Recreations of the Symzonians.--Wonderful provision of nature
for supplying the internal world with light.--Character and
employments of the women of Symzonia.
I visited the place of recreation, a neat plain rotunda, in the centre
of an extensive flower garden, where the young people, the middle aged,
and the old occasionally convened, to extend their knowledge of one
another, interchange their thoughts by conversation, listen to the
most exquisite music, and practise a variety of graceful and elegant
exercises. Being all very fond of music, they all join in that, by
turns, as in other performances. Sometimes an hundred instruments,
and many hundreds of the most exquisite voices, filled the whole
place with the most enchanting sounds.
The exquisite beauty of the women, the graceful dignity of the men,
the chaste decorum and sincere politeness of all, charmed the mind,
and delighted the heart. Here there were no temptations to vice by
offers of seducing cordials, wines, agreeable decoctions, or other
intoxicating drinks, as in our places of resort for recreation. The
enjoyments of this refined people were intellectual and pure--not
the debasing gratifications of animal passions and sensual appetites.
The soft reflected light of the sun, which was now no longer
directly visible, gave a pleasing mellowness to the scene, that
was inexpressibly agreeable, being about midway between a bright
moonlight and clear sunshine. I had great cause to admire the
wonderful provision of nature, by which the internal world enjoyed
almost perpetual light, without being subject at any time to the
scorching heats which oppress the bodies and irritate the passions
of the inhabitants of the external surface.
When the sun has great southern declination, it is seen directly
through the opening at the south pole, a little above the horizon--this
gives an interval of bright light; and as the rays of heat are more
refrangible than those of light [4], a sufficient degree of heat is
experienced to ripen the most delicate fruits.
At this season, during night, the rays of the sun are reflected from
the opposite rim of the polar opening, and afford so much light as
to render the stars invisible. The full moon is never seen at this
period; for while the sun is in south declination, the moon fulls to
the north of the equator, to give light to the north polar region,
and the northern internal hemisphere.
March and September are the darkest months. Both the sun and full
moon are then in the equator, and shine very obliquely by refraction,
into both polar openings. Yet, by reflection from side to side, they
afford a faint light quite to the internal equator, where two reflected
suns and moons are dimly seen at the same time. This circumstance had
led the internals to suppose that there were actually duplicates of
those luminaries. Their situation, it should be considered, did not
admit of such observations of the celestial bodies, as were necessary
to correct that error.
During this season, the planets and stars of the southern hemisphere
are visible, some directly, and others by reflection. This occasions
great mistakes in their astronomical calculations, which they ascribe
to the aberrations of the heavenly bodies. It never occurred to them
that their field of vision was a limited internal concave sphere,
and a great part of their firmament nothing but a reflection of the
external heavens.
When the sun is in north declination, it is not seen at all to
the south; but as it then shines into the north polar opening, its
influence is felt at Symzonia by a repeated reflection, and being
aided both by the powerful light of the moon, (which always fulls
in high south declination, when the sun is near the northern tropic,
and shines directly into the southern opening,) and by the direct and
reflected light of the planets and stars of the southern hemisphere,
gives light enough for all necessary purposes.
The women of Symzonia are not regarded as inferior in intellectual
capacity, or moral worth, to the other sex. The female character is
there respected, for the qualities of the female mind are developed and
employed. Their personal beauty exceeds my powers of description. I
can liken their complexion to nothing but alabaster slightly tinged
with rose. Compared with them the fairest of our fair are dingy. This
may not be readily credited by some of our beauties; but they have
only to place themselves near the alabaster ornaments in their drawing
rooms to realize the fact.
The domestic duties of the Symzonian women are very simple,
pleasing, and easily performed. To prepare the frugal family meal
requires no roasting heat, nor black array of pots, kettles, spits,
and gridirons. The little culinary preparation which vegetables and
fruits require, is neatly and conveniently done in silver vessels;
for silver is abundant, and well adapted for utensils for household
use. To arrange their basins of milk and honey, and set out their
baskets of fruit for a family united in esteem and love, is a
pleasurable exercise.
The preparation of clothing for a people of such simple habits
requires comparatively little labour. The garden occupies a portion
of their time, but the greater part is devoted to the instruction
of their children, the improvement of their own minds, religion,
and social intercourse.
Their parterres are not designed for the idle gratification of the
eye, but to support innumerable swarms of honey making insects; the
Symzonians being as fond of the sweet which nature has provided as the
Externals are of that which is wrung from the bloody sweat of slavery.
Symmetry in form, and elegance in arrangement, are much attended to
by this people; they do not attempt to surpass nature in the creation
of beauties, but endeavour to heighten the enjoyment of what is placed
before them, and make a right use of whatever they possess.
Vessels of gold for domestic purposes are sometimes used by those who
cannot easily procure silver. Gold is abundant in the beds of rivers
near the mountains, but it is not esteemed, because of its softness and
great weight. It is chiefly employed in the fastening of their vessels,
in place of iron, which is very rare, and much valued for its strength,
and fitness for all the purposes of agriculture and mechanics.