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where they believe the souls of the blessed live in all manner of
liberty； in delightful fields； furnished with all sorts of delicacies；
and that it is these souls； repeating the words we utter； which we call
Echo； where they fight in the water； and shoot their arrows with the most
mortal aim； swimming； where； for a sign of subjection； they lift up their
shoulders； and hang down their heads； where they put off their shoes when
they enter the king's palace； where the eunuchs； who take charge of the
sacred women； have； moreover； their lips and noses cut off； that they may
not be loved； where the priests put out their own eyes； to be better
acquainted with their demons； and the better to receive their oracles；
where every one makes to himself a deity of what he likes best； the
hunter of a lion or a fox； the fisher of some fish； idols of every human
action or passion； in which place； the sun； the moon； and the earth are
the 'principal deities； and the form of taking an oath is； to touch the
earth； looking up to heaven； where both flesh and fish is eaten raw；
where the greatest oath they take is； to swear by the name of some dead
person of reputation； laying their hand upon his tomb； where the
newyear's gift the king sends every year to the princes； his vassals； is
fire； which being brought； all the old fire is put out； and the
neighbouring people are bound to fetch of the new； every one for
themselves； upon pain of high treason； where； when the king； to betake
himself wholly to devotion； retires from his administration （which often
falls out）； his next successor is obliged to do the same； and the right
of the kingdom devolves to the third in succession： where they vary the
form of government； according to the seeming necessity of affairs： depose
the king when they think good； substituting certain elders to govern in
his stead； and sometimes transferring it into the hands of the
commonality： where men and women are both circumcised and also baptized：
where the soldier； who in one or several engagements； has been so
fortunate as to present seven of the enemies' heads to the king； is made
noble： where they live in that rare and unsociable opinion of the
mortality of the soul： where the women are delivered without pain or
fear： where the women wear copper leggings upon both legs； and if a louse
bite them； are bound in magnanimity to bite them again； and dare not
marry； till first they have made their king a tender of their virginity；
if he please to accept it： where the ordinary way of salutation is by
putting a finger down to the earth； and then pointing it up toward
heaven： where men carry burdens upon their heads； and women on their
shoulders； where the women make water standing； and the men squatting：
where they send their blood in token of friendship； and offer incense to
the men they would honour； like gods： where； not only to the fourth； but
in any other remote degree； kindred are not permitted to marry： where the
children are four years at nurse； and often twelve； in which place； also；
it is accounted mortal to give the child suck the first day after it is
born： where the correction of the male children is peculiarly designed to
the fathers； and to the mothers of the girls； the punishment being to
hang them by the heels in the smoke： where they circumcise the women：
where they eat all sorts of herbs； without other scruple than of the
badness of the smell： where all things are open the finest houses；
furnished in the richest manner； without doors； windows； trunks； or
chests to lock； a thief being there punished double what they are in
other places： where they crack lice with their teeth like monkeys； and
abhor to see them killed with one's nails： where in all their lives they
neither cut their hair nor pare their nails； and； in another place； pare
those of the right hand only； letting the left grow for ornament and
bravery： where they suffer the hair on the right side to grow as long as
it will； and shave the other； and in the neighbouring provinces； some let
their hair grow long before； and some behind； shaving close the rest：
where parents let out their children； and husbands their wives； to their
guests to hire： where a man may get his own mother with child； and
fathers make use of their own daughters or sons； without scandal： where；
at their solemn feasts； they interchangeably lend their children to one
another； without any consideration of nearness of blood。 In one place；
men feed upon human flesh； in another； 'tis reputed a pious office for a
man to kill his father at a certain age； elsewhere； the fathers dispose
of their children； whilst yet in their mothers' wombs； some to be
preserved and carefully brought up； and others to be abandoned or made
away。 Elsewhere the old husbands lend their wives to young men； and in
another place they are in common without offence； in one place
particularly； the women take it for a mark of honour to have as many gay
fringed tassels at the bottom of their garment； as they have lain with
several men。 Moreover； has not custom made a republic of women
separately by themselves？ has it not put arms into their hands； and made
them raise armies and fight battles？ And does she not； by her own
precept； instruct the most ignorant vulgar； and make them perfect in
things which all the philosophy in the world could never beat into the
heads of the wisest men？ For we know entire nations； where death was not
only despised； but entertained with the greatest triumph； where children
of seven years old suffered themselves to be whipped to death； without
changing countenance； where riches were in such contempt； that the
meanest citizen would not have deigned to stoop to take up a purse of
crowns。 And we know regions； very fruitful in all manner of provisions；
where； notwithstanding； the most ordinary diet； and that they are most
pleased with； is only bread； cresses； and water。 Did not custom；
moreover； work that miracle in Chios that； in seven hundred years； it was
never known that ever maid or wife committed any act to the prejudice of
her honour？
To conclude； there is nothing； in my opinion； that she does not； or may
not do； and therefore； with very good reason it is that Pindar calls her
the ruler of the world。 He that was seen to beat his father； and
reproved for so doing； made answer； that it was the custom of their
family； that； in like manner； his father had beaten his grandfather； his
grandfather his great…grandfather； 〃And this；〃 says he； pointing to his
son； 〃when he comes to my age； shall beat me。〃 And the father； whom the
son dragged and hauled along the streets； commanded him to stop at a
certain door； for he himself； he said； had dragged his father no farther；
that being the utmost limit of the hereditary outrage the sons used to
practise upon the fathers in their family。 It is as much by custom as
infirmity； says Aristotle； that women tear their hair； bite their nails；
and eat coals and earth； and more by custom than nature that men abuse
themselves with one another。
The laws of conscience； which we pretend to be derived from nature；
proceed from custom； every one； having an inward v