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deceased had preceded the living。 Indeed； in their language； the funeral
hymn is called the 'Birth Song。' Then the corpse； covered by a long
cerement； was tenderly lifted up by six of the nearest kinfolk and borne
towards the dark thing I have described。 I pressed forward to 125see
what happened。 A sliding door or panel at one end was lifted up… the
body deposited within； on a shelf… the door reclosed… a spring a the side
touched… a sudden 'whishing；' sighing sound heard from within； and lo！ at
the other end of the machine the lid fell down； and a small handful of
smouldering dust dropped into a 'patera' placed to receive it。 The son
took up the 'patera' and said （in what I understood afterwards was the
usual form of words）； 〃Behold how great is the Maker！ To this little dust
He gave form and life and soul。 It needs not this little dust for Him to
renew form and life and soul to the beloved one we shall soon see again。〃
Each present bowed his head and pressed his hand to his heart。 Then
a young female child opened a small door within the wall； and I perceived；
in the recess； shelves on which were placed many 'paterae' like that which
the son held； save that they all had covers。 With such a cover a Gy now
approached the son； and placed it over the cup； on which it closed with a
spring。 On the lid were engraven the name of the deceased； and these
words：… 〃Lent to us〃 （here the date of birth）。 〃Recalled from us〃 （here
the date of death）。
The closed door shut with a musical sound； and all was over。
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The Coming Race
CHAPTER XXV。
〃And this；〃 said I； with my mind full of what I had witnessed… 〃this； I
presume； is your usual form of burial？〃
〃Our invariable form；〃 answered Aph…Lin。 〃What is it amongst your
people？〃
〃We inter the body whole within the earth。〃
〃What！ To degrade the form you have loved and honoured； the wife
on whose breast you have slept； to the loathsomeness of corruption？〃 126
〃But if the soul lives again； can it matter whether the body waste within
the earth or is reduced by that awful mechanism； worked； no doubt by the
agency of vril； into a pinch of dust？〃
〃You answer well；〃 said my host； 〃and there is no arguing on a matter
of feeling； but to me your custom is horrible and repulsive； and would
serve to invest death with gloomy and hideous associations。 It is
something； too； to my mind； to be able to preserve the token of what has
been our kinsman or friend within the abode in which we live。 We thus
feel more sensibly that he still lives； though not visibly so to us。 But our
sentiments in this； as in all things； are created by custom。 Custom is not
to be changed by a wise An； any more than it is changed by a wise
Community； without the greatest deliberation； followed by the most
earnest conviction。 It is only thus that change ceases to be changeability；
and once made is made for good。
When we regained the house； Aph…Lin summoned some of the
children in his service and sent them round to several of his friends；
requesting their attendance that day； during the Easy Hours； to a festival in
honour of his kinsman's recall to the All…Good。 This was the largest and
gayest assembly I ever witnessed during my stay among the Ana； and was
prolonged far into the Silent Hours。
The banquet was spread in a vast chamber reserved especially for
grand occasions。 This differed from our entertainments； and was not
without a certain resemblance to those we read of in the luxurious age of
the Roman empire。 There was not one great table set out； but numerous
small tables； each appropriated to eight guests。 It is considered that
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The Coming Race
beyond that number conversation languishes and friendship cools。 The
Ana never laugh loud； as I have before observed； but the cheerful ring of
their voices at the various tables betokened gaiety of intercourse。 As they
have no stimulant drinks； and are temperate in food； though so choice and
dainty； the banquet itself did not last long。 The tables sank through the
floor； 127and then came musical entertainments for those who liked them。
Many； however； wandered away：… some of the younger ascended in their
wings； for the hall was roofless； forming aerial dances； others strolled
through the various apartments； examining the curiosities with which they
were stored； or formed themselves into groups for various games； the
favourite of which is a complicated kind of chess played by eight persons。
I mixed with the crowd； but was prevented joining in the conversation by
the constant companionship of one or the other of my host's sons；
appointed to keep me from obtrusive questionings。 The guests； however；
noticed me but slightly； they had grown accustomed to my appearance；
seeing me so often in the streets； and I had ceased to excite much curiosity。
To my great delight Zee avoided me； and evidently sought to excite
my jealousy by marked attentions to a very handsome young An； who
（though； as is the modest custom of the males when addressed by females；
he answered with downcast eyes and blushing cheeks； and was demure
and shy as young ladies new to the world are in most civilised countries；
except England and America） was evidently much charmed by the tall Gy；
and ready to falter a bashful 〃Yes〃 if she had actually proposed。
Fervently hoping that she would； and more and more averse to the idea of
reduction to a cinder after I had seen the rapidity with which a human
body can be hurried into a pinch of dust； I amused myself by watching the
manners of the other young people。 I had the satisfaction of observing
that Zee was no singular assertor of a female's most valued rights。
Wherever I turned my eyes； or lent my ears； it seemed to me that the Gy
was the wooing party； and t