During his lifetime no one held communication with Daramara saving himself and his friends, but after his death the secret of black magic leaked out; countless people sought to acquire it, and ultimately the practice of it became universal.  But the Atlanteans little knew the danger they were incurring.  The spirits they conjured up—­though at first subservient, that is to say, mere instruments—­at length obtained complete dominion over them—­the whole race became steeped in crime and vice of every kind—­and so horrible were the enormities perpetrated that, fearful lest Man should be entirely obliterated the benevolent Occult Powers, after a desperate struggle with the malevolent Occult Powers, succeeded, by means of a vast earthquake, in submerging the Continent and hurling it to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, where, what remains of it, now lies.  This catastrophe took place in the reign of Aboonirin, twentieth sovereign of the Dynasty of Molonekin—­three thousand years after the reign of Barrahneil.

So ran the history of Atlantis, or at least all of it that need be quoted for the elucidation of this story.  That Black Magic—­the Black Art of the Atlanteans was by no means dead—­Hamar felt convinced, and if Maitland could resuscitate it—­why could not he?  At any rate he might try.  He could lose nothing by giving it a trial—­at least nothing to speak of—­the outlay on chemicals would be a mere song—­whereas, on the other hand, what might he not gain!  He eagerly perused the tests—­the test he must impose upon himself before he could get in touch with the Unknown, and acquire the magic powers—­which, according to Thomas Maitland, were copied from the original Brahnapotek, and including a preface, ran as follows:  (Preface) “It is essential that the person desirous of being initiated into the Black Art—­the Art of communicating with the Unknown (Daramara) in order to acquire certain great powers, should dismiss from his mind all ideas of moral progress, and wholly concentrate on the bettering of his material self—­on acquiring riches and fame in the physical sphere.  His aspirations must be entirely earthly, and all his affections subordinate to his main desire for wealth and carnal pleasures.  Having acquired this preliminary psychological stage, for one clear week he must give himself up entirely to the breaking of all the conventionalities of morality with which society is hedged in.  He must practice every kind of deception—­lie, cheat and steal, and go out of his way to seek an opportunity to avenge any personal injury; and if his mind is earnestly and wholly concentrated on acquiring knowledge of the Black Art no bodily mishap will befall him.  During this time of probation he must will himself to dream, at night, of all the deeds he had it in his mind to do, during the day; when he will know, by his visions, to what extent he is progressing.  At the end of the week he must apply the tests to see if he is in a ripe state to proceed.