was not without its element of beauty, too--the vegetable growth of July
and August in that peculiar land must exceed anything else of the kind
known to man. Think for a moment of the effect on vegetable growth of
warmth and moisture, a rich soil, and the complete absence of sunlight!
From the middle of their winter to its close, though vegetation is
luxuriant, it is colorless; that is to say, it is apparently of a pure
white, though, on comparison, the faintest shades of hue are
discernible--a very light gray and a cream color prevailing. The
peculiar grass of Hili-li, probably not indigenous yet certainly
different in form from any other grass, is very tender and very
luxuriant, but, even in their summer months, has a pale, almost hueless
though luminous green; whilst in winter it is almost white. Many flowers
bloom in the winter, but they differ one from another only in form and
in odor--they are all quite hueless. And this effect of artificial heat
in connection with absence of sunlight has a similar effect on animal
life, the plumage of the birds being a pure white. But in the appearance
of animals the summer sun does not produce much change--in that of
birds, none whatever.

"This brings me to the point in Peters' story at which I may most
naturally explain certain of Poe's statements--or, rather, of A. Gordon
Pym's statements--which have caused more comment than any other part of
the narrative. Hand me your Poe, please.--Here now: Poe says, quoting
from Pym's diary:

"'On the seventeenth [of February, 1828], we set out with the
determination of examining more thoroughly the chasm of black granite
into which we had made our way in the first search' (this, you will
recall, was on the last island upon which they set foot before being
driven by winds and ocean currents farther south. They were then in