by M. Heliogenes De L'Epy

A Voyage into Tartary (1689) is the travel narrative of Heliogenes de L'Epy, a French doctor of philosophy who claimed to have journeyed from Lyon through Italy, Greece, Turkey, and deep into Central Asia — the vast region Europeans called Tartary. The text is part autobiography, part philosophical travelogue, part ethnographic report, describing everything from his miraculous survival of a shipwreck at age three to his encounters with Greek-speaking philosophical communities in the interior of the continent.

First written in French, the work was translated into English by the printer's commission while L'Epy was abroad in the Levant. Published in London in 1689 by T. Hodskin and sold by Randal Taylor near Stationers Hall, the book is dedicated to the Earl of Clanricarde — a nod to the Restoration-era Irish aristocracy whose family had suffered under Cromwell. The Latin epigraph, from Seneca's Epistle 90, sets the tone: the first mortals followed Nature uncorrupted as both guide and law.

The text survives in a single edition held by the British Museum (now British Library), digitised from microfilm by the Early English Books collection. The OCR from microfilm is heavily damaged; this archival text has been reconstructed by hand from the scans.

The Epistle Dedicatory

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF CLANRICARDE

The Good Fortune which has always attended me by Sea and Land, in my last Travels into the Levant, incourages me to presume, that that same Providence, which more especially assigns certain Genius's to watch over the safety of such Persons, which it culls out for the Execution of the greatest Enterprises, cast an Eye upon me, from the very Moment that I departed from London, with a Resolution to find your Lordship out, in whatever part of the World you were.

That Providence doubtless it was, which having snatch'd me from the gaping Jaws of Dragons in France, and deliver'd me from the dangers and hazards which I ran both upon the one and the other Sea, diverted also from my Heart the Sharp-pointed Dagger of a Meyers, which Hell it self had vomited up to overwhelm me at Venice: This Providence it was that staid a small Vessel at Marseilles for seven Months together, till the day that I arriv'd to embark my self for Smyrna, and to be there before your Lordship was to depart, in pursuance of other Voyages quite contrary to the Advantage of your Affairs, and which I could never discover. At length being happily return'd home under the Conduct of your successful Patronage, after I had travell'd Six thousand nine hundred Miles by Sea or by Land in four Months time, I flatter'd my self, that in Dedicating to your Lordship this little Piece, which departs from my Study upon a Voyage to the Republick of the Curious, it might find the same Good Fortune as the Author of it.

Tho' indeed a stronger Reason oblig'd me to procure it this Honour; that is to say, the Grandeur of a Name which has preserv'd it self untarnish'd in the Nobility of your Family for many Ages, even till this very day in your own Illustrious Person. For you are descended from that Great Hero, who assisted William the Conqueror to lay the Foundations of a Monarchy, which the Sword of your Ancestors has ever since upheld with the hazard of their Lives. Witness that Thunder-bolt of War, the Deceased Earl your Father, who for having taken up Arms in the Defence of the King his Master, had lost his Head, had not the Vengeance of Heaven crush'd the Tyrant who had condemn'd him by the means of a small number of Judges and Jury Men, that then acknowledg'd no other Law than Absolute Power. And your Lordship, the true Off-spring of so many Hero's, tracing their Glorious Examples, declar'd your self against your best Friend, so soon as he appear'd to be an Enemy to the King his Father, with Arms your Prowess caus'd to be redoubted, both in Flanders and wherever else the Honour of his Commands carry'd you. I could say much more, but that your Modesty obliges me to silence. But to what purpose should I be multiplying words, when your own Actions themselves sufficiently Proclaim the rest, as well as your Person, which alone attracts the Affection and Esteem of all that have the advantage to know those excellent Qualities with which God has endow'd your Lordship; and of which I wish your Lordship a happy and long Enjoyment. Accept therefore I beseech your Lordship this small Present as a Testimony of my Respect, in the Quality of

Your Lordship's,

Most humble and most Obedient Servant,

De L'Epy.

The Preface

I had written in my time several Volumes upon several Subjects, which afterwards I threw into the Fire; as well for that they dislik'd me (for I am a very severe Censurer of my own works) as for that I did not think them proper for the Genius of the Age, more inclin'd to trifles than to serious things. Nevertheless I was merciful to the Memory of my Adventures, not so much for any Esteem which I had of them, but that I might leave my Children, settl'd in a Foreign Country, the Consolation of knowing whence they came, and by what Accident they happen'd to be born. Afterwards understanding by the Conversation which I had had with the Booksellers, that Books of Travels were agreeable to the Palates of most Readers, the Inclination which I have had all my life to be serviceable to Mankind, made me resolve to publish this small Part of mine, at least to give some few hours Divertisement to the Publick by reading them; with this Promise, that if this small Essay find acceptance, they shall have the Journal entire.

The Impression was begun in French the last year; at what time finding my self oblig'd to return into the Levant, upon the occasion which I have hinted in the preceding Epistle, I desir'd the Printer to stop his Press till my return, because I desir'd to oversee it. In the mean time he had caus'd my Copy to be Translated into English, which I view'd and found faithfully done. After which, having restor'd him his Translation to do what he pleas'd with it, he desir'd me to answer some Objections which had been made in my absence.

In the first Place they will hardly believe the Shipwrack which I suffered in my Third year; nor the manner how I escaped. Nevertheless there is nothing more certain than what I have said of it: besides other Circumstances, which I have omitted, which would seem yet more incredible. All the City of Lyons, which is the Place of my Nativity, was at that time possess'd of it; I was there lookt upon as another Moses. Neither am I so old, but that there are still Persons alive that can testifie the same.

They will have it that I have been in Egypt; I confess it; but that is not the Heliopolis I speak of. But as there are at this time several Cities of the same name; as Frankfort upon the Maine, Frankfort upon the Oder; Lyons upon the Saone, and Lyon le Saulnier, or Lyons where the Salt-pits are, besides Leiden which the Latins call Lugdunum also: Chalon upon the Saone, and Chalons upon the Marne; Valence in the Dauphinate, and Valence in Spain: Why must it be deny'd, but that besides Heliopolis in Egypt, there may be that other of which I have given the Relation in Tartary.

They who never saw more than their own Village, never imagin that Steeples are of any other fashion than their own. Lactantius and St. Austin laught at those who by the dictates of sound sence affirm'd there were Antipodes. And a German Bishop was accus'd for a Heretick before Pope Zachary upon the same score. And if Columbus had not discover'd the way where others follow'd him, we should have had enow pitiful Schollars that would have maintain'd there was never any such thing. Being once in a Coach with an Impertinent Lady, understanding that I was a French Man, she would not believe that they spoke in France any other Language than hers, which she thought to be the Language of the whole World. Good God! how many People are there, who believing themselves to be very witty, are altogether like this Woman? If not in this very particular, yet in several other things.

We have taken for Fables what the Poets or the Ancients have told us of certain things, till at last Experience has made us know they were Truths. Those who in the Reign of Lewis the XIVth brought one of those Savages along with them, which however it was more ease for them to do than to bring a Heliopolitan into Europe. For of things which we do not see, we know nothing but by the Report of others. Now Men have not reported to us all things, for want of having been upon the Places; and the Reason why they do not travel thither, is either want of Courage or Curiosity. Now that other People, besides those of whom History speaks, have transported themselves from one Country to another, there is no Question to be made: Witness those, who in the Times of the first Israelites, escaped out of that part of Syria where they inhabited, into Africa, where they Erected a Pillar, which was found several Ages after with this Inscription:

Nos Maurusii qui fugimus a facie Josue Latronis, filii Nave.

'Tis very well known, that we have but a very small part of the Ancient Authors, nor that those which have been preserv'd to us are very much maim'd. Had we all of them entire, we should not be such admirers of that which appears to us so strange or new, by reason of our Ignorance only. Perhaps we might there have found out the Transmigration of this Solary Colony, whether the Incredulous might easily have been convinc'd, since we do not here pretend to undertake the fantastick Travels of Bergerac de Cyrano.

As to what remains, since I relate nothing which is impossible or miraculous, or that may render my Relation incredulous, it signifies little to call in question the Relation of a Fact, since the possibility of the thing is acknowledg'd; and that leaving to everyone the liberty to believe as they please, they do not deprive me of that freedom which Plato had, to propose the Idea of a Republick after his manner.

As for the Passage where I say that I heard People speaking Greek litteral behind a Wall, they exclaim it is impossible; but if they read with attention all the Relation, which in two different Passages says well enough for it self.

They say that I have not given an exact Relation of my return. To which I answer, that being weari'd with long Travelling, I thought it sufficient to set down the most Remarkable things till I recover'd Turkey. And as for what concerns Italy or France, I have not said any more concerning them going thither than coming back; tho' I have made very exact Descriptions of them too, as well as of Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Greece and other Countries, describ'd so many times by others, and as well known to the English as England it self.

Courteous Reader, if it be my good hap that this Essay finds a favourable acceptance, I may observe the Promise which I have made you at the end of my Relation, by giving you the whole of my Travels with the knowledge of all the Corners of the World, where I have been, as exactly as it is possible to be done.

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The Author teacheth Philosophy and Physick, both Ancient and Modern: Geography, History, Chronology, Latin, French, Italian, and keeps Boarders. If any Gentleman or Gentlewoman desires to learn Philosophy, or whatsoever they please in Latin, or in any Vulgar Tongue, he is ready to wait on them: He liveth in Beauford Buildings in the Strand behind the Fountain Tavern, over against the Crown.

A Voyage into Tartary

The Sun, whom the Heathens formerly worshipp'd, is, according to the Philosophers, the Soul of the World, that universal Agent that gives life to all things; that heat which enlivens us, and our real Fellow-parent in the Generation of our Children, if we may give credit to Aristotle. He is lovely for his Beauty, to be adored for his Power, unspeakable for his Effects, formidable for his Chastisements, which he shall quickly feel that dares gaze upon his lustre with disrespectful Eyes, as being dazl'd with the light; and if he continue obstinate in his curiosity, he fails not to find himself overwhelmed with the splendor of his Glory. Now if all these Attributes will not serve to excuse People that want the light of the Sun of Justice, and that this seems to be only a more specifick Character of the Divinity, we may add in their favour, that he is only single; for which reason it was that the Greeks call'd him Monogener, by a name excluding Multitude. The Assyrians nam'd him Adad, that is to say, the One, and acknowledged him for the chiefest of the Gods, together with the Persians, who called him by another name, which signifies in their Language, He in whom resides the Soveraignty of Command.

If Pliny his admirer did not adore him, he deem'd him worthy the Adoration of the People, which the Inhabitants of the Fortunate Islands never refus'd him. The Masagetes acknowledge no other Deity but him. Also at this day we find in China a Temple dedicated to the Atoms of the Sun, whose Palace is thought to be the Paradise of that People. All the Heathen upon the Coast of Malabar pay him homage, as also some part of the Japons, and the Great Tartars, as we are told by several Geographers. For my own part, in truth, I never observ'd any such sort of Worship in all that vast extent of Territory, which I have travell'd; only I met with one small corner inhabited by Philosophers originally descended from the same, who mov'd by these, or some other more important Reflections, were convinc'd not of his Divinity, but of his Superiority, consecrated Holy-days, and ordain'd Ceremonies, wherein they acknowledge the Benefits which they receive by his Influences.

Their Form of Government is Aristocratical, under Laws that seem to have been drawn either from Plato's Commonwealth, or else from the primitive Christians, as injoying all things in common, tho' it be not really so, as you shall see in reading these Travels, which I was induced to undertake upon the following occasion.

In the third year of my Age, and the year of our Lord 1636, I was sent by my Parents from a Country-house upon the Saone two Leagues above Lyons, with my Governess in a Boat, which through the carelessness of the Master, was overset by another larger Vessel that was tow'd along the same River. I remember I heard the confused noise of Shrieks and crying out, We are lost, we are lost; I ask'd what was the matter? They made answer, that they believed me to be the Cause of their disaster, while the Boat-men stood gazing to see me play in the Water. At length I lost my senses, I know not how. But no sooner recovering my self, I saw a Lady floating upon the Water, that with a lamentable voice called me by name; whereupon I called to her and others whom I saw perishing before my Eyes, to do as I did; for I fansiedthat I had done something extraordinary, and that they too might save themselves by the same means. This was the Shipwrack of which I have spoken, and which gave me so early a reputation in all that Country.

Having pass'd my Youth in a constant application to my Studies, and a particular inclination for Travelling, I departed from Rome, where I had spent some time in the acquaintance of several Learned Men; at what time finding my self dissatisfied with the Cheats that had been put upon me, and bethought my self that it was my duty to abandon those People, whose ill-lead Lives gave the Lye so manifestly to their Tenents. There having communicated my Design to Monthreso, the honestest and the most Learned among the whole Tribe, he not only approv'd it, but desir'd he might have the honour to accompany me in so laudable an Enterprize. With these Resolutions we departed from the Capital of the Roman Empire the Twentieth of January by St. John Lateran's Gate, and arriv'd at Naples by the 25th, where after we had seen the Curiosities of Puzzuolo, and Vesuvius, tir'd with our Travels through the Principal Parts of Europe, we resolv'd to see the Varieties of other Countries and Territories of the World.

Thereupon resolving to go aboard the first Vessel that set sail for the Levant, we went to the Sea-side, where we met with Signor Hippolito, Captain of the good Ship call'd the Hope; who understanding our design, made us an obliging Proffer of his Service, which we readily accepting, embark'd the fourth of February, with a Wind so favourable, that in a short time we lost sight of the Land, which by sickness laying in my Cabin I saw no more till we arriv'd at Porto Lione, where we again had a view of it the Fifteenth. Overjoy'd that I was so near a Place which was formerly the Mansion of all Human Wisdom, I soon forgot the tiresome hardships of the Sea.

So soon as I cast my Eyes upon the ancient Pyræus, so ill-treated by Time, that it does not preserve so much as its Name, chang'd into that which it carries at present, by reason of the ill-shap'd figure of a Lyon. In the same Place we hir'd Post-Horses to visit Athens, distant from the Port about five Miles.

So soon as I arriv'd there, I began to look for the rugged Ruins of that Famous Piece of Antiquity. Wherein I found great Assistance from the knowledge of the Learned Demetrius, to whom I was recommended by his Friends at Venice. Neither was my own Skill in the Greek unprofitable to me. For though the Vulgar Greek differs very little from that in the Schools, the Corruption of this is not so great, but that it may be understood, when it is spoken according to the Pronunciation of the Country. Besides that it is as common among Persons of Quality, as Latin among the Polonians.

