no preponderant degree of energy or intelligence。 There being no apprehensions of war； there were no armies to maintain； there being no government of force； there was no police to appoint and direct。 What we call crime was utterly unknown to the Vril…ya； and there were no courts of criminal justice。 The rare instances of civil disputes were referred for arbitration to friends chosen by either party； or decided by the Council of Sages； which will be described later。 There were no professional lawyers； and indeed their laws were but amicable conventions； for there was no power to enforce laws against an offender who carried in his staff the power to destroy his judges。 There were customs and regulations to compliance with which； for several ages； the people had tacitly habituated themselves； or if in any instance an individual felt such compliance hard； he quitted the community and went elsewhere。 There was； in fact； quietly established amid this state； much the same compact that is found in our private families； in which we virtually say to any independent grown…up member of the family whom we receive to entertain； 〃Stay or go； according as our habits and regulations suit or displease you。〃 But though there were no laws such as we call laws； no race above ground is so 37law…observing。 Obedience to the rule adopted by the community has become as much an instinct as if it were implanted by nature。 Even in every household the head of it makes a regulation for its guidance； which is never resisted nor even cavilled at by those who belong to the family。 They have a proverb； the pithiness of which is much lost in this paraphrase； 〃No happiness without order； no order without authority； no authority without unity。〃 The mildness of all government among them； civil or domestic； may be signalised by their idiomatic expressions for such terms as illegal or forbidden… viz。； 〃It is requested not to do so and so。〃 Poverty among the Ana is as unknown as crime； not that property is held in common； or that all are equals in the extent of their possessions or the size and luxury of their habitations： but there being no difference of rank or position between the grades of wealth or the choice of occupations； each pursues his own inclinations without creating envy or vying； some like a modest； some a more splendid kind of life； each makes himself happy in his own way。 Owing to this absence of competition； and the limit placed on the population； it is difficult for a family to fall into distress； there are no hazardous speculations； no emulators striving for superior wealth and rank。 No doubt； in each settlement all originally had the same proportions of land dealt out to them； but some； more adventurous than others； had extended their possessions farther into the bordering wilds； or had improved into richer fertility the produce of their fields； or entered into commerce or trade。 Thus； necessarily； some had grown richer than others； but none had become absolutely poor； or wanting anything which their tastes desired。 If they did so； it was always in their power to migrate； or at the worst to apply； without shame and with certainty of aid； to the rich； for all the members of the community considered themselves as brothers of one affectionate and united family。 More upon this head will be treated of incidentally as my narrative proceeds。 38 The chief care of the supreme magistrate was to communicate with certain active departments charged with the administration of special details。 The most important and essential of such details was that connected with the due provision of light。 Of this department my host； Aph…Lin； was the chief。 Another department； which might be called the foreign； communicated with the neighbouring kindred states； principally for the purpose of ascertaining all new inventions； and to a third department all such inventions and improvements in machinery were committed for trial。 Connected with this department was the College of Sages… a college especially favoured by such of the Ana as were widowed and childless； and by the young unmarried females； amongst whom Zee was the most active； and； if what we call renown or distinction was a thing acknowledged by this people （which I shall later show it is not）； among the more renowned or distinguished。 It is by the female Professors of this College that those studies which are deemed of least use in practical life… as purely speculative philosophy； the history of remote periods； and such sciences as entomology； conchology； &c。… are the more diligently cultivated。 Zee； whose mind； active as Aristotle's； equally embraced the largest domains and the minutest details of thought； had written two volumes on the parasite insect that dwells amid the hairs of a tiger's* paw； which work was considered the best authority on that interesting subject。
