Our sensational newspapers have had paragraphs about Martian canals a

hundred miles, or even hundreds of miles, wide! Scientific men have also

similarly exaggerated, and made remarks about the absurdity of the

supposition that such canals really existed.



There is very little excuse for such statements, because Professor

Lowell has always been careful to point out that the lines represented

broad bands of vegetation, and not the width of the canals.



Now the secret was out! What we actually saw was this: not a single wide

canal but a series of comparatively narrow canals, running parallel to

each other, with a very wide strip of vegetation between each. Usually

the canals were linked together in pairs by smaller cross canals running

diagonally from one canal to the other in alternate order. These were

the irrigation trenches. Thus from one of a pair of canals an irrigation

trench would branch out at an angle of about fifty degrees, and enter

the second canal. Higher up, on the same side, another trench would run

from the second canal at a similar angle, and enter the first canal, and

so on-ad infinitum. In the case of single canals curved loops

branched out and re-entered higher up, these loops being made on either

side, and similar loops were made on the outsides of paired canals.



As a result of this arrangement it did not matter whether the water

passed up the canal at one season of the year or down it at another

season, it could always move straight ahead; the irrigation trenches

were thus constantly flushed by one or other of the pairs, and there

could be no stagnation anywhere. Merna also told us that some canals are

provided with a network of trenches, whilst others are embanked so that

the water can be let out through sluices when necessary, and thus flood

the surrounding land. Thus every requirement can be met.



So far from being a hundred miles wide, it was exceptional for the

canals to have a width of more than two hundred yards. Most of those we

were looking at were only about sixty feet wide! and only the wider ones

are used for navigation purposes. Merna explained why this was so,

saying that as the main use of the canals was for irrigation purposes

very wide ones were not required; for not only would they be wasteful,

but as it was necessary to force the water along by artificial means, it

could more conveniently be accomplished in the case of narrow canals, as

the wider the canal the more difficult it became to force the water

along.



We also observed many splendid wide motor-roads running between the

single canals, as well as others running straight across the system,

being carried over the canals by the most beautiful and fairy-like

bridges that we had ever seen. They were all constructed of a metal

identical with our "martalium," which we had used in the construction of

the Areonal; so that was undoubtedly another invention which we owed

to Martian influences transmitted to us across space!



Nothing more beautiful or graceful than these bridges could be

imagined, so light were they in construction, so elegant and varied in

design, and every part shining in the sun like burnished silver; they

looked like structures composed of rays of light rather than substantial

metal! They were a perfect dream of beauty, and we stood a long time

examining their elegant construction through our glasses.



"Well," remarked John, "some of our millionaires would give half their

fortunes to have such lovely bridges as these in their private parks!"



"Heh, mon!" replied M'Allister, "it's very clear the Martians could

teach our engineers something about bridge-building, if nothing else!"



"Wait and see our water-lifting and water-propelling machinery," said

Merna; "I think that will be something which will suit you as an

engineer!"



I noticed that many of the lines were apparently groves of trees, and

asked Merna whether they were canals or not.



"Yes," he replied, "they are canals. You will understand that in the

hotter parts of our world it is necessary to protect the water from too

rapid evaporation, or else the canals would be almost run dry long

before the need for their use ceased at the end of the season. Some are

arched over entirely, but in most cases it is sufficient to plant trees

along each side. Would you like to examine one?" he asked; "we can do so

very soon, if you wish?"



I said I should be glad to do so, and our course was accordingly

directed to one of the groves, which appeared to be about two miles

distant. It, however, proved to be more than six miles away, for we had

not yet become accustomed to the effect of the clear Martian air in

making distant objects appear much closer than they really were.

However, it did not take long for our air-ship to reach it; and we

descended in the space between the canals and then walked over into the

grove. When we turned into it, we were greatly surprised at the charming

effect of the trees over the canal.



The trees were something like our willows, but taller than elms, and had

a multitude of very long, thin, and supple branches, with very little

bare trunk. They were planted rather close together, all along each side

of the canal, with their trunks sloping slightly towards the water. The

long branches thus met at the sides and high overhead, intertwining

together, and forming a high leafy archway extending all along the canal

in both directions as far as the eye could see. The thick, soft Martian

grass along each side of the canal was like a velvet-pile carpet to walk

upon; the sunlight filtering between the green leaves of the trees cast

bright flecks of light on the clear shimmering water which ran beneath

them; whilst water-fowl swimming here and there gave a bright touch of

colour and the animation of life which so adds to the general charm of

such scenery. Some of the water-fowl were very large birds, with

brilliant coloured plumage.