Moreover, they told me, that there is no other Greek to speak properly than that. In regard that what is call'd Vulgar Greek is a kind of Pedlars French, which differs according to the several Jurisdictions of the Country: that it was the same in the time of Demosthenes; that then, besides the four Dialects most known, there were some other in use among the Vulgar People; but that the Orators in their publick Pleadings made use of the common Speech, which was understood by the ordinary sort, although they did not speak it; which they confirm'd to me by the Letters of private Persons written at that time, and which were afterwards found in the Ruins of old Walls. Their Books also were written in that sort of Greek, which we call for that Reason Litteral, and which is the very same that the Preachers at this day make use of in their Sermons. In a word, that Person is deem'd to write and speak best among them, who comes nearest the Language of the Ancient Authors; which is at this day the only Standard of the Language, as the Paragon in Italy, and the Parisian in France in respect of the other Provinces, where though it be not spoken, yet it is understood by the meaner sort.

The Citadel or Acropolis, seated upon a Rock, commands the City, and is seen at Sea. Being not permitted to go in, I could see no more than the outward side of it; but my Friend told me that there was a noble Piece of Antiquity, viz. the Temple of Diana. However, all that we could meet with of the Ancient Ornaments of that City, built many Ages before Rome, was only certain small Towers erected in honour of those who had been Victors in the Olympick Games, and some Portico's of ruin'd Temples; among which there is one which resembles that of Virile Fortune, which is now the Egyptian St. Mary's at Rome, upon the Banks of Tiber, in the Flesh-market.

They shew'd me also a certain piece of carv'd Work, representing Diana in her hunting Habit, attended in a Wood by her Nymphs. It was a wonderful Piece of Workmanship, and the Inscription gave us to understand, that it was wrought by the hand of Phidias, having been digg'd but a little before we came thither, out of the Ruins of the Areopagus; which does not now stand within the compass of the City, that is now reduc'd within a lesser compass. They also shew'd me the place of the Temple or Altar Erected to the unknown God. Several Statues are digg'd up out of the Earth every day, of which not one that I have seen comes near to those of Italy.

Thereupon being amaz'd to see so few Signs of its ancient Splendor, they made me answer, that I might see them in other Places, whither the War had transplanted them, or else bartered in Traffick. Indeed there was one Piece which I saw the last time I was at Venice, in the House of Signor Michele Peruli, an Athenian Merchant, which had been sent him as a Present, representing in Brass Relief a young man stark naked, holding a Crow or else a Jack-daw in his Right hand. The bottom of the Sculpture was adorn'd with a Palm-tree, upon the Trunk of which a certain kind of Beetle was engrav'd in a creeping Posture. The Cornish comes forth as far as the Statue, and is inclos'd by two borders, between which at the Top these words are to be read in Greek Letters, Sophius Demosthenous Epoiese, which some will therefore have to be the Son of the Great Demosthenes. The Piece is good from the Belly downward; but the Head is not very extraordinary, and the left hand is broke off.

Every Body knows that the Statue of Venus which formerly stood upon Mount Pincius at Rome, and is now to be seen in the Galleries of Florence, leave being given to the Grand Duke by the present Pope to remove it thither, was the Work of an Athenian, whose name is engrav'd at the bottom of the Statue: Kleomenes the Son of Apollodorus an Athenian made this. A favour which the Duke's Predecessors could ne'er obtain, though from Popes of the same Family. So cautious they were of parting with any of the Ornaments of their City; whereas the present Pope suffers them to be daily taken away, notwithstanding all the grumbling of the Romans.

So that all that remains at this day of the Athenian Antiquity is their Olive Trees and their Wit. These Olive Trees encompass it round, and are the chief Revenue of the Athenians. Their other Fruits are very Excellent, and it may be the best in the World. But as for the Inhabitants, they are no less naturally Witty and Ingenious than ever; so that if they were but well manur'd by Education, they would prove as Good Poets, Orators, Philosophers, Statuaries, or other Artists whatever, as ever were known at the time when it flourish'd in its highest Splendour.

The Turks have the same respect for them as the Romans had; who suffer them to live according to their own Laws, and to be govern'd by their own Magistrates, for the Grand Signior is contented only with sending thither one of his Favourite Eunuchs, who receives the Duty impos'd, without farther concerning himself with their Affairs; besides that his Garrison is very inconsiderable. The Bishop is Judge of the Differences between the Diocesans, who generally submit to his determination for fear of Ecclesiastical Censures. They trade into Italy with their Commodities, for which they receive in exchange Cloth, and all manner of Iron Tools. Their Women are handsome, and richly clad in their Garments embroider'd with Gold down to their very Shoes, which their Husbands, though poor, willingly let them have, for fear of a greater mischief. The Citizens of Quality wear a long black robe with a large Sleeve.

As for the Religious Ceremonies, the Mass is much the same as ours, only the Priest turns him to the People at the Gospel, which he reads standing in the middle of the Church, with the same Ornament as they do at Rome; but only bow'd with their Shoulders to the Bread, as well before as after Consecration. The Liturgy being ended, the Priest invites the People to the Communion; if no body come, he eats the remainder upon a Table which stands at the side of the North Door. As for the Sick, they communicate of the Bread and Wine Consecrated by the Bishop upon Maundy Thursday for the whole year. To which purpose they keep the Bread steep'd in the Wine, by the side of the Altar in a Cup-board without Light. I ask'd them, whether the Sacrament so preserv'd, did not putrify; but they assur'd me it did not.

The Bishops' Miter is not cloven, but round, and all set with precious Stones. All the Bishops believe themselves to be equal as to the See, the Dignity of which exalts the one above the other, by virtue of an Institution purely Humane, and not Divine. They never stay till they are sick to receive the Sacrament of Extreme Unction; but they receive it all every year in the Holy Week, after this manner: Two Archbishops bless the Oil; afterwards the Archbishop of the Church being seated in his Chair, and five or six Priests in theirs, the People present themselves to be anointed; first by the Prelate, who holding a Wax Candle in his hand, dips the Cotton in the holy Oil, and then anoints the Forehead, the Face, and Palm of the Hand; after which the same Person goes to the other Priests who do the same. They pray for the dead, whose Souls they believe remain in this World in expectation of the General day of Judgment; not admitting any particular Judgment.

They frequently perfume with Frankincense in their Ceremonies, which are very decent, and fill the Soul with a sensible Devotion. I ask'd them the reason why they made such frequent use of their Perfumes; to which they answer'd, that it was to admonish the People to send up their Prayers with the Perfume, which ascends toward Heaven.

As to what remains, the Eastern Church glories in its Priority, which they assume to themselves, and which is no more than Truth; neither do the Latins dispute the Point of Eldership. That which surpriz'd me was this, that they should preserve themselves under the Tyranny of the Mahometans, who neither by their oppressive Impositions, nor fair Promises, could ever oblige the Eastern Christians to change the Gospel for the Alcoran.

To which purpose I will impart to the Reader two Remarkable Passages, that happen'd about six years since; the one at Constantinople, that befel a young man between seventeen and eighteen years of Age, whose Name was Anthony, Learned for his Age in the Turkish Language above any, belov'd by every one for his reading. So soon as he had refus'd to embrace the Mahometan Religion, they carried him to Prison, where for thirty days he endured most horrible torments; of which one among the rest was the thrusting of sharp Reeds between the Flesh and the Nails of his Fingers. After which he had his Head cut off, which the Embassador of France bought of the Executioner as a precious Relique.

The other, whose name was Diamanti, aged about thirty years, and of a charming Beauty, was rowing naked in a Boat upon a River of Asia, with certain Turks, who mov'd with compassion that so lovely a Man should perish for want of embracing their Religion, put a white Turbant upon his Head. Which done, he was us'd with the same severity as Anthony was, after he had refused the chiefest Preferments in the Empire. But a Jacobin Monk, who was there at the same time, renouncing his Christianity, was the occasion of their recovering by his Apostacy what they had lost by the generous Constancy of Diamanti.

I could give a more ample Description of the Religion of the Greeks, but having done it in another place, I shall not study to enlarge this Volume.

Neither was Demetrius content to shew me what was within the City, but extending his kindness, resolv'd to let me see what was without. To which purpose he invited me to take a walk with him to the Country-house of one Constantine his particular Friend, distant about ten miles; which we resolv'd to walk according to the custom of the Country. We set out by day-break, and with great delight cross'd over several delicious Gardens and Fields planted with Olive-trees, promising our selves a most pleasant Journey, perceiving the Sun to rise upon the Lilies whiteness. But contrary to the Maxim of the Weather-wise, we were deceived. For a black Cloud behind us being driven forward by a West wind, soon got under the Sun, and deprived us of the sight of that noble Planet. Presently the Sky became so dark that we could hardly discern one another, which were the fore-runners of a most dreadful Thunder, which however did not terrify me so much as the Rain that followed did me mischief. For besides that, continuing all that day, it soak'd through my Shirt to my very Skin; the fat Soil of the Fields through which we were to pass to get the nearest way, being dissolv'd, we sunk in the Mud up to our very Knees, so that we were forc'd every step we took to pull out our Legs with our Hands. This same Combat with the bad Weather and worse Way tir'd me so much, that I was forced to make a stop. Nevertheless I encourag'd Monthreso to follow Demetrius; I bid them also drink and be merry, and take no notice of my indisposition, telling them withal, that after I had rested my self upon the descent of a Turfy Bank, where I was laid down, I would come after them.

Through meer faintness, I would endeavour to overtake them the next day. After that, falling insensibly asleep, I knew not what became of them, till wak'd with the noise, I perceiv'd them upon two Camels followed by a Countryman who led a third, which carried me to the Friend's House.

Constantine treated us with that magnificence, that it was easie to see he had been advertised of our coming. But having lost all my Strength and Spirits, not all the Delicacy of his Viands could force my languishing Appetite; so that the good Wine was all the Refreshment I could take that Evening. However I took some pleasure to see the Company fall on so heartily, sometimes casting my Eyes upon a Lady that sate over-against me, young, handsome, and plump, yet one that eat no more than my self; which I wondered at the more, because I could not see any reason she had to be so tender-stomach'd. I observ'd also, that she would be still staring upon me, and could read in her Eyes that I was not unworthy of her Favour. However, Modesty would not permit me to inform my self any farther, and my Indisposition was Excuse enough for me to take leave of the Company, that I might repair the Losses of my Strength by the Refreshment of a good Bed.

After a short Nap, I observed Monthresor earnestly peeing through the crevice of a Door that lead out of my Chamber into another, and finding by my stirring that I was awake, he came to me, and made me put my Head out of Bed, and look through the same chink into the next Chamber, where I saw a young man performing the office of a Chambermaid to the young Lady: But neither of us knew what the meaning of it was; thereupon I fell asleep again, and Monthresor went to bed.

About midnight I was awaked again by the hard treading of some body in the Chamber; at which time, putting by the Curtain of the Bed, which was of Cloth of Gold, I was strangely surprized to see the same young man in his Shirt, with a Scimiter drawn in his right Hand, and his Eyes sparkling like the light that glitter'd out of the Lanthorn which he held in his left, with my own Night-cap. Nor was I less terrified to see him in that posture making toward Monthresor's Bed; which however, he presently left to come to mine; and so soon as he perceived my bare Head, which I thrust out from between the Curtains to see what was the matter; Oh! is it you, cry'd he? The noise which he made wakened my Companion, and I at the same time leapt out of my Bed stark naked as I was, having lain after the Italian manner, the better to ease my self, snatch'd up my Cloak and wound it about my Arm to fend off the Blows which the enraged young Fellow laid on without mercy. By this time Monthresor coming to my assistance, clasp'd the young man about both his Arms, and stopp'd his Fury, which was as much as he could do, in regard we had both left our Swords in the place where we supp'd.

Presently after the Lady coming out of her Chamber, made a hideous out-cry which raised all the House, and brought them into the Room; and Demetrius without any more to do, took my part. At which the Aggressor began to vomit forth against me all the Reproaches and ill Language that his Passion could invent, out of a false belief, that I had attempted the Honour of his Sister, shewing my Cap to Constantine, as being the most proper Judge of the Trespass which was supposed to have been committed in his House; and adds, That having heard a noise in her Chamber, he hastned thither and found what I wanted, lying at her Bed's-feet. However, though the Presumption were very rational, Demetrius had a better opinion of me, as well in respect of his experience of my Conversation, and the Recommendations of his Friends in my behalf, and stiffly maintain'd that I was a Person that scorn'd such a dishonourable Action.

On the other side, the Lady who had thrown her self between her Brother and me, to stop his Fury, conjured him by her own Honour, not to believe any thing that might tend to her Scandal; alledging, that the Cap might have been carried into the Chamber by some unthought-of Accident. This Constantine confirm'd, assuring the Company, That the Rats, of which the House was full for want of Cats, the sight of which he could not endure, did often play him such Tricks, many times carrying away his Stockings and other Clothes, sometimes into one Corner, sometimes into another, and that so my Cap might have fallen accidentally from my Head, and have been carried where the young man found it; therefore he desired Lascaris to pacifie his Wrath, and me to pardon his zealous Fury in his Sister's behalf. Thereupon, every one acquiescing in his Judgment, they all return'd to their Beds.

By break of day my Enemy gave me another visit, not like a Mad-man, but with a serene Countenance, and crav'd my Excuse for the Transports of his Rage; and so saying, he brought me one of his own Shoes that a Rat had likewise carried away, all gnaw'd and vermin-eaten as it was: And this, added he, puts me out of doubt of Constantine's Conjecture. After that he made me privy to his Sister's Concerns, and his design to carry her privately out of the way, that he might release her from the importunate Addresses of the Eunuch Governour of Athens, who was passionately in love with her, but whose vain and impotent Caresses were loathsome to her.

Demetrius would fain have had me travelled farther up into the Country; but in regard I had seen enough to judge of the Nature of the rest by what I had seen already, that is to say, That it was enriched with excellent Fruits, abounding in Corn and Oil, without any deficiency of Bacchus's Liquor, I determined to return to the City, where finding my Landlord Epiphanei tied Legs and Feet by the Fetters of that Distemper which proceeds from Wine and good Cheer, where men indulge their Appetites to excess, I relieved him with my Antipodagricon, or Antidote against the Gout; and understanding that our Vessel was ready to set sail for Constantinople, tho' there still remained many things for me to have seen in this so-highly renowned Province of Greece, I rather chose to deferr the Satisfaction of my Curiosity till my Return, than to lose the opportunity of our Vessel; so that we embark'd the 25th New-stile, and the 15th Old-stile, which the Greeks retain as well as the English.

