第 8 节
作者:花旗      更新:2021-02-17 23:34      字数:9322
  oxen; sheep; dogs; and all kinds of domestic and tame animals
  is in the highest esteem among them as it was in the time of
  Abraham。  And the animals are led so to pair that they may
  be able to breed well。
  Fine pictures of oxen; horses; sheep; and other animals are
  placed before them。  They do not turn out horses with mares
  to feed; but at the proper time they bring them together in an
  enclosure of the stables in their fields。  And this is done when
  they observe that the constellation Archer is in favorable con…
  junction with Mars and Jupiter。  For the oxen they observe
  the Bull; for the sheep the Ram; and so on in accordance with
  art。  Under the Pleiades they keep a drove of hens and ducks
  and geese; which are driven out by the women to feed near the
  city。  The women only do this when it is a pleasure to them。
  There are also places enclosed; where they make cheese; butter;
  and milk…food。  They also keep capons; fruit; and other things;
  and for all these matters there is a book which they call the
  Bucolics。  They have an abundance of all things; since every…
  one likes to be industrious; their labors being slight and profita…
  ble。  They are docile; and that one among them who is head
  of the rest in duties of this kind they call king。  For they say
  that this is the proper name of the leaders; and it does not be…
  long to ignorant persons。  It is wonderful to see how men and
  women march together collectively; and always in obedience
  to the voice of the king。  Nor do they regard him with loath…
  ing as we do; for they know that although he is greater than
  themselves; he is for all that their father and brother。  They
  keep groves and woods for wild animals; and they often hunt。
  The science of navigation is considered very dignified by
  them; and they possess rafts and triremes; which go over the
  waters without rowers or the force of the wind; but by a mar…
  vellous contrivance。  And other vessels they have which are
  moved by the winds。  They have a correct knowledge of the
  stars; and of the ebb and flow of the tide。  They navigate for
  the sake of becoming acquainted with nations and different
  countries and things。  They injure nobody; and they do not
  put up with injury; and they never go to battle unless when
  provoked。  They assert that the whole earth will in time come
  to live in accordance with their customs; and consequently they
  always find out whether there be a nation whose manner of liv…
  ing is better and more approved than the rest。  They admire
  the Christian institutions and look for a realization of the apos…
  tolic life in vogue among themselves and in us。  There are
  treaties between them and the Chinese and many other nations;
  both insular and continental; such as Siam and Calicut; which
  they are only just able to explore。  Furthermore; they have
  artificial fires; battles on sea and land; and many strategic se…
  crets。  Therefore they are nearly always victorious。
  G。M。  Now it would be very pleasant to learn with what
  foods and drinks they are nourished; and in what way and for
  how long they live。
  Capt。  Their food consists of flesh; butter; honey; cheese;
  garden herbs; and vegetables of various kinds。  They were
  unwilling at first to slay animals; because it seemed cruel; but
  thinking afterward that is was also cruel to destroy herbs which
  have a share of sensitive feeling; they saw that they would
  perish from hunger unless they did an unjustifiable action for
  the sake of justifiable ones; and so now they all eat meat。
  Nevertheless; they do not kill willingly useful animals; such as
  oxen and horses。  They observe the difference between useful
  and harmful foods; and for this they employ the science of med…
  icine。  They always change their food。  First they eat flesh;
  then fish; then afterward they go back to flesh; and nature is
  never incommoded or weakened。  The old people use the more
  digestible kind of food; and take three meals a day; eating only
  a little。  But the general community eat twice; and the boys
  four times; that they may satisfy nature。  The length of their
  lives is generally 100 years; but often they reach 200。
  As regards drinking; they are extremely moderate。  Wine
  is never given to young people until they are ten years old; un…
  less the state of their health demands it。  After their tenth year
  they take it diluted with water; and so do the women; but the
  old men of fifty and upward use little or no water。  They eat
  the most healthy things; according to the time of the year。
  They think nothing harmful which is brought forth by God;
