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continues：＇
On our homeward way we passed over Australia； making a detour
to do so。 Of the cities Oro took no account。 He said that they
were too large and too many； but the country interested him so
much that I gathered he must have given great attention to
agriculture at some time in the past。 He pointed out to me that
the climate was fine； and the land so fertile that with a proper
system of irrigation and water…storage it could support tens of
millions and feed not only itself but a great part of the
outlying world。
〃But where are the people？〃 he asked。 〃Outside of those huge
hives；〃 and he indicated the great cities； 〃I see few of them；
though doubtless some of the men are fighting in this war。 Well；
in the days to come this must be remedied。〃
Over New Zealand； which he found beautiful； he shook his head
for the same reason。
On another night we visited the East。 China with its teeming
millions interested him extremely； partly because he declared
these to be the descendants of one of the barbarian nations of
his own day。 He made a remark to the effect that this race had
always possessed points and capacities； and that he thought that
with proper government and instruction their Chinese offspring
would be of use in a regenerated world。
For the Japanese and all that they had done in two short
generations； he went so far as to express real admiration； a very
rare thing with Oro； who was by nature critical。 I could see that
mentally he put a white mark against their name。
India； too； really moved him。 He admired the ancient buildings
at Delhi and Agra； especially the Taj Mahal。 This； he declared；
was reminiscent of some of the palaces that stood at Pani； the
capital city of the Sons of Wisdom； before it was destroyed by
the Barbarians。
The English administration of the country also attracted a word
of praise from him； I think because of its rather autocratic
character。 Indeed he went so far as to declare that； with certain
modifications； it should be continued in the future； and even to
intimate that he would bear the matter in mind。 Democratic forms
of government had no charms for Oro。
Amongst other places； we stopped at Benares and watched the
funeral rites in progress upon the banks of the holy Ganges。 The
bearers of the dead brought the body of a woman wrapped in a red
shroud that glittered with tinsel ornaments。 Coming forward at a
run and chanting as they ran； they placed it upon the stones for
a little while； then lifted it up again and carried it down the
steps to the edge of the river。 Here they took water and poured
it over the corpse； thus performing the rite of the baptism of
death。 This done； they placed its feet in the water and left it
looking very small and lonely。 Presently appeared a tall；
white…draped woman who took her stand by the body and wailed。 It
was the dead one's mother。 Again the bearers approached and laid
the corpse upon the flaming pyre。
〃These rites are ancient；〃 said Oro。 〃When I ruled as King of
the World they were practised in this very place。 It is pleasant
to me to find something that has survived the changefulness of
Time。 Let it continue till the end。〃
Here I will cease。 These experiences that I have recorded are
but samples； for also we visited Russia and other countries。
Perhaps； too； they were not experiences at all； but only dreams
consequent on my state of health。 I cannot say for certain；
though much of what I seemed to see fitted in very well indeed
with what I learned in after days； and certainly at the time they
appeared as real as though Oro and I had stood together upon
those various shores。
Chapter XXI
Love's Eternal Altar
Now of all these happenings I said very little to Bastin and
Bickley。 The former would not have understood them； and the
latter attributed what I did tell him to mental delusions
following on my illness。 To Yva I did speak about them； however；
imploring her to explain their origin and to tell me whether or
not they were but visions of the night。
She listened to me； as I thought not without anxiety； from
which I gathered that she too feared for my mind。 It was not so；
however； for she said：
〃I am glad； O Humphrey； that your journeyings are done； since
such things are not without danger。 He who travels far out of the
body may chance to return there no more。〃
〃But were they journeyings； or dreams？〃 I asked。
She evaded a direct answer。
〃I cannot say。 My father has great powers。 I do not know them
all。 It is possible that they were neither journeyings nor
dreams。 Mayhap he used you as the sorcerers in the old days used
the magic glass； and after he had put his spell upon you； read in
your mind that which passes elsewhere。〃
I understood her to refer to what we call clairvoyance； when
the person entranced reveals secret or distant things to the
entrancer。 This is a more or less established phenomenon and much
less marvelous than the actual transportation of the spiritual
self through space。 Only I never knew of an instance in which the
seer； on awaking； remembered the things that he had seen； as in
my case。 There； however； the matter rested； or rests； for I could
extract nothing more from Yva； who appeared to me to have her
orders on the point。
Nor did Oro ever talk of what I had seemed to see in his
company； although he continued from time to time to visit me at
night。 But now our conversation was of other matters。 As Bastin
had discovered； by some extraordinary gift he had soon learned
how to read the English language； although he never spoke a
single word in that tongue。 Among our reference books that we
brought from the yacht； was a thin paper edition of the
Encyclopedia Britannica； which he borrowed when he discovered
that it contained compressed information about the various
countries of the world； also concerning almost every other
matter。 My belief is that within a month or so that marvelous
old man not only read this stupendous work from end to end； but
that he remembered everything of interest which it contained。 At
least； he would appear and show the fullest acquaintance with
certain subjects or places； seeking further light from me
concerning them； which very often I was quite unable to give him。
An accident； as it chanced； whereof I need not set out the
details； caused me to discover that his remarkable knowledge was
limited。 Thus； at one period； he knew little about any modern
topic which began with a letter later in the alphabet than； let
us say； C。 A few days afterwards he was acquainted with those up
to F； or G； and so on till he reached Z； when he appeared to me
to know everything； and returned the book。 Now； indeed； he was a
monument of learning； very ancient and very new； and with some
Encyclopedia…garnered facts or deductions of what had happened
between。
Moreover； he took to astronomical research； for more than once
we saw him standing on the rock at night studying the heavens。 On
one of these occasions； when he had the two metal plates； of
which I have spoken； in his hands； I ventured to approach and ask
what he did。 He replied that he was checking his calculations
that he found to be quite correct； an exact period of two hundred
and fifty thousand years having gone by since he laid himself
down to sleep。 Then； by aid of the plates； he pointed out to me
certain alterations that had happened during that period in the
positions of some of the stars。
For instance； he showed me one which； by help of my glasses； I
recognised as Sirius； and remarked that two hundred and fifty
thousand years ago it was further away and much smaller。 Now it
was precisely in the place and of the size which he had
predicted； and he pointed to it on his prophetic map。 Again he
indicated a star that the night…glass told me was Capella； which；
I suppose； is one of the most brilliant stars in the sky； and
showed me that on the map he had made two hundred and fifty
thousand years ago； it did not exist； as then it was too far
north to appear thereon。 Still； he observed； the passage of this
vast period of time had produced but little effect upon the face
of the heavens。 To the human eye the majority of the stars had
not moved so very far。
〃And yet they travel fast； O Humphrey；〃 he said。 〃Consider then
how great is their journey between the time they gather and that
day when； worn…out； once more they melt to vaporous gas。 You
think me long…lived who compared to them exist but a tiny
fraction of a second； nearly all of which I have been doomed to
pass in sleep。 And； Humphrey； I desire to liveI； who have great
plans and would shake the world。 But my day draws in； a few brief
centuries and I shall be gone； andwhither； whither？〃
〃If you lived as long as those stars； the end would be the
same； Oro。〃
〃Yes； but the life of t