dances crowned the
jovial banquet; in short, so great an air of freedom, mirth, and
pleasure, appeared in this society, that our youngsters from that time
conceived a sudden inclination to enlist into their company; which, when
they communicated to the gipseys, they, considering their appearance,
behaviour, and education, regarded as only spoke in jest; but as they
tarried there all night in their company, and continued in the same
resolution the next morning, they were at length induced to believe them
to be serious, and accordingly encouraged them, and admitted them into
their number; the requisite ceremonials being first gone through, and the
proper oaths administered.

The reader may perhaps be surprised at the mention of oaths administered,
and ceremonials used, at the entrance of these young gentlemen; but his
surprise will lessen when we inform him, that these people are subject to
a form of government and laws peculiar to themselves, and though they
have no written laws, by which means they avoid all perplexity with
lawyers, yet they pay obedience to one who is styled their king; to which
great honour we shall hereafter see our hero arrive, having first proved
himself worthy of it, by a great number of necessary achievements.

There are, perhaps, no people so completely happy as they are, or enjoy
so great a share of liberty. The king is elective by the whole people,
but none are allowed to stand as candidates for that honour, but such as
have been long in their society, and perfectly studied the nature and
institution of it; they must likewise have given repeated proofs of their
personal wisdom, courage and capacity; this is the better known, as they
always keep a public record or register of all remarkable (either good or
bad) actions performed by any of the society; and they can have no
temptation to make choice of any but the most worthy, as their king has
no titles or lucrative employments to bestow, which might influence or
corrupt their judgment.

The only advantage the king enjoys is, that he is constantly supplied
with whatever is necessary for his maintenance, from the contributions of
his people; whilst he, in return, directs all his care to the defending
and protecting his people from their enemies, in contriving and planning
whatever is most likely to promote their welfare and happiness, in seeing
a due regard paid to their laws, in registering their memorable actions,
and making a due report of