reason than the example and idea of the opinions and customs of the place
wherein we live： there is always the perfect religion； there the perfect
government； there the most exact and accomplished usage of all things。
They are savages at the same rate that we say fruits are wild； which
nature produces of herself and by her own ordinary progress； whereas； in
truth； we ought rather to call those wild whose natures we have changed
by our artifice and diverted from the common order。 In those； the
genuine； most useful； and natural virtues and properties are vigorous and
sprightly； which we have helped to degenerate in these； by accommodating
them to the pleasure of our own corrupted palate。 And yet for all this；
our taste confesses a flavour and delicacy excellent even to emulation of
the best of ours； in several fruits wherein those countries abound
without art or culture。 Neither is it reasonable that art should gain
the pre…eminence of our great and powerful mother nature。 We have so
surcharged her with the additional ornaments and graces we have added to
the beauty and riches of her own works by our inventions； that we have
almost smothered her； yet in other places； where she shines in her own
purity and proper lustre； she marvellously baffles and disgraces all our
vain and frivolous attempts：
〃Et veniunt hederae sponte sua melius；
Surgit et in solis formosior arbutus antris；
Et volucres nulls dulcius arte canunt。〃
＇〃The ivy grows best spontaneously； the arbutus best in shady caves；
and the wild notes of birds are sweeter than art can teach。
〃Propertius； i。 2； 10。＇
Our utmost endeavours cannot arrive at so much as to imitate the nest of
the least of birds； its contexture； beauty； and convenience： not so much
as the web of a poor spider。
All things； says Plato；＇Laws； 10。＇ are produced either by nature； by
fortune； or by art； the greatest and most beautiful by the one or the
other of the former； the least and the most imperfect by the last。
These nations then seem to me to be so far barbarous； as having received
but very little form and fashion from art and human invention； and
consequently to be not much remote from their original simplicity。 The
laws of nature； however； govern them still； not as yet much vitiated with
any mixture of ours： but 'tis in such purity； that I am sometimes
troubled we were not sooner acquainted with these people； and that they
were not discovered in those better times； when there were men much more
able to judge of them than we are。 I am sorry that Lycurgus and Plato
had no knowledge of them； for to my apprehension； what we now see in
those nations； does not only surpass all the pictures with which the
poets have adorned the golden age； and all their inventions in feigning a
happy state of man； but； moreover； the fancy and even the wish and desire
of philosophy itself； so native and so pure a simplicity； as we by
experience see to be in them； could never enter into their imagination；
nor could they ever believe that human society could have been maintained
with so little artifice and human patchwork。 I should tell Plato that it
is a nation wherein there is no manner of traffic； no knowledge of
letters； no science of numbers； no name of magistrate or political
superiority； no use of service； riches or poverty； no contracts； no
successions； no dividends； no properties； no employments； but those of
leisure； no respect of kindred； but common； no clothing； no agriculture；
no metal； no use of corn or wine； the very words that signify lying；
treachery； dissimulation； avarice； envy； detraction； pardon； never heard
of。
＇This is the famous passage which Shakespeare； through Florio's
version； 1603； or ed。 1613； p。 102； has employed in the 〃Tempest；〃
ii。 1。＇
How much would he find his imaginary Republic short of his perfection？
〃Viri a diis recentes。〃
＇〃Men fresh from the gods。〃Seneca； Ep。； 90。＇
〃Hos natura modos primum dedit。〃
＇〃These were the manners first taught by nature。〃
Virgil； Georgics； ii。 20。＇
As to the rest； they live in a country very pleasant and temperate； so
that； as my witnesses inform me； 'tis rare to hear of a sick person； and
they moreover assure me； that they never saw any of the natives； either
paralytic； bleareyed； toothless； or crooked with age。 The situation of
their country is along the sea…shore； enclosed on the other side towards
the land； with great and high mountains； having about a hundred leagues
in breadth between。 They have great store of fish and flesh； that have
no resemblance to those of ours： which they eat without any other
cookery； than plain boiling； roasting； and broiling。 The first that rode
a horse thither； though in several other voyages he had contracted an
acquaintance and familiarity with them； put them into so terrible a
fright； with his centaur appearance； that they killed him with their
arrows before they could come to discover who he was。 Their buildings
are very long； and of capacity to hold two or three hundred people； made
