each side is extensive, and the vegetal growth which extends the
full length of the water-ways and for thousands of miles in some
cases, is most prolific.

The water in the canals, in most instances, is distributed by
gravity; but recourse is had to a lock system and to immense
pumps for raising the water to proper levels.

The gates of the lock system and the pumps are operated by
electricity, the control of which energy is well understood by
us. In fact, we are centuries ahead of your Earth people in the
knowledge of the use of Electro-magnetic energy. (More will be
given on the subject of Electricity in a later chapter.)

Another source of mystery to your astronomers has been the
appearance of triangular dark spots at the origin of some of the
Martian canals. These have been referred to by your astronomer
Lowell as "Carets," named so by reason of their peculiar shape.
These so-called "Carets" are the thoughtful provision for the
impounding of a season's supply of water. In other words they
are in part a lock system for raising water to the level of some
of the main canals, and embrace also a prodigious pumping system.

These so-called "Carets," as the telescope will show, are located
at the edge of some of what appear to you as very dark areas on
our planet. These dark areas are Mars' old sea bottoms, and in
many instances have been utilized by our engineers as natural
reservoirs for water. Their convenient location near the Poles
has provided ideal facilities for the preservation of an adequate
supply of water.