That the large dark-colored areas on Mars, supposed by early observers to be seas, are nothing more or less than low, swampy land covered with rank vegetation, was evidenced to me on one occasion when I was permitted to see the true character of these portions of the planet.
The rank vegetation was about three feet high and of a greenish red color.Interspersed throughout the mass of coarse-leafed plants were high, dry stalks the remnants of an earlier crop of Martian flora.The season seemed to be advanced and all plant life was taking on autumnaltints.
It was in December 1919 that I saw the first close-up picture of a Martian--a woman.Her head was covered with a thin veil which came down to her well-formed mouth.She seemed to be a most beautiful woman with most expressive eyes.Her hair was black.Her skin was unusually white, which contrasted with the dark hair.She wore no jewelry, or other ornaments that I could see.
On a subsequent occasion I was permitted to see a Martian male.He was playing a flutelike instrument, and as he was quite close to me I could observe the wax-like texture of his skin.This semi-transparency of the skin is characteristic of the Martians, and evidences a life that is free from the many bodily ailments that afflict humanity on our Earth.The Martian was dressed in graceful but loose-fitting clothes of a reddish-brown color.His eyes were a deep blue and his lips seemed to be unusually red.In respect to stature he was, I would say, about five feet nine inches in height.In fact, on subsequent occasions I have observed crowds of Martians gathered together and they appeared no different from the inhabitants of our own world except as to clothing, which is much simpler, but more graceful than our styles.
I was informed by the spiritual control that the fauna of Mars is varied, but that all animal life is domesticated, there being now no wild animals on the planet.
It was shortly after I had seen the Martians, described in the foregoing paragraph, that I was shown two cat-like animals, which at the time of my vision were engaged in playing about the feet of a Martian.They did not exactly resemble cats, but were more feline than canine.They were about the size of a large Airedale, and of a dark, reddish-brown color with deep black stripes, similar to the markings of our tigers.They were very playful and cavorted about just as our own dogs and cats do when endeavoring to attract the attention of their masters.
On the morning of January 20, 1920, I was shown another Martian canal.On this occasion I observed a large building on the banks of the waterway near my point of vision.This building was more of agrandstand with a roof than anything else I can compare it to.It consisted of a large framework painted white, and was as high as our two- storied structures.A multitude of the people were inside the building, some sitting, some standing.They all seemed to be intently gazing in a Northerly direction, up-stream.
Much green foliage and varied-colored flowers lined the banks of the canal, especially in the neighborhood of the building.The people all seemed to be attired in holiday garb, and it was evident to me that a celebration was going on.
Later I was informed that what I had witnessed was an annual celebration observed by the people of Mars on the occasion of arrival of the first water from the North Pole after commencement of the Martian Spring.It appears that this occasion is a very important event with the Martians.as the arrival of the life- giving moisture from the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the planet insures a season of plenty for the inhabitants.The water arrives at the equatorial regions in a little less than a Martian month (60 days) after the commencement of the Polar thaws and after a season of thanksgiving to the Father has been held by all in appreciation of His bountiful gifts.The Spiritual leaders of the different communities preside at these gatherings.
The foregoing is in remarkable agreement with a statement on page 375 of the late Professor Lowell's book titled "MARS," as follows.