of the barks of tall trees； reared with one end upon the ground； and
leaning to and supporting one another at the top； like some of our barns；
of which the covering hangs down to the very ground； and serves for the
side walls。 They have wood so hard； that they cut with it； and make their
swords of it； and their grills of it to broil their meat。 Their beds are
of cotton； hung swinging from the roof； like our seamen's hammocks； every
man his own； for the wives lie apart from their husbands。 They rise with
the sun； and so soon as they are up； eat for all day； for they have no
more meals but that； they do not then drink； as Suidas reports of some
other people of the East that never drank at their meals； but drink very
often all day after； and sometimes to a rousing pitch。 Their drink is
made of a certain root； and is of the colour of our claret； and they
never drink it but lukewarm。 It will not keep above two or three days；
it has a somewhat sharp； brisk taste； is nothing heady； but very
comfortable to the stomach； laxative to strangers； but a very pleasant
beverage to such as are accustomed to it。 They make use； instead of
bread； of a certain white compound； like coriander seeds； I have tasted
of it； the taste is sweet and a little flat。 The whole day is spent in
dancing。 Their young men go a…hunting after wild beasts with bows and
arrows； one part of their women are employed in preparing their drink the
while； which is their chief employment。 One of their old men； in the
morning before they fall to eating； preaches to the whole family； walking
from the one end of the house to the other； and several times repeating
the same sentence； till he has finished the round； for their houses are
at least a hundred yards long。 Valour towards their enemies and love
towards their wives； are the two heads of his discourse； never failing in
the close； to put them in mind； that 'tis their wives who provide them
their drink warm and well seasoned。 The fashion of their beds； ropes；
swords； and of the wooden bracelets they tie about their wrists； when
they go to fight； and of the great canes； bored hollow at one end； by the
sound of which they keep the cadence of their dances； are to be seen in
several places； and amongst others； at my house。 They shave all over；
and much more neatly than we； without other razor than one of wood or
stone。 They believe in the immortality of the soul； and that those who
have merited well of the gods are lodged in that part of heaven where the
sun rises； and the accursed in the west。
They have I know not what kind of priests and prophets； who very rarely
present themselves to the people； having their abode in the mountains。
At their arrival； there is a great feast； and solemn assembly of many
villages： each house； as I have described； makes a village； and they are
about a French league distant from one another。 This prophet declaims to
them in public； exhorting them to virtue and their duty： but all their
ethics are comprised in these two articles； resolution in war； and
affection to their wives。 He also prophesies to them events to come； and
the issues they are to expect from their enterprises； and prompts them to
or diverts them from war： but let him look to't； for if he fail in his
divination； and anything happen otherwise than he has foretold； he is cut
into a thousand pieces； if he be caught； and condemned for a false
prophet： for that reason； if any of them has been mistaken； he is no more
heard of。
Divination is a gift of God； and therefore to abuse it； ought to be a
punishable imposture。 Amongst the Scythians； where their diviners failed
in the promised effect； they were laid； bound hand and foot； upon carts
loaded with firs and bavins； and drawn by oxen； on which they were burned
to death。＇Herodotus； iv。 69。＇ Such as only meddle with things
subject to the conduct of human capacity； are excusable in doing the best
they can： but those other fellows that come to delude us with assurances
of an extraordinary faculty； beyond our understanding； ought they not to
be punished； when they do not make good the effect of their promise； and
for the temerity of their imposture？
They have continual war with the nations that live further within the
mainland； beyond their mountains； to which they go naked； and without
other arms than their bows and wooden swords； fashioned at one end like
the head of our javelins。 The obstinacy of their battles is wonderful；
and they never end without great effusion of blood： for as to running
away； they know not what it is。 Every one for a trophy brings home the
head of an enemy he has killed； which he fixes over the door of his
house。 After having a long time treated their prisoners very well； and
given them all the regales they can think of； he to whom the prisoner
belongs； invites a great assembly of his friends。 They being come； he
ties a rope to one of the arms of the prisoner； of which； at a distance；
out of his reach； he holds the one end himself； and gives to the friend