THE LAW OF THE LAND OF ON.
Four weeks of constant enjoyment passed. The greatest kindness had been
shown the explorers by both king and subjects. The most sumptuous
repasts were set before them; the most beautiful robes were presented to
them, and the most glorious entertainments gotten up for their delight.
Their attendants anticipated their least desires and the King himself
personally supervised the festivities. Great hunts had been projected
and carried out; excursions through the beautiful country had been made
on the backs of white elephants; points of interest in the city had been
visited; moonlight rambles through the beautiful groves had been taken,
and there seemed no prospect of diminution of enjoyment.
They were living under the laws of three thousand years ago. Little had
been learned of their history or religion, for they had not become
sufficiently acquainted with the language to have these things imparted
to them. With Mr. Bruce’s help, however, they had learned that these
people were closely affiliated with the ancient Egyptians. Onrai had
promised to give the party some of the laws that night.
During the four weeks which had passed so pleasantly, the adventurers
had studied closely the people and their country. The rays of the sun
were intensely hot during the day, but owing to the thickness of the
onyx walls of the temple and the system by which air was forced over
blocks of ice, the apartments were delightfully pleasant and cool. The
streets during the day were deserted, but as evening came on the people
would leave their homes and promenade the principal thoroughfares and
squares, enjoying the cool and refreshing breezes which sprung up from
the south as the day declined. The people themselves were the most
remarkable feature of this strange country. The women stood fully six
feet and six inches high and the men seven feet.
Another very noticeable thing was the total absence of aged people. In
all their excursions they had not met a man or woman who looked to be
past middle life. Had they discovered a fountain of youth, which, when
bathed in, gave them a long lease on life with health and beauty? No
cripples or infirm people were seen, all being robust and healthy. All
resembled each other. It could be seen that their dispositions varied to
some extent but not radically, since all seemed inspired by the same
motives. They were easy in their movements and very graceful.
After four weeks of studying these people and their lives, our friends
considered them the happiest mortals they had ever known, for they did
not seem to have a care or trouble in the world.
That evening Onrai took the evening meal with them as usual and after
this was over, and they had repaired to the large court, Enola said:
“Onrai, you promised to tell us of your laws to-night and we are waiting
patiently to learn the government of such a happy people.”
“Our laws are simply nature’s law,” said Onrai. “In the first place, the
laws governing our physical welfare are very strict, for we believe that
happiness springs from a strong constitution and a healthy body. Our
tables are spread with an abundance of viands, but just so much must be
eaten and no more. We have certain hours for work and certain hours for
entertainment and recreation; the hours for work are few, because we
believe that overwork is injurious to the constitution and this we
always try to prevent. Our people are educated in religious laws and
language between the ages of seven and twelve.”
“Who are the teachers?” asked Enola.
“We are all teachers,” answered Onrai. “In our temples of learning all
above the age of twenty have their days for teaching. This is considered
one of the lightest duties, and we arrange the days so that they may
come directly after those of the hardest toil.”
“But is it with all other occupations as it is with teaching?” asked Mr.
Graham. “Do you not assign certain work to those who are most proficient
in that work?”
“We have none who are more proficient in one thing than another,”
answered Onrai. “Between the ages of twelve and twenty, our young people
devote certain hours each day to the study of trades and professions.
They may work for two weeks on a farm, and for the next two weeks study
architecture, and so on until they arrive at the age of twenty, when
they are as well versed in one thing as in another.”
“But are there no differences in the intellects of the people?” asked
Mr. Graham. “Are not some brighter and more clever than others?”
“No,” said Onrai. “Our duties are simple and easily learned, and when we
have once mastered them thoroughly, what difference would it make, if,
as you say, some should be brighter than others.”
“But,” said Enola, “Do you not have those who go beyond the things
taught them and develop new principles and invent new contrivances,
which might make their duties less irksome, their labors less arduous?”
“No, we have none such,” said Onrai, “or, if we have, their ideas never
take shape or form, for the one great law is to be content with what is
taught us. Look about you, see this beautiful country, the grand
palaces, the statuary and paintings; could we conceive of more beautiful
architecture, or grander statuary, with which to adorn these beautiful
palaces? No, I think not. We have certain lines to follow in
architecture, certain forms to copy in our statuary, and certain rules
to observe in our painting, and these lead to but the one thing, and
that is, perfection, which, when once reached cannot be surpassed.”
