the
midday sun
The mountains on Earth , the seas , clouds , volcanoes , and ships ; these and many other objects that do not exist on Mars , were carved with remarkable faithfulness upon the walls of the observatory , and were looked upon by Martians as the wonders of a strange world . As at the observatory , the doorway was hung with heavy portières , and , passing through these , we found ourselves in what appeared to be an immense palm garden , in which Martians were to be seen sitting in groups , or walking about admiring the plants and flowers . Sunlight streamed in through the roof , the covering of which had been rolled back , and I became aware that it was in such places as this that the Martians were to be found during the heat of the day . Rain being unknown , it was necessary to grow the more delicate plants where they might be watered regularly and sheltered from the heat of the midday sun , and also from the hot winds that often came at this season . I now realized that the trees that I had noticed were to be found only upon the banks of streams and lakes , and that , with the exception of the green these afforded , Mars was entirely covered with a small and hardy pink flower of the antennaria family , which flourishes in a dry and sandy soil . Reon now left me , promising to return within an hour , in order that I might reach the observatory in due time . As I walked slowly among the tall palms , taking a path here and there at random and admiring the beautiful beds of flowers , some of which I recognized as flowers also indigenous to Earth , I noticed that all whom I met greeted me in the most cordial way , some pausing to say a few words .