"What a delightful place for a quiet walk on a hot day like this," I

exclaimed; "plenty of air and no excess of heat!"



"Yes," Merna replied; "these embowered canals are very popular with the

Martians, as they furnish such cool and pleasant walks in the summer

time. I must also tell you," he added, "that those water-fowl are looked

after with extreme care, because most of our aquatic birds have become

nearly extinct since our natural areas of water failed us, and unless

they were preserved would die out entirely.



"You will understand that these canals are not liable to excessive

evaporation; but, at the same time, it would not do to prevent

evaporation altogether, because we should then fail to obtain a

sufficient and fresh supply next spring."



"I quite see that, Merna," I said; "but one of our scientific men has

said that it would be madness to construct canals on Mars, because the

water would all quickly evaporate, especially in the warmer regions, and

thus be wasted."



"Well, as you see, sir, we manage to prevent evaporation to any extent

we may desire," replied Merna with a smile; "and even scientific men

seem liable to omit some important matters from their theories and

calculations."



"How do you manage the irrigation?" I inquired; "the trenches seem

rather wide apart to supply such a large area!"



"The upper layer of soil is very porous, and the water soaks along it,"

he answered; adding that "where necessary it was assisted by porous

pipes laid beneath the surface.



"Besides," he proceeded, "we have small portable electric engines, with

which water from the trenches can be distributed in the form of spray

over wide areas. Our vegetation, too, has adapted itself to the

conditions of the planet in the course of the changes which have taken

place during past ages, and now requires very little water or moisture

to maintain it in vigorous and healthy growth."



One more question was put to him by John, who asked, "Do these canals

constitute your whole supply of water for drinking, as well as for all

other purposes?"



"Oh no, John!" exclaimed Merna. "We draw all our pure water from deep

wells. The soil of Mars, being much more lightly compacted than that of

the earth, has absorbed an immense proportion of the water which was

formerly upon its surface. Instead of having lost it by evaporation and

radiation into space, we still have it below the surface, stored up

ready for use in our time of need.



"For this reason, and also in consequence of the small amount of our

planet's internal heat, the water has not undergone chemical change, and

mostly lies at great depths; but, of course, well-boring is much easier

work than on your world, and I expect our methods are rather in advance

of yours.



"Your scientists seem to have overlooked some of these points

altogether. You need not pity us for lack of water, as I have heard you

doing, for we have an ample supply for many centuries to come;

especially as we can purify water which has been used for general

purposes, and store it up for use, over and over again. Our canals are

only drawn upon for purposes connected with irrigation, or when

absolutely pure water is not needed."



"Well," M'Allister exclaimed, "it doesn't seem that the Martians are so

badly off for water as some of our clever people imagine! Why, I've read

that the need of water here must be so great that the people, driven to

desperation, must be fighting each other to extermination in order to

get it."



"That is an entirely erroneous idea, sir," replied Merna; "and you may

be quite sure that such a state of affairs will never be witnessed upon

this planet. We know the time must come when our water supply will

cease to be, but your people are needlessly pessimistic, and imagine

terrors where we see none.



"In actual time, the end of Mars is still far distant; but, as compared

with that of your world, it is very near. It will be possible, later on,

to forecast, by means of our records of the rate of decrease, the time

when our water supply will come to an end; but even now it is well

understood how the crisis will be met. As the final period draws nearer,

families will become smaller and smaller, and in the last Martian

century no children will be born; so the diminishing water supply will

suffice for the needs of the dwindling population. Thus the race will

gradually die out naturally, and become extinct long before the

conditions of our world can make life a terror. There will, therefore,

be no self-slaughter, nor murderous extermination, amongst ourselves-we

shall simply die out naturally.



"The planet will roll on, devoid of all life, so the loss of water and

air will then be of no consequence. It will be a dead world; until,

perhaps aeons hence, a collision with some other large body may transform

both into a nebula; and thus once more start them on the way to develop

into a world capable of sustaining life. Thus nothing in the Universe

really dies; the apparent death is only the preparation for a newer and

higher life.



"We Martians have no fear or dread of death, such as I have heard you

say is so prevalent in your world even amongst religious people. With us

death, in the ordinary way, is merely like going to sleep; and it is

only the portal through which we pass to another life on another

planet. Why, then, should we dread it? It is simply a removal to another

dwelling-place!"



"I quite agree with that view, Merna," said John; "and our religion

teaches us a somewhat similar idea; yet few of its professors look

forward with anything but dread to the time when they must pass from

their present life."



"Yes, John," said Merna. "What your people really only profess to

believe we Martians accept as an actual certainty, for we know it is so;

and, as you are aware, sir, I am a living witness of the truth of what I

say.