* The animal here referred to has many points of difference from the tiger of the upper world。 It is larger； and with a broader paw； and still more receding frontal。 It haunts the side of lakes and pools； and feeds principally on fishes； though it does not object to any terrestrial animal of inferior strength that comes in its way。 It is becoming very scarce even in the wild districts； where it is devoured by gigantic reptiles。 I apprehended that it clearly belongs to the tiger species； since the parasite animalcule found in its paw； like that in the Asiatic tiger； is a miniature image of itself。
But the researches of the sages are not confined to such subtle or elegant studies。 They comprise various others more 39important； and especially the properties of vril； to the perception of which their finer nervous organisation renders the female Professors eminently keen。 It is out of this college that the Tur； or chief magistrate； selects Councillors； limited to three； in the rare instances in which novelty of event or circumstance perplexes his own judgment。
There are a few other departments of minor consequence； but all are carried on so noiselessly； and quietly that the evidence of a government seems to vanish altogether； and social order to be as regular and unobtrusive as if it were a law of nature。 Machinery is employed to an inconceivable extent in all the operations of labour within and without doors； and it is the unceasing object of the department charged with its administration to extend its efficiency。 There is no class of labourers or servants； but all who are required to assist or control the machinery are found in the children； from the time they leave the care of their mothers to the marriageable age； which they place at sixteen for the Gy…ei （the females）； twenty for the Ana （the males）。 These children are formed into bands and sections under their own chiefs； each following the pursuits in which he is most pleased； or for which he feels himself most fitted。 Some take to handicrafts； some to agriculture； some to household work； and some to the only services of danger to which the population is exposed； for the sole perils that threaten this tribe are； first； from those occasional convulsions within the earth； to foresee and guard against which tasks their utmost ingenuity… irruptions of fire and water； the storms of subterranean winds and escaping gases。 At the borders of the domain； and at all places where such peril might be apprehended； vigilant inspectors are stationed with telegraphic communications to the hall in which chosen sages take it by turns to hold perpetual sittings。 These inspectors are always selected from the elder boys approaching the age of puberty； and on the principle that at that age observation is more acute and the physical forces more alert than at any other。 The second service of danger； less grave； 40is in the destruction of all creatures hostile to the life； or the culture； or even the comfort； of the Ana。 Of these the most formidable are the vast reptiles； of some of which antediluvian relics are preserved in our museums； and certain gigantic winged creatures； half bird； half reptile。 These； together with lesser wild animals； corresponding to our tigers or venomous serpents； it is left to the younger children to hunt and destroy； because； according to the Ana； here ruthlessness is wanted； and the younger the child the more ruthlessly he will destroy。 There is another class of animals in the destruction of which discrimination is to be used； and against which children of intermediate age are appointed… animals that do not threaten the life of man； but ravage the produce of his labour； varieties of the elk and deer species； and a smaller creature much akin to our rabbit； though infinitely more destructive to crops； and much more cunning in its mode of depredation。 It is the first object of these appointed infants； to tame the more intelligent of such animals into respect for enclosures signalised by conspicuous landmarks； as dogs are taught to respect a larder； or even to guard the master's property。 It is only where such creatures are found untamable to this extent that they are destroyed。 Life is never taken away for food or for sport； and never spared where untamably inimical to the Ana。 Concomitantly with these bodily services and tasks； the mental education of the children goes on till boyhood ceases。 It is the general custom； then； to pass though a course of instruction at the College of Sages； in which； besides more general studies； the pupil receives special lessons in such vocation or direction of intellect as he himself selects。 Some； however； prefer to pass this period of probation in travel； or to emigrate； or to settle down at once into rural or commercial pursuits。 No force is put upon individual inclination。
41 Chapter X。
The word Ana （pronounced broadly 'Arna'） corresponds with our plural 'men；' An （pronounced 'Arn'）； the singular； with 'man。' The word for woman is Gy （pronounced hard； as in Guy）； it forms itself into Gy…ei for the plural； but the G becomes soft in the plural like Jy…ei。 They have a proverb to the effect that this difference in pronunciation is symbolical； for that the female sex is soft in the concrete； but hard to deal with in the individual。 The Gy…ei are in the fullest enjoyment of all the rights of equality w