people of the city； not only among those who walked together
in the visitation of the Source； but also among those who
remained behind； for many of them were kind and generous；
faithful in their work； and very pleasant in their
conversation。
Yet there was something lacking between me and them。 I
came not onto firm ground with them； for all their warmth of
welcome and their pleasant ways。 They were by nature of the
race of those who dwell ever in one place； even in their thoughts
they went not far abroad。 But I have been ever a seeker； and the
world seems to me made to wander in； rather than to abide in one
corner of it and never see what the rest has in store。 Now
this was what the people of Saloma could not understand； and
for this reason I seemed to them always a stranger； an alien；
a guest。 The fixed circle of their life was like an invisible
wall； and with the best will in the world they knew not how to
draw me within it。 And I； for my part； while I understood
well their wish to rest and be at peace； could not quite
understand the way in which it found fulfilment； nor share the
repose which seemed to them all…sufficient and lasting。 In
their gardens I saw ever the same flowers； and none perfect。
At their feasts I tasted ever the same food； and none that
made an end of hunger。 In their talk I heard ever the same
words； and none that went to the depth of thought。 The very
quietude and fixity of their being perplexed and estranged me。
What to them was permanent； to me was transient。 They were
inhabitants： I was a visitor。
The one in all the city of Saloma with whom was most at home
was Ruamie； the little granddaughter of the old man with whom
I lodged。 To her； a girl of thirteen； fair…eyed and full of
joy； the wonted round of life had not yet grown to be a matter of
course。 She was quick to feel and answer the newness of every
day that dawned。 When a strange bird flew down from the
mountains into the gardens； it was she that saw it and wondered
at it。 It was she that walked with me most often in the path to
the Source。 She went out with me to the fields in the morning
and almost every day found wild…flowers that were new to me。
At sunset she drew me to happy games of youths and children；
where her fancy was never tired of weaving new turns to the
familiar pastimes。 In the dusk she would sit beside me in an
arbour of honeysuckle and question me about the flower that I
was seeking；for to her I had often spoken of my quest。
〃Is it blue；〃 she asked； 〃as blue as the speedwell that
grows beside the brook？〃
〃Yes； it is as much bluer than the speedwell； as the river
is deeper than the brook。〃
〃And is it she asked； 〃as bright as the drops of dew in
the moonlight？〃
〃Yes； it is brighter than the drops of dew as the sun is
clearer than the moon。〃
〃And is it sweet；〃 she asked； 〃as sweet as the honeysuckle
when the day is warm and still？〃
〃Yes； it is as much sweeter than the honeysuckle as the
night is stiller and more sweet than the day。〃
〃Tell me again；〃 she asked； 〃when you saw it； and why do
you seek it？〃
〃Once I saw it when I was a boy； no older than you。 Our
house looked out toward the hills； far away and at sunset
softly blue against the eastern sky。 It was the day that we
laid my father to rest in the little burying…ground among the
cedar…trees。 There was his father's grave； and his father's
father's grave； and there were the places for my mother and
for my two brothers and for my sister and for me。 I counted
them all； when the others had gone back to the house。 I paced
up and down alone； measuring the ground； there was
room enough for us all； and in the western corner where a
young elm…tree was growing；that would be my place； for I was
the youngest。 How tall would the elm…tree be then？ I had
never thought of it before。 It seemed to make me sad and
restless；wishing for something； I knew not what；longing to
see the world and to taste happiness before I must sleep
beneath the elm…tree。 Then I looked off to the blue hills；
shadowy and dream…like； the boundary of the little world that
I knew。 And there； in a cleft between the highest peaks I saw
a wondrous thing： for the place at which I was looking seemed
to come nearer and nearer to me； I saw the trees； the rocks；
the ferns； the white road winding before me； the enfolding
hills unclosed like leaves； and in the heart of them I saw a
Blue Flower； so bright； so beautiful that my eyes filled with
tears as I looked。 It was like a face that smiled at me and
promised something。 Then I heard a call； like the note of a
trumpet very far away； calling me to come。 And as I listened
the flower faded into the dimness of the hills。〃
〃Did you follow it；〃 asked Ruamie； 〃and did you go away from
your home？ How could you do that？〃
〃Yes； Ruamie； when the time came； as soon as I was free；
I set out on my journey； and my home is at the end of the
journey； wherever that may be。〃
〃And the flower；〃 she asked； 〃you have seen it again？〃
〃Once again； when I was a youth； I saw it。 After a long
