After witnessing the wide extent of this slavery system, I appeared in visible form to a rich dignitary on one of the most refined highlands.

He was alone and, upon raising his eyes and seeing me before him, he was greatly amazed.  To see a little man with a hairy face and with the kind of clothing I wore, was all too odd for him to take in at once.  He acted as if I were some unheard-of animal, but when I addressed him in his own tongue and manifested a becomingly meek disposition, he accepted me as a deformed creature afflicted with a mild form of lunacy.  Then he proceeded to examine my clothing and especially my knees, trying to solve by what freak of nature I was cursed since I had no lower arms such as he had.  My small face, smooth forehead, and the short straight hair on my head aroused in him no little wonder and merriment, so that, all in all, I was the oddest freak he had ever seen.  He soon showed by his manner how thankful he was that gracious nature had formed him so much more kindly than me.

His questions soon poured out upon me and I answered as briefly and intelligently as I could.  He pressed me so hard as to the place of my birth that I finally informed him that I came from another world, whereat he was assured of my insanity and proceeded to fasten me by force until he might summon certain of his friends.  Knowing that all the people of Mars could do me no ultimate harm and wishing to see what might be their intentions, I offered very feeble resistance to his course.

In a very short time there was grouped around me a curious set of people, all of whom seemed to me so horribly ugly that I felt well satisfied that I had been born on the Earth.  Among the company were some eminent scholars who did no more than peer at one another and walk about me, while they were waiting for some learned professors to arrive from a distance.  A long, tedious period ensued ere the company of judges or examiners were gathered from several adjoining highlands.

They took me into a large room where followed an indescribable examination during which I purposely remained silent.

The button and button holes of my clothing attracted as much attention as my unnaturally shaped head.  My collar and necktie were conundrums.  Not one of the learned scholars was able to advance a theory as to the probable use of such a stiff piece under my head.  I could not conceal my smiles as I heard the flying theories as to the use of my cuffs.  One specialist decided that inasmuch as I had only two arms, I wore these to make them appear larger.  This was accepted as the most plausible explanation.

Several times they urged me to speak.  The man to whom I had first appeared had told them that I was expert in their language.  But I would not utter a word, being anxious to learn all I could by listening to their conjectures.

Some of my examiners were sure I belonged to a species of their animal creation, who, in some unaccountable manner, had received the gift of intelligence.  But this opinion did not gain ground, as no one could account for the manner of my clothing and especially for my pocket knife and other accompaniments.  No one believed that I came from another world, and yet no one could see how or where I had originated on Mars.