“Tell us more of the laws,” said Mr. Graham.
“After the physical welfare of our people is looked after, we make it
imperative that they study, and learn and adhere to the laws governing
the spiritual being. Our religion teaches us that if we abuse the body
and die before our time we shall not enter the great hereafter; we shall
be condemned to everlasting punishment. This religious law, and the dire
future for those who break it, makes all observe it, and consequently
you see no sick or infirm about you. We are taught to believe in one
God, and live so that we may enter a home of everlasting bliss when we
have lived out our lives on this earth.”
“Tell us how you punish murder and stealing,” said Mr. Bruce.
“Stealing, murder?” asked Onrai.
“Yes, taking from another that which belongs to him, either property or
life.”
“These are unknown to us,” said Onrai. “We are all equal; we have the
same duties to perform, the same garments to wear, the same things to
eat and drink. Why should we take from another that which we have
ourselves?”
“Is there no buying and selling?” asked Mr. Bruce.
“No,” said Onrai, “We all share alike. When a citizen wants a certain
article he has but to ask for it and it is his. We have an abundance of
all things, at all times and it is as free to one as to another.”
“What are your laws concerning marriage?” inquired Enola.
“Our religious laws govern this,” replied Onrai. “At the age of eighteen
the young people are taken before a council of ten and a careful
examination is made of both physical and mental health. These
examinations are reported on tablets and at the age of twenty they are
again summoned and a husband or wife is allotted.”
“But love,” said Mrs. Graham, “does not love enter into the compact at
all?”
“No”, said Onrai, “We are taught by our religion, not to allow ourselves
to love until married. Those, who from association learn to seek one
young person more than another, are brought before the council of ten
and steps are taken to prevent a recurrence. It is by this law that we
have attained a point in physical culture which shows a race of healthy,
strong and vigorous beings. In the course of events there are occasional
errors which render it necessary to forbid the further production of
children. When the young people are examined, if any organ seems at all
weak a companion is selected in whom that organ is at its best. If three
decided weaknesses are found, the person is not allowed to marry.
Dispositions and tempers are also considered by the council before
selection is made. We, of course, in our short lives, cannot notice the
great effects such a method brings about, but reason tells us that it
must be a safeguard to the strength of the people.”
“But what of the history of your people, Onrai?” asked Mr. Bruce.
“Our history is unknown to us,” said Onrai. “The history of the people
is not divulged. They know the events which occur during their own
lives, and that is all. At the expiration of each king’s reign, the
history of his reign in inscribed on a tablet of hard wood, and this is
placed in a secret chamber. Those who are living at the time of his
death are forbidden to ever mention the events of his reign when his
successor has ascended to the throne.”
“We are greatly disappointed,” said Mr. Bruce. “We have become very much
interested in your country and people, and we had hoped that we might
learn their history.”
Onrai at this moment called an attendant to him, and speaking a few
words to him the attendant withdrew. Presently the High Priest came
forward, and Onrai held quite a conversation with him, after which he
turned to our friends, and said:
“The High Priest informs me that he knows of no law which would forbid
your entering this secret chamber, and there read from the tablets the
history of our country and people.”
Our friends were much surprised at being granted this privilege, and
thanking Onrai, they repaired to the Secret Chamber with the High
Priest. While going to the chamber with the priest, he informed the
party that he was entrusted with certain religious secrets which the
rest of the people were not allowed to know, but as far as the history
of the country was concerned he was forbidden, as were all others, to
consult the tablets. Upon arriving at the Secret Chamber, a secret
spring was touched, and an immense stone door turned on a pivot, much
the same as the door to the cave. After entering the Priest showed them
the location of the secret spring on the inside, and also the location
of the most ancient tablets, and then retired. The great gate swung shut
and they were left alone in the immense chamber which contained the
unknown records of the history of On. They removed a great number of
tablets, until those bearing the earliest dates were uncovered, and
found them in a state of excellent preservation. With Mr. Bruce’s
knowledge of ancient hieroglyphics he was able to decipher most of the
inscriptions; by deciphering certain portions it was not difficult to
fill in between without the labor of actual translation. The research
stretched over several days, but condensed, the account ran as follows:
“During the reign of Amenophis of Egypt, the country was scourged by
numerous and grievous plagues, and the people were sorely tried. These
plagues were inflicted upon the Egyptians by the God of the Israelites,
as a punishment for the severe treatment of the latter race. One Moyses,
who had been reared in the royal house of the Pharaohs as a son, adopted
the religion of the Israelites and was chosen by them for their leader
to deliver them out of the land of Egypt. But they had no remedy at hand
and still bowed in submission to the fearful task imposed upon them
until Moyses at last saw a favorable opportunity for their deliverance.
