n
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 pleasing and indeed wonderful art.

G.M. Thus far you have said nothing concerning their sciences 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 upward are admitted, and each
one is asked separately to say what is wanting in the State, and which
of the magistrates have discharged their duties rightly and which
wrongly. Then after eight days all the magistrates assemble, to wit, Hoh
first, and with him Power, Wisdom, and Love. Each one of the three
last has three magistrates under him, making in all thirteen, and they
consider the affairs of the arts pertaining to each one of them: Power,
of war; Wisdom, of the sciences; Love, of food, clothing, education,
and breeding. The masters of all the bands, who are captains of tens, of
fifties, of hundreds, also assemble, the women first and then the men.
They argue about those things which are for the welfare of the State,
and they choose the magistrates from among those who have already been
named in the great Council. In this manner they assemble daily, Hoh and
his three princes, and they correct, confirm, and execute the matters
passing to them, as decisions in the elections; other necessary
questions they provide of themselves. They do not use lots unless when
they are altogether doubtful how to decide. The eight magistrates under
Hoh, Power, Wisdom, and Love are changed according to the wish of
the people, but the first four are never changed, unless they, taking
counsel with themselves, give up the dignity of one to another, whom
among them they know to be wiser, more renowned, and more nearly
perfect. And then they are obedient and honorable, since they yield
willingly to