voyage upon stormy seas； we came into a quiet haven； and there
the friend who was dearest to me； said good…by； for he was
going back to his own country and his father's house； but I
was still journeying onward。 So as I stood at the bow of the
ship； sailing out into the wide blue water； far away among the
sparkling waves I saw a little island； with shores of silver
sand and slopes of fairest green； and in the middle of the
island the Blue Flower was growing； wondrous tall and
dazzling； brighter than the sapphire of the sea。 Then the
call of the distant trumpet came floating across the water；
and while it was sounding a shimmer of fog swept over the
island and I could see it no more。〃
〃Was it a real island；〃 asked Ruamie。 〃Did you ever find
it？〃
〃Never； for the ship sailed another way。 But once again
I saw the flower； three days before I came to Saloma。 It was
on the edge of the desert； close under the shadow of the great
mountains。 A vast loneliness was round about me； it seemed as
if I was the only soul living upon earth； and I longed for the
dwellings of men。 Then as I woke in the morning I looked up
at the dark ridge of the mountains； and there against the
brightening blue of the sky I saw the Blue Flower standing up
clear and brave。 It shone so deep and pure that the sky grew
pale around it。 Then the echo of the far…off trumpet drifted
down the hillsides； and the sun rose； and the flower was
melted away in light。 So I rose and travelled on till I came
to Saloma。〃
〃And now；〃 said the child； 〃you are at home with us。 Will
you not stay for a long； long while？ You may find the Blue
Flower here。 There are many kinds in the fields。 I find new
ones every day。〃
〃I will stay while I can； Ruamie；〃 I answered；
taking her hand in mine as we walked back to the house at
nightfall； 〃but how long that may be I cannot tell。 For with
you I am at home； yet the place where I must abide is the
place where the flower grows； and when the call comes I must
follow it。〃
〃Yes；〃 said she； looking at me half in doubt； 〃I think I
understand。 But wherever you go I hope you will find the
flower at last。〃
In truth there were many things in the city that troubled
me and made me restless； in spite of the sweet comfort of
Ruamie's friendship and the tranquillity of the life in
Saloma。 I came to see the meaning of what the old man had
said about the shadow that rested upon his thoughts。 For
there were some in the city who said that the hours of
visitation were wasted； and that it would be better to employ
the time in gathering water from the pools that formed among
the mountains in the rainy season； or in sinking wells along
the edge of the desert。 Others had newly come to the city and
were teaching that there was no Source； and that the story of
the poor man who reopened it was a fable； and that the hours of
visitation were only hours of dreaming。 There were many who
believed them； and many more who said that it did not matter
whether their words were true or false； and that it was of small
moment whether men went to visit the fountain or not； provided
only that they worked in the gardens and kept the marble pools
and basins in repair and opened new canals through the fields；
since there always had been and always would be plenty of water。
As I listened to these sayings it seemed to me doubtful
what the end of the city would be。 And while this doubt was
yet heavy upon me； I heard at midnight the faint calling of
the trumpet； sounding along the crest of the mountains： and as
I went out to look where it came from； I saw； through the
glimmering veil of the milky way； the shape of a blossom of
celestial blue； whose petals seemed to fall and fade as I
looked。 So I bade farewell to the old man in whose house I
had learned to love the hour of visitation and the Source and
the name of him who opened it； and I kissed the hands and the
brow of the little Ruamie who had entered my heart； and went
forth sadly from the land of Koorma into other lands； to look for
the Blue Flower。
II
In the Book of the Voyage without a Harbour is written the
record of the ten years which passed before I came back again
to the city of Saloma。
It was not easy to find； for I came down through the
mountains； and as I looked from a distant shoulder of the
hills for the little bay full of greenery； it was not to be
seen。 There was only a white town shining far off against the
brown cliffs； like a flake of mica in a cleft of the rocks。
Then I slept that night； full of care； on the hillside； and
rising before dawn； came down in the early morning toward the
city。
The fields were lying parched and yellow under the
sunrise； and great cracks gaped in the earth as if it were
thirsty。 The trenches and channels were still there； but
there was little water in them； and through the ragged fringes of
the rusty vineyards I heard； instead of the cheerful songs of the
vintagers； the creaking of dry windlasses and the hoarse throb of
the pumps in sunken wells。 The girdle of gardens had shrunk like
a wreath of withered flowers； and all t