Scarce were we got clear of the Road, but my usual Distemper seized me, which obliged me to keep my Cabin, where I lay ill till we came to Byzantium, where we arrived the 4th of March. Upon our landing, a French Slave that stood upon the Key, offered to conduct us to the House of Signior Lirks, to whom I had Letters to deliver; by the way we met with two Turks, one of which took off my Hat, and with his Foot tossed it up into the Air, like a Foot-ball, diverting himself and his Companion for some time with his rude Sport, laughing and shouting all the while. The reason was, as our Guide told us, because those sort of People bear an inveterate hatred to our Habits, which they look upon to be very paltry and ridiculous, nevertheless we think them to be very graceful; and account our selves the wisest People in the World.

This Capital City of the Ottoman Empire having been several times described by other Travellers who have been very exact in their relations, I shall say nothing of it, only that after I had satisfied my self with the sight of the Hippodrome, and several other the most remarkable parts of it, I departed thence the 7th of March, having the opportunity of a Vessel which carried me through the Euxine Sea to Lovati, where we arrived the 17th. My desire to see Tartary, of which Country there has been so little said, causing me to make choice of that Passage; However, not having any information that might assist me to find out the most commodious and safest way to steer my Travels, I made it my business to frequent the Coffee-Houses, where I had the good luck to meet with Aristides, a young man, well-featur'd, and infinitely civil, the Son of a rich Merchant of Jannina in Epirus, famous for the Birth of Pyrrhus, and well stored with Learning. This Person was also a Traveller for his pleasure, and with the same design that we had, which was to see the most remote Places, rarely frequented, and of which the Relations are hitherto very imperfect. He understood the Turkish perfectly well, but excell'd in the Litteral Greek. Seeing therefore that I had a smattering of both the Languages, and that our humours corresponded, he was desirous to make a Third in our Society; Thereupon we concluded to range the remainder of Turkey, being inform'd that we should find Vessels at Santa Maria, which would transport us into Tartary through the Caspian Sea, and that we might take that way without any danger, having a Janizary to attend us, with whom we might agree for the whole expence of the Journey. Upon these Instructions we pitch'd upon a Rough-hewn Blade, who undertook to conduct us for Twenty-five Crowns a Head, for whose Fidelity, besides that he lookt like an honest stout fellow, a Merchant of Aristides's Acquaintance engag'd. A Crown is a Spanish Real, which Money, as well as that of the German Empire and Holland, goes through all Turkey with Venetian Sequins, to the great advantage of Travellers; upon every Sequin you get five Shillings, upon every Real one Shilling.

Upon the Twentieth of March we got a Horse-back, the Weather being very fair, and so continuing till the Thirtieth, at what time we got to Santa Maria, by easie Journeys, setting up our Tents in those places which seem'd to us most convenient; and yet making it that we travell'd at least Twelve Leagues a day. All that Country which comprehends Mingrelia and Georgia, is sufficiently beautiful, but ill-peopled and worse manur'd.

The Georgians are accompted Hereticks by the Greeks, though they observe their Ceremonies. The difference between them consists chiefly in this, that they will not acknowledge the Holy Virgin to be the Mother of God; alleadging that God could have no Mother: However though they blame the Greeks for being of a contrary Opinion, yet they do not forbear to frequent their Churches in Italy, and prefer them before the Latins. Aristides and I my self were present at their Ceremonies in the Passion Week, at which time Monthresor lay sick of a Dysentery; but by virtue of an infallible Cure which I brought with me from Rome he recover'd, and was in a Condition to put to Sea, the Third of April; which we did with a fair Wind that brought us to Mor the Seventh. However we did not land there, by reason of the Pestilence that was very violent in that Place. Which was to me a grievous Affliction by reason of the racking Pains which I endur'd upon the Sea, and which only going ashore could relieve. Thereupon we were constrain'd to put out again into the open Sea, which being offended at our Return, began in a raging fury to threaten the Masts of our Vessel, and swallow us up in his Mounting Waves. Nor did the Storm cease till some hours after the Night was shut in; but then it became so calm and smooth that I felt some ease.

The next day being quit of the fright I got upon the Deck, and descrying Land with a small Town about three Miles distant from the Shore, I propos'd to our Friends, that we might be row'd ashore in our Skiff, to which they agreed, and our Captain was no less willing, and in respect to Aristides, order'd the Seamen to carry our Luggage to the Town, which afterwards we found to be Sabatar. There we were courteously received by all the Inhabitants, who caress'd us after an extraordinary manner, and without any hopes of Profit, in regard there are no Inns in that place, as in France and other Countries of Europe: the Person that entertains you being satisfied with having perform'd a laudable Act of Hospitality. Happy was he that could have us; and therefore to please more than one, we divided our selves. However though we lodg'd in several Houses, we kept together all day long.

They also recommended to our Service a Tartarian, who having liv'd among the Franks at Constantinople, had learnt the Italian Language; and therefore finding him inclin'd to serve us, we accepted of him. And thus having recover'd our former health, by rest and good feeding, we set forwards again the Eleventh, without any other design but to travel where we would; we had with us Cataman our Tartar before us carrying a Basket of Provisions, with a Partisan in his hand, and his Bow and Arrows at his Back. We carry'd every one a Carbine and a Brace of Pistols in our Pockets, and a Scimitar by our sides; and his Turban, and a Portmanteau of Linnen for change, we threw them upon a Horse which we had provided to serve us in time of necessity. Moreover Aristides had one more than any of the rest; a Mastiff, which he had bred up, fierce to all others but his Master's Friends; and which his Master had arm'd with a strange Spanish Cap of Steel to defend him from the Claws and Fangs of wild Beasts, which cover'd his head like the hollow of a Prune Stone, and ended in a Blade below his Nose, like the Horn of a Rhinoceros, with a Point so sharp as to be able to pierce a Bufalo's Skin. This Dog's Name was Paniphages, in plain English: A Devourer of all things.

And thus accouter'd, we travell'd all that day and night without meeting any Living Creature. The next Morning betimes we found by Cataman's pace, that we had made a shift to find the way to our Mouths in the Dark. But when we had made a farther Breach in his Basket at Noon, he began to out-strip us so fast that we were forc'd to order him to keep behind. Toward Evening we discover'd a Cottage made of Stone without Mortar, cover'd with Grass. Thereupon we desir'd All-devour to open his Mouth and speak to the Cottage, believing that upon his surly summons they that were within would make their appearance, but no answer being return'd, we conjectur'd it to be deserted, and having enter'd, took possession of a good Lodging for the rest of the Evening; we spent the remaining time in cutting Furs for our Bedding. The Wolves however being come, Monthresor struck a light with his steel and flint, to the end we might sup with more pleasure by the light of small Wax Candles. Cataman was extremely pleas'd to see us feed, but discontented that he should have nothing to eat. The next day there being but a very small Magazine left, which we reserv'd with care, we found a heap of Brush-wood with which to roast our Venison.

After we had din'd, we agreed together, that if any Misfortune should threaten us, the last Surviving should inherit all the Goods. All this while the Mastiff discover'd upon a rising Hillock, of which the White and Green put it in our heads that we should go and discover what it really was. Thereupon we made up to it, and the nearer we approach'd, the plainer we perceiv'd them to be a knot of Shepherds' Lodgings, who understanding by Cataman the Cause of our coming, feasted us in their Tents to the best of their Power: For their usual Dyet is Milk, Cheese, Butter and Pulse, such as the Earth naturally produces without labour. Some there are that eat Flesh; but they are lookt upon as Savages and Brutes. They have also a sort of Wheat which grows like their Pulse without the assistance of Husbandry; but they make no Bread of it, no more than they make Wine of their Grapes. In a word, they live upon all the Productions of the Earth, which it affords them without any other preparation than that of Nature. Nevertheless, as having learnt of Bees and Emets, they make their Provision in its proper Seasons against Winter.

As to their Stature, they are generally about four foot and a half high, but never exceed five. Their Faces are generally square, but well shap'd, only that their Noses are generally flat. They are strong and courageous; their Cloathing for the more careless sort is only a Sheep's Skin; but the more neat and curious make use of the Skins of Hares, Martins, Foxes or Tygers, which they kill in Hunting. Nor is the Habit of the Women much different from that of the Men; for they say that the Beard is a sufficient distinction between the two Sexes. They are faithful to their Husbands, equally sharing with them in their Cares and Pains. When they sit down to eat, their Table-cloth is a broad flat piece of Wooll which being spread upon the Ground serves instead of a Table, a Napkin, and a Plate; and much like the Greeks and Turks, they sit down upon Cushions made of Sheep-Skin with the Wooll on. Every one takes what best pleases his Palate. For they have Fruits of all sorts, Fresh in their Season, and preserv'd in Winter: Apples, Pears, Cherries, Figs, Grapes, Milk, and Roots, which they reserve in Honey instead of Salt, of which they make no use at all; they begin their Meals with a large draught of Milk, and conclude them. After that, if they chance to be thirsty, they quench their Thirsts with the next fair Water they meet. They lie in their Cloaths upon Skins spread upon the Ground, and cover themselves with Skins of the same; which I find to be more comfortable than the Beds of Germany and Switzerland, where Feather-beds serve for Top and Coverlet.

They are never Sick; and therefore Physick is not known among them. They only die of old Age, upon the utter extinction of their Natural heat, which happens sooner or later, according to the Composition which they first receiv'd in their Mothers Womb. I once askt a decrepid old Man, whether he were not afraid of Death? Who being surpriz'd at the Novelty of a Question never propos'd among them, made answer; That there was nothing to be fear'd where there was nothing of Evil. That he conceiv'd Death to be nothing else but a Cessation from the Motions of Action and Thought: That all evil consisted in the Thought, and therefore there could be no suffering where there is a Cessation of Thought. I could not but admire at such Philosophy as this in a Person so Illiterate; for they are so far from addicting themselves to study, that they have not any knowledge of Books. In the next place I caus'd him to be askt of what Religion he was? To which he made this Return, That he was a Shepherd by Profession; nor could I draw any other answer from him.

They abide in the Places of which they make choice, so long as they find anything to feed upon. Afterwards they remove into other Parts, under the Conduct of one who is their Chief. They were so Civil, that perceiving we wanted a Tent, they presented us with one of their own; together with a Cart and four Cows to draw it, which besides the service that they did us, might also feed us with their Milk. Their Tents are made of white Skins, drest with the Hair on; which colour they make choice of above all others, to the end their Tents may be discern'd at a distance, which prevents others that have occasion to change their stations, to remove to a place already possess'd.

The Fifteenth we took leave of our Hosts, laden with Provisions for Eight days, for which we presented them with several Trifles, very acceptable to them by reason of their Novelty.

From hence we went on slowly, and by short Journeys, taking up our Lodging an hour before Night, which we spent either in eating or sleeping, one of our Company always keeping watch in his Turn; not for fear of Robbers, or barbarous spoilers of Passengers, for there are no such Usages among them; but for fear of the wild Beasts which otherwise might have assaulted our Persons, or devour'd our Cows, for whose Pasturage our Sentinel had in charge to provide, with the assistance of All-devour. We also made a stop in the daytime, as well to rest our selves, as to refresh our selves with a short Meal.

The Twentieth we understood, by the heat of the Sun, that we were far distant from the North; which heat was so violent, that the Reflection of it from a Rock upon our right hand, put Aristides into a violent fit of a Headach, who having at length met with a convenient Shade, under the favour of the Elbow of a Hillock, made bold to sit down upon certain Stones, which long time had loosened and rowl'd down from the Rock; besides that our hour being come, the conveniency of the Place invited us to take a Repast. Thereupon leaving our sick Friend to his Repose under the Guard of Cataman, Monthresor and my self went to look out for some Water, judging by the nature of the Place, that we could not be far off from a Spring. Nor were we deceiv'd, for not far off, we discovered a large Hind going to cool himself in a wide receptacle of spring water, not unlike to that which proves the Spring of a wide River near the Temple of Diana at the foot of Tourmagne at Nimes in Languedoc. The Beast was nothing scared either at the sight of us, or our Fire-arms; nor did we think it Humanity to injure our Benefactress.

But finding the Rock to open in that place, our Curiosity led us to enter the Hole; where upon Monthresor and my self entering the Grotto, we found a spacious Hall very convenient for us to take the benefit of the cool Air. The rocky part was so oddly contrived, that you would have taken it for the Workmanship of a Monk of Pic-pus, had you been near Paris. The bottom of the Grotto was cleft into an Ascent, the first steps of which did not seem very uneasie. Thereupon our Curiosity leading us further, Monthresor strook a light, by virtue of which we began the Ascent for about half a quarter of an Hour with some difficulty, till at length we came to another Hall larger and fairer than that below. Thence we passed into a Gallery that led into several others, very much resembling those of Chinon; for that here as well as there, the moisture of the Rock had formed several Pendants, sticking and crusted to the Wall like so many little Mirrours, not at all cohesive in equal form, not inferiour to the Iceflakes of Murrhine, which are polish'd at Venice. And thus Nature having, as it were in sport, shew'd us what she can do alone without the assistance of Art, seem'd to teach us the Original of Rivers: for the Rock permits the remainder of this matter, after she has form'd her Workmanship, to fall partly by way of Distillation from the point of a multitude of Pyramids, athwart this so adorn'd Ceiling, partly trickling from the glittering Concave upon the Pavement that receives it; and thence being conducted by several Receptacles, situated at a distance one from another, till it comes to the last and largest of all, whence it unfolds it self like a Napkin, which the warmth of the Air opens as it falls, till at length it descends in a kind of small Rain. I concluded that all other Springs have the same original; whether it be that the Air condens'd by Cold dissolves into moisture, or whether the Earth imbibes this Humour by filtration, or otherwise, as I set forth in my new System of Philosophy. And thus satisfied with a sight so extraordinary, we return'd to Aristides, to whom we imparted our Discoveries; who thereupon would needs have us carry our Dinner thither, to the end we might have the pleasure of eating in such a delicious Banqueting-house.

The 21st we had nothing but Plains on every side, very rich in Pasturage, which was the reason that we met several Shepherds who had left their Tents, where only Night requires their presence.

The 23rd we arrived at the foot of a Mountain cover'd with Box, out of which the Lake called the Swan's Lake, discharges it self through a hole about ten foot below the top, among the Boughs of a pleasant Wood; where Nature has so ordered the sloping of the Rock, that sometimes the Water spouts forth like so many Waves, sometimes spurts out like a Plume of Feathers, and sometimes like an Apron; afterwards falling all of a sudden like a Veil, through the sides of a Demi-oval, eight Foot in Diameter, it throws it self into a neighbouring River, which in Summer is the delight of the Shepherds that feed their Flocks in the Meadows which it waters. In this River, while they wash their Sheep, they sport with their Shepherdesses. Which done, they fall to their Musick, playing several Tunes upon Flutes made of the Rind of Willows that cover the Bank; upon which they all sit, while their hunger, which bathing has excited and sharpen'd, invites them to their Victuals. All that day they gave us a Visit at our Incampment, where we presented them with several Glass Jewels, such as they make at Nevers; in lieu of which they brought us their Provisions, more than our Cart would carry.

