They have a plant somewhat resembling the sugar-cane, but its juices are less sweet and of a delicate perfume.
They have no bees nor honey-making insects, but they make much use of a sweet gum that oozes from a coniferous plant, not unlike the araucaria.
Their soil teems also with esculent roots and vegetables, which it is the aim of their culture to improve and vary to the utmost.

And I never remember any meal among this people, however it might be confined to the family household, in which some delicate novelty in such articles of food was not introduced.

In fine, as I before observed, their cookery is exquisite, so diversified and nutritious that one does not miss animal food; and their own physical forms suffice to show that with them, at least, meat is not required for superior production of muscular fibre.
They have no grapes--the drinks extracted from their fruits are innocent and refreshing.

Their staple beverage, however, is water, in the choice of which they are very fastidious, distinguishing at once the slightest impurity.
"My younger son takes great pleasure in augmenting our produce," said Aph-Lin as we passed through the storehouses, "and therefore will inherit these lands, which constitute the chief part of my wealth.

To my elder son such inheritance would be a great trouble and affliction." "Are there many sons among you who think the inheritance of vast wealth would be a great trouble and affliction ?" "Certainly; there are indeed very few of the Vril-ya who do not consider that a fortune much above the average is a heavy burden.