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 autumnal tints.
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.
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