Letter Home
This culture which I have visited is vast and complex, and I fear I cannot begin to describe the whole of it, particularly in such a brief missive as I am currently able to send. There is, however, one aspect of this place so wondrous that I simply cannot wait to share its description until my return, and feel I must send on even in this brief report. That aspect is the proliferation of magical springs, carefully tended in virtually every household and place of commerce.
These springs are wondrous: never depleted, they replenish themselves with clear, fresh, potable water almost immediately upon its removal, no matter how much is withdrawn. I have drunk great quantities of this water myself, and found it to be of the best quality, kept constantly at a cool and pleasant temperature by the magic of the spring, and with a fantastic ability to quench one’s thirst. Even the springs themselves, very small affairs of sufficient size to allow but one individual at a time to partake of them, are conveniently arranged so that the water remains at a height ideal to be scooped and drunk by a man crouched before them; a towel is often hung nearby to dry the hands after drinking.
The people here are scrupulous about tending these springs, and do not allow any creature or plant to inhabit them, so the water is never fouled. Indeed, it is replenished with water more clear than any I have encountered elsewhere, and it is a wonder to me that such water is so plentiful. Tools for tending the springs are kept close at hand, and each has a cover to protect its bounty from dust or intruders when it is not in use.
Perhaps because the places in which these springs form are so small, the people here generally drink from them alone, and indeed their use is considered very private; it appears that visits to these springs are times for quiet meditation. Such times are very necessary to members of this society, as during much of their time many events are occurring simultaneously, and the general pace of life can be quite rapid. Because of this tradition of privacy, I have been able to elicit very little information directly from my informants, but they have allowed me complete freedom to explore the magical springs on my own.
I first hoped to discover the source of the water in the spring, whether it was truly produced by magic alone or simply transported to each spring through some magical mechanism. There is indeed a small apparatus in front of each, which produces a fountain (generally concealed, but readily uncovered and examined) that replenishes the spring when a small lever is moved. It seems, however, to be connected to rootlike extensions that reach deep into the ground, and I believe the water to be gathered there in a manner similar to that by which the roots of plants collect water. Indeed, I have verified this belief to a certain extent, as several of my informants have explained that disruptions in the water supply are often caused by interactions with the roots of trees growing nearby.
These magical springs are maintained in public places as well as in private homes, but are generally still enclosed in small areas; I assume that this small space is either necessary to the magic of the springs themselves, or conducive to the extreme cleanliness those who tend the springs insist upon maintaining in the vicinity of them. I am glad that I took the time to learn the language before attempting to study this culture, for a sign is posted near every group of such public springs, proclaiming it to be a place of rest.
There is so much more I wished to communicate about these wondrous springs--how separate springs are often used in public by the different genders, but shared in a household; how the locations in which they are found seem to be very regular, judging by the positions of the houses and businesses constructed around them; how the rooms around them are often tiled to produce a comfortable, cooling environment in which to enjoy them. I had even hoped to describe their variations, how although I have seen some variety in color, they are most often white, associated among these people with purity and goodness. However, this message is limited to a single page, and I must be brief. I look forward to arriving home, when I may have leisure to describe these springs at length, and at which time I hope to have learned more about the private rites associated with their use. Then, too, I will be able to share my findings of many other wonders in this strange and exotic society.
I send this with all my best, with excitement of discovery and longing for you at home.