Reminding them of their former freedom, and of the God of their fathers,
and that their cause was His, he prevailed upon them to regard their
deliverance as an article of religion, and they again became a united
people in their determination to seek refuge from the oppression of the
Egyptians in the wilderness, which was the dwelling place of their
kindred and the seat of their God. Then the fearful plagues were visited
upon the people of Egypt and they became desperate.
“Many Egyptians in the vicinity of Goshen, the dwelling place of the
Israelites, had accepted the religion of that people, and seeing no end
to the plagues which were scourging this country, they gathered together
and determined to emigrate to some distant land where they could live in
peace and happiness, and without fear of molestation from their
idolatrous countrymen. At the final meeting of these people, On, of the
city of Goshen, and the land of Egypt, was chosen as their leader, and
it was determined to follow the Nile as far as expedient, until they had
reached such a land as would suit them for a dwelling place. It is I,
On, who am now inscribing this record. There were six thousand and six
hundred of us, men, women and children. To leave Egypt together would
create suspicion, so choosing forty sub-commanders, an equal number of
companies set out at stated intervals and marched until the southern
boundary of the country had been crossed, when all were consolidated and
marched into the vast interior. When all were united, preparations were
made for the great journey. Boats were built, and many provisions were
procured, for we knew not the country into which we were going, or how
long it would take to reach a desirable land in which to take up our
abode. When all was in readiness we embarked in the boats and followed
the Nile until coming to the many streams which comprise its source.
Here we disembarked, leaving the boats in the river. Towards the south
we marched, the journey being very slow, tedious, and fraught with much
sickness and danger. Strange tribes of people we met, much darker in
color than we, and very hostile. We struggled on for many weary leagues,
fighting the strange people and being a prey to fever and wild beasts.
Our band was altogether discouraged; still I pleaded with them, telling
them that we would, sooner or later, come to an uninhabited country with
fertile fields and cooling streams.
“We came at last to a lofty range of mountains, running north and south,
extending, peak beyond peak, far to the westward. Following the
mountains south, for many leagues farther, the range suddenly turned
west. Still following along their base, we came to a beautiful open
country. Here we decided to take up our dwelling.
“We had been here but a short time when one of the men discovered a hole
in the side of the mountain. Ten men were sent to explore the vast cave
which this opening led into. At the end of three days they returned and
told us that an immense lake of water had stopped their further
progress, and that they had returned for boats. These were made, and
with them the men again started. Many times did the sun rise and set
before they again returned, but at last they came with a story which
made us all joyful. They had crossed the lake but had been lost on the
opposite shore, and had wandered for many days until they saw a ray of
light and making for it found an opening which led into a beautiful
country, stretching far to the west and north. They explored a part of
the country, finding numerous lakes and rivers, and then returned to
tell of the wonderful hidden land.
“After a consultation it was determined to pass through the mountains
and take up a permanent abode beyond. Preparations were made and
together we started. The lake was crossed, the opening found and we
reached the country which was to be the scene of our remaining life and
death. Our numbers were taken, and it was found that during the two
years’ march to this land we had lost more than half of our band. But
three thousand and two hundred remained of the six thousand and six
hundred which had started from Egypt. Fifteen hundred of those remaining
were men, the women and children having succumbed more readily to the
hardships of the journey.
“A site for a city was picked out and a part of the country cultivated.
Our land abounded in wild animals and fruits so we were well-provided
with food. A quarry of beautiful hard stone was found and we determined
to build our city of this. The architects drew up the plans for the city
and work was commenced. The Temple, which when finished will be the
grandest which the world has ever known, will stand in the northern end
of the city on a slight eminence. The streets are to be broad and paved.
At frequent distances will be squares for public amusement, and parks
for recreation will be placed conveniently near the city. We made two
discoveries which have helped us in the manufacture of necessary
implements and added to our comfort. A mine of gold was found, and in a
cavern through which the wind rushes like a blast from a mountain of
snow we found a lake of pure ice. This ice was of great thickness and it
took us a great while to cut through it. We have also a mountain of
iron, a field of diamonds and a forest of wood so hard that we find
great difficulty in cutting it. On blocks of this wood I am now
inscribing the infant history of our country.