The 24th we came to a Forest, out of which there issued a Beast about the bigness of a Leopard, which upon perceiving us recovered the Wood, where I could see him feed upon the tender Branches of the Trees, not being able to nibble the Grass by reason of the tallness of his head. Thereupon judging it to be tame, I went up to it, and offer'd it some Wheat in the Skirt of my Coat, which it swallow'd with some seeming acknowledgment for my kindness, and kept us Company all the time we staid there under the shade of the Oaks.

The 25th we made a full stop. The 26th, being advertised by Cataman that a Company of neighbouring Shepherds were packing up their Tents, with an intention to change their post, and that we should be very welcome to their Company, we accepted the Proposal, as well to continue our Journey with the more convenience, as to observe the Form and Custom of their March; which is thus: The day before, the Captain gives notice by the sound of a Horn, that they are to be ready the next day. At which time the signal is no sooner given (so punctual they are) but they begin their March in this Order. First moves the Standard, which is the Head of a Bull crowned with Flowers, which they stick upright in the Ground when there is any occasion of encamping: After that follow the Pipers afoot; the Captain immediately goes before the Children which are carried in Carts, with their Tutors, whose business it is to have an inspection into their Manners; next the Women and aged People, carried likewise in Carts drawn by Bulls, for they have no Oxen, neither is it their Custom to geld any other Creatures, detesting above all things that sort of Mutilation, so familiar among men in Italy, as injurious to Nature. After these follow the men in the full vigour of their years, together with the Baggage, the Guard of which belongs to them, and all the way they laugh and sing, and sometimes dance. Two hours before Night they make a stop, at what time every Master of a Family carries what Provision is necessary to his own People in the Carts. We followed them in our Cart till the 28th, at what time we took our leaves, because they resolv'd to tarry, and we resolv'd to go farther.

The 29th we met with several Huntsmen, who, as they told us, are another sort of wild Tartars, who feed and cloath themselves with the Flesh and Skins of the Beasts which they take; and to that purpose making continual War upon the poor Creatures, with whom they combat, arm'd with a Bow and a Cutlace. Here we made a stop, and after Dinner had the satisfaction to see a Tyger pursu'd by two of these Champions. So soon as they perceived the Beast, they presently let fly their Arrows against him, of which the first flight is not intended to do him any great harm, but only to provoke him the more. But when they perceive the Beast to make at them in revenge of the Injury, then they bestow their Arrows upon him thick and three-fold, till the poor Creature having receiv'd several Wounds in his Body, is forc'd to yield. At which time one of the Hunters boldly rushing in upon him, cuts off his Head with his Cutlace: Sometimes they will struggle with the Beast, but without any danger, for that they are very nimble, and never alone, otherwise the Beast would have the Advantage.

The 30th we passed through a Hamlet, where we desired Provisions, which they let us have for our Money. Nevertheless, Monthresor finding himself in a Venison-Country, resolv'd to taste of it; to which purpose we made a stop about Noon; and after a short Repast, he began to beat the Fields, with Cataman in his Company, while Aristides and I staid to look after our Kitchen. Toward Evening our Huntsmen returned laden with Hares, Pheasants, and Partridges, which we roasted upon a wooden Spit, and feasted our selves that Night, if a Feast could be without Wine; but we were pretty well accustomed by this time to want it.

The first of May we set forward betimes in the Morning, resolved for the future to make our best of the cool of the day, finding the heats to be very incommodious. But Monthresor allur'd with the Success he had the day before, was resolv'd to have another Hunting-Bout, together with his Companion, whom he never brought back. For the poor Tartar was seiz'd by a Panther, which leaping of a sudden upon him, gave him a gripe by the Neck, and choak'd him before his Master could come to his relief, who also revenged his Death with his Scimitar, which he ran full into the Body of the Beast over-greedy of his Prey; with which Wound the Panther died, not without giving Monthresor a slight Wound in his Arm, which did not hinder the Victor however from fleaing him, that he might have the Spoils of his Enemy, which he preferred before those of an Ape.

By this accident were we deprived of our Speech, as if all our three Tongues had been cut out, which caused us to bewail our Loss so much the more, because we thought it irreparable. We were now to renounce the Society of Men, unless we intended only to appear among them as mute Beasts. However, we did not forbear to go forward, in hopes of some lucky Accident before we had spent all our Victuals, with which we were furnish'd for eight days; all which time we were continually upon the march, but when we either eat or slept, steering our course all along directly against the South-East, All-devour serving us instead of a Forerunner, attacking with a Heroick Valour all that came in his way. But the most famous of his Exploits was this: A very fierce Lyon met him, and thought to have terrified him with his roaring; but All-devour on the contrary growls, barks, advances, and having joyn'd him at four leaps, nimbly fixes upon his back, and presently made him sensible of the sharpness of his Fangs. Thereupon the Lyon endeavouring to shake off his Enemy, threw his Rider, and then flew open-jaw'd upon his Antagonist with a design to gripe him by the Neck; but All-devour prevented him, fixing his Steel horn so directly in the Palate of his Enemy, that he thrust it quite through and through. But then Aristides coming in seasonably to All-devour's relief, put an end to the Combat with his Scimitar, unwilling to hazard another engagement.

The lovely clear Water that glided along by the side of a Wood whither we came the 6th of May, invited us to make a stop. And here it was that Monthresor, notwithstanding the fatal Misfortune of Cataman, and all our Perswasions to the contrary, would needs gratifie that extraordinary Passion which he had for Hunting. Thereupon Aristides being resolv'd to keep him company, I was left alone to get ready the Provisions against their return: And I had the more hopes of his Success, in regard that All-devour followed his Master. Nor had I been deceived, had they had none but Beasts to deal with; but a Destiny far different attended Monthresor. For after they had rang'd about for some hours, they came to a Lake so Clear and clean at the bottom, that it invited both, being heated by their Exercise, and the scalding heat of the Sun, to go into the Lake and bathe themselves. As for Aristides, because he could not swim, he would not trust himself out of his depth, using only a medicinal Bath by the Banks of the Lake, while Monthresor diverted and pleased himself with cutting the smooth and liquid Plain through all its Dimensions. He tried its depth by diving to the bottom, its breadth and length in imitation of the Frog. Sometimes he laid himself upon his Back to ease himself; afterwards resuming the use of his Limbs with more vigour, with a design to cross the Lake, he met with a Current so rapid, that it carried him to the entrance of a Cavern hollowed under the Mountain that bordered upon one side of the Lake, where he vanish'd of a sudden from Aristides's sight, who made me the Relation with Tears in his Eyes for the Loss of a Person so dear to him.

I spent the night in extremity of Sorrow, expecting day-light, which no sooner appear'd, but I went and viewed exactly the several Places; of which when I had consider'd all the Circumstances, I despair'd of ever seeing my Friend again.

The Eighth there arose such a furious Tempest, accompany'd with Rain and Thunder, as if the World had been returning to its first Chaos; and to compleat my Miseries, I had the Affliction to see Aristides transvers'd to the Earth by a Flash of Lightning, and thrown four Paces at least before the Cart which I follow'd. I threw my self upon him for some time quite senseless; but then recovering my self, I began to think that death had put an end to their Miseries, and that the end of my Friends' Misfortunes was but the beginning of my own, in a strange Country, of which the Language and Roads were to me unknown, without assistance, without support, without Provisions or means of subsistance. 'Tis true I had Gold and Jewels both of my own and of my deceas'd Companions; but I neither knew how to trade, nor how to agree with any Person that might bring me to the Sea-side, where I might get a convenience to carry me back into my own Country; which I lookt upon as my best way.

At last considering that I could get nothing by staying where I was, I resolv'd in the first place to pay my last devoires of Burial to my deceased Friend: To which purpose I made use of my Sword to dig a grave in the Earth four fingers deep, where I laid him at his full length, and cover'd him with the same Turf which had been cut off. For by our former conversations together, I understood that such a Sepulcher pleas'd him best; for he did not like that Custom of the Christians to bury in Churches, who not content with a deep Grave, cover the dead Body with a heavy Free-stone: Whereas, said he, it is much better to carry our Carkases into the Fields, where their substance dissolving and serving to nourish the Plants, receives a kind of new Life; by which means the wrong done to Nature by Mortality is in some measure repair'd. He also tax'd of sottishness and injustice the Custom of embalming; of sottishness, because that Death receives no benefit by it; of injustice because it defrauds Nature of her Rights; for 'tis her Law that the dissolution of one should be the nourishment of another Generation, to which Perfumes are an Enemy because they delay the Dissolution of the Body which they embalm.

After all, leaving All-devour upon his Master's Grave, from whence I could by no means allure him, I resolv'd to abandon my self to Fortune, and to the Conduct of the Cows; which I determin'd should take their own fancy, without troubling my self any farther than only to follow them. In which distress, my Provisions failing me in three days, I was reduc'd to Milk; upon which I liv'd for three Weeks together, wandring through Deserts where I could not discern the least print of human Footstep. In the day time I took care to gather all the Brush-wood and dry Sticks I could find, to make a Fire in the Evening, for I understood by the Tartars that the wild Beasts would never approach. One time among the rest, meditating like a Philosopher, I came to a Lake, the deceitful Banks of which giving way to my Horse's Feet, we fell both into the Water, which was of an ill taste, and began to fill my Mouth. Presently I threw my self off my Horse toward the Land, and laid hold of the first Roots I could light upon, thinking to get up out of the Water, but they being too weak to bear my weight I fell in again; nor had I any other way to get out, but by grasping the Mud, and so taking hold of other Roots stronger than the former, by which means I drew my self to the Shore. So full was I of my Seneca at that time, and by reading him become so familiar with Death, that instead of being affrighted to see him so near me, I reason'd with my self in falling, with the same Tranquillity of mind as I could have done at the greatest distance from danger. My Horse had the Misfortune to remain there; but I the good fortune three days after to light into a Country well manur'd. I saw that the Lands were till'd, and fenc'd with Ditches as in Europe, that the Meadows were Palisado'd, the Vineyards wall'd about, and a little farther I met with Gardens and Orchards planted according to Art.

This change of the Scene put me in hopes that I should suddenly meet with Men of our own Fashions. And with these hopes I still went on, when by and by I came to a Place where I heard People talk on the other side of a Wall. Upon which I made a stop, and listening, understood their Language to be Greek. What! thought I to my self; am I miraculously transported into Greece? Thereupon I went up into my Cart to see whither I could discover any thing like to what I had heard; and I saw People weeding a Field that was sown with Corn, and planted with Vines after the manner of Naples. At first I took time to consider, not without astonishment, that Persons who had nothing of a Country Meen, should employ themselves in Husbandry. I rous'd my self, I felt my self; and yet could hardly believe my self, or rather I could not conceive any thing that I dreamt of.

Thereupon they star'd upon me, and I ask'd them in what Country I was? In the Territories of Heliopolis, cry'd they, and you are welcome. Thereupon I made them a short Relation of my Misfortunes; upon which one of the Company, by consent of the rest, undertook to drive my Cart through the Country; and we came into the first Court, where another took my Cows and led them to the Stable, while my Guide carry'd me into the House, the neatness of which, together with the Gaiety of the People, charm'd me at first sight. However at length I opened my Eyes; nor did they delay to bring me in Refreshments immediately. Judge you whether I were not overjoy'd at a happiness so unexpected, and whether I did not with Pleasure behold the Wine in the Glasses, not having tasted any in so long a time before. The Collation being ended, I was conducted into a Chamber, where they told me I might take my Repose at leisure, and make use of the Conveniencies of the Lodging as long as I pleas'd. Thereupon seeing the Bed handsome and decently adorn'd, as much weary as I was, I made haste into it, and lay till the next morning very late.

In this delightful Mansion I spent three days, amidst the innocent Sports of a most Charming Youthfulness, with which they intermix'd the Labours of Country Husbandry, while the young Virgins and Lads met every Evening to sing, dance, and play together at Colin-Maillard or Blind-man's Buff; while such as were more seriously dispos'd more seriously entertain'd each other. For they had all the Liberty to do what they pleas'd, in regard there were none that would abuse their Liberty; so vertuous were their Inclinations by the means of good Education, with which they were season'd in their tender years.

Callisthenes, the Master of the Society, kept me Company continually; so that whether the Duty of his Office oblig'd him to go abroad, or whether he had a desire himself to take a walk, he would still have me to make one. So that I had the leisure to inform my self touching the Original and Government of this Petty State; of which that Noble Gentleman gave me an Account, with that neatness which I am not able to imitate.

Sir, said he, since it is your intention to sojourn here for some time, and that you have laid your design to visit our Chief City, I will pass by several things, which you will be able to observe of your self, contenting my self to dispose your Mind to the understanding of what you shall see, by an exact Relation of our Establishment and Policy.

After the Death of Alexander, his Courtiers shar'd his Empire among themselves, and Govern'd it after a manner so far from the Intentions of that Prince, who always had a most particular esteem for Philosophers, that they not being able to endure the Tyranny of his Ministers, after a Consultation becoming their Wisdom, forsook Athens, carrying their Families along with them, to settle themselves in some part of the World, which they could find more commodious for them, and there to live under Laws, of which themselves were the first Founders, and which we observe to this day. The rest of the Wise Men of Greece being inform'd of this design were desirous to be of the Company, and all together carry'd along with them what they had of most precious Value, especially the Books which you will see in the great Library at Heliopolis.

Thus having without danger cross'd the Seas that separate us from our Ancient Country, so soon as they got ashore and saw the Land inhabited, they deem'd it a horrible attempt to expel the Inhabitants, only they desir'd free passage, which was granted them; and so they went forward, being resolv'd to make War upon none, unless thereto provok'd; nor to settle in any place to the prejudice of the Ancient Possessors, though they might have done it, as being sufficiently numerous, and well provid'd with Arms. After they had wander'd two Years and two Months, at length they came to this Sunny Region, which when they found abandon'd, here they stopp'd, and satisfi'd themselves with the Fruits which they found growing here and there from some Plants, that Nature voluntarily produc'd, the same upon which we live at this day; tho' perhaps somewhat better, through the Industry of our Progenitors, who grubb'd up the Lands, and in process of time brought them to that Perfection, wherein we still preserve them. They shared the pains and labour of Tillage one among another, every one according to his best Skill, making use of the Instruments and knowledge which they had brought along with them; some for planting Vinyards, others for sowing, others for forging the Smiths work, and others for building and Architecture. When they either cut or grubb'd up the Wood, they did not so destroy it, but that they reserv'd at convenient distances, enough for Firing, or for other uses.

