average life in Neuroomia is from one hundred and fifty to two hundred years; but in some parts—Atazatlan for instance—it is greater, probably not less than two hundred years.”
“And in the face of this,” I said, “you claim to have come originally from the same stock as the nations of the other continents?”
“Yes!” was the reply; “but you must remember that this continent has been separated from the other parts of the world for at least three hundred millions of years, and had your people a like climate, and lived under similar conditions to us for the period mentioned, I venture to hazard a belief that their average life would be fully as long as that of ours. With us also,” he continued, “the average life is on the increase, though the difference, say, in twenty generations, is very slight. However, you may examine the statistics for yourself as soon as you become better acquainted with our language. They are thoroughly reliable for the last million years.”
“Have you any wars?” I inquired.
“None on record,” was the answer. “You see, we all speak the one tongue, and we take no delight in injuring our fellow-men. Look at our herds of olgommeras!” he went on. “They sometimes