  except when there has been abuse by taking too much。  And
  therefore in the summer they feed on fruits; because they are
  moist and juicy and cool; and counteract the heat and dryness。
  In the winter they feed on dry articles; and in the autumn they
  eat grapes; since they are given by God to remove melancholy
  and sadness; and they also make use of scents to a great degree。
  In the morning; when they have all risen they comb their hair
  and wash their faces and hands with cold water。  Then they
  chew thyme or rock…parsley or fennel; or rub their hands with
  these plants。  The old men make incense; and with their faces
  to the east repeat the short prayer which Jesus Christ taught
  us。  After this they go to wait upon the old men; some go
  to the dance; and others to the duties of the State。  Later on
  they meet at the early lectures; then in the temple; then for
  bodily exercise。  Then for a little while they sit down to rest;
  and at length they go to dinner。
  Among them there is never gout in the hands or feet; nor ca…
  tarrh; nor sciatica; nor grievous colics; nor flatulency; nor hard
  breathing。  For these diseases are caused by indigestion and
  flatulency; and by frugality and exercise they remove every
  humor and spasm。  Therefore it is unseemly in the extreme
  to be seen vomiting or spitting; since they say that this is a sign
  either of little exercise; or of ignoble sloth; or of drunkenness;
  or gluttony。  They suffer rather from swellings or from the
  dry spasm; which they relieve with plenty of good and juicy
  food。  They heal fevers with pleasant baths and with milk…
  food; and with a pleasant habitation in the country and by grad…
  ual exercise。  Unclean diseases cannot be prevalent with them
  because they often clean their bodies by bathing in wine; and
  soothe them with aromatic oil; and by the sweat of exercise they
  diffuse the poisonous vapor which corrupts the blood and the
  marrow。  They do suffer a little from consumption; because
  they cannot perspire at the breast; but they never have asthma;
  for the humid nature of which a heavy man is required。  They
  cure hot fevers with cold potations of water; but slight ones
  with sweet smells; with cheese…bread or sleep; with music or
  dancing。  Tertiary fevers are cured by bleeding; by rhubarb
  or by a similar drawing remedy; or by water soaked in the roots
  of plants; with purgative and sharp…tasting qualities。  But it
  is rarely that they take purgative medicines。  Fevers occurring
  every fourth day are cured easily by suddenly startling the un…
  prepared patients; and by means of herbs producing effects op…
  posite to the humors of this fever。  All these secrets they told
  me in opposition to their own wishes。  They take more diligent
  pains to cure the lasting fevers; which they fear more; and they
  strive to counteract these by the observation of stars and of
  plants; and by prayers to God。  Fevers recurring every fifth;
  sixth; eighth or more days; you never find whenever heavy
  humors are wanting。
  They use baths; and moreover they have warm ones accord…
  ing to the Roman custom; and they make use also of olive oil。
  They have found out; too; a great many secret cures for the
  preservation of cleanliness and health。  And in other ways they
  labor to cure the epilepsy; with which they are often troubled。
  G。M。  A sign this disease is of wonderful cleverness; for
  from it Hercules; Scotus; Socrates; Callimachus; and Mahomet
  have suffered。
  Capt。  They cure by means of prayers to heaven; by
  strengthening the head; by acids; by planned gymnastics; and
  with fat cheese…bread sprinkled with the flour of wheaten corn。
  They are very skilled in making dishes; and in them they put
  spice; honey; butter; and many highly strengthening spices;
  and they temper their richness with acids; so that they never
  vomit。  They do not drink ice…cold drinks nor artificial hot
  drinks; as the Chinese do; for they are not without aid against
  the humors of the body; on account of the help they get from
  the natural heat of the water; but they strengthen it with
  crushed garlic; with vinegar; with wild thyme; with mint; and
  with basil; in the summer or in time of special heaviness。  They
  know also a secret for renovating life after about the seventieth
  year; and for ridding it of affliction; and this they do by a pleas…
  ing and indeed wonderful art。
  G。M。  Thus far you have said nothing concerning their sci…
  ences and magistrates。
  Capt。  Undoubtedly I have  But since you are so curious
  I will add more。  Both when it is new moon and full moon they
  call a council after a sacrifice。  To this all from twenty years