They divided the Country, which in Diameter is Four hundred and fourscore Furlongs, which is Fifty nine English Miles, into as many Cantons and Country Seats, as it contains at this day. Afterwards they built a City in the very Navel of their Territory, for the seat or residence of the Soul of this Mysterious Body, from the middle equally to influence all the Parts of its Circumference. This City they call'd Heliopolis in Honour of the Sun, which we believe to be the Center of the World, and the Heart from which those Spirits flow that enliven it.

After that, they took into Consideration all the Forms of Government of which they had any knowledge, either by their own experience or by reading, and observing the defects of each, they thought out of every one what they deem'd to be most profitable; taking the liberty to add or diminish, as they thought it most suitable for the Common Good; as aiming to Erect this their Body of Government upon the Pattern and Foundation of a Family well order'd. To this purpose they agreed upon a General Assembly, where all the Men above thirty years should have Right to vote: So that of twelve thousand Souls, which made up the whole Body, three thousand were privileg'd to be at the Assembly, partly Philosophers, partly of all Professions who had run the same Risk, either for Affection or Interest. Of these three thousand they made two thousand, to whom they surrenderd the sole care of their Concerns, having so great a Veneration for them, that they believ'd them Infallible. But afterwards considering that the number was too great, they chose rather to lose their share which they had in the Soveraign Government of a growing Republick, than to expose it to Confusion, which usually happens, when a number too vast is therein concern'd. Thereupon they reduc'd their number to three hundred, to whom they surrenderd the whole Authority which had been surrender'd to them by the General Assembly.

Which three hundred being convinc'd of the necessity of a President or Chief, made choice of the most famous Philosopher among them, submitting the whole Authority to him alone, reserving to themselves the Right to approve what he should propose for their Approbation. This Philosopher, not so much reverenc'd for his Age, as for the integrity of his manners, which was known to all the People, found little or no difficulty to establish what he thought most convenient; nor did he propose any thing but what was highly to be applauded. And therefore having summon'd a Council about eight days after, he thus deliver'd himself:

Gentlemen, having retired both my self and my own Thoughts, that I might discharge the Trust to me committed, instead of pursuing the usual Stratagem of Legislators, who were wont to feign Familiarity with the Gods, thereby to oblige the People to a veneration of their Laws, I have seriously examin'd the various Thoughts that turmoil'd my mind, to make a choice of Constitutions; and thereupon have reduc'd them all to one and no more Law, the only Law that ever I heard of in all my life, and which I believe to be understood by all that are endued with a clear Understanding, and this is the Law of Nature, imprinted in our Hearts, confess'd and acknowledged by all those who have not a Reason perverted and disorder'd by their Passions; and therefore to come to the Mark at which every good Legislator chiefly ought to aim, that is to say, the maintaining of Peace among this People, who have willingly submitted themselves under our Conduct, I think it sufficient incessantly to admonish them to follow the Lustre of those Lights which enlightens them to obey Reason, and above all the lovely Impulse which that divine Mistress places into the Breast of all Men. The Nature of man is his Reason. Does not she alone teach every particular man not to do to another what he would not have done to himself? Now this being punctually observ'd, is not this alone sufficient to preserve peace among men? And therefore let it be sufficient for us, That the most prudent among us be oblig'd to undeceive all those, in whom false Mistakes and Prejudices have stifled the Sentiments which Nature inspires into us, for by this means we shall avoid multitude of Laws, and the Trash and Trumpery of Process that attends them.

Now there is no need of publishing this Law of our Reason, it is already within us: But in regard the Employments of Life, or our Passions veiling and clouding our Understandings, hinder several from taking notice of it, my Opinion is to publish a Decree, That every Master of a Family have fairly written, in large Characters, and in the most conspicuous part of his House these two words, FOLLOW NATURE, to the end that being always thus in view, it may be never out of their Memory. Let us also make another Decree, That our Children be well educated in pursuance of this Law. Let them be taught betimes, in the first place, that all Civil and Criminal Processes ought to be determined, according to the Sentence of those wise Men, with whom the Office and Dignity of the Magistracy is entrusted.

Then having divided all the People into four distinct Classes, of Children to the Age of seven years; of Youths, till eighteen; of young Men, till thirty; and of Men in their perfection, from thirty to the end of their lives, He ordain'd that the first should remain purely under the tuition of their Parents, who besides their instructing them in good Manners, should also teach them to read: That from thence they should be sent to the several Schools, there to be instructed by Masters chosen by the Council, in all liberal Arts, in Military Discipline, and in Moral and Natural Philosophy: That such as should be deem'd uncapable of learning the Sciences, should be put to Trades and Manufactures most suitable to their Genius's; for certain it is, that Nature, besides an inclination to Arts, furnishes us also with Faculties necessary to attain those Arts. That being arriv'd to the Age of the third Class, they should be sent to the Country-Houses, where after they had serv'd twelve years under the Directions of a Governor deputed by the Council, they should return to the City to be married, and pass and spend the rest of their days in Ease and Tranquillity.

That the young Virgins should be brought up in Arts most suitable to their Sex, then sent into the Country for the Country husbanding, under the care of a Matron, who should be answerable for their Education to the Council; with this difference only, that they should serve no longer than only twenty five years of age, and then to be sent home to their Parents to be married at their discretion, presenting before all, the Persons to whom they shall have engag'd their Affections in the Country, whose Dispositions they have more reason to know than those of others whom they never saw in their lives.

Then considering that differences among Citizens generally proceed from disputes about Property, it was ordain'd, That every thing should be in Common; and that there should be Magazines in several Quarters of the City, whence there should be a distribution made of all things necessary for Food and Lodging. They also enacted several other Laws and Constitutions, of which you will sufficiently be inform'd if you make any stay among us.

He also propos'd to continue this number of three hundred, the members of which should be call'd Wise Men: That thirty of the most ancient of this number receiv'd, should be of the Ruling Council, to the Assistance of which the rest should be upon extraordinary Occasions, when the thirty should think it expedient; and that these thirty should have for their President the most ancient among them, who should be also the chief Person in the State; and that when a Place fell vacant, it should be fill'd up with the most ancient of the two hundred and seventy. And his place should be supplied by one chosen by the General Assembly.

All this was approved by the three hundred; and to the end these Constitutions might remain inviolable to perpetuity, as the fundamental Law of the Kingdom, they summon'd together once more the General Assembly, who having heard these Constitutions read, subscrib'd them without the least Hesitation, promising to observe and defend them with their lives; and unanimously pronouncing an Anathema upon all such as hereafter prove refractory and disobedient; that is to say, the Curse of Banishment, which is indeed the only Punishment that we inflict for the highest Crimes, and which we fear more than Death. So that of three of our Citizens that have been condemn'd in all since the first settlement of our Commonwealth, to this present time, there was not one but would have rather chosen to have been his own Executioner, than to have been expell'd his Country by perpetual Banishment.

The Philosopher presently gave testimony of the sincerity of his Soul by his submission to those Ordinances which he had made; for that in regard he was not the most ancient of the Society, he surrendred his Presidentship to his Senior: but it was answer'd him, That as to that particular, the Law was not to take place till after his Death, and so oblig'd him to keep his Station. From that time forward the Thirty have been Soveraign Rulers in all affairs both Private and publick. The rest are entrusted with the Superintendency over the Tribes, and Inspection into the Schools, the Manufactures, and the Country-Houses.

They are also the first Judges of all differences that arise within the several Cantons where they dwell, from whom because they are look'd upon as they are to be Persons of great Equity and Integrity, you shall very rarely hear any Appeal to the City.

Callisthenes having given me so great an Idea of the City, I most earnestly desir'd him to vouchsafe me an occasion of seeing it with the first opportunity. Thereupon, to morrow, said he, I shall send away the Carts according to order, by which means you will have the opportunity of going along with my Deputy; to whom I shall give order to be your Guide, and to present you to the Wise-man of the City.

These Waggons, which are built much after the manner of Holland, are drawn by Bulls that bear the mark of the Country-house that sends them, and of the Tribe to which they belong; and after they have deliver'd their Provisions into the Magazines, they carry back what is contain'd in the Governour or Archon's Note, for the Service of the Farm, together with such Parents as have a desire to see their Children, as also sick Persons, to whom change of Air is prescribed for their recovery.

Having therefore taken leave of the worthy Callisthenes, whom I presented with a Case of English Knives with Oriental Agate Handles embellish'd with Gold, I took the first Waggon, and plac'd my self next to the Deputy, who drove the Waggon in a Seat covered over, and built to hold three Persons with ease. The way, which is about five and twenty miles, or two hundred Furlongs, according to their measure, to me seem'd very short; as well through the learned Discourse of the Waggoner, as for the Diversity of Objects which presented themselves to me in this enchanted Country. We baited at all the Country-houses upon the Road, and were treated with Dancing and Musick. There is not one navigable River in all the Country, but a great number of small Streams and Brooks, of which some have Water enough to turn their Corn-mills and Paper-mills. They have no high Mountains, but only some few Hillocks, fertile in Wine and Oil, which set forth the Beauty of the Plains, like precious Stones enchas'd in Gold-smiths Work. The Soil yields fifteen for one, and the goodness of the Pasturage discovers it self by the excellent taste of their meat.

The Deputy carry'd me with more than ordinary Civility to the Foreigners Lodge, which is a House built at one of the ends of the Town adjoining to the Manufactures and Schools, where Strangers are entertain'd, and their Expences honourably defray'd. The first two days, besides the days of arrival and of departure, they feast very splendidly; but if the Stranger stays any longer, he is treated as a Citizen. Though to say the truth, they are not much troubled with Strangers, for very few travel into those Parts, for that the Europeans, who are the greatest Travelers in the World, have no knowledge of the place, either imagining that there is nothing so beautiful in Tartary, or that the difficulties of travelling thither are unsurmountable. However, there was in the City when I was there, a Muscovite of Astracan, two Tartars and one Persian, whom meer chance had led thither as well as my self.

The Reports of my Arrival being spread among the Philosophers, I never wanted Company, which the rarity of the Accident brought to visit me. They told me they had not seen in their City before sixty years any Person of the third Part of the Continent which we inhabit, and which they only know by means of the ancient Geography, and that this Person was a Frenchman who died three Months after his Arrival, with a Surfeit of Champignons and new Wine, which he drank to excess, it being then Vintage-time. Upon that I told them, that I was likewise a Frenchman, which put them into a Laughter; because they said my Language spoke the contrary, for that as they said, they had in their Library a Book that they found in stripping a deceas'd Pilgrim, wherein they saw nothing that resembl'd my speech. 'Tis true, Gentlemen, said I, that in France they speak otherwise than I do, for I understand the Greek which I learn'd by my own endeavours, out of a natural inclination which I had for a Language that was formerly spoken by the most excellent People in the Universe.

But of all that came to visit me at my first coming, Persons of Wit and Learning, Epigenes was the Person toward whom my Affection most enclin'd, as being one whose humour I found to be most agreeable with mine. Thereupon I enter'd into a strict League of Friendship with him, so that whether at our Recreations or our Studies we never forsook each other. Which I might the more easily do, in regard that being, by reason of his Youth, excluded from the management of publick Affairs, he was the more at leisure. So that he was my constant Guide, wherever my Curiosity led me.

In the first place he carry'd me to a Pillar built much like the Monument in London, but rising higher, from whence I could take a full view of the City. It is seated in a Plain, water'd within and without with several Rivulets of Running Water. The Houses are low-built, all but the publick Buildings, which because they take up a larger extent of Ground than the private Houses, generally over-look them. But none either publick or private are above two Stories high. The Figure of it is round, and it is about three good Miles in Diameter, without Walls, defended only by a single Moat, which is fed by the Rivers that water it both within and without. From this high Pillar I had also a Prospect of all the pleasant Country round about in its most beautiful Trim; as also of the Country Houses scatter'd up and down at equal distances, like a Fleet of Ships in a Calm, or like so many Stars in the Firmament in a serene Season. About Two hundred Miles from hence, they that have a very quick sight may discern a Chain of Mountains, which by reason of the vastness of the distance, seem to be embodied with the Clouds themselves.

And thus having consider'd the City in general, we descended to view it in particular. It is divided into three Quarters or Wards, of which the first in the heart of the City, derives its name from the Sun; the second from the Council; and the third from the Schools. The Streets are wide, clean and streight, like those of Amsterdam, but with Trees; and instead of filthy Kennels it is stor'd with Rivers that carry away the nastiness of the Street, and all uncleanness from the City. As well the Piazza's as the Streets are adorn'd with Portico's like Bologna's, as neat and elegant as the Cloister of the Chartreux at Pavia. So that a man may walk about his Business at all Seasons free from the annoyance of heat or rain. The Roof of these Portico's is supported by Pillars without, and Pilasters within; of the Dorick Order in the Council Ward; of the Ionick Order in the Schools Ward; and of the Corinthian in the Ward of the Sun. The Doors and Windows observe the same Symmetry. The tops of their Houses are cover'd with Lead, in a Figure of a Duomo, ending with a Cuppola of Copper all gilt over. The Gutters also being gilded are laid upon a Balister of hard Stone, between the Windows of which they discharge the Rain Water into the Rivulets underneath. Every House has a Garden belonging to it on the back side, with a Fountain, causing a delicate Prospect at the Entrance. And both the Streets and Portico's are so order'd, that the back sides of the Houses face each other, the Gardens lying between, only parted by a Rail, from whence on both sides there is a continual fall of clear Water from the Mouth of some Antick Figure or other.

In the middle of the Piazza of the Sun's Ward, which is six hundred Paces in Diameter, there stands a Structure like the Pantheon at Rome, with this addition that it is surrounded with a Portico, supported with Columns, the Capitals and Bases of which are gilt. There are four entrances into it at four opposite Doors fronting the four Cardinal Points; the coming to it is through the Gutters leading to the Circumference of the grand Portico of the Piazza. The Roof opens in the middle, as well to give light to that Pompous Enclosure, as to give vent to the Perfumes that are burnt therein. In the Body of the Wall under that round are three hundred and sixty holes, answering to the three hundred and sixty degrees of the Ecliptick, to mark out the Point of the Zodiack which the Sun touches every day. And they are of the opinion that the Sun moves, and is to be fix'd to the Center of the World, which, according to their Opinion, is the Earth.