“I am growing very old. My people have increased rapidly and great work
has been done. The City and Temple are fast nearing completion; most of
the streets are paved with hard stone and cultivated fields are about
us; we have measured the length and breadth of our country and find that
it is nearly three hundred miles square. We have driven the wild animals
from our cultivated land into a section near the mountains, and at the
border of this vast land of jungle and forest we are building a wall
fifty feet high to keep the animals within bounds. We also built a stone
viaduct to cross the lake in the cavern and several across the river
which flows at the base of the southern mountains. During the building
of these viaducts hundreds were engaged in keeping the laborers
furnished with meat, the animals being skinned and dressed for food in
the cavern. The inhabitants who died during the first twenty years of
our settlement here were embalmed, and their bodies placed in the niches
of the rock in the cavern. After this date the dead were cremated and
this is now a law. I am now ninety years old and we have been in this
country fifty years. The city and country has been named “ON,” in honor
of me, because I led the people to it, and I have been the people’s
chosen King since we left Egypt. I have laid down the laws which are to
govern the people for all time. These laws I have made simple and just,
guarding against any contingency or cause for dissension, profiting by
the experiences of other countries. I have tried to formulate laws which
will not allow of jealousies or covetousness.
“Again, the laws are aimed to make a race of people grand in physical
strength and beautiful in moral character. All are equal in the eyes of
the law. All are made to work at the different vocations. All are
furnished with the same provisions and raiment. The best artisans have
laid down rules to be followed by the people in architecture, sculpture,
painting, and in the making of ornaments. The best agriculturists, the
foremost of our quarrymen and miners have made new inventions and laid
down rules which will lighten and facilitate their labors.
“To the religion taught by the Israelites I have added nothing. From
their teachings I learned that they expected to have the Son of their
God visit them at some future time. They also taught us that there was a
great and eternal hereafter which was to be entered into after death,
and I have made this hereafter so bright and beautiful that my
countrymen will hail with delight their day of death. I have also made
it possible to stop the over-increase of our people by a certain law. To
guard against intemperate habits of any kind, by which so many diseases
and so much unhappiness are brought into the world, I have established a
law that all dying because of intemperance or over-indulgence in any of
the necessary things of life will enter into everlasting punishment. I
have made the delights of our future life so bright that my people will
guard against everything which might bring on disease and premature
death. Already the effects of these laws have been seen, for disease is
passing away and my people are striving in every way to live until their
day of death.
“I alone of the many Kings who are to follow me am allowed to reign for
so many years. I have given myself the right to reign thus long because
I wish to have my laws well-established before abdicating in favor of
another. I have found that some of the laws first laid down were
defective and by still retaining my sceptre I have been able to correct
them. To the High Priest I have given certain knowledge which is denied
the remainder of the people, and this knowledge is to be guarded by him
as a sacred commandment to be imparted only to his successor.
“The language of my forefathers I have changed but little. I have added
some few words from the language of the Israelites and a few from the
Syriac. I have made the language as simple as possible as well as the
hieroglyphics. The history of the reign of each King shall be inscribed
on tablets of wood and placed in the secret chamber of the Temple but
the people are to know nothing of their former history. This is done to
keep them from knowing anything of the outside world. I wish them to
believe that the world is bounded by the mountains which enclose their
country; for thus believing they will remain together and will never
undertake needless excursions into other countries, which would result
in war and bloodshed. I wish them to be a peaceable, law-abiding people
believing that they are the people and that theirs is the only country.
“I have fitted to the opening in the mountain a stone turning on pivots
and opening by a secret spring, of which I alone know the secret. Those
who fitted the stone were forbidden to speak of it and they have long
since died, and the laws forbidding access to the inscribed history have
been so well kept that none of my countrymen to-day are aware of the
existence of an outside world.
“This is not a history, but a simple outline of the events which led to
our emigration, the long journey, and the discovery of the country and
the laws which I have made. I have inscribed this during my few leisure
hours more for recreation than aught else. The history of our people and
country will be found inscribed on the King’s tablets.
“I have made the one holiday of the Land of On, ‘The Day of Resis,’ and
this day, if all of my laws are adhered to, will be the happiest day in
the lives of those who participate in its ceremonies.”