_Of the Nature of the Country, and the
Manners of the People._
The _Potuan_ Empire is of no very great Extent. The whole Globe
is call’d _Nazar_, and is about two hundred _German_ Miles in
Circumference. A Traveller may easily go round it without a Guide,
for the same Language obtains every where, tho’ the _Potuans_ differ
greatly in their Customs and Manners from the other States and
Principalities. And as in our World the _Europeans_ excel the rest of
Mankind, so the _Potuans_ are distinguished by their superior Virtue
and Wisdom from the rest of the Globe. The high Roads, at proper
Distances, are adorn’d with Stones, that mark the Miles, and abound
with Directing-Posts, which shew the Ways and Turnings to every City
and Village. It is indeed a very memorable Circumstance, and worthy of
Admiration, that the same Language is spoke every where, altho’ the
several Kingdoms differ so widely in other Respects, namely, in their
Manners, Understanding, Customs, and Condition, that we see here all
that Variety which Nature delights in, and which does not only simply
move or affect the Traveller, but even throws him into an Extasy of
Wonder.
There are also Seas and Rivers which bear Vessels, whose Oars seem to
be mov’d by a Kind of magick Impulse, for they are not work’d by the
Labour of the Arm, but by Machines like our Clock-work. The Nature of
this Device I cannot explain, as being not well vers’d in Mechanicks;
and besides, these Trees contrive every Thing with such Subtilty, that
no Mortal without the Eyes of _Argus_, or the Power of Divination, can
arrive at the Secret. This Globe, like ours, has a triple Motion,
so that the Seasons here, namely, those of Day and Night, Winter and
Summer, Spring and Autumn, are distinguish’d like ours; also towards
the Poles it grows colder. As to Light, here is little Difference
between Day and Night, for the Reasons before assign’d. Nay, the Night
may be thought more grateful than the Day; for nothing can be conceiv’d
more bright and splendid, than that Light which the solid Firmament
receives from the Sun, and reflects back upon the Planet, insomuch that
it looks, (if I may be allow’d the Expression) like one universal Moon.
The Inhabitants consist of various Species of Trees, as Oaks, Limes,
Poplars, Palms, Brambles, _&c._ from whence the sixteen Months, into
which the subterranean Year is divided, have their Names. For every
sixteenth Month the Planet _Nazar_ returns to its first Station, yet
not upon the same Day, upon account of the Inequality of its Motion;
for just like our Moon, by its manifold _Phases_, it perplexes the
_Literati_ of the Firmament. Their Dates or Æras of Time are various;
these they fix from some memorable Circumstance, and particularly from
the great Comet which appear’d 3000 Years ago, and is said to have
caus’d an universal Deluge, in which the whole Race of Trees, and
other Animals perish’d, except a few which on the Tops of Mountains
escap’d the general Wreck, and from whom the present Inhabitants are
descended. The Soil abounds with Corn, Herbs, and Pulse; and produces
all the Fruits of _Europe_, except Oats, of which there is no Want,
since there are no Horses. The Seas and Lakes afford delicious Fish,
and the Shoars and Banks are adorn’d with the most entertaining Variety
of Villages, some contiguous, and some divided. The Liquor they drink
is extracted from certain Herbs which flourish all the Year. The
Venders of this Liquor are call’d _Minhalpi_, that is, Herb-Dressers,
who in every City are restrained to a certain Number, and who alone
have the Privilege of preparing it. Those who enjoy this Advantage, are
commanded to abstain from all other Business or lucrative Employment.
In particular it is provided, that those who already are in any publick
Offices, or who have Salaries from the Government, shall never concern
themselves in this Branch of Trade; because these by their Power and
Authority in the City might monopolize the Business, and be able to
undersel the rest, from the Revenues they already enjoy. An Artifice
often practised by the Courtiers and great Men of our World, who in the
Shape of Merchants or Jobbers, become immensely rich.
Their Populousness is mightily promoted by a certain salutary Law
concerning Procreation; for according to the Number of Children, their
Privileges and Immunities are increas’d or diminish’d. He who is
the Father of six Children is exempted from all Taxes, ordinary and
extraordinary. Hence a numerous Issue is deem’d as advantageous there
as it is hurtful and inconvenient in our World, where often a Tax is
impos’d in the Way of Capitation. No one here fills two Posts at once,
because they are of Opinion, that the least Employment requires the
whole Activity of the Soul. And therefore, with the Leave of my fellow
Creatures, I must say, that Business is better done with them than with
us. So sacred is the Observance of this Law, that a Physician does not
direct his Studies to the whole Circle of Physick, but bends all his
Application to the Nature and Cure of one only Disorder. A Musician
plays upon only one Instrument, quite otherwise than it is upon our
Earth, where by the Variety of our Pretensions, Humanity is trampled
on, Bitternesses increase, and our Duty is neglected; and where, by
aiming at every Thing, we do nothing to good Purpose. Thus a Physician,
while he affects to rectify the Disorders of the State, as well as
those of the Body, performs neither well. Thus, if another will be both
a Senator and a Musician, we can expect nothing but Discord. We are apt
to admire such daring Spirits as fly at all Things, who mix officiously
in Matters of the highest Concern, and think there is nothing they are
unfit for. But it is all Rashness, Presumption, and a total Want of
Sense of their own Strength, that we thus blindly admire. Did they
but thoroughly know the Weight of publick Office, and the Shortness
of their own Abilities, they would reject the offer’d Honours, and
tremble at the Sound. No one here undertakes the least Employment
_invita Minerva_. I remember to have heard an illustrious Philosopher,
by Name _Rakhasi_, descanting upon this Subject, and thus expressing
himself: “Every one of us should be acquainted with his own Abilities,
and be the strictest Judge of his own Virtues and Vices; otherwise
Stage-Players will appear to have more Wisdom than we; for they do not
chuse the finest Parts, but those that are the fittest for them. And
shall a Player see that on a Stage, which a wise Man cannot see in
Life?”
The Natives of this Empire are not divided into Nobles and Commons.
Formerly indeed this Distinction obtain’d. But when the Sovereigns
observ’d that the Seeds of Discord sprang from hence, they wisely
removed all such Privileges as were deriv’d from Birth, so that
Virtue alone is now the Test of Honour; and this will appear plainer
hereafter. The sole Preheminence of Birth consists in a Plurality of
Branches. The Offspring is accounted Noble or Ignoble, according to the
Plenty or Want of those, for this Reason, because the greater Plenty
they have, the fitter they are for all manual Operations.
Enough has been said in the foregoing Part of this Work concerning the
Genius and Manners of this People; and therefore referring the Readers
to those Passages, I conclude this Chapter, and proceed to some other
Particulars.