This vast Cupola is rear'd up into the Air with a double row of Alabaster Pillars, of the Order of the Caryatides, the workmanship most delicate, the Chapiters of Gold, and the Bases of the same, upon a Pedestal of Jasper. The Frize enrich'd with Reliefs of Gold, having its Corniche also of Alabaster, is surmounted with a Balister of the same Metal. The Counter Pilasters of the Corridor are proportionable to the beauty of the Columns, their hollow spaces being fill'd up with Serpentine, as is the whole Concavity of the Duomo with Lapis Lazuli, the most beautiful that ever I saw in the most curious Cabinets in Italy. From the Center of the Pavement, which is of Alabaster as white as Snow, rise three Steps of Steel, adorn'd with Arabick Lines of Report, also of Gold, which frame the Base of a Tripod all of massy Gold, enchas'd with precious Stones, of which the uppermost Figure, like an Eagles Head, bears a little Perfumer of Gold likewise, to which Rubies and Diamonds contribute such a Lustre as dazles the Eyes of the Beholder. The uppermost of the Steps publishes also the Magnificence of the Person that presented so rich a Jewel to the Republick, by this Inscription in Letters of Gold: The Gift of Chosroes, King of the Persians. The Circle of Gold that surrounds the Overture of the Duomo, spreads its Beams of the same Metal upon the Lead that covers it without.

Astonish'd at so much Riches, I could hardly believe my own Eyes. But my Guide gave me to understand that the Mountains that afforded the Marble which adorn'd this sumptuous Temple, were not far distant. And then considering with my self, that that same Luxury which ruins larger and more Potent States than this, was banish'd hence, I began to think, that in so many Ages they might have probably heap'd together so much Gold as I saw.

From thence I went to the Piazza of the Schools, where stands a Fountain adorn'd with a larger Aigret than both those other in the Vatican: And the fall of the Water like Dew, is so artfully contriv'd, that the Beams of the Sun continually form in the drisling Rain the beautiful Bow of Iris. As for their Doctrine concerning the Sun, they told me that the same Doctrine had taken Root in their Minds above a thousand Years before; and as for Copernicus, they had never so much as heard of his Name. The Globe of the Sun, which makes the Center, from all the Points of its Convexity casts an infinite number of watery Beams, with which it bespeckles the beholders. This Globe is made of a Stone so hard that they were twelve years in hollowing and polishing it.

In this Piazza also the Council of Thirty assembles every Morning in the Hall of the City, either to do Justice to particulars, or to consult about the publick Affairs. There are neither Attorneys, nor Notaries, nor Advocates to be seen in this Place. Every Man Pleads for himself. But if they find the Person to be uncapable to Plead for himself, he has liberty to bring a Philosopher, who comes upon the same Conditions as their Physicians; that is to say, he gives his kindness gratis. I often frequented their Courts through the pleasure which I took in hearing the polite Orations which are there spoken. For the stream of discourse is not interrupted with the irksome Citation of old Cases, with which our Advocates perplex the understanding of their Judges, and often obstruct the Right of the Party, whose Cause ought to be decided purely upon the extravagancy of the Case.

Now I must not pass over the love story of Philaretes and Urania, which I heard related during my stay, and which will shew the Reader the nature of this People better than any description of their Laws.

Philaretes (for that was the young Philosopher's Name) had made his Sojourn in the same Country House with Urania, whose rare Beauty, accompany'd with her sweet and obliging humour, had render'd him her absolute Adorer. But he was not her only Admirer, for he had a Rival whose Name was Philip; and the strife was between these two who should gain this Incomparable Patroness by the Assiduity of their Services, or who should give her the most undenyable Marks of his Passion. One day Philaretes being in the Fields, a Fire took hold of a Barn through which there was a necessity to pass to the Chamber where Urania was crying out for help. Presently Philip ran to her assistance, darting through the Flames, which a Fire more scorching, though invisible, would not suffer him to be sensible of. So soon as he was got to his Beloved, he threw off the rest of his Cloaths which he had sav'd from the Flames by his swiftness, and of them makes a long Twist, which he girt about her Waste, and so letting her down through the Window, threw himself after her. After that he look'd upon her as the purchase of his Merit; nor did she her self scruple to declare her self in favour of him who had so generously expos'd himself to save her Life.

Philaretes however did not lose his Courage, but still continued his Courtship, extenuating the Gallantry of his Rival, and still speaking lightly of the danger to which he had expos'd himself for her. Some time after, Philip put two young Colts before a Chariot, and taking his Mistress up, carry'd her into the Air for a Mile or two, to shew her that his care should always watch over her safety. But they had not rid above four Furlongs, before the Colts, being scar'd by the shade of an Oak, fell a running with such a fury, that all the Skill of their Driver could not stop them; so that Philip was constrain'd to leap out of his Chariot to take hold of the Reins, but he was too feeble to be their Master; insomuch that now obedient to nothing but the impetuosity of their fury, they had whirl'd the miserable Urania within ten Paces of a dangerous Precipice, which Philaretes perceiving, stopp'd the Wheel of the Waggon so luckily, that he had time to get before, and with his own Body to prevent the wild Animals from running any farther. By that means he deliver'd his Mistress from the danger, but it cost him the loss of an Arm, which was so broke and bruis'd that there was no cure for it, but by the Amputation of the Member.

That unfortunate Maim, which still pleaded in behalf of Philaretes, oblig'd Urania to give him the precedency in merit, yet she knew not how to resolve to withdraw her heart from Philip, to bestow it upon a Mutilated Lover. At length, after the Services of both Lovers had been duly weigh'd, and their Wounds equally examin'd, they return'd all three to the City, where Urania being adviz'd by her Parents, declar'd in favour of Philip.

Whereupon Philaretes, understanding her resolution, took upon him another Resolution, that is to dye. Now though by the Law of Nature, which only takes place in this small Territory, a Man might lay violent hands upon himself without a Crime, however he who does it without consent of the Council, is look'd upon as an uncivil Companion that would take a Journey without taking leave of his Friends; and therefore there is a Decree, that his Body shall be carry'd forth of the Territories of the State, as a Fugitive adjudg'd unworthy of burial. Thereupon the Despairing Lover, to avoid the scandal and Affront, requested leave to make himself away in this manner:

My Lords, if there be any person in this Assembly that hath felt the sting of Love, it will suffice to excite the Compassion and Wit of my Judges. It behoves any person that is seized with the same Passion, which I still have for the fair Urania, notwithstanding her Refusal of me, to be in a capacity to do me justice in my demand. But if there be not any Person here so well experienc'd, the Torments which I suffer being too violent to continue unto that venerable Old Age that adorns those Seats of Judicature, I hope that Reason will supply the defect of an Experience which your Wisdom was too great at any time to undergo. The loss of so principal a Member had been a sufficient recompence for the life of my Rival, and I had been content enough to have held my own life precious enough for me to have mended my Fortune by some other means; but since her Resolution has condemn'd me to Miseries that will never end, and that by this condemnation I find my self a burthen to my self, troublesome to my Parents, ridiculous to the World, and unprofitable to the State, I have bethought my self; that there is no other way to shun this perpetual and cruel torment, but by the only way that Nature puts into our Hands. You grant it to a poor decrepit old Creature, with the same Freedom as you permit the pulling down of an old House when it threatens Ruine. You grant it to the Person that is seiz'd with an incurable Distemper. Seeing then my Disease is such that nothing but death can cure, it is not reasonable that you should deny it me, seeing my Condition is worse than that of the most miserable. Now if my misfortune will not prevail to persuade you to do me justice, I beg your Permission as a Favour.

The Novelty of a Cause, for which there had not been a President in any Age before, so surprised the Judges that they had never agreed in favour of the Suppliant, but that Alcibiades assur'd them, That he had just such another design in his Youth, from which nothing could have diverted him but the change of a better Fortune, and that most certainly it was a great Cruelty to constrain a man to live whether he would or no, in torments unknown to any but himself that endures them. So that his Opinion having brought over those that dissented before, the President pronounc'd Sentence in this manner:

Philaretes, the Council gives you leave to depart the World; you may do it when you please, and after what manner you think fit.

But Urania being inform'd of the matter, came to the Senate to prevent him; for her heart could no longer resist the sensible Attacks of a Passion so tender. After Sentence pronounc'd, she met him coming out of the Senate-house, to whom Philaretes, preventing her, said: Behold, Goddess, the Triumph which my Soul pays to your Beauty. But you need not trouble your self to hinder the Stream of my Destiny. For your Death will probably be a means of letting me live, that you may live and enjoy your fill of Happiness and Content. At those words she seem'd to be much mov'd, from whence recovering herself, she accompany'd Philaretes to his Lodging, and besought him to suspend the Execution of the Decree for some days. Which he did, in regard his Affection had render'd him a perfect Slave to her Will. All that time she spent in persuading him to live, with an absolute Promise to marry him. But it was impossible, out of an Apprehension that the Senate would take him for a meer Deludant and Braggadocio. Urania therefore seeing him inflexible, resolv'd to save her Lover by a stratagem that only Love could invent. She went and told him, that she was now willing to be his Wife, upon condition he would first take the fatal Potion in her presence, that seeing his Courage she might be satisfied of his Love. To which, looking upon her with tender Eyes, and pressing her Hand to his Breast, he readily consented. Thereupon they were married in due form, with the mutual Consent of their Parents, who kept the Nuptial Feasts according to the Custom.

At the end of which, Philaretes withdrew himself privately from his Father-in-law's House to go and kill himself in his own, without the knowledge of his Wife. But he could not deceive her, for she was soon at his Heels, and finding him ready to swallow a large Quantity of Opium, which his Mother had brought him in a Gold Cup: Since, said she, I cannot oblige you by my Love, my Duty obliges me to end my days together with you. And so saying, she desir'd her own Mother, who had follow'd her, to prepare her a Cup of the same Beverage, which could not be well refus'd her, since the Custom of the Country permits that such Wives who will may follow their Husbands in death. Let us pass by the Tears and Groans, which are natural to Women upon such Occasions. They drank both together, and then embracing each other, after a thousand tender kisses, they both fell into a sweet slumber, never more to wake. Their Bodies were both burnt in the same Funeral Pile, and their Ashes being mix'd together, were thrown upon the same Hill.

To preserve the Memory of so rare an Action, they caus'd to be engrav'd upon a Marble Monument against the Garden Wall two Rings one within another, in the midst of a flaming Fire.

The Schools Ward is divided into five parts only, because the Colleges and Manufactures take up the greatest part of it. The Council of Thirty also deputes Three out of the Two hundred and seventy to govern every Tribe; of which the one takes care of the Concerns within, the other without; that is to say, of the Country-Houses. Every Tribe has its particular Magazines, to which the private People repair every day to fetch their necessary Provisions. There is nothing of servitude among them, for they only execute their duties when they go to the Country-Houses, and upon their return retire to their Parents, whom they Honour and Reverence as long as they live.

The Schools are their Seminary of Virtue, Sciences and Arts, as well Military as Civil, where their Children are educated under excellent Masters, who every year try the Disposition and Capacity of their Scholars. If they find any one uncapable of learning, the Superintendent sends him to the Manufactures with leave to make choice of what Trade he pleases, which he is taught when he has made choice of it. Under these Masters it is that they follow their several Callings, in several Apartments of the Building, and bestow their pains upon all things necessary for the use of Life, and their Labours are afterwards distributed into the Magazines for the common Service of the People.

The first things taught in these Schools are the Mathematicks, of which they learn all the parts, but especially Astronomy, wherein they excel: For as for Astrology, they reject it as a frivolous thing. And indeed I could not forbear, after I had made some progress in the knowledge of Schemes and Horoscopes, to agree with them. For having been taught by a Master at Rome, who was Astrologer to Queen Christina, I was resolv'd to put him to the test. One Morning I presented him the Figure of my Nativity, which I had been calculating, accompany'd with his own Directions. Very true it is, that he knew of himself that it was mine; but then the Opposition of Saturn to my Ascendant in the third Degree, which is my third Year, he made a doubt of it, not believing that I had escaped so fatal a direction. Thereupon requesting him to tell me what it was; A Shipwrack, said he, wherein I should absolutely perish. This answer, more convincing to me than that of Thrasibulus to Tiberius in the Isle of Rhodes, made me stand in Admiration. Afterwards, searching by what means I might avoid the danger, he observ'd that Venus came to my Assistance, correcting the Malignity of Saturn. This lucky Accident having encourag'd me to make a further Progress in that Study, whereby I thought to have rais'd my self above Humanity, I fell to it seriously, and spent six Months in the examination of Ptolemy, till I came to that place where he says, That they whose Horoscope or Ascendant the Leg of Capricorn governs, should be troubl'd with Diseases in the Legs; which is one of the grand Maxims held at this day by all Astrologers. But then said I to my self, 'tis not the immoveable Point or Space of Heavens which influences, but rather the Constellation which is there plac'd, of which the Leg makes part, and from which that part of the Zodiack deriv'd its name, in the time of Ptolemy, above seventeen Ages ago. Now every Age the Stars of the Figure advancing a degree from the East to the West, they ought to have recoil'd as much. Nevertheless our Astrologers at present call those Parts or Spaces by the same name, and ground their Predictions thereupon, as if the Figure were still fix'd in the same place. The Foundation of their Art appearing to me so vain, I took a disliking to the Science it self, and clean abandon'd it. Seeing that if the Astrologer hit upon a past Accident for once, I attribute it, as the Learned Persons of this Country of the Sun do, meerly to Chance, which sometimes may produce a Truth among thousands of Falshoods.

From the Mathematicks they pass to Grammar learning, withal at the same time to write and speak well; and among all the other Dialects the Attick there prevails, in regard that they have not had any Commerce with Foreign Nations, whence proceeds the Corruption of Languages; whereby it comes to pass, that they have preserv'd the purity of their own, as have also some Villages of Greece in Europe, where they speak the pure litterel Greek, for that living at a distance from the Sea, and in a Country of difficult access, they enjoy the same good Fortune.

By this time their Judgments being rightly inform'd, they become fit to read Philosophy, which they learn in the last place. They have also their bodily Exercises, being taught at the same time to handle their Arms both Rapier and Back-sword, to shoot with their Bows, and to ride the manag'd Horse, in a place appointed for that purpose, where also are admitted the Manufacture Apprentices. They never teach Logick nor Rhetorick; alledging that those two Sciences are as natural to a Man as to go, or to make use of his Hands; and that no man can arrive to be an exquisite Logician, or a perfect Orator, that has not an excelling Genius that way. However they set their Scholars certain general Precepts, very much agreeing with the Maxims of the Epicureans.