"You know I once lived upon the earth. I died; or, as I prefer to say, I

'passed' from thence, and was born again upon Mars. Some day I must also

pass from here; whither I know not, but to another life in some other

world; and the Great Father of All will provide for me!



"There are many other planets which are worlds capable of sustaining

life at the present time, or which will develop into such worlds. Some

of them, which we can see, are planets belonging to our own solar

system, but doubtless there are myriads of planets which revolve round

those millions of distant suns which we call fixed stars. If we have

made good use of our talents and opportunities for development we shall

no doubt pass to a world where that development may be continued on a

higher plane. If, however, we have made bad use of them, it is possible

that we may have to purge ourselves by a life on a planet where the

conditions are the reverse of pleasant; and so on through eternity, each

rising to a higher and higher plane according to the manner in which he

has worked out his own salvation.



"Amongst those myriads of planets, probably there is not one which is

identical in all respects with any other, and there must be an infinity

of variety; some excelling to an incalculable extent the conditions of

our present world, and others where the conditions are very much worse!"



"Yes, Merna," I replied. "There are some upon our world who hold very

similar ideas, notably a great French astronomer named Flammarion; but

in his view only those who have developed their intelligence in the

proper direction will pass to other worlds and enjoy what he terms the

Uranian life.



"I may also say," I proceeded, "with reference to your remarks

respecting the infinite variety of planetary worlds and of their

conditions, that one of our great poets has stated the matter very

logically, for he says:



'This truth within thy mind rehearse,

That, in a boundless universe,

Is boundless better, boundless worse.'"



"Sir," said Merna, "that is really very much as a Martian would state

the case; and what I have told you is our faith, our hope, and our

certainty."



As we passed along on the area outside the grove we noticed that the

vegetation bordering the outermost canal did not show a mathematically

straight edge as the canal lines do when seen by us through our

telescopes. The edges, as a rule, were very irregular: in some places

there were large areas of fallow land, and others were very sparsely

covered with vegetation.



John remarked that if any of these bare or sparsely-covered places were

large enough to be detected by our telescopes, in moments of extremely

good seeing, we should no doubt be told that they afforded absolute

proof that the canal lines are only disconnected markings, and the

canals a myth.



"Very probably," I replied; "yet it should be obvious that vegetation

would be sparse, or altogether absent, perhaps, for miles, in many

places along the thousands of miles over which the canals extend, and

also that it is quite likely, if we could use higher powers so as to get

a better view of the lines, the edges would appear irregular. Nature is

rarely symmetrical in her work, there is nearly always irregularity of

growth; and in artificial cultivation it is neither possible nor

desirable to fill up every acre of land simultaneously."



Merna then told us that, owing to extensions of their irrigation system,

laterally, and the consequent growth of vegetation, the width of many of

the canal lines would be seen to increase.



"Yes," said John, "and when that phenomenon is seen by our observers we

shall be informed that such increase in width is still another proof

that there are no canals upon Mars."



"Well, John," replied Merna, "it seems to me very strange that your

people should so misinterpret the meaning of such indications. Do you

really think such a contention would be put forward?"



"I'm quite sure of it," said John; "and we should be told that canals

could not increase in width! Don't you agree with me, Professor?"



"Yes, John," I answered; "I have seen and heard so many contentions and

arguments of a like nature that I cannot say your supposition is not

justified.



"I may, however, point out that it is only when the most ideal

conditions of seeing exist that we can ever hope to secure a view of the

canal lines showing the apparent breaks in their continuity. I have on a

previous occasion alluded to the drawbacks connected with the use of

very large telescopes, and it may be well to sound a note of warning,

for it would be very easy for an observer to be deceived by an illusory

appearance of the breaking up of the canal lines into a series of

scattered markings. This effect would undoubtedly occur in using a very

large telescope in any but ideally favourable atmospheric conditions,

for the high powers used with such large instruments would so exaggerate

the most minute atmospheric tremors that any lines on the Martian

surface would inevitably appear broken up, and an erroneous deduction

might be drawn by the unwary observer. If well seen, the canal

vegetation would appear as separate markings in alignment, but no

telescope is ever likely to define well enough to show the actual

canals, because they are so narrow."



We now returned to our air-ship, and went back to Sirapion; where, after

making the necessary changes and preparations, we accompanied Merna to

the City Hall, for the purpose of attending the banquet to which we had

been invited by Soranho.






MARS. MAP IV



An intricate network of canals is here seen, especially in the

neighbourhood of Elysium, where many connect with the "Trivium

Charontis."]



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