They also read and expound in their Schools Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Epicurus, Democritus, Thales, Diogenes, and all the ancient Philosophers, of which we have only the Names; and whose writings they preserve, leaving to their Scholars to choose what Opinion they think most probable. They also permit them to read the Poets, though very much incens'd against them, for their Invention of Fables concerning Deities that never were. For by the Converse which I had among them I found that their knowledge in Philosophy was altogether bounded by Sense, which they take for the only Rule of their Reasoning, the Extravagancies of which are to be moderated and corrected by themselves, being persuaded that what cannot be apprehended by the Sense, is not at all, nor can be the object of our Meditations. To which when I answer'd that the contrary was taught in our Schools, that is to say that Reason corrected the Sense, they look'd upon it as ridiculous, as if a Blind man should go about to correct his Guide. They generally believe the Eternity of the first matter, not being able to conceive how any thing should be made out of nothing; that the World with all its varieties was produc'd by the sympathy and antipathy of the first Bodies, which as they had no beginning will have no ending. They make some Bodies moveable of themselves; others by the impulse of those only, in a void space. They acknowledge no other Cause but one, which is the Material. For all which Opinions of theirs I do not here produce their several Reasons, as designing at present only a Historical Relation, which else would require a larger Volume by it self, which perhaps I may hereafter put to publick view.

If any one begin to broach new Opinions they cite him before the Council, who examine them, and if they find them ill grounded, the Person is not commanded to recant, but only to hold his Peace, under the Penalty of being put into the number of the Scandalous; a List of whose names is affix'd to the Door of the Temple, there to remain to perpetuity: an affliction, which next to exile, they stand most in fear of.

Their Library is spacious, and very Curious, by how much it is furnish'd with an infinite number of Authors, of which we know not so much as the Names, and such as liv'd before Aristotle. These they call the ancient Authors; the Modern they esteem to be those that wrote after their settlement, which is above Two thousand years ago. They shew'd me also Traditions of the Egyptians in Books, which make the World to be much more ancient than we believe it to be, our Chronology being no more than a Great Grandchild of theirs.

As for Printing, though they well know what it is, yet they make no use of it; so that all their Books are in Manuscript, either in Parchment or Paper, in the Greek Language, in regard they know no other, unless it be the Tartarian, which by what means some of them come to understand I shall relate in due place.

They distinguish their Books according to the Quality of the Subject. And if any Author of their own writes any thing new, his Book is not admitted into this Noble Society of Volumes, till it has had the Approbation of the Council of Thirty. Private Men may have it before, but few care for it till then; so great a veneration they have for the Judgment of that most noble Assembly, all composed of learned and chosen Men, the flower of Philosophers, as are also the two hundred and seventy.

Among the Legislators, I saw the Pentateuch of Moses, translated by the care of Alexander, and sent to his Master Aristotle, as some Lines under his own hand, at the end of Deuteronomy, witness. I ask'd them what they thought of the Contents of this Book; to which they answer'd, that they had a great esteem for the Moral part, dislik'd his Sacrifices, condemn'd his Ceremonies, and for his Historical part, some they deem'd probable, the rest very improbable. One of the Company added that he was a Philosopher, that he had too enigmatically describ'd the Generation of the World, and of the Creatures therein, to a blockish sort of People, uncapable to apprehend it by methodical Reasoning: That he believ'd with Moses, that man was produc'd out of the Earth, and that without doubt he had borrow'd that Opinion from the learning of the Egyptians, among whom he confesses himself to have had his Education.

At length I came to the Book which was left by the French man of whom I have already made mention. It was one which they had not been able to classify, not knowing where to range it, because they did not understand it. I found it to be a New Testament, whereupon they earnestly requested me to translate it for them. But thinking it not worth my while, I pull'd out a Greek New Testament out of my Pocket, that had been my Vade Mecum in all my Travels, and by way of prevention, instead of a Translation, said: Here is the Original, which you may read at your leisure, because I do here present it to your Library. At which they were overjoy'd, and gave me a thousand Thanks.

After which they led me into the Apartment where all their Curiosities were kept; and there I beheld a Collection of all that ever the Bosom of Nature produc'd, or ever was invented by Art. Among the rest I saw several Cases of Letters, with all the furniture belonging to a Printing House; several sorts of Fire arms, of which they condemn'd the use as treacherous and cruel; Pyrobolick Mirrors, that cast forth Fire in a moment; a flying Engine; Prospective Glasses, by which I could distinguish in the Moon Hillocks, Valleys, Meadows, and Harvests, and if not Animals, at least some small moving Machines. They also shew'd me Microscopes, shewing all the Vital Parts of a Hand-worm, and of all those little Insects flying in the Air, which the most piercing Eye could hardly discern without the assistance of these Glasses; curious Watches and Sundials; though they make no use of them, in regard that being so expert as they are in Astronomy, they can tell what hour it is either by day or night; for that the Air is not there much subject to be overcast.

As for their Climate, their own Astronomical observations place it two and forty Degrees far from the Equinoctial; and their Meridian is the first in their own Maps.

Now though they inhabit a Country abounding in all things that may render Life agreeable and commodious, yet they live after a most sparing and austere manner. For they affect not the delicious tastes of Drink or costly Viands, unless when they are sick, or make great Banquets, which they never do but only upon certain Occasions; and that very rarely, as at Weddings, the Birth of their Children, Receptions of Strangers or the like, without being constrain'd however by any Laws or Decrees. They eat about three hours after they rise in a Morning; but their chief Meals are in the Evening about three hours before they go to bed. Their Magazines furnish them with coarse Food, Bread and Wine; but for Venison and Fish they eat none, but what they hunt and catch themselves, or what their Children send them from their Country Houses.

Their Habit is plain, made of Wool dy'd of a Violet Colour for the Men, and white for the Women; which is the only distinction of their two Sexes. As to the fashion, it is the same us'd all along by the Ancients, with a Stole upon their Shoulders after the manner of the Venetians, to cover them from the Sun. Philosophers are oblig'd to go bare-handed and bare-footed, only in a long Garment embroidered with Jewels, as all of the three hundred are allow'd to wear them; and as for the three hundred, they are distinguish'd by their Scarlet habit, which only they are allow'd to wear.

There are no profess'd Physicians among them, for they all understand Physick. 'Tis very true that in difficult Cases they call a Philosopher, who is sent for by the Superintendent, and comes without any Fee. Their usual Remedies they take from Trees, Herbs and Roots growing in their own Grounds, which have the same Qualities with Cassia, Senna, and Rhubarb, and with which they suddenly cure all Distempers that are curable. For as they say, that noble Science is there exercis'd by Persons who are sent, and never seek to prolong the Cure; besides, making up their Prescriptions themselves, they have no Apothecary to put that part of the Work upon, whose Ignorance does the Patient oft times more injury than the Distemper it self.

There is not a Surgeon nor a Barber to be seen; for they never let blood, as not being to be persuaded that they ought to wound a Patient to cure him; or that the Blood, which is the seat of the Soul, with which it has so strict an Alliance, that it seems to be inseparable, ought to be spilt to make it better, seeing that which remains in the Body is as bad as before the blood-letting; but that it is better corrected by Catharticks, which separate from its Mass the sick humour which infects it, without taking away that which is good, and that the quantity of it may be diminish'd at any time by Diet, Exercise, and Sweating.

As to Wounds and Bruises, they proceed after the same method as in Fevers; that is to say, they cure themselves with the assistance of a Philosopher if need require. The Women shave and trim their Husbands, of whom they are so jealous, that they will not suffer any bodies hands to come near their Faces but their own.

The Philosophers have also specific Remedies for the Diseases of the Soul, the continual use of which fortifies the Memory and purifies the Wit in such a manner, that they will make a Dunce Ingenious. It is a Composition of which we have the Ingredients in this part of the World; and of which I have often made use since my return into Europe, with good success as well to my self as to others. You see there none that are troubled with the Gout, in regard they are both sober, temperate, and active; besides that the Continence of the two Sexes is so great, that there is no harbour there for that same Disease which the Italians call the French.

If a sick Person be given over as past recovery, there is no need of a Comforter, because they do not conceive there is any evil in death, which they look upon as only a meer Cessation from Action and Thought, which may possibly return one day, if the Particles from whence the same Action and Thought deriv'd their first beginning should happen to reunite. The Children bear the Body of their Parents deceas'd in their own Chariots, and scatter their Ashes upon the Earth; believing that the enlivening Atoms are charioted up in the Flames to their first Original, which they believe to be the Sun; and by their mixture of the Ashes with the Earth, they believe that in eating the Plants which proceed from thence, they enliven the more gross and terrestrial Portion of their Parents. To speak the truth, I attribute the goodness of the Air which they breath in those Parts, partly to this Custom, which renders it so free from those Infections which the stinking Exhalations of the Bodies interr'd in our Cities are the certain cause of among us.

In regard their Commerce is not great, it is not very possible they should be Rich. However they are not poor neither; for the fertility of the Soil furnishes them with all things for the support and pleasure of Life, and to spare. So that they send the superfluity of their Provisions and Manufactures once a year to a Fair that is held between the Confines of this State and the Great Mogul's Country, where they Barter their Commodities for Pearls, Diamonds, and other Precious Stones, or else for Gold and Silver, coin'd for the benefit of the publick Treasure, which surpasses in value those of Venice, Loreto and St. Mark, put them altogether, though they be the Richest that I have seen in Europe. Nor do they prohibit private Persons from sending their Goods thither, and Trading upon their own accounts. For after they are out of their times, and have done that Service which is requir'd from them for the Benefit of the Country-Houses, or otherwise, till they come to be Thirty years of Age, they have then liberty to work at home, for the Ornament of themselves and their Houses; besides, that whatever they do for the Service of the Commonwealth is sure to be publickly rewarded; and with this wealth, either purchas'd by their Industry or their Virtue, they feast and give Portions to their Children when they marry them.

Now although they lie surrounded by the Tartarians, yet are they not at War with any body: For the Great Kam, who has always had a high esteem for them, by reason of their Integrity, permits them to live in Peace and Tranquillity one among another. In acknowledgment of which favour, they furnish him at all times with a small Regiment of three hundred Men, under Thirty years of Age, who go to serve him voluntarily, and all the time that they stay there, is look'd upon as if they had spent it in the Service of the State. These three hundred choose themselves their own Colonel, who swears fidelity to the Great Kam; who at his first arrival presents him with very fair Arms and Weapons, and gives him leave to make choice of six Lieutenants, to command every one under him Fifty Men apiece. Nor do they ever return from his Service without a considerable Reward; and they that signalize themselves by any extraordinary Achievement, are rewarded moreover according to their Merit. Thus it is that they come to understand the Tartarian Language, of which the People of this Country make use in their Commerce by the assistance of one or two of these Interpreters, who are deputed by the Council to attend the Fair.

When they are ready to March, the Council gives them an Order to take Arms out of the Arsenal, which is always furnish'd to Arm Sixty thousand Men upon occasion. Their Offensive Arms are a Bow, a Scimitar, a Mace of Iron, a Javelin, and a Pike; their Defensive only a Buckler and a Helmet.

All the while that I convers'd with them I could not find that they had any Notion of God after our manner, in regard that as I have said, their Philosophy solely depends upon Sense. As for those Deities which either Poetry, Fear, or Imagination has set up, they are too wise to acknowledge; so that I have nothing to say concerning their Religion, except you call Religion that which they believe and practise concerning the Sun. For they unanimously hold that Planet to be the most Lovely, the most Powerful, and the most Beneficent of all the Beings. They are persuaded that it is the Soul of the World, and that the Beams of the Sun being incorporated into the Creatures give motion to their Corporeal Mass, the external Figure of which makes the Principal difference which we see between them. Though they do not deny but that their different Internal Operations may proceed as well from the variety of little Bodies, with which they are mix'd, as from the Beams of the Sun more or less purify'd. They assert the Sun to be a Globe of Fire exactly rarify'd, and shining in the Center of the World, as being the heart which animates all the Parts of it; and the Element or Principle of Souls, to which they all return upon their separation from the Body, as the Water returns to the Sea, although it falls from the Land.

Every seventh day of the year they go to the Temple to be there when the Sun Rises; and as soon as the Sun appears through one of those holes which mark out the Degrees of the Ecliptick, the Tigea or Priestess, who is chosen for the excellency of her Beauty out of all the Virgins in their Territory, ascends the uppermost Step that serves instead of a Tripod, clad in a Vestment of Cloth of Gold, with open and hanging Sleeves, whence her Arms come forth cover'd with a fine Linnen Shift, which is fasten'd together between her Elbows and her Shoulders with a Bracelet of Diamonds; her head Crown'd with a Garland of Flowers, a Necklace of large Peral about her neck; two Emrauld Pendants Pear-fashion'd, hanging at her Ears, her Hair dishevell'd, crisp'd and curling without Art, and carlessly flowing down her Breast and Back; her Mantle clasp'd under her Chin, with an Oriental Girasol, weighing thirty Carats, and enchas'd in Diamonds, of which a great number glitter'd upon her Fingers. To this Priestess thus accouter'd, a most lovely Youth presents her with a little Casket of Gold curiously wrought, out of which she takes a certain quantity of Perfumes, which she throws into the Perfumer, of which I have already spoken; after the performance of which Ceremony, presently you hear a noise of Trumpets plac'd upon the Cornish, and after that a Symphony of excellent Voices and Instruments chosen out of the School, who sing the following Stanzas, the Hautboys and Violins intermixing their harmony by turns.

Let us sing that Glorious Star,
In splendid Lustre past compare,
And his surpassing Power extol,
Glorious and Ineffable.

He the Worlds Soul does all command,
Filling the Air the Sea and Land,
And penetrating Depths profound,
Impregnates all that's under ground.

As by the first Decree of Fate,
To him we owe our Mortal State;
So do we hope, this Life once done,
All to return to him the Sun.

The People below also repeat these Stanzas, keeping time to their Voices with a confus'd but merry dance, while the Priestess is busily employ'd in supplying the Genser with Incences; who after she has sufficiently embalsam'd all the People with her Perfumes, ascending by the middle of the Roof, goes up to the Sun it self to refresh him with a costly Repast; for they believe him to be nourish'd with the Exhalations which ascend to him incessantly, as well from the Earth as from the other Planets, by the Order of Circulation, which they acknowledge to be in the great World as well as in the Microcosm. The rest of the day they spend in Pastimes and divertizing themselves either in their Houses, or in their Delightful Vicinities, which consist in Medows, Groves or Fishponds, which are form'd by the Concourse of the adjoyning Rivulets.

From the Principal Outlets of the City, you walk to the Confines of their Country Houses, under the Shade of long Rows of Elms planted in a streight Line, which affords the pleasure also of a fair Prospect, to those that promenade through the Chief Streets, at the end of every one of which there stands a Portal all of costly Architecture, which at night are only barr'd with a single Draw-bridge about the height of a Man, as being made rather to terminate the sight than for any defence; For the City has no more than one single Moat of running Water, to prevent the entrance of Wild Beasts (which rarely happens) nevertheless they do adventure so far, by reason they are continually hunted by the Youth of the Country that are put to manure the Land. Besides that they breed up great Mastiff Dogs so strong and so couragious, that they will encounter with success the most Savage of Wild Beasts, against which they only exercise their fierceness, being no less tame in the Company of Men, whose Guardians they seem to be, taking their Rounds day and night about the Fields, with their Iron Collars stuck with sharp Nails. When the Hunters take a Lyon, or any such dangerous and mischievous Creature, they nail him to a Tree at the Avenues into the Territories, as formerly the Carthaginians did upon their Walls. And indeed the small number of those Wild Beasts which is to be found in a Country whither the numerous Herds and Flocks of Cattle are sufficient Baits to entice them, shews them to be terrify'd by such Executions.

Their Tillage and rural Habitations take their beginning at about a Mile distance from the City Moat, all the Delightful space between being allotted for publick Recreation.

Their year which begins just at the Winter Solstice, is divided into six and thirty Decades of days, and so they count the first, second, &c. day of every Decade; and the time which remains till the Point of Revolution, they call the Surplusage; and pass it altogether as they do the tenth day of every Decade. By which means they avoid the Fopperies and Trifles of Bissextiles and Epacts, which the most cautious corrections of our Kalenders cannot free from mistakes. They begin their Epocha from the Solstice next ensuing the Installation of Misargyrus, and adjust their Chronology by his Successors, whose Portraitures to the Life they preserve in their Treasury, to the number of One hundred and fourscore, till the time of Philopemen, their Chief President at the time when I was there. And this is all the Chief recompence of their Supream Presidents for all their care and pains in the Government of the State; the Publick Causes two fair Medals of his Face to be cast in Gold, of which the one is laid up in the Treasury, the other is bestow'd upon the Person himself, who leaves it to his Family at his death, as a Mark of Honour to encourage his Posterity to follow his Steps. In a word, for a Conclusion of all that can be said touching the Manners and Customs of these People, I must needs aver, that they are so regular and just, that the Age of Gold may seem to continue still among them. They mutually assist each other in all their Affairs, and love one another to that Degree, that you would take them all for Brethren.

Thus therefore having taken a view of all that was to be seen in this admirable City, I spent the best part of my Time with Eugenes, either in the Schools, or in the Library; where I was present at their Readings and Disputes. For besides the lesser Apartments appointed for their youth, there is one large Hall where the marry'd People of both Sexes meet every Morning and Evening, to hear the Discourses of Physick and Morality which the Philosophers there make in their several Turns; and where they take all the Liberty which our Preachers assume to reprehend Vice. Their Disputes contain nothing of the Pedantick, there is not to be heard I deny your Major, or I prove my Minor. The Head of the School propounds a Thesis, which a Schollar undertaking maintains with the best Arguments he can produce, and is then oppos'd by another; after which three Philosophers give their judgment who has done best.

As to their Pronunciation it agrees with that of our Criticks, in which they differ from our European Greeks; and I made it my Business also to turn over the Books of several Ancient Philosophers, which we want, the suppression of which, though falsly, is laid to the charge of Aristotle's Ambition. By the reading of which I found the Modesty of those Great Men, who never asserted their Opinions like Arrogant Dogmatists, but only as Doubts, or as Answers which to them seem'd probable, in satisfaction of the Questions which were to them propos'd. So that Democritus's Fire, Thales's Water, Diogenes's Atomies, set forth by an Author whose name I have forgotten, were only means to explain the Generation of things which to them seem'd probable, being therein supported by Chymical Experiments without asserting any thing Positive.

Among their Authors of this Library, I found the Greek New Testament which I had presented them. Of which I demanded the Reason from the Library Keeper: who answered me, That he had observ'd most excellent Precepts of Morality therein; but by reason of a Celestial Genealogy, and some other particulars, that did not seem rationably to be believ'd, he had rank'd it among those Volumes, by advice of his Council compos'd of Four other Philosophers, deputed as he was, by the Thirty.

Thereupon I took an occasion to unfold to them the Principles of the Christian Religion, so universally believ'd by the Princes and Potentates of Europe; however without making any progress among them, because I had to do with People that acknowledg'd no other Authority but that of Sence and Reason, which cannot apprehend the Mysteries of Faith. But when I came to tell them of one Nature in three Persons, of two Natures in one Person, and one invisible, incorporeal Deity, who was All in All, and All in every Part, born in a Stable, Crucify'd upon a Cross, and reproducing himself every day in a thousand Parts of the World to be swallow'd by his Adorers, they began to discourse among themselves that I was frantick, and talk'd already of sending me among the mad Folks, so that I was forc'd to change my Language.

If there be such a God, said one to me, as you describe, who would be Worshipp'd by all the Earth according to the Religion which you propose, and that this Faith is the only way to gain Heaven, and shun everlasting Torment, it had become his Wisdom, his Goodness and his Omnipotency, to have caus'd it to have been divulg'd abroad at first through all the Universe, after the clearest and most intelligible manner imaginable, to prevent the ruin of so many Men who have perish'd according to your Principles, for these sixteen Centuries past, because they never heard of any such thing. Instead of exposing an Innocent Son to the severity of Torment, he should have sent him into the World with an Equipage answerable to his Birth, that he might have been heard with more respect; with an Army to render him formidable; and with Lightning in his hand to terrifie those that would not obey his Law.

Here I shew'd them the necessity of Christs Humility, unfolding to them the Mystery of our Redemption; and giving them to understand that there was no other way for the Redeemer to expiate our Crimes, and fully to satisfie the Justice of the Father. Where is that Judge, reply'd my Antagonist, that would condemn an Innocent Son for the sake of Criminals? especially it being in his sole and only Power to save by a meer amnesty. Notwithstanding all this, after I had laid before them all that the Sorbon, and the best Divines of the Church had taught me, of most profound and most refin'd concerning these Matters, I was constrain'd to put an end to my Dispute; in regard those Gentlemen denying my Foundations, it was impossible for me to make any breach in their Beliefs.

I remain'd a whole Month in this Sun-adoring Country, sometimes in the City, sometimes in the Country, whither I kept some of the Citizens Company, who want to make merry with their Children. And indeed I could willingly have ended my days in this place, had not the Remembrence of my Friends and my Affairs in Europe oblig'd me to return. Which I did, after I had taken leave of the Senate, who order'd that I should be furnish'd with a Waggon to the Borders of their Territories; and that the Archon of the last Country Farm should in my behalf agree with a Tartar to conduct me to the Caspian Sea. Eugenes made a Proposition to him to take a Journey into Europe; but they very frankly told me, That there was not any thing which he had related to them concerning the World, that bred in them the least Inclination to undergo so great a trouble. Upon this I persuaded my Friend with two Emeralds and a Diamond of Gold, and he presented me with the Works of Heraclitus, and Thales the Milesian, together with some certain Stones, which our Lapidaries know not what to make of. After taking leave of my Friend upon the Frontiers, whether he had accompany'd me, as well out of friendship, as by the Orders of the Thirty, I betook my self to the Conduct of my Tartar, who taking a nearer but more difficult way that what I had travell'd before, gave me opportunity of seeing several Countries, not much unlike those Beautiful and Charming Glooms that adorn the Alpes of Switzerland, of which I intend to give a Description, if these my present Travels find a favourable reception.

In six Weeks time I came to a Village by the Sea-side, where to comfort me for the loss of Eugenes, I had the happiness to meet with Monthresor, who after the usual Embraces, and Tender Expressions, which such an unexpected meeting could invent, gave me an accompt, how that after he had been carry'd away by the impetuosity of the Current, he enter'd into a deep Water, salt and still; which made him believe himself to be in the Sea, where he often lanch'd himself forth according to the Art of Swimming; that at first he found some resistance at the top, which made him swim between the two Waters, darting himself forth withal the strength he could, till at length he gain'd the Shore of the Sea that washes this Coast. I ask'd him what he saw remarkable under that same Tartarian Pansilipus. To which he answer'd that by the thick darkness of that dreadful Cave, tho' it were at Noon day, he could make no Observation by his sight, but that his Ears were terrify'd with a Horrid Whistling, of which he had no time to examine the Reason, in regard his Thoughts were all employ'd how to save himself. After that we made a Relation one to another of our past Adventures, while we staid to embark in a Fisher-boat, like those of Marteguois, and so swift that it brought us to Santa Maria in four days, from whence we held the same Course backward as we had done forward.

Returning through Athens I visited my Host Epiphanes, who receiv'd me with a great deal of joy, returning me a thousand thanks for the good Effects of my Antipodagricon, finding himself absolutely freed from the Tormenting pains of the Gout by the use of it. And I should have been much more glad to find my self so Instrumental in the Recovery of a Person from whom I had receiv'd so much kindness, had not my Joy been abated by the news which I receiv'd at the same time of the death of Demetrius and Constantine.

From Athens I had a design to have taken a Journey to Parnassus, but understanding I should see nothing but a Mountain, like to other Hills, without any Footsteps of Antiquity, I laid aside those thoughts. For I am not of the humour of many Men that put themselves to a great deal of trouble, meerly that they may be able to say they have been at such or such a place when mention'd in Company. If the Beauties of a Country do not draw me thither, there must be at least some remainder of those that formerly inhabited those Parts, whence I may in some measure understand the Fashions of Living, and Customs of a People whom History has represented to the World with Applause; nor is the knowledge of the Manners and Customs of the present Inhabitants, able to make a Parallel between them and their ancestors unworthy a Man of Wit; and therefore above all things I flye to a place where once Learning flourished. If a Traveller does not propose to himself these Advantages, he will find himself often deceiv'd, in regard he will not see the fourth part of what he expects, upon reading of Relations, no less flattering and deceitful than Paintings, that generally represent Faces much fairer then they are; unless it be that a Man is desirous to know of himself the Situation of Places, which I have found to be very much mistaken in the best Maps.

From Athens we return'd to Naples, whose delicious Climate constrain'd Monthresor to stop there. For my own part I return'd into France, where after I had experimented all the Rigours of a Cruel Fortune, in the year 1676, I embark'd at Rochel in an English Vessel, which brought me to Plymouth the 28th of September, having a desire to terminate my Travels and my days in this Kingdom. But the Enemy of my repose would suffer me to take no rest, having found out new necessities for me to revisit as well France, as several other parts of Europe, through Roads not common, where I have made several Remarks, which I shall communicate to Publick view, when I understand what kind of entertainment this my first Volume has receiv'd. For nature not being wholly shut up in one small Corner, it behoves a Philosopher to sound for Experience in various Parts, which he cannot otherwise do than by Travelling; else the Company of Learned Men and rare Wits, which are in Kingdoms and Countries like so many Phoenixes, is not to be acquir'd, but by a strict survey of those Kingdoms. And indeed by the means of these two assistances it was, that I found what I sought for in the Study of Philosophy, which of all the Studies I have labour'd in, even to the maintaining of General Theses, concerning all that could be known, is that which I have taken most delight in all my Life time for these thirty years together, that I have apply'd my self solely to it, renouncing all the rest, excepting only Physick, which following like her Daughter so close at the heels, no less deserv'd my Courtship. Besides that the exact knowledge of the Body of Man, which she promises her followers, making me hope that she would favour my designs of diving into the Secrets of Nature, bred in me a strong Inclination from that time forward to apply my self devoutly to that Science. And the Progress which I made both in the one and the other seem'd sufficient to my Friends to importune me to take the Degree of Doctor in both Faculties. Wherein I prov'd successful with all the Honour that an Honest Man could wish for, during a Winter that I sojourn'd at Padua, after I had undergone the utmost rigours of a strict Examination both in Publick and Private. Nor was it less than I desir'd; tho' being inform'd of my Birth, they would have treated me more Nobly, that is to say, they would have pass'd me without Examination. However though I hold my self highly honour'd with these two Degrees, yet I do not pretend to value my self upon that of Physick; as being too mean and prostituted to the most ignorant in the Aesculapian School, who arrive to be no more than bare Mountebanks; besides that the Faculty is extreamly decry'd by the Dishonour done it by idle and silly Practitioners. Neither do I practise it my self, as well to avoid the Reproaches to which a Physician is expos'd if he fail of success, which often befals him; as for that my Constitution will not brook that which a Physician is forc'd to swallow for his Breakfast, when he comes to do his Duty; according to the Verse, Stercus & Urina medici sunt prandia prima. To what purpose then (will some object) are all those noble Secrets which you have acquir'd in your Travels? What will become of your Pneumatopharmaeon, that will create a Memory and Understanding in those that want it? that excellent Remedy against the Gravel, and that other which unfetters Gouty Feet, extirpating the Cause of the Distemper? To which I answer; these are Medicins which I give to such as think it worth their while to desire them, where I live at my House in Beaufort Buildings in the Strand, in the Court that goes from the Fountain Tavern to the Water-side.

Colophon

Heliogenes De L'Epy. A Voyage into Tartary. London: Printed by T. Hodskin, and sold by Randal Taylor near Stationers Hall, 1689. From the copy held by the British Museum (Museum Britannicum), digitised by the Early English Books 1641-1700 collection on archive.org (ID: bim_early-english-books-1641-1700_a-voyage-into-tartary_lepy-heliogenes-de_1689).

Original Latin epigraph: Primi Mortalium quique ex his geniti naturam Incorrupti Sequebantur, eamdem habeant & ducem & legem, commissi melioris arbitrio. — Seneca, Epistle XC.

This archival text has been reconstructed in its entirety from the page scan images of the sole surviving copy, held by the British Museum and digitised by the Early English Books 1641-1700 collection on archive.org. The OCR from the microfilm scan is severely damaged throughout; the text was recovered by reading each page image directly and cross-referencing against the OCR text layer where possible. Spelling and punctuation have been preserved as closely to the original as possible; only clear printing errors have been corrected. The Greek text of the Priestess's hymn could not be confidently recovered from the scan and has been omitted; the English translation survives intact.

Forty-seven tulkus of the Early English Archivist lineage contributed to this reconstruction across multiple sessions, beginning with the first extraction of the OCR text layer through to the final recovery of the closing pages from the page scans.

Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.

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